The Business Focused Photographer Podcast

Episode Title:   Five Tools That Keep Me From Quitting Guest:  Solo episode with Jill C. Smith We Discuss: Why photography is a great fit for creatives with ADHD — and where it can still get overwhelming Jill’s top 5 business tools that support her ADHD brain How a missed session became the wake-up call to use a scheduler Why she’s switching CRMs  again  — and what finally convinced her How ChatGP...

Episode Title:   Coaching Creatives with ADHD with Christi Johnson Guest:  Christi Johnson, co-owner of Stephanie & Christi Photography (Greenville, SC) and founder of The Dream Biz® Lab Christi’s coaching lens for ADHD creatives: designing businesses that work with your brain The “Joy Menu” framework (appetizers, entrees, desserts) to spark motivation on hard days Flexible structure vs rigid...

Episode Title:  The ADHD Brain & Running a Photography Business Guest:  Elena S Blair, Elena S Blair Photography, Seattle, WA We Discuss: How ADHD traits like hyperfocus, empathy, and intuition can become superpowers in creative entrepreneurship Why traditional work environments often stifle ADHD brains — and how self-employment offers freedom and flexibility The art of building systems that ...

Episode Title:   Systems That Stick for Neuro-Spicy Photographers Guest:  Emily Gbadamosi, Woodall Creative Co, Bay Area, CA We Discuss: Emily’s path from counselor and vice principal to photographer and systems educator Why so many photographers struggle with the backend of business How to pick a CRM that actually fits your brain (not a “one size fits all”) Building a smoother path from inquiry t...

Episode Title: Upselling Video Without Burnout Guest: Shayna Lloyd, Traveling Photographer & Videographer, Montana We Discuss: Shayna’s unexpected start as a “failed YouTube influencer” and how it shaped her story-driven approachThe difference between shooting photo-first vs. video-first and how that changes perspective Why video upsells don’t have to mean more stress or tech overloadShayna’s...

Episode Title:   The Business of Real Estate Photography Guest:  Clay Banks, Real Estate & Interiors Photographer, Catskills/Hudson Valley, NY We Discuss: Clay’s path from software developer and urbex hobbyist to in-demand property photographer Why COVID-era demand in the Catskills/Hudson Valley accelerated the niche Gear and approach: Sony a7 IV, 16–35mm + 50mm, DJI Air 2S, natural light only...

Episode Title:   IPS for Introverts Guest:  Katie Doherty, LaRousse Photo, Los Angeles, CA We Discuss: Katie’s path from elementary teacher to weddings to a focused boudoir and maternity studio What introversion really looks like in a client-facing business and why IPS can fit introverts Working fewer clients at higher price points to protect energy and creativity A day-in-the-life: editing and re...

Episode Title:   Building a Human-First Business with Rachel Larson Weaver Guest:  Rachel Larson Weaver, Photographer and Educator, Virginia We Discuss: The origin and evolution of Rachel’s long-form sessions How to build a business that prioritizes art and sustainability Why slow, intentional work can be more magnetic than polished systems The pitfalls of over-automation and over-preparation Shoo...

Episode Title:   Part Time On Purpose Guest:  Lydia Fine, Apollo and Ivy Photography, Iowa City, IA We Discuss: The decision to remain intentionally part-time as a photographer How Lydia balances a full-time marketing career with a thriving photo business Creative pricing strategies that support sustainability and growth The emotional and practical side of raising prices CRM systems and workflow e...

Episode Title:   The Business of Birth Photography Guest:  Rachel Utain-Evans,  Rachel Utain-Evans Photography , Philadelphia, PA We Discuss: The realities of being a birth photographer, doula, and videographer—sometimes all at once Why Rachel recommends doula training even for photographers How she documents unpredictable, low-light births with minimal gear Her approach to storytelling in films u...

Episode Title:   The Magic in Monotony Guest:  Fiona Margo, Family Photographer & Marketing Educator, Bainbridge Island, WA We Discuss: The power of consistent marketing (and why it beats chasing trends) How to market like a local—because that’s who’s booking you Creative ways to stay inspired without jumping ship every other week Why photographers need more strategy and less scrolling What it...

Episode Title A Simple Solution for Pricing Anxiety Guest:  Annemie Tonken, This Can't Be That Hard, Chapel Hill, NC We Discuss: Annemie’s transition from in-person sales to her Simple Sales System How life changes led her to develop a sustainable, scalable business model The psychology behind pricing and why confidence is key Creative problem-solving in both business and photography Implementing...

Episode Title:   Book More Clients with Local Partnerships Guest:  Tristin Tracy, Tristin Tracy Photography, Santa Barbara, CA We Discuss: How Tristin used her fine jewelry background to elevate her photography sales approach Why hotels (yes,  hotels ) have become her most profitable referral partners What makes vacationers an ideal audience for high-end photography services The strategy behind bu...

Episode Title:   Turn Your Senior Team Into a Marketing Powerhouse Guest:  Renee Bowen, Renee Bowen Photography We Discuss: How Renee transitioned from psychology to photography and built her business around senior portraits. The evolution of senior photography and why building a senior team is a powerful marketing strategy. How to create and manage a successful senior team that generates organic...

Episode Title:   A Case for Transparent Prices We Discuss: Why hiding your prices might be hurting your business How transparent pricing leads to more inquiries and fewer ghosts The psychological and market effects of pricing transparency How sharing your prices signals confidence in your work TL;DR: Transparent pricing encourages more inquiries because potential clients don’t feel like they’re wa...

Episode Title:   Navigating Taxes as a Photographer Guest:  Siobhan Coyne, Siobhan Coyne Photography, Galway, Ireland We Discuss: Siobhan's transition from accountant to full-time family photographer The financial challenges photographers face when starting out Pricing structures in Ireland vs. the U.S. The importance of setting up a separate business bank account Tracking expenses and tax write-o...

Episode Title: Blogging Strategies for Photographers with Jamie Bugbee-King We Discuss: • How a strategic blogging approach turns your photography website into a dynamic digital gallery • The importance of clear keyword strategies to avoid SEO pitfalls like keyword cannibalization • Building cornerstone content and location-specific pages to attract local clients • Leveraging tools like Google Ana...

Episode Title:   The Real Reason Photographers Quit—and How to Fix It We Discuss: Why most photographers don’t struggle with photography—but with business The power of combining one-on-one mentoring with a round table calls A week-by-week breakdown of  The Next Step  and how it helps photographers with pricing, marketing, and client experience Why creative minds make the best business minds—and ho...

Episode Title:   Posing Boys Guest:  Emily Cannata, Emily Cannata Photography, Driftwood, TX We Discuss: The unique challenges of photographing boys, especially teenagers Why boys often feel self-conscious in front of the camera and how to break through that Practical posing tips that work for boys from age 10 through senior portraits The importance of observation and communication in making boys...

Episode Title: 6 Free Foot-in-the-Door Offers for Photographers We Discuss: What foot-in-the-door offers (FITDOs) are and why they work How offering a free, no-obligation session builds trust and increases bookings Six FITDOs tailored for different photography niches TL;DR: Offering a strategic free session helps potential clients experience your work in a way that removes hesitation, builds trust...

Episode Title:  Photographing Neurodivergent Kids Guest:  Stacey Feasel, Feasible Photography, Seattle, Washington We Discuss: What neurodivergence is and how it impacts families. Stacey’s personal journey to becoming a lifestyle photographer specializing in neurodivergent families. How neurodivergence shaped Stacey’s approach to photography. Practical tips for photographers working with neurodive...

Episode Title:  Turning Offers Into Bookings We Discuss: How to market your offers effectively, no matter your price point or audience The importance of aligning your marketing timeline with your offer type Practical tips for marketing main offers, foot-in-the-door offers, and back-pocket offers Why relationship-building is the secret sauce to successful marketing TL;DR: This episode breaks down h...

Episode Title: Boutique School Photography Guest: Lindsey Turner, Lindsey Victoria Photography, Litchfield, CT We Discuss: Lindsey’s approach to black-and-white, fine art-style school photography The logistics of running a successful boutique school photography business Strategies for achieving an 85-95% purchase rate—nearly double the industry standard Building strong relationships with schools a...

Episode Title: Refining Your Offer Suite Guest: Solo Episode We Discuss: - The importance of curating a clear and intentional "menu" (offer suite) for your business. - Conducting an annual offer audit to analyze revenue, time investment, and profitability. - Structuring your offer suite with a main offer, back pocket offers, and foot-in-the-door offers. - Using an offer skeleton to plan marketing...

Off Camera Flash in Lifestyle Photography Guest: Lyndsay McNiff, Lyndsay Hannah Photography, Boston, MA We Discuss: - Lyndsay’s journey with off-camera flash - Overcoming challenges of bad indoor lighting - The technique she developed to use off-camera flash while maintaining a natural look - How to integrate off-camera flash into your lifestyle photography workflow TLDR - Off-camera flash can be...