The One Behind the Lens with Kate DeCoste

Your portfolio shows your work. A framework post shows why it looks the way it does. In this episode, I teach you how to write a post that explains one piece of your process so clearly that clients can picture it, and want it. I walk through the five-part framework I learned from Megan Yelaney in The Distinctive Edge, using my own pinned post as the example, and show you how to turn it into a reel...

If a parent landed on your Instagram today, would they know why you do this? In this episode, the first of a three-part series on what I learned at Megan Yelaney's 3-Day Content Fix, I teach the six steps I use to write an origin story that builds trust before a client ever reaches out. I walk through my own pinned post piece by piece, so you can hear each step in action, and then I show you how t...

After the Shoot: Galleries, Backups, and Prints with Pixieset Last episode I walked you through how I onboard clients, from the booking link all the way to session day. But here’s the thing, Shutter Squad: the session is really just the halfway point. How your clients receive their photos, how safe those images are, and how easy it is to get them on the wall is all part of what they remember about...

Stop Chasing Contracts: How I Automate Client Onboarding Hey Shutter Squad! Think about your last client. Not the session, just getting them booked and ready. How many emails was that? How many follow-ups? This week I’m talking CRMs, and if you’ve been quietly nodding along whenever that word comes up in photography groups, this one’s for you. I’ve used VSCO Workspace for years, but I’m finally se...

Not on Page One of Google? Let’s Fix That. Shutter Squad, have you ever Googled your niche and your city and not found yourself anywhere? I get it. I recently moved my business from Wahoo to Lincoln, which means I’ve been doing a full SEO overhaul of my own site. So I’m right there with you on this one. In this episode, I break SEO down into five simple, doable steps that help you start ranking in...

The One Brands Want to Hire: Positioning & Outreach with Paul Weaver To kick off Season 4, I'm joined by Paul Weaver, a Miami-based commercial photographer and videographer who shoots for health and wellness brands like Garmin and Prada Beauty. Paul is the founder of The Freelance Photographer and Director of Education at VSCO. We cover the difference between a niche and positioning, how A...

“I’m awkward.” “I don’t know how to pose.” “I hate having my picture taken.” “What do I do with my hands?” And the classic: “I’m not photogenic.” If you've ever said any of those things before getting in front of a camera, this episode is for you. In this bonus episode and the Season 3 finale of The One Behind the Lens — I'm wrapping up my Senior Session Playbook with the part that can mak...

The One About Building a Marketing System That Actually Works with Lindsay Pinchuk In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Pinchuk, an award-winning entrepreneur, consultant, and small business mentor who's among the less than 1% of female founders to successfully lead her company through an acquisition. Lindsay built her first company, Bump Club and Beyond, from just $500 into a 7-figure bra...

The One Where AI Can't Steal Your Joy with Jon Cheney In this episode, I sit down with Jon Cheney, founder and CEO of the General AI Proficiency Institute, to talk about what AI actually means for photographers and creatives — beyond the hype and the fear. Jon breaks down how AI is already working behind the scenes in your iPhone photos, how to use it to fix blown shots, remove distractions, a...

She's the Founder and CEO of a multi seven-figure, women-led social media agency and a former NBC News reporter, and in this episode Katie Love breaks down what really builds trust on social and it's not follower count. Hey Shutter Squad! This episode is packed for photographers and creatives. Katie Love, founder of Love Social Media, joins me to talk about why credibility matters more tha...

One of the biggest myths about senior pictures is that you need to buy an entirely new wardrobe. The truth? Some of the best outfits are already hanging in your closet. In this episode, you'll learn: In this episode of  The One Behind the Lens , Kate shares how to choose outfits that feel authentic, photograph beautifully, and help you feel confident in front of the camera. Whether you're...

When most people start planning senior pictures, they ask the same question: **"Where should we take them?"** But what if that's actually the wrong place to start? In this episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate pulls back the curtain on her senior session planning process and shares why the best senior sessions don't begin with a location—they begin with getting to know the per...

What does the future of photography actually look like? If you've been feeling overwhelmed by constant changes in social media, AI, marketing, and the business side of photography, you're not alone. This week, I'm joined by Eric Wittman , CEO of VSCO, for a conversation about where our industry is headed and why photographers should be paying just as much attention to their business as...

What if the key to growing your photography business isn't working more... but working differently? In this episode of The One Behind the Lens, I'm joined by family photographer, educator, homeschooling mom of three, and founder of the Realign Retreat, Tiffany Crenshaw. Tiffany has intentionally built a photography business around her season of life instead of trying to force her life arou...

Have you ever felt like people wanted you to pick just one thing? Maybe you're a photographer who also teaches. A creative who's been dreaming about starting a podcast. A business owner with an idea you've been afraid to pursue because you're worried people will think you're "all over the place." In this solo episode of  The One Behind the Lens , Kate shares why being...

What happens when you've built the business everyone thinks they should want... and discover you're miserable? In this episode of The One Behind the Lens , Kate sits down with New York City pet photographer, educator, and entrepreneur Jen Hillenga to talk about the winding road that led her from portrait photography and million-dollar businesses to photographing dogs in one of the most com...

Feeling behind on your marketing? You're not alone. In this solo episode of  The One Behind the Lens , Kate is serving as your unofficial marketing cheerleader and helping you create a simple, realistic marketing plan for July—without burnout, overwhelm, or spending hours staring at a blank content calendar. Whether you're a photographer, creative entrepreneur, or small business owner, thi...

🎙️ Episode Overview What if your blog didn’t have to feel like a content treadmill? In this episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate sits down with content strategist and High Leverage Content creator Jana Osofsky to talk about blogging in a way that actually supports your business instead of draining it. Jana introduces her “capsule blog” strategy — a system built around creating 12–20 intentiona...

What happens when your photography business outgrows the space you once dreamed of having? In this bonus episode of The One Behind the Lens, I’m sharing the story behind my decision to officially close my photography studio location after 14 years. Since opening the studio in March of 2012, this space has been home to thousands of sessions, countless memories, and so many different seasons of my p...

🎙️ Episode Overview What does it really take to be a wedding photographer—and is it actually for everyone? In this episode of The One Behind the Lens , Kate sits down with wedding photographer Marissa Naylor to talk about the real, behind-the-scenes truth of the industry. Marissa has been photographing weddings for over a decade and has built a business rooted in connection, storytelling, and crea...

What does it really take to build a successful senior photography business today? In this episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate sits down with senior photographer and educator Leslie Kerrigan, founder of Seniorologie. Leslie has been photographing seniors for nearly two decades and has built a thriving business along with an education platform that helps photographers create profitable, sustain...

What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why Pinterest works differently than social media — and why that matters for photographersHow searchable, helpful content attracts clients long after you post itWhy consistency beats perfection when it comes to long-term visibilityHow one blog post can turn into multiple chances to be discoveredSimple weekly habits that help Pinterest quietly send inquiries your w...

Episode Description: As photographers, it’s easy to think upgrading for a new year means buying new gear. But after years in business, Kate has learned that smoother workflows and better systems matter just as much — if not more. In this solo episode of The One Behind the Lens , Kate walks through the core systems and base gear she relies on to keep her business running smoothly heading into 2026....

🎙️ The One Where Photographers Build a Business They LoveClient Experience, Confidence & Connection with Rachel Larsen WeaverIn this episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate DeCoste sits down with photographer and educator Rachel Larsen Weaver for a deep, honest conversation about what it really means to build a photography business you actually love. Rachel shares how she’s created a body-aff...

In this solo episode of The One Behind the Lens , Kate DeCoste dives into one of the most overlooked (and most powerful) parts of building a sustainable photography business: repeat clients. This isn’t about luck, magic, or chasing constant new inquiries. It’s about what happens after the gallery is delivered — and how the way you communicate, follow up, and make people feel turns one-time booking...