STOKED - The Adventure Elopement Photographer Podcast - Build a Six Figure Elopement Photography Business

Are you ready to hear how a bold move can transform your elopement photography business? In this episode, we sit down with Kristen Spencer, a talented elopement photographer (and one of my first-ever coaching clients) who took a leap from her established business in Sedona, Arizona, to start fresh in Durango, Colorado.   Kristen dives into her journey of rebuilding her business, learning a new mar...

How can you turn your travel chaos into a seamless adventure while capturing unforgettable moments? For most elopement photographers, traveling is a big part of what we do, whether we're driving or flying. We may end up we facing unique travel challenges that can turn these fun and exciting adventures into stressful experiences. Our hacks tackle these issues head-on, ensuring smoother journeys and...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to plan a destination elopement while juggling motherhood and running a successful photography business? I'm sitting down with Rose Groves, a Colorado and destination elopement photographer and new mom, who has traveled the globe capturing stunning weddings in remote locations.   Rose shares how she balances being a full-time photographer and mom, including how...

Have you ever thought about what it could look like for you to bring your spouse into your elopement photography business and successfully work together?   That's exactly what my guests, Laura and Hugo of Together We Roam have done. After Hugo lost his job, Laura invited him to join her in her photography business, and even expanded their offerings to include videography! They share their experien...

Feeling unsure about what to do during an 8-12 elopement day, let alone how how to book one!?   In this episode, we uncover the secrets to creating incredible all-day elopement experiences that couples love—and how to market them.   What You'll Learn : Why clients who value the full experience are the ones you want to attract (no convincing needed!) How to fill a full-day elopement with magical ac...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks in your photography business and wondering what you should be outsourcing to get your time and energy back? Outsourcing can definitely be a game-changer, but there are also things to think about when you are deciding on what to delegate.   During the conversation, we emphasize the importance of looking at your daily tasks and identifying the things that...

How can pursuing your passions lead to a more meaningful career and life? My guest, Corey, a photographer based in Connecticut, shares her own journey with this after deciding to leave a 20 year career in corporate America. Before getting into photography, Corey fell in love with massage therapy and had her own practice for 15 years, but she always had a camera in her hand. After attending her fir...

Are you ready to break through to the six-figure mark in your elopement photography business?   Reaching six figures isn't just a milestone; it's a sign that your business is thriving—clients are booking, your marketing is solid, and you've got your expenses under control. But how do you actually get there? This episode dives into the crucial steps you need to take to achieve that coveted six-figu...

One of the biggest regrets I often hear people have after their elopement day is that they didn't hire a videographer. Imagine being able to relive those moments for years and years. Elizabeth Kurpanek, a Colorado-based elopement videographer and owner of Embr Films and Ruff and Roam understands this sentiment firsthand.   Elizabeth started out as a photographer back in high school but switched ov...

If you're wondering if moving your elopement photography business across the country can actually work, my guest is living proof that it's possible. Natasha Cardinal is a Washington-based elopement photographer, but she wasn't always one! She started off as a wedding photographer in New York and eventually moved her business to Washington state, where she shifted gears to focus on elopement photog...

Think making money from elopements is impossible? My guest today is here to bust that myth. Vanessa Halliday is an elopement photographer based in the white mountains of New Hampshire. She went from studying kinesiology to being a struggling wedding photographer to having a thriving elopement photography business on the East Coast, and she is sharing her story of how she did it.   During the conve...

Entrepreneurship comes with ups and downs. One day you're on top of the world and the next day, you feel like you want to burn everything to the ground. I've been there, but that's the last thing I want you to do. If you're ever in that moment where you feel like quitting your elopement photography business, I want you to ask yourself these 5 questions: ‌ What was your why for starting your elopem...

As an elopement photographer, you're probably at least somewhat familiar with the Leave No Trace principles. However, you may not fully know the controversies that surround them.   One of the biggest issues I see when it comes to these principles is the "Leave No Trace police." These are people who publicly shame others online for not perfectly following them. In fact, one of my mastermind student...

Making a career shift in the middle of your life is definitely a terrifying endeavor. However, my guest today has been able to navigate this challenge with a ton of success. I'm so excited to chat with Erica Swantek, an elopement photographer based in the Pacific Northwest, serving Oregon and Washington.   Erica started her career in forestry but realized the lack of creativity wasn't for her. Aft...

As elopement photographers, we do everything we can to make sure our couples feel incredible on their wedding day and in their photos, but how can we continue to help them look amazing throughout their day? That's where elopement adventure stylists come into play, and my guest today is here to share exactly what this looks like.   Crystal Gillis is a backcountry hair and makeup artist based in Col...

How can you streamline your workflows in your photography business to make life easier AND more profitable? My guest today, Karen Castor, an Arizona-based elopement photographer, shares her approach to automation, which has allowed her to work only a few hours a day while maintaining a six-figure income.   She shares her experience pivoting to elopement photography, balancing motherhood, and the i...

Curious about how I get such great results for my students and the members of The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️? It's all because of Google ads. I honestly think a lot of educators are proud of the fact that they do all of these things that don't involve paid ads, but I'm here to tell you that paid ads are freaking amazing!   They don't require any hustling, or chasing people down, or dancin...

Having an all-or-nothing mindset is a common challenge for so many. It can make you feel like you must achieve perfection all the time otherwise whatever you're doing is not worth trying. If you are currently struggling with this type of mindset, whether in your life or in your business, it can eventually lead to burnout and missed opportunities.   During this episode, Todd and I share our persona...

This episode is specifically for the elopement photographers out there listening. You've probably shot elopements in the same location many times, and you know that place like the back of your hand, but what about the locations you're less familiar with? How can you figure out the best location for your couple?   It's so much more than just finding the right location. It's about figuring out the p...

My special guest today is Brittany Hamann. Brittany is an elopement photographer and business coach based in Michigan, but she travels all over the place for elopements. She's photographed in Hawaii, Zion, Bryce, Glacier, and she was also one of the speakers at ElopementCon where she talked about how to become a magnet for your dream clients.   During our conversation, Brittany dives into her jour...

Today, I'm chatting with Rachel Traxler, a fellow podcaster, photographer, and business coach based in Wisconsin. During our conversation, we cover not only how she became a photographer and a coach, but also why client experience is so essential to focus on in your business.   Rachel is someone who is super passionate about client experience because it has made such a difference in her business....

Today we have a short and sweet episode hosted by Todd. As some of you know, we've had quite a bit going on over the past couple of weeks. We FINALLY closed and got the keys to our new house in Taos, New Mexico, and we also hosted ElopementCon last week which was freaking incredible. Todd is giving you an update on these 2 things, along with what's in store for STOKED.   The other thing we both wa...

You might think I'm crazy by saying this, but I believe that money is imaginary. I mean, yes, we can use cash and coins, but most of our money is usually in a bank account that we can transfer from one to the other. It's literally just pixels on a screen.   Today, we are talking about how this thought process can help you make positive changes in your life. I know that for us, thinking of money in...

Are you ready to leave the 9-5 grind and achieve success on your own terms? I'm so excited because today I'm chatting with Dustin Mushinski, a business and mindset coach who transitioned from having a successful corporate career in tech sales to a seven-figure entrepreneur. During our conversation, Dustin shares the moment she realized just how powerful mindset is and the fact that you can conscio...

You know what's really been bugging me lately? This unwarranted negativity and judgmental attitude towards educators. I've personally had negative comments on my ads of people saying things like, "There's already too many educators," "Everyone thinks they can be educators" and even, "People who can't make it as photographers will educate" and none of that is true. ‌ People seem to think that in or...