Shutter Up! Podcast

Buckle up, besties — for our last episode for season 2, we got a juicy one for you. Rachael got hit with two one-star reviews in one weekend… and not from clients 😭. A chill trip to Chattanooga turned into a full-blown investigation involving a cranky waitress, goat milk soap, and a woman named Brooke who seriously messed with the wrong photographer. In true Rachael fashion, she put on her detect...

This week, we’re diving into your  craziest  wedding stories — and trust us, they did not disappoint. From a homeless man breaking into a couple’s honeymoon suite, to our favorite speeches, to a groom who was two hours late because he was “just chillin’”… we’ve officially heard it all. Grab your coffee (or as Rachael likes to say your "Cafeitos"), buckle up, and prepare to laugh, cringe,...

Shut up—it’s the Shutter Up Podcast 🎙️ Today we dive into: • A proposal shoot in a full-on downpour (hello DOUBLE rainbow 🌈) and a camera throwing error mid-session • The most unhinged inquiry we’ve ever heard: an “explicit newborn session”… for a 60-year-old man 😳🍼 • Second-shooter must-knows (angles, safety shots, how to actually be helpful) • How to walk the tightrope between letting the day...

Move over bridezillas — the  real  chaos usually comes from the moms! In this episode, we spill the tea on wild mother-of-the-bride (and groom!) moments, from moms secretly messaging photographers behind their daughter’s back to mother–son dances that almost didn’t happen. We share our funniest, craziest, and most jaw-dropping “mom-zilla” stories (yes, including the one with earrings coming off 👀...

If you’re only delivering an online gallery, you’re leaving money—and legacy—on the table. In this episode of Shutter Up, we dive into the why and how of albums, prints, and reveal sessions that actually sell (without being gross). What you’ll learn: •The mindset shift: albums as legacy, not upsells •How to talk value before the wedding (so buying later isn’t a maybe) •Designing a “yes” album: bui...

Big news… we finally have our first real guest on the Shutter Up Podcast! 🥂 We’re so excited to welcome Lindsay from Double N Media, who’s been photographing weddings for over 11 years (even though she once said she’d never shoot them 👀). In this episode, we laugh, sip, and chat about: 💍 The wildest things we’ve seen go down on a wedding day (including a mom meltdown 👀) 📸 How Lindsay went fro...

This week on the Shutter Up Podcast, things got way too real. Rachael shares how a simple bagel nearly burned her house down during a wedding timeline call—with alarms blaring, cats running, and her tossing charred bread out the window (all while the bride calmly sat on Zoom 😅). We also dive into the chaos of consult calls, client expectations, and even whether cats should be part of weddings 🐾....

The newborn chaos continues! In this week’s episode of the Shutter Up Podcast, we’re back with part two of our deep dive into newborn photography—the swaddle edition. From overconfident dads attempting “professional” wraps to neon yellow blowouts on our favorite white fabrics, we share the messy, funny, and oh-so-real moments that come with photographing little ones. We also get  brutally honest  ...

From six-hour newborn photo sessions and surprise blowouts to swaddling secrets and accidental cheesecloth props from a wedding day—this episode of the Shutter Up Podcast dives into the hilarious, chaotic, and heartwarming reality of photographing babies. We share our very first newborn sessions (and the cringe-worthy mistakes), how we turned nervous parents into relaxed pros, and why some shoots...

Welcome back to Season 2 of the Shutter Up Podcast! 🎉 We're kicking it off with a bang (and a few rants) as we dive into our biggest photography pet peeves on wedding days — from chaotic timelines to makeup artists showing up late, guests with cameras, and videographers secretly taking photos for their portfolio 😳. If you’re a photographer, planner, bride, or vendor — this episode is packed with...

We're spilling ALL the spicy photography tea in this episode of the Shutter Up Podcast! From why we can't stand photographers posting their editing cues on Instagram, to our full-blown rant on Apple Watches ruining your photos, we’re not holding back. We also dive into the real reason we don’t tag second shooters (sorry, not sorry), the truth about documentary-style photography, and the wild world...

Let’s talk about every couple’s least favorite forecast—rain on wedding day. In this episode, Rachael shares the story of a recent wedding where the skies opened up, but the bride insisted on keeping it outdoors. We dive into the real challenges rain brings, why having a solid backup plan is non-negotiable, and how to pivot like a pro when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. Plus, a surprise cameo fr...

This week’s episode is coming to you straight from our Shutter Up Podcast launch party! We went live with three incredible photographers—Jo from Made by JAM Studio, Sunday Eason from Sunday Photo and Films, and Aubrey Douglass from 80 Photography. We tackled: 💍 Why are rings in cakes a thing? 🙅‍♀️ Do we all hate the “woo” prompt? 🍾 A bride drunk before the ceremony? Yep. 🔥 Hot takes. Awkward P...

Ever left your entire gear bag at a courthouse? How about almost getting hit by a police car on your way to a session? In this episode, Rachael shares the wild story of how she forgot her Pelican case and her off-camera flash—on two separate shoots—and somehow still managed to pull it all off. We talk through how to stay calm when things go sideways, the systems we should be using to keep track of...

Grab your tea (or a soju melon), because this episode is WILD. When one photographer sends out a gallery from a styled shoot, she never expects another photographer to download, post, and pass the photos off as her own—on her website, socials, and even client galleries. But wait… it gets worse. She gaslights. She lies. She rebrands. We’re diving into the unhinged true story of photo theft, a cease...

This week, we’re switching gears, we are putting down our cameras and grabbing our paintbrushes (and our wine), and catching up on life, business, and everything in between—while attempting the ultimate challenge: painting each other! It’s equal parts chaos and creativity as we sip, chat, and reveal our masterpieces at the end of the episode. From behind-the-scenes updates to unfiltered thoughts o...

We’re back with part two of our catch up and chit-chat—and we’re not holding back! From being awkward behind the camera to second-shooter slip-ups, this episode dives into the real-life lessons every photographer can learn something from. We’re talking about how to handle insecure brides with grace, why posture cues matter more than you think, and when trying to help can actually make things worse...

What do Twilight, one-star reviews, and filming adult content in a photography studio have in common? Honestly, we wish we didn’t know either. In this episode, we’re talking about the awkwardness of booking old classmates, our painfully shy high school era, and the absolute chaos that unfolded at a recent studio session — involving a sticky situation (literally), a cleaning fee scam, and one very...

Is going full-time as a photographer still worth it in 2025? In this episode, we unpack Rachael’s decision to leave her corporate job (again!) to pursue photography full time—and what it really takes to make that leap. We talk hustle culture, the pressure to always be busy, why “full-time” looks different for everyone, and how client trust is built (and broken) through turnaround times, communicat...

In this candid episode, we’re unpacking the real, unfiltered journey of navigating life between a full-time corporate job and the dream of being a full-time photographer. From quitting a 9-to-5 during COVID to shooting 50+ weddings in one year, to dipping back into the corporate world—and now feeling the creative itch again—we talk about burnout, stability, money anxiety, social pressure, and ever...

Welcome back to the Shutter Up Podcast — where we listen and don't judge... well, mostly. 😂In Part 2 of our confessions series, we're spilling even more tea on photography trends we've loved, hated, and been lowkey forced into. From blurry wedding photos and moody editing regrets, to a groom accidentally being called Big Papa, nothing is off-limits. We're also reacting to juicy ph...

Episode 8 We're back with another round of "We Listen and We Don't Judge"... except this time, it's the other Rachael's turn to confess! What started as a casual game quickly turned into a full-blown wedding photographer confessional session — and let's just say, there were moments that left jaws on the floor (literally). A plot twist no one would see coming! Tune in for shocking stories, real tal...

In this episode of Shutter Up Podcast, we play a hilarious round of "We Listen and We Don't Judge" — where one Rachael shares all the cringe-worthy things she did as a brand-new wedding photographer, and the other Rachael definitely tries (and mostly fails) not to judge. From rookie mistakes to hard-learned lessons, we're keeping it real, laughing at ourselves, and proving that everyone starts som...

Fresh off the Adobe Creative event in Atlanta, we're spilling ALL the tea. From new AI tools to Adobe's bold claims that our creative careers are safe, we're breaking down what we saw, what we heard, and what we're really thinking. Is AI the future with us or without us? Tune in for some hot takes, behind-the-scenes moments, and a little bit of side-eye. 👀 You don't want to miss this one. @theshu...

In this episode of Shutter Up!, we’re spilling the tea on the most jaw-dropping wedding day moments we’ve ever witnessed—yes, including a real bride left at the altar. From cringey chaos to unexpected curveballs, we’ve seen it all (and captured every frame). Whether you’re a fellow photographer, a soon-to-be bride, or just here for the drama, this episode is packed with laughs, lessons, and a heal...