This Can't Be That Hard

I used to think I had a "black thumb" when it came to gardening, but back in 2020 when I had time to pay attention to my yard for the first time ever, I was surprised to discover that I had a bit more of a knack for it than I realized!  Maybe that's less surprising now that I look back and see all the parallels between growing a garden and running a thriving business. Many of the sk...

Every photographer reaches a point in their business where they're ready for the floodgates to open. You flip the switch on the virtual "open for business" sign, take a deep breath, and hope that the clients rush in. More often than not, though, we spend a good chunk of our businesses' early years (and sometimes later years) trying to find our people... and that process can be...

There's a lot of talk in the photo community these days about inquiries being down, which inevitably leads to talk (and a whole lot of insecurity) about pricing. The truth is, pricing may be a factor in the decreased inquiry equation... but it's only one factor. And the truth is that changing your prices without taking the time to evaluate the broader equation may do more harm than good....

It's often when I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place I come up with my most brilliant ideas... and I know I'm not the only one. Pressure has a way of forcing us to think outside the box and get creative about solutions we might not have otherwise considered.  Paula Brennan, my guest today, likewise found a creative solution in a time of need, and it revolutionized her business....

Pricing is probably one of the hottest topics in the photography education space. As someone who feels so strongly about helping photographers price themselves profitably that I've made it a cornerstone of my education business, I am always excited to bring you a fresh take on pricing... and today's show is exactly that. This episode features a guest appearance by Kristin Sweeting, who&a...

When I first started in this business, branding and online presence were not my strong suits. Over the years, though, I've come to realize how important it is to represent yourself well online... and after going through a massive website overhaul, I am even more attuned to how much work it takes to do that on a website! Enter KP and Jessie from Inkpot Creative. Today on the show, they are sha...

I consider myself a systems and workflow fanatic. Whether it's a system or a piece of tech, I geek out about tools that help us optimizing and streamline our workflows, not just because I've experienced firsthand how those tools can make or break you in business, but because it genuinely brings me joy to watch people get hours (days! weeks!!!) of their year back by investing in the few h...

This week, I'm branching out a bit from the strictly business talk to dive into the topic of unconscious programming. Specifically, how the thought patterns and beliefs we form as children can impact our creativity and businesses as adults, particularly around things like money and worthiness. Renee Bowen is a photographer and mindset coach for creatives, and her area of expertise is helping...

Simple Sales turned four years old at the beginning of the year, and since it first landed on the scene back in 2020, thousands of portrait photographers have used it to run more profitable, sustainable businesses. Today's episode is an interview with one such student, Mackenzie Romagni. MacKenzie signed up for the Simple Sales Blueprint last year and is on the show today to share both her ex...

Everyone's journey as a photographer is different, and learning to trust the ride can be really difficult... especially in this age of social media, where comparisonitis runs rampant. Today's guest is my long time friend Jessica Arden (I even shot her wedding!), who lovingly describes herself as a "hot mess success." Jessica's journey as a photographer has taken several tu...

I recently read a quote by Seth Godin where he distinguished between long work and hard work, describing long work as routine, consistent effort without risk that most everyone makes, and hard work as the innovative, risky, and potentially transformative efforts that some people are willing to make.  Both have their place, but there is a point at which just putting in the hours without taking the...

Almost every photographer I know has a love/hate relationship with Instagram. On one hand, it provides a free and relatively easy way for us to showcase our work and reach new clients. On the other hand, the amount of time it takes to create enough content to stay on top of trends and the algorithm can be enough to send you over the deep end. But what if there was a way to hack the system?  Today,...

I wish I could wave a wand and help every photographer see their superpower - that one thing they do better than anyone else - so that they could use it to own their place in the market. Since I'm (sadly) not a fairy godmother, I'm doing the next best thing by bringing on Casey Fatchett of The Nerdy Photographer. Casey and I geek out on marketing, SWOTs, and other tools you can use to ta...

Remember that feeling of first love? That intoxicating, overwhelming feeling of being completely obsessed with that person, to the point where they were all you could think about day and night? Finding photography can be a lot like falling in love (and starting a business is like that first big commitment)... but after that initial spark fades, where do we land?  Today I'm talking about the 4...

In the realm of marketing tools, your website reigns supreme, but navigating the sea of advice on its design can be daunting, to say the least. That's why I'm thrilled to welcome Kelsey Christine, a web designer who focuses on serving photographers. Today, Kelsey will guide us through the dos, don'ts, and latest trends in website design for photographers. She'll offer practical...

It's no secret that I've automated and outsourced everything but the absolute necessities in my photography business, but it wasn't always that way. For the first 7 years of my business I did it ALL myself... and it nearly killed me. When necessity forced me to change my approach, I hoped it wouldn't destroy the personal, high-touch brand I'd worked so hard to cultivate. I...

I have long believed that the intersection of your (multiple) talents is where the magic for your business lies. So many of us have skills that we could bring to the table, but often don't because we think they have nothing to do with photography - or that they will somehow water down our photography business. Amanda Dudzik turns that notion on its head.  In our chat today, Amanda shares how...

Every photographer has had the experience of dealing with an unhappy client (and if you haven't yet, you will at some point!). There's no two ways about it: that situation sucks, and will probably have you second-guessing yourself and your business.  Today I am talking with Rachel Utain-Evans about how to handle difficult conversations with unhappy clients while protecting your business...

Today I'm sharing a story I find pretty mortifying. As a professional photographer, I have dedicated countless hours to not only organizing my clients' photos, but also preaching the importance of good backups and organization... ...and yet the shameful truth is that my own family's photos are mostly a jumbled, unedited mess. Suffice it to say when I sat down to put together a slide...

When I find a way to work smarter, up-level my client experience, and stand out from the crowd - especially when the strategy is so easy to implement - the first place I want to share it is right here on the show! Dayna's joining me to nerd out about not one but two new pieces of affordable tech that we've been using and loving, and that we think have the ability to uplevel your photogra...

It's often hard for clients to have a clear vision about how they can or should display their photographs in their homes, so getting them to purchase products and larger print collections can be challenging. Family photographer Sharisse Rohan is using customized digital wall mockups to overcome that hurdle with her clients and it's working brilliantly!  In this episode, Sharisse shares h...

Right about now, a lot of portrait photographers are crawling out of their slow-season dens and gearing up for the inquiries, sessions, editing, etc. that come with the change in weather.  Most of us spent the slower months optimizing our businesses behind the scenes - which is great! - but the transition from learning and planning to actually implementing can be a rough one. If you're not eq...

One of the main things that can set you apart from your competition is the customer experience you provide. This isn't limited to how you handle issues when they arise, but includes the way your clients feel when they work with you - from the moment they reach out to inquire with you until the moment they write a review and each step in between.  Customer service will always be a cornerstone...

An estimated 1 in 5 people fall on the neurodivergent spectrum, which means that you have probably worked with a client who is on that spectrum… even if you didn't know it at the time. As we all strive to give our clients an elevated experience, taking stock of how we can better accommodate all of our clients’ needs should be at the forefront of that conversation.  So this week, I'm talk...

Most portrait photographers are accidental entrepreneurs - they're talented artists who wake up one day and think, "hey... maybe I could actually make some money doing this thing I love!" Fast forward a few years and the vast majority of those artists have closed up shop, not because they didn't have the talent, but because running a business - no matter how small - can be supe...