Shine and Thrive Photography Podcast

 I declared to the universe exactly what I wanted and it became my reality. Both with our baby that is due Feb 28, 2022 and my dream car that I got in August 2021! In this life update episode, I share with you the detailed stories of how both came to be with a sprinkle of inspiration of how you can manifest the things you desire in your life too! :) If you enjoy this episode, please make sure to t...

Do you want to become a wedding photographer but have no idea how to get started if you don't have a wedding portfolio? It's an odd place to be right!? If you're nodding your head, then hit play on this episode now because it'll give you a handful of ideas on how to get the ball rolling on growing your wedding portfolio from scratch! One of my listeners put what I shared into a...

Do you ever find yourself overthinking what you should post on Instagram, to the point where you don't end up posting AT ALL and end up feeling defeated in the process? If you do, then you are not alone! I share with you the advice I gave to a photographer that was feeling drained just thinking about posting on social and how to shift her energy and mindset into feeling empowered to post what...

You asked for it...And I’m bringin’ you the goods! Intuitive Storytelling is now open and welcoming new students as we speak! Here’s what you need to know today... This is an online, go at your own pace, lifetime access course that will help you: Become a confident + fearless wedding day storyteller Create meaningful photos AND experiences for your couples and their family + friends on wedding day...

 Do you ever sit down to cull a wedding, see how many unnecessary photos you took, and wonder how the heck to stop overshooting so much? I've been there, done that! In this episode, I'll share with you the key questions to ask yourself before taking photos to ensure that they are more quality vs. quantity! This means you will save time on culling, save your camera life, and deliver a bet...

Do you ever end up with wayyyy to many images after culling a wedding (like 1000 +) and you're not quite sure how to cull them down even more that will curate a better story for your couples? Make sure to tune into this episode to learn a secret of mine that helps me cull down weddings to 500-800 images very easily and decisively! If you enjoy this episode, please make sure to take a screensh...

Wanna hear what parts of the experience I created for my wedding clients that they loved!? Tune in to find out so that you can get inspired on how to create the best experience for YOUR clients!  If you enjoy this episode, please make sure to take a screenshot, share it on Instagram, and tag me @saramonikaphoto and I would love to share your comments and takeaways on my Instagram Story as well! Yo...

Want to learn how you can be more decisive while shooting so that you can create confidently? Tune in to learn what I do to make decisions quickly and effortlessly that allows me to create work I'm proud of and my clients love!  If you enjoy this episode, please make sure to take a screenshot, share it on Instagram, and tag me @saramonikaphoto and I would love to share your comments and takea...

The 75 Hard Challenge is a mental toughness challenge that helped both Sandra and I evolve physically, mentally, and emotionally this year. It consists of doing the following for 75 days straight: 2 workouts a day Drinking a gallon of water Taking a progress picture Picking a diet and sticking to it No cheat meals and alcohol Reading 10 pages  Wanna hear how it all went down for us!? Tune in to fi...

Do you wish you had more prompt ideas for wedding party photos so that they could feel more fun and authentic? Well, get excited, because I'm sharing some of my favourites in today's Shine + Thrive Photography Podcast episode! :) If you enjoy this episode, please make sure to take a screenshot, share it on Instagram, and tag me @saramonikaphoto and I would love to share your comments and...

Let's talk lighting! Wanna know how to handle harsh sunlight when you cannot choose the location from 10 AM to 4 PM? Also, are you curious why photographers rave about golden hour? Tune in to find out some of my tricks on how I shoot in different lighting scenarios outdoors on wedding days and shoots! If you enjoy this episode, please make sure to take a screenshot, share it on Instagram, and...

Wanna know how you can save time and achieve your goals faster? Well, it's by getting clear on your vision intuitively, and then taking the actions that are aligned with that vision. To help you learn how to fine-tune your inner compass, I have Sachin Khona joining me in this episode to share what has worked for him in his 10 years as a wedding photographer! As we were chatting, I was writing...

I get it. You're trying to get noticed by your dream photography clients, and you're confused about why other photographers book those clients and you don't! You're not alone in this. My guest Emily McCracken also felt this way and she couldn't quite figure out what needed to shift, until now. In this episode, she shares how showing up as her authentic self had improved th...

If you have ever thought or said one of the following statements, then this podcast episode is a must listen! "I'm from a small town so it's hard to get photography bookings" "How can I charge more when there are other photographers charging less" "It's not fair that they get those clients and I don't" "There is too much competition" &quo...

Do you need some prompt ideas to help you feel more confident in delivering a fun experience for your couples, but also create imagery they will love? I know I'm always up for learning how to improve my portrait game! I love some of the prompts I learned from Becca Cannon in this episode to help take my portrait work to a new level and I know you will too!  Also, she touched on an important t...

Are you having a hard time driving traffic to your photography website? Is S.E.O overwhelming you? Are the people visiting your website not the right kind of visitors (a.k.a. they are not converting into clients)? These are the questions my guest Carolina Guzik has for you and if you answered yes for even just one of these, then this episode is a great fit for you! In 2017, Carolina changed her Pi...

Have you ever learned a lesson in your business the hard way? I know your answer is yes! We all stumble along the way! Today I'm sharing with you a lesson I learned about taking group photos on wedding days and I'm passing it along to you so you can avoid making this mistake in the future yourself! It'll take you 10 minutes to tune in and save you headaches down the line, so the way...

Are you operating your photography business from a place of alignment with who you are and your passions? If you're not quite sure, today's episode will help answer that question for you! I love how Evelyn chatted so openly about her journey of rediscovering who she is at her core and how she fused that into her photography business so that she can keep creating work that not only excite...

If you're a portrait or wedding photographer, you're likely still on the journey of learning how to connect with your clients more effortlessly and figuring out how to make them feel comfortable with you during portrait time. I know this will always be a practice for me as well and so I'm thrilled to be sharing the episode with you where I learned a thing or two myself! Lydia Ivy ex...

Do you want to feel super organised and efficient this season with your shooting schedule and also with how you book new clients for sessions!? If so, tune in to this episode as I break down the 5 steps I took to prep my booking calendar for the whole season in advance so that you have even more time and space, even when things get more busy! I didn't really utilize a booking calendar for all...

The following words are by Vianney which will give you a peek into what this empowering episode is all about! "If you align your lifestyle, business, health, fitness and well-being to your menstrual cycle then you can picture yourself saying buh-bye to period pain, low energy, mood swings, and feeling like a crazy b*tch all the time! Imagine knowing when exactly in your cycle to work, rest, p...

Have you ever had a moment in your photography career that was so embarrassing that you said to yourself "ugh I could really just crawl into a hole and hide forever" or "well at least I have a funny story to tell!". Well whether you have or you haven't, this episode is going to be entertaining because 9 photographers (including myself), share some of the most embarrassing...

I loved my deep chat with Jessy + Brandon of Bows & Lavender all about taking care of your mental health as a photographer, what inspires them to create such milky, moody images full of feeling, how to overcome self-doubt and their Costa Rica adventures in their off season!🙂 If you get value out of this episode, please make sure to take a screenshot, share it on Instagram and tag me @saramoni...

Do ever wonder how to reply to emails that say "thanks so much for the info, but unfortunately you're out of our budget", or "you're out of our budget, but is there any way you can offer us a discount"? In this episode I share with you how I respond to those emails in a way that helps them see the value in what I offer and sometimes even increase their photography bud...

In this episode, Anastasia of Olive Photography shares with you her approach to navigating wedding reschedules and cancellations from a more logical and legal perspective. This is Part 2 of a 2 part series (go listen to Episode #52 before you tune into this one), so that you can get two different perspectives and two different approaches!  My hope is that by the end of these two episodes, you will...