Shoot Bigger: a photography podcast by The Pinckards

Want to get booked on repeat by premium wedding planners? Successful luxury wedding planner Danielle Rothweiler pulls back the curtain on why she deletes 95% of photographer cold emails and reveals exactly what it takes to get onto a planner's trusted shortlist. Follow Danielle: Instagram ⁠@rothweilereventdesign⁠ Key Takeaways: The #1 Communication Red Flag: Why your inbox response habits are...

Are you wondering how to get into destination wedding photography and break into the luxury market? In this episode of Shoot Bigger , Dan and Laura Pinckard sit down with master destination photographer Chris J. Evans to pull back the curtain on a 15-year career that started in fashion and exploded into a global luxury brand. Chris reveals why the "look" of your work is only 5% of your business su...

Are you trying to figure out how to run a successful photography business alongside your spouse without letting it consume your relationship? Working with your significant other can be the ultimate dream, giving you a flexible schedule and the ability to craft your ideal life together. However, without the right boundaries, communication tactics, and division of labor, it can easily turn into a so...

Are you calling yourself a "natural light photographer" because you love the sun, or because you’re scared of your strobe? In this episode, Laura sits down with award-winning photographer and educator Chloe Ramirez to dismantle the "creative ceiling" that holds many photographers back from mastering light. Key Takeaways: The "Gateway Drug" to Flash: How candlelight ca...

Is your photography business one algorithm update away from disappearing? In this episode, we sit down with 16-year industry veteran Elena S. Blair to discuss the "vanity numbers" trap on Instagram and why viral reels aren't booking clients. Elena reveals the two engines that have powered her Seattle-based lifestyle and school photography empire: SEO and Email Marketing . Key Takeaways: The 5-Year...

What is your biggest weakness as a photographer? Most photographers start their business to create art, but quickly find themselves drowning in a sea of unread emails, chaotic time management, and 70-hour work weeks where they feel like they haven't gotten anything done. In this episode of Shoot Bigger , Dan and Laura Pinckard sit down with Rick Liston, founder of Wedding Workflows , to discuss th...

Is the photography industry leaving you feeling isolated, even with a "successful" business? In this episode, Dan and Laura sit down with phenomenal photographer and educator Miles Witt Boyer to discuss why the "death of ego" is the best thing happening to photography right now. We dive deep into the shift from "Social Media" to "Media Social," the emotional...

Think your technical skill is the thing booking you photography clients? Think again. In this episode, Dan and Laura Pinckard dive into the "controversial" reality that most clients aren't comparing your the quality of your photos... they're comparing your brand positioning and how well you understand their needs. We discuss the "confidence gap," how having a child shif...

Are you struggling to break past the $2,000 mark while other photographers in your market are booking $12,000 weddings? In this episode of Shoot Bigger , we break down why "competitive pricing" is actually a race to the bottom and how your brand perception—not just your skill—dictates your worth. Key Takeaways: The Competitive Trap : Why looking at "average" local prices is kil...

Are you ready to quit your day job to go full-time as a photographer, or are you just playing a high-stakes game of social media roulette hoping to get an occasional photography job? In this episode, Dan and Laura break down the 13 essential milestones and mindsets you need to master before taking the leap into full-time photography. From the "gambling" of not knowing your numbers to the...

Are you a "photographer" or a "business owner"? In this episode, Dan and Laura return from a fun trip to Las Vegas for WPPI to debate a polarizing topic: the tension between pure creative freedom and strategic brand positioning. Dan argues that to build a sustainable career, you must limit your creative impulses to effectively attract your ideal clients, while Laura fights for...

Are you tired of feeling like just another face in the feed? In this episode, Laura and Dan dive deep into the core principles of content strategy that lead to long-term, "snowball" growth. While social media algorithms are always shifting, the power of brand recognition remains constant. We talk about practical ways that creators are using that kind of brand recognition to be more noticeable and...

In this episode, Laura and Dan dive deep into the fascinating (and sometimes scandalous) history of double exposures. From the "happy accident" of a horse ordering at a diner to Victorian-era spirit scams and surrealist masterpieces, we explore how this technique evolved from a technical mistake into a powerful storytelling tool. We also tackle the elephant in the room: AI in the photography indus...

In this episode, Dan and Laura Pinkard dive into a major industry pet peeve: photographers who use other people’s work to advertise their own services. We discuss the ethical and legal realities of "sharing" posts to get clients, the myth of social media as "public domain," and the intentional disrespect of covering up the original creator's name when sharing to IG stories....

Welcome to the first episode of 2026—and the official debut of the Shoot Bigger Podcast! We are kicking off the year with a major announcement: we are rebranding the "Fully Exposed" podcast to align with our photography community, Shoot Bigger . In this episode, we dive deep into why 2025 felt "weird" for the industry and how you can "lock in" for a successful 2026 by...

Feeling stuck in the wedding photography "status quo?" In this solo episode, Laura dives into her personal process for finding and staying inspired so you can keep your galleries fresh, unique, and consistent without doing the same thing at every wedding. She shares the unexpected sources of her most viral concepts and trends, including: How an idea for a slow-shutter bridal party trend...

Feeling stressed about slow bookings? This episode is for you. Try Imagen AI and get 1,500 free edits: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=pinckards Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepinckards In this solo episode, Dan shares five actionable strategies you can implement right now to start getting more inquiries. He covers everything from optimizing your website's first impress...

Are you feeling stuck in the same routine? Do you have big dreams but struggle to find the motivation to achieve them? In this episode, Dan and Laura share their key takeaways from James Clear's "Atomic Habits" and discuss the power of the "1% Rule." They dive into how tiny, consistent changes can compound over time to create extraordinary results in your life and business....

In this heartfelt and candid solo episode, Laura gets real about the challenges and unexpected pressures of being a new mom while running a successful business. She dives into the emotional tug-of-war between prioritizing her baby and her work, the societal expectations placed on women, and the surprising lack of grace people show to small business owners. Laura shares her personal struggles with...

We took a little break, because we were rearranging our podcast studio, but we're BACK. In this episode, Dan and Laura talk about some controversial opinions in the photography industry. We're curious to hear your thoughts on these, so be sure to comment on Spotify! Send galleries with Pic-Time (free month): https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referral Mentorship / coaching for photographer...

In this episode, Dan and Laura answer the question, "You guys are well known and popular among photographers (for good reason), but what has helped grow your business with clients not in the industry?" Send galleries with Pic-Time (free month): https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referral Mentorship / coaching for photographers: https://thepinckards.com/photography-mentorship-sessions/ Ou...

In this episode of Fully Exposed, a photography podcast by The Pinckards, Dan and Laura read some hilarious stories that actually happened at people's weddings. From uninvited family members crashing the wedding to vendors ghosting at the worst possible moment, we’re diving into some chaotic and downright bizarre wedding stories. GIVEAWAY : We’re also running a massive giveaway right now for p...

Another episode of The Pinckards’ photography podcast, Fully Exposed. In this episode, Dan and Laura talk about hate mail they received a few years ago, along with rude comments that they get frequently. Send galleries with Pic-Time (free month): https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referral Mentorship / coaching for photographers: https://thepinckards.com/photography-mentorship-sessions/ Our YouTub...

What is it like to be a full-time husband & wife photography team while being new parents? We had no idea what to expect when we found out we were pregnant last year, so we wanted to share some thoughts for any other photographers who have thought about having kids & have no clue what to expect. Questions? Let us know so we can answer them in future episodes!

In this episode, Dan & Laura talk about how they got into photographing elopements and share some tips for photographers wanting to get into elopement photography. Curious about our experience getting into elopements about 7 years ago? This episode is for you! Pic-Time free month: https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referral Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepinckards