Focused AF

In today's episode, we are joined by our very good friends Moses & Steph of Moses Cruz Photography, another husband-and-wife wedding photography duo who loves cheeseburger sliders and escape rooms as much as we do! In this episode, we talk about how they started their photography journey with a modest $60 job, transitioned into second shooting (for EVERYONE, including your co-hosts), and e...

Is business really slow, or is it our imagination? In this episode, we explore the state of the wedding industry as it currently exists in this "post-COVID" world. If there's a slowdown in your business, we explore some of the reasons why and how we can possibly "fix" them. We revisit some of the lessons from veteran photographers who fizzled out after 20-30 years of runnin...

Here's an industry secret that very few talk about: one can actually second-shoot their way to a full calendar and eventually into an incredibly successful career. Join our interview with Nathan Desch today as we talk about: 1. How newcomers and veterans can transform themselves into more attractive candidates for hiring primaries and studios. 2. Some common mistakes that photographers make wh...

How do you affirm, celebrate, and serve the LGBTQ community in the wedding industry, the right way? What's "Rainbow-Washing"? How can we do better? Meet Rylan, an openly trans wedding photographer who stopped by the podcast studio to share his thoughts about all of these LGBTQ topics, and a whole lot more. Wanna learn more about Rylan? You can check him out here: IG: https://www.inst...

It's a common misconception that referrals come solely from happy customers; however this mindset overlooks a huge swath of potential referral opportunities that are sitting right in front of us. In this episode, we explore all the ways we can leverage what we do, in order to get everyone to shout our names from the rooftops. We also talk about all the easy ways you can get yourself on everyon...

Work less, earn more. It's the American Dream, right? Well, not so fast. In today's episode, we take a deep dive into starting, growing, and managing an associate brand. Karis & Ben started their associate brand, Pearl Paper Studio back in 2013, and have since grown their team to 14 photographers, documenting over 80+ weddings/year in one of the most saturated markets on the planet. Le...

On today's episode, we are joined by Emily Rochotte, a social media strategist and professional blogger who shares with us some of her tips & tricks on creating a marketing strategy in today's quickly-changing wedding marketplace. We also talk about outsourcing, ChatGPT, and even a phenomena known as "Posting & Ghosting" (and a million reasons why you shouldn't be doi...

As business owners, we are always looking for ways to make our lives a little easier, earn more revenue, and run our businesses a little more efficiently. This is where AI comes in. Over the past couple of years, AI has completely transformed the landscape of the wedding industry, especially in the wedding photography space. Grab a seat and your favorite beverage, join us, and learn about all the...

Mike Zawadzki is a wedding photographer based out of Northern NJ. Listen to his inspirational story of hitting rock bottom, then eventually climbing to the top through perseverance, hard-work, and finally surrendering to his destiny and role in this world. We also talk about building an associate team, his best marketing tips, and the importance of authenticity and service as an entrepreneur. Toda...

Who were Jenn & Ro before they became globe-trotting, award-winning, wedding photographers? Learn more about Ro's life of crime, Jenn's ambitions to become an Apple genius, and the scenic route they took to get to where they are today. This episode's drink was the Aperol Spritz! Equal parts aperol, prosecco, and club soda. Garnish with orange wheel. Enjoy!

Who were Ben and Karis before they were Ben AND Karis? Learn more about their humble beginnings, hear about their disastrous first date, and how they turned an accidental business idea into three thriving wedding photography businesses today. We also make a major announcement in this episode! You can learn more about that announcement here: https://focused-af.com/focusedafsummit Aperol Spritz Reci...

Ben, Karis, Jenn & Ro talk about how they met, the evolution of their friendship, and why they started a podcast. This episode also features Ben's World Famous Bengarita! (recipe below) Bengarita Recipe 1 oz Tequila 1 oz Triple Sec 1 oz Fresh Lime Jucie .75oz Simple Syrup Rimmed glass tumbler with equal parts sugar, salt and lime zest Shake ingredients with ice, and pour into prepared glas...

From marriage bed to marriage desk; what do you do when you have two husband-and-wife wedding photography teams who get together every week to talk about life, work, industry gossip (and occasionally cute outfits you can wear to work)? You give them some fancy drinks, four mics and a podcast, that's what :).