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Inhalt bereitgestellt von Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, Interviewer, Podcaster and Owner of Impact Images, Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, and Owner of Impact Images. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, Interviewer, Podcaster and Owner of Impact Images, Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, and Owner of Impact Images oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.
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<div class="span index">1</div> <span><a class="" data-remote="true" data-type="html" href="/series/profits-through-podcasting">Profits Through Podcasting</a></span>


Profits Through Podcasting is your go-to resource for turning engaged listeners of your health-focused podcast into paying clients. Learn from health and wellness entrepreneurs who successfully employ a podcast as their main marketing tool, generating quality leads and growing their business. Whether you're a doctor, chiropractor, clinician, health business coach, therapist, or an entrepreneur in any other health or wellness related field, so long as you have a podcast, Profits Through Podcasting is for you! Host Joel Oliver, owner of East Coast Studio, has assisted hundreds of entrepreneurs in producing successful podcasts. Hear their stories and strategies and find out how to turn your health-focused podcast into a lead-generating machine while growing your authority.
PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast
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Inhalt bereitgestellt von Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, Interviewer, Podcaster and Owner of Impact Images, Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, and Owner of Impact Images. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, Interviewer, Podcaster and Owner of Impact Images, Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, and Owner of Impact Images oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.
Photography business and marketing success with strategies from the pros
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153 Episoden
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Inhalt bereitgestellt von Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, Interviewer, Podcaster and Owner of Impact Images, Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, and Owner of Impact Images. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, Interviewer, Podcaster and Owner of Impact Images, Andrew Hellmich: Photographer, and Owner of Impact Images oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.
Photography business and marketing success with strategies from the pros
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Tom Trevatt of www.tomtrevatt.com and I have been exchanging emails since 2021, when he completed the little questionnaire on the PhotoBizX website to receive some personalised interview suggestions. At the time, he was into headshot photography, working part-time as a photographer, and looking to attract more clients. In 2022, he told me, “ Business was going well. I’ve had quite a profitable few months and am considering moving into a much bigger studio – it’ll be a big move and quite expensive, but I think it will be worth it in the long term.” Two years later, in 2024, I heard another update from Tom… I have now had two decent studios in central London and have grown the business to six figures. However, right now I am in the process of building out a small home studio to replace the separate studio, as I want to keep more of the revenue I make rather than let my studio landlord have it! I have also decided to drop below the VAT threshold of £90k for this next year or two in order to grow the business's reputation without such a massive tax liability. For me, this business was never about trying to make as much money as possible but about giving me the kind of life I want to lead—for the time being, that's perfectly possible under 90k. Finally, in 2025, I had this update from Tom, “At the end of last year, I secured a contract to photograph 530 lawyers at a global law firm, and it has had a life and business-changing impact. The contract itself is worth over £200k and will likely include ongoing updates to pick up the new hires every month, so over the next few years, the value of this one customer may exceed half a million!” So, within the first two months of the year, I’ve smashed past that VAT threshold of 90k and am careening towards a turnover this year of £300k or more, which is wild to me. In this interview, Tom shares how a $200k contract changed everything in his headshot photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: From part-time to full-time: How Tom turned a side hustle into a six-figure studio Are UK headshot photographers falling behind? A frank look at the market From uni halls to studio walls — how a lockdown pivot became a thriving business Running a business and staying creative? Tom’s figured out how to do both Why blending in with your headshots is costing you — and what to do instead Actors want standout headshots — but are you keeping up with what they expect? Want to rank on page one of Google? Tom used a podcast to get there Fast shoots = forgettable photos. Why slowing down has been Tom’s game changer Still undercharging? Tom shares how he priced for profit (and stuck with it) Burnout’s real — here’s why Tom caps his sessions and brought in a studio manager Corporate clients want the best and a deal — how to deliver without losing out Google, Instagram, word-of-mouth — what’s actually working to bring in clients Why mentoring isn’t just good for the industry — it’s good for business too What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. At the end of last year, I secured a contract to photograph 530 lawyers at a global law firm, and it has had a life and business changing impact. The contract itself is worth over 200,000 pounds and will likely include ongoing updates to pick up new hires every month. So over the next few years, the value of this one customer may exceed half a million pounds. So within the first two months of the year, I've smashed past the VAT threshold of 90k and I'm careening towards a turnover this year of over 300,000 pounds, which is wild to me. – Tom Trevatt You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. The about me or about us page of a website can be and should be thought of as a marketing opportunity. – Tom Trevatt In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Tom shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. For me, this business was never about trying to make as much money as possible, but about giving me the kind of life I want to lead for the time being that's perfectly possible under 90k. – Tom Trevatt If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Tom, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. How to Sell Like a Mofo – One class down, one to go. It's not too late to join us! If you’ve ever said “I hate selling”… this one’s for you. No sleazy tactics. No pushy scripts. Just a real-world sales process that works — taught by a working photographer who's doing this every day. ( Yep, the same legend behind “Advertise Like a Mofo” – Richard Grenfell is back.) This live 2-part training is made for photographers who want to: Feel confident on sales calls (even if you hate the phone) Sell more, without sounding salesy Set up your shoot to sell more images before you even pick up the camera Handle objections, talk pricing, and walk clients through the sale with ease Session 2: Thursday May 22 @ 8am AEST Replays available if you can’t make it live Just USD$397 (price doubles after the live calls) Register early and get “Advertise Like a Mofo” FREE (normally USD$197) or another awesome Masterclass. Head here for all the details and to grab your spot: https://learn.photobizx.com/sell-like-a-mofo/ If you’re a working photographer and want to sell more without selling your soul — this training is for you. Sales With Fundy – One tool, one workflow, one game-changing training! If you’re still running your sales sessions from Lightroom or a gallery… you’re missing out. Big time. This FREE live workshop is your shortcut to higher sales, smoother sessions, and happier clients — using Fundy Designer. No pressure. No salesy tactics. Just a proven workflow taught by John Glaser who use it to sell $3K+ orders every day. (You’ve heard John on the podcast. Now he’s teaming up with me to show you exactly how he does it.) This live training is made for photographers who want to: Turn “just digitals” into wall art buyers Follow a step-by-step sales system that works Create emotional, high-impact presentations Feel confident selling—without being pushy or awkward Live Class: Thirsday, May 29 @ 6am AEST ( click here for your local ) Can’t make it live? Replay included 100% free – but spots are limited Download Fundy and follow along live with your own photos Grab your spot here: https://learn.photobizx.com/sales-with-fundy/ Stop leaving money on the table. Build a sales system that works. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. I've now had two decent studios in central London and have grown the business to six figures. However, right now, I'm in the process of building out a small home studio… I've also decided to drop below the VAT threshold… for the next year or two, in order to grow the reputation of the business without such a massive tax liability. – Tom Trevatt If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. The way that Google looks at the website is that it is useful to a person interested in what I'm talking about… as far as I understand, the way the SEO works these days is that it's trying as best as it can to rank websites that are good for a person to look at, not for a robot to look at. – Tom Trevatt Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Here is the latest review… ★★★★★ Love This Podcast and Andrew's Emails Via Google Reviews by Oklahoma family and newborn photographer Charis Kaufman in the USA on May 16th, 2025. Love this podcast and Andrew's emails so much. He is an encouraging and inquisitive interviewer. I appreciate how he asks so many questions and gets into the nitty gritty of things. Very educational and helpful, and the interviews of all genres give lots of good info for any photographer. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Tom Trevatt Website Tom Trevatt on Instagram Tom Trevatt on LinkedIn Tom Trevatt on Facebook 362: Tony Taafe – Build a profitable headshot photography business by allowing clients to spend more 564: Matt Badenoch – Follow your street photography passion as a working wedding photographer You've got to have a content channel, whatever that content channel is, you've got to be fully on board with some kind of content channel. – Tom Trevatt Thank you! Big thanks to Tom for coming on the show and being so generous with his time and story. It’s been a real privilege to follow his journey over the past few years—from that first email to where he is now. I hope the interview was packed with takeaways and ideas for you to use in your own photography business. You can get good photographs in a short amount of time, but you don't get beautiful, insightful or communicative photographs in that time. And what I really care about is building people's career opportunities. – Tom Trevatt That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew Episode Transcript Email Download New Tab 617: Tom Trevatt - How a $200k Contract Changed Everything in His Headshot Business Andrew Hellmich: Today's guest and I have been exchanging emails since 2021 when he completed the little questionnaire on the PhotobizX website to receive some personalized interview suggestions. Now, at the time, he was into headshot photography, working part time as a photographer, and looking to attract more clients. Then in 2022, a year later, he told me, business was going well. He said, at the time, "I've had quite a profitable few months, and I'm considering moving into a much bigger studio. It'll be a big move and quite expensive, but I think it'll be worth it in the long term". Two years later, in 2024 I heard another update. He said, "I've now had two decent studios in central London and have grown the business to six figures. However, right now, I'm in the process of building out a small home studio to replace the separate studio, as I want to keep more of the revenue I make, rather than let my studio landlord have it, I've also decided to drop below the VAT threshold, that's the tax threshold of 90,000 pounds, for the next year or two, in order to grow the reputation of the business without such a massive tax liability". And he said, which I loved, "For me, this business was never about trying to make as much money as possible, but about giving me the kind of life I want to lead for the time being that's perfectly possible under 90k", and finally, in 2025 this year, I had this update from Tom. "At the end of last year, I secured a contract to photograph 530 lawyers at a global law firm, and it has had a life and business changing impact. The contract itself is worth over 200,000 pounds and will likely include ongoing updates to pick up new hires every month. So over the next few years, the value of this one customer may exceed half a million pounds. So within the first two months of the year, I've smashed past the VAT threshold of 90k and I'm careening towards a turnover this year of over 300,000 pounds", which is wild to me. I'm talking about the super talented and very busy Tom Trevatt, and I'm rapt to have him with us now. Tom, welcome. Tom Trevatt: Andrew, thank you very much for having me. It's been a long time coming. We've been exchanging emails for a while. I think you were the, probably the first podcast that I started listening to when I started my photography journey. And I still listen, at least, well, nearly every week, still to what you're putting out. And it's really fantastic. I think the major reason why I've enjoyed listening to what you do is because I listen to success stories. I hear people being successful from all over the world in this kind of, well, not just obviously portraiture, headshot photography, of course, there's wedding photographers, there's other sorts of photographers, pet photographers, who seem to have a lot of, and it's great just to hear kind of people have levels of success that you just didn't think possible before you stepped into this industry. So it's great to have that kind of experience. So thank you. Andrew Hellmich: That's so good. Did you feel that, or did you have the impression that it was even harder in the UK than, say, in America or in in Australia? Tom Trevatt: Yeah, I think so, certainly, from people I speak to, the environment feels very different. I've got a lot of contacts all around the world in the headshot game, mostly in the States and, well, North America, so the United States and Canada. And certainly, it feels a little bit easier to make kind of the large figures in North America than it does in the UK. Not really sure about Australia. It's a little bit of an unknown quantity to me. But yeah, certainly there are studios doing very well in the UK, but I think there's a lot of people not doing exceptionally, exceptionally well, if that makes sense, it could be to do with location potentially. Andrew Hellmich: Well, yeah, that's interesting. So when you hear an interview with, say, a successful headshot photographer based in the US or in Canada. Do you automatically, are you thinking, "Oh, well, no wonder they're successful, they're in the States"? Tom Trevatt: To some extent. But I mean, one of the reasons why I think they're successful in the States is because people, like people who work in a kind of corporate environment or business environment in the US, recognize they need photographs of themselves, and they need very professionally taken photographs themselves. And so, you know, you pop onto a website of, let's say, a law firm, and they've all got their very sort of smiley, toothy grins, very well taken, well-lit photographs. It's not always the case in the UK. I go on to, you know, I was on a very, very sort of website of a VFX company that's at the top of their game the other day. We're having, I was having a call with them, and I was looking at their headshots, and at least three of the senior management team were photographs taken with iPhones, you know, selfies against a white wall. And it just, it feels like that wouldn't lie in the States. So probably there's a, there's a kind of a greater level of value given to the kind of professionalized image. Andrew Hellmich: So with that particular website that, do you say VFX? Is that Video FX? Tom Trevatt: So, yeah, like, kind of, if you imagine a CGI scene in a big film, they do that. So they're the kind of top of their game. Andrew Hellmich: Right. Big company, okay. So were you employed to photograph the heads, or were you just on their website? Tom Trevatt: I was having a phone call with them as a kind of inquiry before I submitted a quote. Andrew Hellmich: Okay. So did you, or did you find out why they're asking for new headshots now? Or did they get some bad feedback or something? Tom Trevatt: Maybe they got some bad feedback, one of the things I always say to them when I have these kind of conversations, is that the About Me or About Us page of a website can be and should be thought of as a marketing opportunity, because it tells a story about who the people are that work in that company. Tell the story about, you know, what type of person you might be working with, doesn't tell a very good story if it's just a iPhone selfie, does it? So, you know. Andrew Hellmich: Agree, agree. Mate, let me take you back to 20. When did you start? Was it 2019, did you say? Tom Trevatt: Uh, no, I started just in the middle of the pandemic. So I finished my PhD in 2020. Right as we hit the first lockdown here in the UK. I submitted my PhD, and at that time, I'd been DJing as a side hustle, and I was like, "What the hell am I going to do with my next six months to year, however long?" And because I'd done a Photography Art Foundation over 20 years previously, I was like, "Well, maybe photography is something I can do". Picked up a camera and started going out and doing street photography the first year, obviously, we're all in lockdown. You can't, you know, do any kind of people into a studio or close proximity. So, you know, empty streets look quite fun and interesting that someone has just got them with their hands on a new camera. So, yeah, I spent a year doing that, and then the following year, in May 2021, I opened up the business, really. Andrew Hellmich: And what was the PhD in? Tom Trevatt: Art. Art and Politics. Andrew Hellmich: Well, okay, so did you, I mean, did you foresee a career in that line of work? Tom Trevatt: I started my PhD with the idea that I was going to go into academia, and I still am. I teach at university, and I've taught at the University. I teach out, which is Goldsmiths in London. I've taught there for 12 years, 13 years, and have taught in total somewhere in the region of 17-18, years in total, in universities. And I love it. It's fantastic. It's just that from the start of my PhD to the end of my PhD, the landscape of academia changed quite drastically in the UK. A lot of universities lost funding, lots of funding cuts, various different kind of mismanagement. My university in particular, has been pretty badly managed. I don't want to get into it because it's a long conversation, but the landscape changed so significantly that I recognized that there wasn't really an opportunity to make a career in academia in the way that there had been maybe a decade previously. So I made the decision that I would stay in academia, but it would just become something that was something like it feels almost like a hobby now, which is hilarious, because I've done a BA, an MA and a PhD, and now teaching at university feels a little bit like a hobby, but what it means is that I've got this kind of other thing I love doing that takes me a little bit away from the photography, but the photography supports my life financially. I don't have to worry about academia being the place that I get the money from. Andrew Hellmich: So where do you get to be creative? Is it in academia or the photography? Tom Trevatt: In both. Andrew Hellmich: Okay, that's nice. So you do you feel like, like with your photography business, I mean, it sounds like it's hugely successful, and we'll get into that, but it's, I mean, it's a real business. Do you feel like a business operator, or do you feel like a photographer? Tom Trevatt: A bit of both. I think, without really planning it this way, I have got very interested in, "How do you market a business? How do you run a business? How do you build a brand? How do you build an identity?". You know, those kinds of things, partly because listening to you interview these amazing guests, week in, week out. But also, you know, I think probably every week since I started, I would watch, listen to read multiple things about running businesses and marketing and branding and so on. This year is the year that I get on top of the finances. So I actually just started working with an amazing business coach, and she is helping me with all the kind of, you know, understanding all of the kind of tax and finance aspects of running a business, which has been, because it's not stuff you really kind of get taught. And obviously, when you're there by yourself, you're like, "Well, I don't really want to look at the numbers stuff. I want to look at all the fun things, like, how do I market my company?". So yeah, I do feel like I'm running a business, but at the same time, like, the thing I get most excited about is taking beautiful photographs. Andrew Hellmich: Right. And we haven't really talked about your photography, but I mean, I look at your Instagram feed and even your website, to some extent, but particularly your Instagram feed, where it looks like you're adding sort of more of your creative or artistic work that are still headshots, and the work is absolutely fantastic, like it's you come across as a true photographer when I look at that feed, whereas when I look at some headshot photography business websites, it's very corporatized. They look fantastic, they're well lit, they're beautiful, but I wouldn't say they're overly creative, where your headshots on your Instagram and some of your website are. So do you feel like you purposely broken away from that traditional headshot photographer mold? Tom Trevatt: Yeah, I think so, to some extent. I feel the way that I've done this is somewhat purposeful. On the one hand, it's to fulfill my need, creative need, you know, I don't want to say that I take photographs that look like cardboard cutouts or whatever. And, you know, I want to take photographs that people feel something about when they look at, whether that's of themselves or whether that's of other people. And, you know, I want to create kind of connections with those photographs. So there's a story that comes out of it by doing these things. And yeah, you know, a lot of the work that I've been doing recently, over the past couple of months, has been even more creative. I've been sort of throwing movement in there, and some kind of things that could be like, close to dance photography, those kinds of things, mostly just to satisfy that kind of creative itch that we all have, and I've got the capacity to do so, you know, I don't show on the Instagram, certainly, I don't show any of the corporate work that I do, because Instagram feels to me to be a kind of more of a scrapbook, notebook kind of place, rather than necessarily trying to sell, you know, "This is the thing that I can do for you", and maybe more artists and creative types follow me on Instagram like actors. So, you know, a good portion of my clients are actors. You know, 50% of my clients are actors. The other 50% are kind of, you know, creative business owners, public speakers, lecturers, writers, therapists, those kinds of things. So they also like the creative side of the photography. You know, they come to me because of that. Andrew Hellmich: Right. But is there any fear then that say the law firm that I mentioned in the intro, which sounds like a huge contract, a huge opportunity for you. Is there any fear that you know, a company like that comes to your website and says, "Oh, this guy's a bit left to feel like he's almost a bit too arty for us?". Tom Trevatt: Yeah, it's possible. I mean, you know.. Andrew Hellmich: I mean, obviously they didn't. Tom Trevatt: Yeah. I mean, they hired me for their own reasons, and I know that the person who was taking some photographs for them the year before me was a fashion photographer who had, like, a massive outfit, you know, like, I don't know, like a 10 person strong team going in there, and that was, I think, for them, they wanted something that felt a bit creative, but that was maybe overkill. So they came to me, and it's like, my team's like a three person strong team with me, my assistants and hair and makeup. And it's like, that's all you really need. Andrew Hellmich: Since can't be, I mean, it sounds like they invest a lot in photography, if they've only had their headshots done two or months ago. Now they're bringing you in to do the same. Tom Trevatt: So they had a kind of test session with a small number of their team previously, and then reassessed, and then brought me in. So they hadn't got the kind of full gamut of the whole team taken at that point. I think maybe 15 people were photographed previously, and then they changed their mind. I don't know the story. I just know that there was somebody else before me, so it gives me some inclination that they actually wanted to be creative, because they were hiring people who were more creative, rather than the kind of your kind of corporate style headshot photographer. Andrew Hellmich: But that being said, that is not every company. Tom Trevatt: Sure, sure, like you know, 90% of the people who call me, they say they want something a little bit creative, but when the quote comes in, they don't reply, you know. You know what's probably happened. Andrew Hellmich: Yes. All right, we'll explore a little bit more with pricing in a minute. You mentioned there that you know 50% of your clients are made up of actors, and I think other creators, you said. I was under the impression I hear from other headshot photographers that actors are a terrible target market to go after because they've got no money. Have you found the opposite? Tom Trevatt: I mean, there's an awful lot of hedgehog photographers in London specializing in actors. Obviously, London's a very, very big market for that, but I wouldn't say they've got no money. I mean, I would say that they're motivated to get good quality work, because they recognize that they can make or break their career based on a small handful of so called marketing collateral. So one of the most important thing being their headshot. So I think that you know, if someone comes to me, they recognize that they are spending a bit of, you know, quite a chunk of change, really. It's not your kind of "Come in for 50 minutes, change your T shirt twice, and bug off", kind of thing. You know, my sessions are long. So the actor market ebbs and flows. And I'm part of a WhatsApp group that's full of headshot photographers, and we've been talking about how the actor market has dropped off recently, and that is due to a lot of factors, you know. Various streaming services apparently have cut their budgets. You know, there was a SAG-AFTRA strikes. There's been all sorts of, sort of changes in the US, and that does have an impact on what's happening over here as well. And of course, yeah, like, a very, very large percentage of actors are working in McDonald's or whatever, to, you know, make ends meet, while they become successful. But at the same time, a lot of my clients are in shows. They're in some form of production, you know, they're coming to me, and then they're going straight away after this to do a stage production of something, so they're working, you know, I don't think it's as bleak as maybe it might seem from the outside. Andrew Hellmich: And again, I mean, I'm guilty of this because I've interviewed so many headshot photographers based in the US. Maybe it's more in the US that I see that or I get that feeling. But yeah, certainly sounds different from your side. Tom Trevatt: I think that might just be that. If you run a business, you can put it on the company credit card, you know, or, you know, if you run a business, you recognize what marketing spend is, you know. You and I, we can sit there and you can say, "Okay, I can rationalize spending X amount of money on this new piece of whatever it is, because it means that it helps my business." But with somebody who's, you know, two years into acting, or straight out of university, or whatever it is, it's not quite the same rationalization process. They know they need to get headshots, but they don't necessarily go, "Okay, what's the step between a getting a good headshot and getting that role? Is this photographer as good as this photographer? “Maybe. You know, whereas you know, you might say, "Actually, there are." Yeah, you might say that there's some kind of benefit from working with somebody that is, you know, from what I would suggest is that people look at the way that your values overlap. And, you know, let's say someone comes to my website, and they go, "Oh, I really like the way that that person, you know, he works with them for a long period of time, rather than just for like, an hour and a half or whatever." So, yeah, I don't know, I don't know if I've seen but I saw a drop off a little bit at the end of last year, but it seems to have picked up a little bit again this year. Andrew Hellmich: Ebbs and flows. Tom Trevatt: I couldn't tell you exactly. It's difficult to get a real, real clear overview of the entire industry just from being one tiny little portion of it. Andrew Hellmich: Sure, sure. Let me ask you about the VAT threshold. And like we all have different tax thresholds in the countries that we live in, but the UK VAT threshold seems to be a little bit more severe. There's so many photographers out there that I've interviewed that like they're desperately doing everything they can to be as close to the threshold without going over it so and I think in the intro and you told me that it's 90,000 pounds, the way I understand it, which is sounds crazy to me, is that if you go over 90,000 pounds, then you're taxed on everything you made, including up to that 90,000 pounds. Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: Rather than just everything above it, is that right? Tom Trevatt: Yes. So unlike other forms of taxation, where it is kind of over the threshold taxation with VAT, it's once you hit that threshold, you get taxed on everything. This is not financial advice. Andrew Hellmich: Sure, sure. Tom Trevatt: I'm not a tax consultant, and my knowledge of this is not as good as it possibly could be, but yeah, you are kind of clear of VAT up until that 90 and then after that, you do have to pay 20% on everything. Obviously, what VAT is is essentially moving money around, because then obviously, once you become VAT registered, you can claim VAT back off your purchases, but you're still paying a significant amount of tax. It might end up being less than 20% because you're able to claw back some of it from, say, buying a computer, buying a camera, those kinds of things. But it is a very frustrating and it's a flat tax as well. It's not a progressive tax. It doesn't go up like 5% 10% 15% it goes straight from zero to 20, which is a frustrating leap. So you need to go from 90 to 150k in a big leap. Andrew Hellmich: 150, why not just 110? Tom Trevatt: To make sense of the kind of the difference in those two, those two figures, it feels to me like you'd have to have that significant jump, because you'd almost be working, it's almost like a figure way. It's like, "Oh, I could, I could go to 110 but then I'm just getting the same money for, you know, 20% more work. So why not put in 50% more work and get to that kind of the slightly better figure where you're taking home a bit more money?" I guess it's one of those calculations or juggles that we all do at some point and we make decisions whether we're going to go above it or not, and I had chosen not to, until I got this good contract. Andrew Hellmich: Right. So it's just interesting to hear you voice what you just said, because in my head, I'm thinking, "Okay, I've just got to get to 110, which is a stretch, but it's not a massive stretch from 90". Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: But in your head, you're thinking, "I've got to get to 150 to really make it worthwhile." Tom Trevatt: To make the extra effort worthwhile, I think you have to kind of, 150 is not a hard and fast number. It was just a figure I had kind of in my head when I was doing the calculations. That was like, "Well, then yeah, okay, I can afford to continue running the business in exactly the same way as I was doing before, having the studio and those kinds of things." But yeah, 110 yes, but to really, kind of get the benefit out of that jump, you want to go a little bit higher I think. Andrew Hellmich: Yeah, that makes sense. So in my head, I was thinking, "Okay, anything over 110 is cream. But really, I mean, to get to 150 you're talking about staff, probably more premises like, it is a big jump, isn't it? Tom Trevatt: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's a, yeah, it's another kind of 50% on top of what you're doing at the moment, but not unachievable with a little ratcheting up of, you know, various things. Interesting, talking about staff I had bought on just before I got this big contract. I'd bought on a studio manager. She wasn't part of the conversations that led to this big contract, but her role had specifically been, she been brought on for was outreach, to reach out to these large corporations. Because, you know, it's all very well kind of saying, "I'll just be there on Google, and they can find me, and they can contact me", but unless they know that you exist, you know you can be left, left in the dust. And so her role was to reach out to these large firms, and she actually put a list together of these, like, 100 of these. Like, you know, she did a law degree, so she's got a bit of a kind of background in law, and she put together a list all these firms. And I called her up, like, you know, two weeks after she'd kind of started putting this list together, like, "By the way, this company just called me. They're on your list. Do you know them?" She's like, "Oh, yeah", you know, "Damn yes, they are." They're part of what's called, in the law parlance, the magic circle, or something like the top kind of four or five law firms in the country. So, yeah, she was blown away by that as well. She insisted that she manifested it. Andrew Hellmich: So did you actively target that particular law firm, or was that just purely by happenstance? Tom Trevatt: No, no, just completely by happenstance, yeah. Andrew Hellmich: So someone in their firm came across your website, or was it a referral? Or do you know how you got the inquiry? Tom Trevatt: I'm number one on Google if you type in 'London headshot photographer', I ranked number one. So I presume that they came across the website that way, they probably would have contacted other photographers as well, but we had a nice phone call and hit it off. So got the contract. Andrew Hellmich: Okay, that was a bit of a show stopping statement there. How did you get London headshot photographer to rank one? How are you ranking number one in Google for that? What have you done? Tom Trevatt: I have done a podcast. Andrew Hellmich: Right. So was this strategic? Were you going after that keyword phrase, and did you know the competition you would be facing? Tom Trevatt: To a degree, yeah, so I had written, I'd done my website, I'd done all the kind technical SEO on the back end. So it's a Squarespace website, so it's very, you know, straightforward kind of stuff. I've done all the technical SEO, and then I knew that I needed content. That was the only way, really that you're going to get either content or backlinks. And I didn't really fancy going through and trying to get loads of backlinks from people and those sorts of things. So it was the content route. And it feels to me that the content route is a little bit more productive in terms of getting that placement on Google. But at the same time, it's also, I like it, I like the kind of interactions that you can have with people, all the kinds of you know, the way that content actually does feed people into your community, into your circle. So yeah, I put together 10 episodes of a podcast, put it out, and within a few months, I've gone from page three, you know, good page two now and again, to ranking number one by being like, two months after the last podcast came out. Andrew Hellmich: Absolutely amazing, mate. So a couple of questions on that. First of all, have you seen a massive change to the number of inquiries since you started ranking number one. Tom Trevatt: I think that the ranking number one coincided with a massive dip in the market, yeah. Andrew Hellmich: Great timing. Tom Trevatt: So, yeah, really, really, great timing. Everyone was saying the end of last year was incredibly slow, but this year has, I've definitely seen, since New Year, I've seen a larger increase in the number of inquiries. It's got to the point where I'm struggling a little bit to keep on top of the admin, hence why the studio manager is coming on board. So, you know, obviously right now, because I've got that law firm job and I've kind of booked out the calendar two months in advance with individual shoots. I'm at the point now where I can't take on any more work until mid June, which is a nice place to be, but it also means I've got to kind of field those kinds of emails which are like, "Oh, I really want to work with you. Have you got an opportunity to work in with, you know, the next two weeks?" I'm like, can she wait till June? You know, those kind of conversations so. Andrew Hellmich: And just for the listener, we're recording in mid April. Tom Trevatt: Yeah. Andrew Hellmich: So you're booked out the rest of April, all of May, and you've got till mid-June? Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: Wow, fantastic. That's a great place to be. Tom Trevatt: There's also a holiday or tournaments for all of that as well. Andrew Hellmich: Great. So it's good you still have the lifestyle that you were trying to create. Tom Trevatt: Exactly. Yeah. Andrew Hellmich: Yeah, that is good. A couple of things, so with the podcast, it's not predominantly headshot photographers. You're not only talking about headshot photography, it's actually it's called Photography Adjacent. You're talking to photographers, artists, writers like, so that content. So how's that helping you rank for headshot photographer London? Tom Trevatt: My feeling about this is, is the way that Google looks at the website is that it is useful to a person interested in what I'm talking about. And so if they can click through onto a number of different pages and find some information, there's a lot of things pointing towards that website, in terms of, you know, YouTube videos, Spotify, Apple podcasts, they're pointing towards the website. But as far as I understand, the way the SEO works these days is that it's trying as best as it can to rank websites that are good for a person to look at, not for a robot to look at. So if the content is engaging to a person, is written in an engaging way, is posed in a way that people want to read it and read more, then they're more likely to stay on that page and get more information out of it. And so I guess that having video, audio and the transcripts from the podcast on the website, that all builds towards having, you know, better SEO. And if I'm honest, what SEO is just competition against a handful of people in your space, and I'm out competing people on content production is what's happening, essentially. Andrew Hellmich: Right. And because you're recording regularly, you're posting new content regularly, all that looks great to Google. Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: And this was obviously a strategy in your head when you were planning this strategy. Did you originally think this is going to be better, if I interview headshot photographers, talk about headshot photography like, was that? Because, to me, that will be the easy.. Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: ..that's the low hanging fruit. That's going to definitely work in my head. Yeah, were you thinking the same? Tom Trevatt: I mean, it certainly would have worked, but it's worked without having to do that. Andrew Hellmich: But was that a gamble? Tom Trevatt: It was a gamble in the sense that, on the one hand, I want to speak to a much wider group of people for my own benefit, because I think that if I can learn from a fashion photographer or a photography journalist or a photo editor, and I can learn something from them, then people coming to the website to listen to the podcast can learn something as well, whatever type of photographer they are. So rather than just speaking only to headshot photographers, because we're all photographers that draw inspiration from all types of photography, or all types of art, all types of cultural production, right? So if I can speak to people in those kinds of wider spheres, then I can provide something that both I get a lot of education, enjoyment, fun, you know, passionate engagement with, and so can the people who are coming to the website. So if it was just about headshot photography, I think I'd probably get bored after a season. Yeah, but if it's about all the other things, then it's got longevity and it's got kind of me being excited about it, so. Andrew Hellmich: Okay, I love what you've done and I love why you're doing it, but what is surprising to me is these interviews aren't recorded for your ideal clients so much. They're really created for photographers or other artists. I mean, I don't see your lawyers coming to your website, looking for headshot, and then listening to the podcast. Tom Trevatt: No, I do have some guests lined up who might be helpful for actors or other creative business owners, people who, you know, maybe, who run their own business. You know, business strategists like, I want my, I would like, I'm going to invite my business coach on there as well. And, you know, I think that the people that who would come to listen to the podcast, yeah, they're not necessarily my ideal client, but it's not just about my ideal client. It's about a wider community of people that want to get something out of it that I, you know, I find fun and exciting and interesting, and it'll pick up my ideal client along the way, you know. The other thing is obviously also that, because I'm so deeply ingrained in education, you know, many years of working in academia, that I want to bring education and, you know, I do workshops, I do mentorship. So in one part of that, I am speaking to my ideal client. Because my ideal client as a photographer in the educational space. So there is always that kind of part of it as well. The other thing Andrew is, it's not just a strategy. It's like something I've wanted to do for a long time, you know. So it's just conversations. Andrew Hellmich: True. True. Does it feel to you like this was like a massive fluke like that? This is helping you laughing, as I laugh, and I'm not saying it with any disrespect at all. I think it's amazing. I love that. It's working. But to me, like strategically thinking if I was giving advice as someone that was a headshot photographer with a headshot photography website looking to rank for the London headshot photographer, I would suggest creating content about headshots, content for your ideal clients, whereas you're really just doing what you want to do and adding the content to your headshot photography website. Does it feel like a fluke, like you're smiling, I don't know, because you're saying it wasn't all strategy. Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: Are you surprised that it's working the way it has? Sign up to listen to the Premium Version - https://photobizx.com/premium-membership Andrew Hellmich: Fair enough. Fair enough. Tom, I could keep talking to you for hours. I know it's like it's after, I think it's 1 AM where you are at the moment, which is crazy. Tom Trevatt: Yeah, it's quarter past one. Andrew Hellmich: Quarter past one. It absolutely blows my mind. For the listener, it is early, well, it's not early morning here. It's quite reasonable. Tom chose this time. And I gave him options, but he said, "No, I'm busy. This is good." I've got, I've got one last question to ask you about the big law firm and pricing for that. Before that, I mentioned your Instagram earlier, but I didn't give out the handle. Where is the best place? Is that the best place for the listener to go to see more of your amazing work? Tom Trevatt: Yeah, I'd say it's either Instagram or the website, and the Instagram is tomtrevatt.photography. And Trevatt is spelled T-R-E-V-A double T. Some people put an A where it shouldn't be, and the website is just tomtrevatt.com. Andrew Hellmich: Fantastic. I'll add links to both those in the show notes. Now I know that you talked about being an academic, and you're doing some teaching, you're looking at other things. Do you do anything with other photographers as well, particularly in the headshot space or the business space? Tom Trevatt: Yeah, I do mentorships. So I've got, currently, four mentees that I'm working with over a period of time. So I offer sort of batches of kind of one to one sessions, either in person or over Zoom that could be working on a specific project, or it could be building a business. It could be starting from scratch, or it could be answering a very set number of questions. I hope people come to me because they've seen something in my work that they want to kind of understand, or, you know, help them build that part of their business. But, you know, obviously people, I had one guy who I worked with recently who asked me a lot about the color science of Canon cameras, and I have no idea about the color science of Canon cameras, so I was unable to answer his questions. But yeah, I love it. It's fantastic. I also do one to one and group workshops in my studio in central London, obviously, because of the few changes of studios recently, I've not done any of those for the last six months, but I will be kicking that off again very soon, and I'm really excited about that, because that is one of the places where my heart is, is helping people. First of all, helping people build businesses. I love that because, for one, it gets people out of the rat race, gets people out the nine to five. And it also means that, you know, people can kind of explore what they love and what they want to, how they want to, you know, succeed and so forth. So helping people do that is really good. And of course, lighting, posing, you know, speaking to models, those kind of things. I really, really love working with people on. Andrew Hellmich: Do you have a Central London studio at the moment? Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: Can I walk past and see your studio, or is it in the bowels of some big building? Tom Trevatt: So it is currently in a beautiful muse, a cobbled street that used to be all workshops, like workshops in like the 1910s ,1920s.. Andrew Hellmich: Blacksmiths and.. Tom Trevatt: Exactly, like there was one over the road that used to make fans for cars, or something like this. And so the floor is all concrete floor or stone floor that has all got the marks of all the things that have happened over the last 100 years. And then these, like, you know, beautiful red doors that have got glass windows, and the light is absolutely stunning that comes in through there. So you can walk past the studio, but you wouldn't necessarily know the street was there unless you had heard of it, because it's kind of hidden away behind all of the sort of residential areas around Elephant and Castle roundabout, which is sort of Central, South Central London. So, yeah, it's a very easy kind of transport. Andrew Hellmich: It sounds amazing. It sounds so good. Tom Trevatt: Fantastic Andrew Hellmich: So I wanted to ask one last question, and then I'm gonna ask you two but the question I did mention was, when you originally pricing, or what you thought you were going to be pricing that law firm for, was that going to be based on per headshot that you photographed, or did you have a different system for quoting such a large job? Tom Trevatt: So yeah, it would be a kind of per person number, obviously, if it's a small company, I'd have a higher number per person. If it's a larger company, you just bring it down, because the economy's at scale. But what's actually happened with this law firm is because, because they're lawyers, and they're so busy, we're in there regularly. So you know, we might be in there for a block of five days or three days, and then we have like, 20 people to shoot per day. They come in, they get their hair and makeup, they come and do a shoot. But out of those 20 people, four or five of them cancel last minute. So what that means is that I'm having to pick up at a later date those people again, and lo and behold, I will charge for those days as well. Andrew Hellmich: So you would still have the base fee, plus the per person. And the base fee, would that change as well, or that just stays fixed? Tom Trevatt: So there isn't a base fee, it would just be a per person fee, and then I'd add things like a hair and makeup artist, an assistant. Do I need to get equipment for this job?, you know. For the law firm, because it's such a large job, I bought five grand worth of lighting set up for the, and which is left there is essentially, you know, in their storeroom at the moment. So you know, I will go in half an hour, 45 minutes before the first shoot on the first day of our block of five, for example, set it all up in the room and then leave it up for those five days. Andrew Hellmich: What a beautiful job. That sounds fantastic. Tom Trevatt: Yeah, it's fantastic. I think they serve us very good lunches as well, so. Andrew Hellmich: Amazing. And obviously, in that case, you're not having three to four hour conversation, this has got to be more cookie cutter. Tom Trevatt: This is much more cookie cutter. This is very much I've got a two setups. One that's a, you know, a sort of standing setup, because they want to kind of clean headshots. And then one that's either a kind of leaning on a table, maybe sitting on a stool, sitting on a chair that sort of swaps out and changes, because they want the kind of variety across the whole thing. They've got quite sort of specific specifications that their design team has given me. So yeah, they're working with one of the world's largest design companies as well, which is quite nice to be working so yeah. Andrew Hellmich: What an amazing job. Can I ask you one last, this is going to be a really dumb question, because it's after 1 AM and you've got to go.. Tom Trevatt: It's all good. Andrew Hellmich: ..but because we might have to leave the listener without the answer to this one, if it's too involved, how are you getting most of your clients? Tom Trevatt: I would say it's a good percentage of it is through Google. Andrew Hellmich: That's really good to hear because we've talked a lot about that. Tom Trevatt: Yeah, exactly. I still probably get interest from Instagram. I would say that the customer journey could be something along these lines. They will go to Google. They will search for headshot photography London. They will see my profile. They'll go onto my website, then they'll maybe go on to my Instagram. They might go on and see, might see a podcast, they might see something else. But they'll usually have that kind of interaction between the website and the Instagram, because that's the two main places where I do most of my work, or the most the work comes out, and then they'll email me. It may be that they'll go to the Instagram first and then come to the website and email me through the website, I do have a little form in the thing saying, "Where did you find me?" Not everyone fills it in, but, you know, I ask them and I ask them, and it's not an even split between Google and Instagram. It's probably somewhere in the region of 70% Google and then, you know, 20% Instagram, 10% other. Andrew Hellmich: Got it. That's fantastic. What a great answer. Perfect. Tom, that is a wonderful place to leave this. I'm so glad, so happy that we had the chance to have this conversation. I was delightfully surprised when I did a quick search of our email history. I didn't know that it went back to 2020, or 2021 and then sort of, the picture all sort of came into focus, and we talked about cycling and trips to France and all kinds of stuff. So it's been wonderful to connect. I've had a fantastic time talking to you. Tom Trevatt: It's great. Andrew Hellmich: Your work is incredible. It's no wonder you are the success you are. And massive, massive thanks for coming on and sharing everything that you have. Tom Trevatt: Thank you. Andrew. It's been fantastic. And yeah, the cycling part of, it's great, isn't it? Not quite as such as an enthusiast as you are, but I'm very jealous of all your trips to France and Spain, listening in. Andrew Hellmich: Well, hopefully we can catch up on the top of maybe Tourmalet or something one day in July in France. Tom Trevatt: Let me get a little better at cycling before I do commit. Andrew Hellmich: Tom, thank you so much, mate, really. It's lovely to have a new friend in London, on the other side of the world. Tom Trevatt: Absolutely. I'm actually just off to Rome in a couple of weeks to see one of your friends, Matt., Matt Badenoch. Andrew Hellmich: Matt Badenoch Tom Trevatt: Yeah Andrew Hellmich: Are you doing one of the street photography workshops? Tom Trevatt: Yeah, I'm doing the Roman street photography ones, yeah. Andrew Hellmich: Unbelievable. Okay. So what camera you gonna take? Tom Trevatt: I'm taking two. So it's gonna be the XT5, and I'll take my X100VI as well. Andrew Hellmich: Unreal Tom Trevatt: Just one day of each or something like that, you know. Andrew Hellmich: And are you going to shoot true, in air quotes, "street photography?" Are you going to shoot street portraits? What do you think? Tom Trevatt: You know, I don't really like taking photographs of people on the street. Andrew Hellmich: What are you going to do? Tom Trevatt: Come to the studio. Come to the studio. I just, I, my, like, I've done a bunch of street photography. If you scroll back, like, four years on the old Instagrams, there's street photography there, but it's usually sort of shapes and light and like abstract plays of things and stuff, and maybe a person is in there, if they're kind of intrinsic to the scene. But it's not this kind of, you know, in your face street photography kind of style, but we'll see what Matt can bring out. Andrew Hellmich: Oh, my God. You know, you know that Matt's going to push you to your limits here. Tom Trevatt: Exactly, yeah. Andrew Hellmich: So will you get nervous about doing that, or you pass that now? Tom Trevatt: Maybe a little bit nervous. For me, it's not, it's not necessarily the kind of ethics of the street photography side of things. It's much more about that, what I find interesting is, is creating something that looks a bit like an abstract sort of set of shapes, and that might look like street photography or might look like kind of cityscape photography. I don't know what it looks like, but there's a number of reasons why I wanted to do this. One is I wanted a trip to Rome that the business could pay for.. Andrew Hellmich: Nice Tom Trevatt: ..you know. So that's, that's another badge…ahhh… thing to do. And of course, like spending time with Matt is really good. I went around Notting Hill Carnival with him last year, and that was great. And so I was just like, when it popped up, it was like, that's a no brainer. It's a really easy decision to make. It's not expensive, and it means I just get a lovely trip and meeting lots of new people as well and taking photographs. And, you know, I don't have to go and take photographs of, you know, nonas in rolling dough. Or maybe I will, I don't know, but it'll be a fun time, or whatever happens. Andrew Hellmich: Take your microphone and your street recorder as well and record some interviews as well. That'd be great. Tom Trevatt: Absolutely right, yeah, it's a good idea. It's a good idea. Andrew Hellmich: Tom, mate, again, have fun on that trip. Say hello to Matt, and thanks again so much for your time tonight. Tom Trevatt: Andrew, thank you so much. It's been great chatting. 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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Dave Koch of Real Estate Media Utah had me excited to record something different for today's interview! Dave has been running a successful luxury real estate photography business in Utah, USA, for the past decade. His Instagram bio says: Utah's Premiere Real Estate & Architectural Photographer, Custom Commercial, Aerial and Home Media Creators. And looking through his feed, you'll see stunning images and comparison examples of what a less talented photographer would produce, compared to his work. His website is easy to navigate and full of beautiful imagery of stunning homes. He says on his site: From social media-optimised vertical videos for ‘Reels' to floor plans, 3D tours, and video tours, we’ve got you covered. And… We shoot everything- from ten-million-dollar homes in Park City to duplexes in Magna. As someone who hears that real estate photography is a terrible genre in which photographers are overworked and underpaid, I'm looking forward to learning more and seeing if I'm totally wrong. In this interview, Dave shares a smarter way to do real estate photography and how to shoot less to earn more. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Why real estate photography is actually problem-solving How fewer jobs can mean better money when you're targeting luxury listings Why your website sets expectations long before a client phone call Charging by the square metre (and not undervaluing twilight shoots) Why listening to the homeowner first, helps you shoot with purpose Diversifying into commercial work to stabilise your income Learning through mistakes—and how that sharpens your creative instincts The importance of getting it right in camera instead of relying on Photoshop Why ambient + flash blending still trumps HDR Rethinking ultra-wide lenses and choosing angles that feel natural How treating your photography like a business changes everything Specialising early to fast-track your success The importance of community, networking, and showing only your best work Copyright RE Photography UTAH 801 819-8141 What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. Any photography is what you make of it. And I think if you are geared toward doing the best possible product, whatever your genre, you're going to challenge yourself every day with new and better shoots. – Dave Koch You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. People are not critical of their own work… you're thinking, I can fix it in Photoshop, and that's not the answer. The answer is to continue to shoot until you've got the picture designed the way it should be and the way it needs to be. – Dave Koch In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. @Copyright Dave Koch 801 819-8141 What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Dave shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. Build a network of people that do what you do in other cities. They're called mastermind groups… we help each other out. Because, again, it's a zero sum game. If I help you, we're all better for it. – Dave Koch If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Dave, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. How to Sell Like a Mofo – New Live Training for Photographers If you’ve ever said “I hate selling”… this one’s for you. No sleazy tactics. No pushy scripts. Just a real-world sales process that works — taught by a working photographer who's doing this every day. ( Yep, the same legend behind “Advertise Like a Mofo” – Richard Grenfell is back.) This live 2-part training is made for photographers who want to: Feel confident on sales calls (even if you hate the phone) Sell more, without sounding salesy Set up your shoot to sell more images before you even pick up the camera Handle objections, talk pricing, and walk clients through the sale with ease Session 1: Thursday May 15 @ 8am AEST Session 2: Thursday May 22 @ 8am AEST Replays available if you can’t make it live Just USD$397 (price doubles after the live calls) Register early and get “Advertise Like a Mofo” FREE (normally USD$197) or another awesome Masterclass. Head here for all the details and to grab your spot: https://learn.photobizx.com/sell-like-a-mofo/ If you’re a working photographer and want to sell more without selling your soul — this training is for you. Copyright RE Photography UTAH 801 819-8141 iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. Don't show your shit. You know, only show your very, very best… you're judged by your worst picture, not your best picture. – Dave Koch If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. I shot an $8 million home yesterday, and it took me six hours to do 8000 square feet… I made $1,200 on which, you know, yes, I'm going to be editing for a while too… But you know, if I'm doing five of those jobs a week, I'm making pretty good money. – Dave Koch Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Here is the latest review… ★★★★★ Andrew isn’t just hosting, he’s digging Via Google Reviews by Costa Brava Wedding Photographer , Jordi Marimont in Spain on May 8th, 2025. I’ve been listening to PhotoBizX for a couple of years now. I’m not a premium member (yet), but even the free episodes are packed with value. There’s always something I can apply to my business. What I love most about the podcast is that it doesn’t focus on the guest’s life story. It’s all about the value they can offer through their experience. Andrew isn’t just hosting, he’s digging. Even when a guest drifts off-topic, he knows how to gently guide things back and pull out the insight we’re actually there for. That’s a real skill. And even when the episode is about a different kind of photography business, I still find nuggets that apply to my wedding work. It’s now always part of my dog rides when there is a new episode. Thanks for showing up, Andrew. @Copyright Dave Koch 801 819-8141 Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Real Estate Photography Utah Commercial Photography Utah Real Estate Photography with Dave on YouTube Real Estate Photography Utah on Instagram People are literally hiring me because, hey, I saw your pictures. I like that look. I want you to do that for me. So I'm not being hired to shoot a house anymore. I'm being hired to do what I do to a house. And for me, that's the big thing. – Dave Koch Copyright Dave Koch 801 819-8141 Thank you! Thanks for tuning in. A big thanks to Dave for generously sharing his thoughts and ideas on real estate photography for profit. His perspective is a breath of fresh air in a genre that’s often misunderstood. He’s not just shooting homes; he’s building a business with strategy, purpose, and real clarity. From pricing effectively to nailing the shot in-camera and showing up with intention. Hope you get as much from it as I did. When you start to feel that that hurt inside, or that attack inside, that's when you need to listen the hardest, because that's when you're going to learn the most. – Dave Koch That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew @Copyright RE Photography UTAH 801 819-8141 The post 616: Dave Koch – Shoot Less, Earn More: A Smarter Way to Do Real Estate Photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


1 615: Blair deLaubenfels – Booking Luxury Photography Clients Starts with the Right Images—and Words 57:42
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Blair deLaubenfels of www.worldsbestweddingphotos.com and www.artlifeandbusiness.com was first interviewed for Episode 378 of the podcast, where she detailed the best ways to curate your portfolio to better market and promote yourself and your business. She believes curation is the one big thing that can bring you bookings, recognition, and profitability with your photography. Blair is the former co-owner of Junebug Weddings. The founder and editor-in-chief of World's Best Wedding Photos. She’s written over 2,000 bios, created content for hundreds of websites, and is a regular speaker at top industry events. In a recent email exchange, she wrote: Since we last recorded in 2020, the wedding photography industry has been through many changes. There are new technologies and trends, and new challenges in terms of marketing. I would love to talk with you about what has emerged in the last five years and how your listeners can boost their businesses now. I was keen to hear more, expecting you'd feel the same, so I'm rapt to bring this interview to you. In this interview, Blair shares how to book luxury photography clients and why it starts with the right images—and words. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Why your portfolio is your biggest marketing asset—and how to curate it with purpose The massive industry shifts since 2020 that most photographers are still ignoring How the elopement market has exploded—and why it’s a perfect fit for many creatives The real key to attracting luxury clients (hint: it’s not just your images) How to use your portfolio to speak directly to your dream clients Why your words matter just as much as your photos when it comes to booking The science behind first impressions—and how to win someone’s attention in seconds How to define and connect with your ideal client more effectively Why chasing trends can water down your work—and what to do instead The power of consistent branding across your website, socials, and messaging Why local referrals are still gold, especially for long-term sustainability What AI can do for you—and what it never will A smarter way to experiment with trends without losing your identity How diversifying your work can stabilise your income all year round When to invest in prestige marketing—and when it’s just ego spend What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. There's been a real explosion of elopement photography around the world that became huge during COVID and remains huge. – Blair deLaubenfels You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. Build your business around who you authentically are, because if you don't, you're going to end up getting burned out, and you're not going to like your own work. – Blair deLaubenfels In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Blair shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. If you can get back to the people in 15 minutes, you're going to be the first person to get hired. – Blair deLaubenfels If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Blair, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. How to Sell Like a Mofo – New Live Training for Photographers If you’ve ever said “I hate selling”… this one’s for you. No sleazy tactics. No pushy scripts. Just a real-world sales process that works — taught by a working photographer who's doing this every day. ( Yep, the same legend behind “Advertise Like a Mofo” – Richard Grenfell is back.) This live 2-part training is made for photographers who want to: Feel confident on sales calls (even if you hate the phone) Sell more, without sounding salesy Set up your shoot to sell more images before you even pick up the camera Handle objections, talk pricing, and walk clients through the sale with ease Session 1: Thursday May 15 @ 8am AEST Session 2: Thursday May 22 @ 8am AEST Replays available if you can’t make it live Just USD$397 (price doubles after the live calls) Register early and get “Advertise Like a Mofo” FREE (normally USD$197) or another awesome Masterclass. Head here for all the details and to grab your spot: https://learn.photobizx.com/sell-like-a-mofo/ If you’re a working photographer and want to sell more without selling your soul — this training is for you. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. At the luxury level, the thing about luxury is, what makes it luxury, other than just the quality, is that other people can't have it. – Blair deLaubenfels If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. The first photo they see, they're going to see it in much less than one second, and about 30% of people will decide whether to hire you right then. – Blair deLaubenfels Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Here are the latest reviews… ★★★★★ This podcast is a goldmine for photographers! Via Google Reviews by Sydney Opera House Photoshoot expert, Sarah Gardan of Sarah Iris Photography , in Australia on May 2nd, 2025. Andrew is absolutely amazing – his podcast is a goldmine for photographers at any stage of their business journey. Every episode of Photo Biz Xposed is full of real, actionable advice, insightful interviews, and down-to-earth encouragement. What sets Andrew apart is not just his deep industry knowledge, but the care he takes in showing up for his listeners week after week. He’s also sounds like a really great human being – kind, generous, and genuinely invested in helping photographers succeed. Listening has helped me improve my marketing, refine my client experience and stay motivated. A must-listen for any photographer building a business they love! ★★★★★ All the questions you would want to ask Via Google Reviews by Hunter Valley and Tamworth Wedding and Family Photographer , Eloise Moir , in Australia on May 3rd, 2025. This podcast is full of relevant, super useful information with a range of guests specialising in all kinds of photography. Andrew does an incredible job and asks all the questions you would want to, plus more I wouldn’t have thought of. Recommend it to anyone interested in photography. ★★★★★ Totally 5 stars – if I could give more, there would be plenty more! Via Google Reviews by Newcastle Commercial Photographer Linda Beks of ME Photography in Australia on May 2nd, 2025. Thanks, Andrew. I have so enjoyed your podcasts and your friendly voice—it’s as if I have known you for years and years. You honestly get me through the most boring drives, as I always get to listen to your podcasts. I have just been to the Philippines and every spare moment I listened to your interviews that I didn’t have the time for prior. I feel like I've taken you on an adventure too haha. Even today, the day after arriving home, a 5-hour drive to Sydney for a day of headshots, you killed my time, totally loving it big time, and although being a professional photographer for over 20 years, I'm always learning something! I also feel connected to the amazing photographers in your Facebook group; they and you are the best! Again, big big thanks. Linda Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Art, Life and Business Website Blair deLaubenfels on LinkedIn Blair deLaubenfels on Facebook World's Best Wedding Photos Website The World's Best Wedding Photos on Instagram Episode 378: Blair DeLaubenfels – How to curate your way to photography success Episode 168: Two Mann Studios – Careful Curation is the Key to Photography Success Episode 012: Jerry Ghionis – Cooking Up Wedding Photography Success, Don’t Get Caught in the Fire Episode 593: James and Schulze – How to break into the ultra-luxury wedding photography market Curation is the one big thing to bring you bookings, recognition and profitability with your photography business. – Blair deLaubenfels Thank you! Thanks for tuning in. A big thanks to Blair for generously sharing this conversation—her perspective is a breath of fresh air in an industry that’s constantly shifting. She’s someone who’s not just watching the trends but helping photographers navigate them with strategy and heart. From portfolio curation to client connection and building a brand that truly reflects you, Blair packed this interview with clarity and direction. Hope you get as much from it as I did. Don't confuse your hobby with your business. A business is a business, and you have to be 110%. – Blair deLaubenfels That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 615: Blair deLaubenfels – Booking Luxury Photography Clients Starts with the Right Images—and Words appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Charles Moll of www.charlesmoll.com is a full-time wedding photographer based in Bozeman, Montana, with 7 years of experience. Before wedding photography, he honed his marketing, videography, and photography skills worldwide while working for non-profits. Since pursuing photography full-time, the Wedding Photo Journalists Association has recognised him as one of the top 150 photographers in the world. Around 80% of his business is weddings, with the other 20% being volume and family photography. His website and online presence are very wedding-centric. Most of his clients come from Google, referrals, networking groups, and The Knot and Wedding Wire. In the past 3 years, he's had to start from scratch twice after relocating. In this interview, Charles shares how he wins out-of-town wedding photography clients with smart SEO, not big advertising. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Seven years strong — Charles Moll has been running a full-time photography business for seven years now, earning his place among the top 150 wedding photographers worldwide. It's been a steady, intentional build, not an overnight story. Non-profit beginnings, business brain — Starting out in the non-profit sector gave Charles more than a good heart — it sharpened his marketing, video, and storytelling skills, which he’s carried straight into building a thriving photography business. Weddings by design — He didn’t fall into weddings by accident. Charles chose this path, wanting to combine meaningful storytelling with a business that could support him long-term. When COVID hit, he rebuilt — Like a lot of photographers, Charles took a hit when weddings disappeared. But instead of sitting back, he used the time to rework his pricing, double down on education, and come back stronger and more focused. From safe job to full-time leap — Leaving full-time work wasn’t a reckless jump. Charles mapped out milestones, kept a close eye on finances, and made the move carefully — managing both his mindset and money along the way. Rebuilding after every move — Relocating to a new city meant starting over — twice. But with strong SEO and consistent marketing, Charles kept enquiries coming and momentum steady. Tapping into a booming market — Based now in Bozeman, Montana, Charles is positioned perfectly in a growing luxury wedding hotspot — working across the state with clients who value quality and experience. Winning the Google game — Out-of-town couples don’t care who’s “known” locally — they care who shows up online. Charles made sure he’s the one they find, and it’s paying off. A brand that speaks for itself — The “Charles Moll” brand feels clean, professional, and premium. Couples feel that before they even enquire — it’s all been built intentionally. Quality over quantity — Rather than chasing 40 weddings a year, Charles works with 15–20 couples — the right fit — delivering a high-touch experience that clients remember and rave about. Pricing with a strategy — Raising prices was never about charging more for the sake of it. Charles restructured his offers to align with what his ideal clients actually want — and it’s working. Full-day coverage, full trust — Unlimited wedding day coverage removes pressure from couples and builds trust early — plus, it leads to bigger bookings naturally. Listings that make sense — Paid listings on platforms like The Knot and WeddingWire aren’t just throwing money away — they’re smart investments that continue to deliver genuine enquiries. A smooth path to booking — Quick video calls, clear next steps, no confusion. The faster and easier the process feels, the quicker couples commit. Leading, not selling — Charles positions himself as a guide, not a salesperson. That trust-first approach consistently leads to bookings without the hard sell. The small touches add up — He covers credit card fees for his couples — a simple gesture that leaves a big impression and builds loyalty. More than just great photos — Sure, the photos are beautiful, but it's the experience Charles creates that gets people talking — and referring. Albums that feel like heirlooms — Albums aren’t just products to upsell — they’re part of the experience. When couples see and feel them in real life, they want them. Designing albums together — Live album design calls aren’t just about getting sales — they deepen the emotional connection, leading to more pages and bigger orders naturally. Networking with purpose — Local networking groups aren’t just social time — they’re part of Charles’ bigger business plan, bringing in family shoots and extra work that keeps his business balanced year-round. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. I just put myself as the lowest priced photographer on there, because at that point, I was just like, I need to book weddings. I need to shoot… I just need to put my name out there and show that I'm doing work. – Charles Moll You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. Going with that four full day unlimited collection has really been awesome. I thought it would have hurt me… but for whatever reason like that has allowed me to really provide just a huge amount more value to my clients, and then be willing to invest in my higher tier collections, which really surprised me. – Charles Moll In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Charles shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. My process is identical. No matter where an inquiry comes through… As soon as I get their info, I'll try to get them on the phone, with the goal of getting folks to a video call where we can walk through everything. – Charles Moll If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Charles, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. If there is something people are really excited about, I'll throw it into as a gift… just as an incentive to book more. – Charles Moll If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. As soon as I dropped that second or that engagement session from that collection, it really opened up that package for a lot more folks… I do a four package method, so I'm really trying to book that, you know, second one from the top. – Charles Moll Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Charles Moll Website Charles Moll on Instagram Charles Moll on Facebook I'm constantly redoing my collections. I'm constantly tweaking my pricing, and it's really just trying to find, like, that sweet spot of, like, you know, what do I need to include to be able to book clients? You know, where are the sticking points in my collections? – Charles Moll Thank you! Really appreciate you tuning in. Big thanks to Charles for being so open and honest in this chat. There’s a lot of noise out there, and it’s great to hear from someone who’s actually shooting, still building, and doing it for the right reasons. We covered everything from spotting the fakes to finding the right support — and what it really looks like to build a business you’re proud of. Hope you love this one as much as I did. For me, I really use the networking groups to grow the other parts of my business outside of weddings, because, you know, wanting to be more in that high end wedding market, I want to keep my brand pretty, pretty focused online. – Charles Moll That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 614: Charles Moll – Winning Out-of-Town Wedding Photography Clients with Smart SEO appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Walid Aami of www.walidazami.com first appeared on the podcast a few years ago in episode 493 , where we dived deep into pricing for all photographers, and working in the world of celebrities and commercial clients in Los Angeles. His photography journey started with an opportunity to work alongside Madonna, and from that moment, he knew this was his path. Since then, he’s photographed some of the biggest names in the world—Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Bernie Sanders, and Justin Timberlake, to name a few. His commercial work includes collaborations with major brands like Volkswagen, Target, and HP. Beyond his impressive portfolio, he is passionate about helping photographers understand their worth and build profitable businesses. We recently chatted over email about his STEP pricing course when I commented on his new direction and possible interview topics for PhotoBizX. He replied, “ I'd love to have a harder conversation with listeners about their community, how they learn, who they choose to learn from, the real gurus and the fake ones, support within your inner circle, and how you talk to yourself. ” This sounded perfect to me! The result is this interview, where Walid shares his thoughts and warnings about photography business coaches by calling out the fakes in the photography industry. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Fuelled by frustration — Walid mentors for free because he's sick of seeing good people misled by bad advice. No more pretenders — He calls out the “educators” with zero client work selling strategies they’ve never used. Do your homework — Photographers research lenses more than coaches. Flip that. Proof over promises — Look for consistent work, actual growth, and bookings—not just bold claims. AI ≠ experience — Be wary of cookie-cutter courses built by bots and marketers, not working photographers. Current or irrelevant — If they haven’t been booked recently, they shouldn’t be coaching. Walk it, then talk it — Only take pricing or strategy advice from someone still in the game. Pick with purpose — Choose mentors doing what you want to do. Not just anyone with a mic and a funnel. Depth over dabbling — Real authority comes from staying in your lane and going deep—not chasing trends. Gut check always wins — Testimonials are nice. But trust your instinct. It’s usually right. Build your own crew — A trusted circle beats any course or program. Edit your circle — Keep people who lift you. Let go of those who don’t. Tough love counts — The right mentor will push you. Not just pat you on the back. Support with substance — That’s what Visual Business Academy is: free, focused, and full of creatives who actually care. Talk nicer to yourself — How you treat yourself sets the tone for your whole business. Celebrate what counts — Walid’s “quick tens” remind us to anchor each day in gratitude and small wins. Still in the trenches — Walid’s not just teaching—he’s still shooting, directing, and creating at the top level. From refugee to front cover — No agent. No shortcuts. Just grit, talent, and making history with Vanity Fair Italia. Chaos over polish — Behind the scenes at that shoot? A mess. But the result? Magic. Confidence is contagious — Walid lives it, teaches it, and passes it on. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. The gut check will always, always win. The gut check is your direct direct line to you, and whatever higher source you believe in. – Walid Azami You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. I do hope the community researches the gurus more than they research the latest gear, the latest restaurant to go to, the latest accessory to purchase, because this is your future. – Walid Azami In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Walid shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. The way you speak to yourself is going to dictate what you allow how others speak to you in your life. – Walid Azami If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Walid, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. FREE Live Training • TOMORROW! Another FREE Masterclass with the absolute guru of photography websites, SEO and all things tech, Alex Vita! Details andregistration here: https://learn.photobizx.com/beyond-seo-registration/ Only free till the live training happens tomorrow morning. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. Please watch your circle… The words you allow into your ears, the words that go and settle into your brain, into your soul, are going to either sink you or they're going to take you through your voyage. And if somebody doesn't, if they question you, if they make you get that weird little feeling, your gut feeling, again, that I'm talking about. You have to edit those suckers out. Your future depends on it. It's your future. It's your life. – Walid Azami If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. Believe in yourself and the world will catch on to how great you are. – Walid Azami Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. This is not a review this week, but a shoutout for Luci Dumas and the recent podcast episode in which she interviewed me! If you haven't had enough of my voice and want to hear some of my thoughts on the state of the photography industry and where I see gaps and opportunities for photographers to grow their businesses, have a listen in one of these spots: https://youtu.be/6_StiJ2JHA0 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/305-andrew-hellmich-build-your-photography-empire-one/id1467461210?i=1000703703945 https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WdxE50pkHeBjbfJxCPP3w?si=961eaae522d04052 Here’s a feel for what we get into in this chat… How wedding photography pricing has shifted over the years—and what it takes to stay relevant when the market’s flooded. The sneaky-good upsell tip I picked up at an AIPP event that gave my album sales a solid boost. Why real networking isn’t about chasing favours—it’s about showing up, adding value, and building proper relationships. My take on gift certificate collabs—and how I made it work with a local vet in a mutually beneficial way A simple but powerful SEO play: How I interview vendors, turn those chats into blog posts that rank and build real community connections. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Walid Azami Website Visual Business Academy on Discord Walid Azami on Instagram Walid Azami on YouTube Episode 493: Walid Azami – Photography business advice from a celebrity photographer You have to be in the game to be advising on the game. – Walid Azami Thank you! Thanks for tuning in. Really appreciate Walid for sharing so openly in this chat—there’s a lot of noise in the photography education space, and this conversation helps cut through it. He’s someone who’s actually still shooting, still building, and mentoring for what sounds like the right reasons. We covered a lot—from calling out the fakes to finding the right kind of support, and what it really means to build a career with purpose. Hope you enjoy this one! A good coaching program should never try to keep you in there the whole time… A true, good program has to be an end game, because the game shouldn't be for the coach, for the mentor, to always keep you in there and to keep milking you for money. – Walid Azami That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 613: Walid Azami – Calling Out the Fakes in the Photography Industry appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Laura Langfield of www.llphotography.de is a pet photographer based in Germany who has been a PhotoBizX Member for 4 years and nothing makes me happier than having a chance to record an interview like this one. Laura recently emailed me about completing her first book project and included some of her numbers and details. She said… Apart from the amazing numbers, the project was an amazing experience and therapeutic after I lost my dog in 2023 after almost 15 years together. She added… I can honestly say that it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever done, and it was extremely well received. She finished by saying… I'm seriously thinking about making this an ongoing yearbook project and maybe also adding an exhibition in the future. As Richard Grenfell said in his training , if something works, do more of it. And there will always be new senior dogs. Get ready to dive in and learn more about this talented dog photographer and her fantastic book project, which earned her close to 50,000 Euro! In the interview, Laura shares how her senior dog book project became a €50K business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Strategy beats struggle – Stop saying “nothing’s working.” The right plan changes everything. More than marketing – Senior dog sessions are therapy, storytelling, and community. Grief turned gold – A heartfelt idea became a €50K+ success. Old dogs, big impact – Niche project with senior pets brought in premium bookings. Traffic wins – Laura swears by traffic ads to attract high-quality clients without the back-and-forth. Filter first – Her system pre-qualifies leads, so only serious clients make it through. Let your landing page sell – Pricing, a quick quiz, and a Calendly link—automated and effective. Zoom = sales – Laura closes high-ticket pet sessions using ProSelect proofing calls. Wall art makes a comeback – Clients wanted more than digitals—they wanted their dogs on the wall. Books that move people – Double-page spreads and custom stories made every client feel seen. AI with heart – Laura uses AI to craft touching stories from owner-submitted questionnaires. No discounts needed – “People don’t need a discount. They need a reason.” And this gave them one. Give to get – Clients donated to charity instead of paying a fee. Good vibes = strong bookings. Covers create buzz – A voting frenzy brought in 400+ leads and 8+ new bookings. Chase bookings, not leads – Forget cost per click. Focus on cost per conversion. Make it a tradition – Laura’s senior dog yearbook is now an annual thing—with gallery dreams too. Small studio, big brand – From home office to high-ticket pet sessions. It’s all in the positioning. Stand out with service – Framed prints, albums, and full delivery in a digital-only world. Action beats ideas – That course sat for months. Then it sparked a game-changing launch. Introvert? No problem – Laura proves quiet confidence can still make big noise. A sample page from Laura's beautiful book on Senior Dogs. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. People don't need a discount to book. They need a reason. – Laura Längsfeld You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. I have been successful with lead ads, but it's a lot of work, because you have to talk to a lot of people, and it's quite hard to get them on the phone. So for now, doing everything alone, it just took so much time to get the bookings that I'd rather pay more per lead and have less work because the people are more pre qualified and I don't have to talk to as many people to get the bookings I need. – Laura Längsfeld In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Laura shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. Don't look at the cost per lead. Look at the cost per booking. – Laura Längsfeld If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Laura, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. FREE Live Training • Tuesday, April 22nd • 8am AEST Another FREE Masterclass with the absolute guru of photography websites, SEO and all things tech, Alex Vita! Details andregistration here: https://learn.photobizx.com/beyond-seo-registration/ Only free till the live training happens next week. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. My eldest dog passed away in 2023 and I just know how important the photos I took of him over the years to me. I really want to give that feeling to others too. And that's why I chose senior dogs for the project. – Laura Längsfeld If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. My goal was to shoot 30 dogs. I photographed 34 in the end, and that was with 25 clients. – Laura Längsfeld Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Laura Längsfeld Website Laura Längsfeld on Facebook Laura Längsfeld on Instagram How To Advertise Like A MoFo and attract the people you want to your photography business The Profitable Book Projects for Photographers Episode 397: Richard Grenfell – The Coaching Diaries with Steve Saporito Episode 549: Richard Grenfell – The successful and profitable move from family to boudoir photography Episode 402: Katie Kolenberg – Take control and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic Episode 470: Katie Kolenberg – Profitable photography book projects Q&A Strangely, this year, I got a lot of wall art orders, while the years before, I got more album or folio box orders. So it's quite interesting. I don't really know why they changed this year, but people do definitely show or want to have photos of their dogs on their walls. – Laura Längsfeld Thank you! Thanks for tuning in! Massive shoutout to Laura for pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to build a thriving pet photography business—without the discounts, the hustle-for-every-client mindset, or the fluff. From heartfelt beginnings to a €50K+ senior dog project, Laura’s story is all strategy, purpose, and quiet confidence in action. This is proof you don’t need to be loud, lucky, or in the “right” location—you just need the guts to do things differently. Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! Go for it, and don't worry if the ads are more expensive than you are used to, or if it is maybe going a bit slow in between, just tweak a little bit on your landing page and your ads, and maybe restart the ads and then go on from there. – Laura Längsfeld That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 612: Laura Längsfeld – How a Senior Dog Project Became a €50K Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Renee Bowen of www.reneebowen.com first appeared on the podcast in our start-of-the-year predictions episode, where some of the world’s best photography business coaches shared their insights. In that episode, she talked about AI fatigue and how clients are craving real, authentic content—content created by you to showcase your true self, not some perfectly curated, made-up version of you. In her photography business, she specialises in high-end luxury branding and portrait photography. With a psychology degree, she knows how to get inside her clients’ heads, tap into what makes them unique, and combine that with her incredible photography skills to create personalised, next-level work. Based in Los Angeles, she’s a married mother of three, host of the Tried & True With a Dash of Woo podcast, photography business coach, and course creator. From the outside looking in, she’s running a successful photography business focusing on headshots, personal branding, and senior portraits. In this interview, Renee shares how to create a profitable senior portrait photography business by creating images that sell and shooting what teens want and parents buy. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Real > AI – Emotion beats perfection. Clients connect with you , not a filtered bot. Luxury meets psychology – Renee blends stunning visuals with buyer behaviour to sell more than just photos. From accidental to intentional – What started as headshots became a multi-six-figure brand. Redefining senior portraits – Editorial-style shoots that ditch the cap and gown clichés. Built demand from scratch – Educated a market that didn’t know what it was missing. Teens want cool, parents want keepsakes – Speak to both and win the booking. Model teams = marketing gold – Teens do your promo for you. Social media shifts fast – Facebook had its day. TikTok is now. Stay ahead or fall behind. Selling didn’t come easy – But strategy beats sleaze. Always. What works there won’t work here – Your brand, location, and audience matter. Don’t copy. Customise. Albums sell. Digitals don’t. – Tangible memories = higher spend and happier clients. $3500+ sessions? Absolutely. – When pricing, products, and experience align, sales follow. Set the tone early – Clear offers, smart pricing, elevated experience from first touch. Selling starts at the shoot – Use psychology to plant seeds, not pressure. Teens + parents = different vibes – Master both worlds for effortless sales. Instagram is your storefront – If you’re not visible, you’re not viable. TikTok is the new Google – Know how to be found where Gen Z searches. It’s not your town, it’s your mindset – Small-town photographers can charge luxury prices too. Design it, then sell it – Show off stunning albums to inspire bigger buys. Partnerships that pay off – Cross-promote with vendors who serve your dream clients. TikTok tip: keep it real – Short, raw, unpolished content wins. Stop overthinking. Coaching that goes deep – Mindset shifts, strategy tweaks, real growth—for photographers who mean business. Senior Portraits by Renee Bowen What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. By the time, if I've done my job right, by the time they sit down with me and we're going over their images, they already know they're getting an album, because I have pre sold that album multiple times, unconsciously throughout the process. – Renee Bowen You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. With Tiktok, don't overthink it. That's that's the first thing. Don't overthink it. Keep it short. The main thing with Tiktok is authenticity. Honestly, just lean into just being you. – Renee Bowen In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Renee shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. Tiktok is great for reach and visibility and reaching a lot of people. I get a lot of out of state clients from Tiktok specifically. – Renee Bowen If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Renee, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. The FREE training with Heather Lahtinen is coming up this week! The Secret Weapon That Changes Everything: The #1 Tool for Levelling Up Your Photography Business What if the key to success wasn’t just taking better photos, perfecting your pricing, or mastering more marketing strategies? What if one simple mental tool could completely shift how you approach your business—and your results? In this game-changing training, you’ll discover the same mental framework elite performers—entrepreneurs, professional athletes, and members of the armed forces—use to master their mindsets, overcome challenges, and achieve peak performance. After the main presentation, Heather will be doing some live coaching with a few attendees while on the call and with everyone able to watch and listen in! All the details and registration are here –> https://photobizx.com/model iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. I really believe it starts with their first interaction with you, whether it's going to be on your website, whether they found you on Google, or if they find you on Instagram or Tiktok. A lot of my clients find me on Tiktok and Instagram because that's where they are. – Renee Bowen If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. Our website really should be doing most of the heavy lifting for us. They need to see themselves in our brand. They need to want to be a part of it, because our website and our brand is not about us, it's about them, and so how they feel when they experience the brand. – Renee Bowen Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Renee Bowen Website True With a Dash of Woo Podcast Renee Bowen Instagram Renee Bowen on Tiktok 2025 New Year Special – Photography Business Predictions by the Coaches – Part 2 Authenticity is a word that does get thrown around a lot…but it's it's really just about not being fake, because your senior clients are going to smell a fake a mile away. They don't want any part of that. And they want to know that you're a real person. – Renee Bowen Thank you! Thanks for tuning in! Massive thanks to Renee for openly sharing what it actually takes to grow a profitable senior portrait business. No fluff, no overnight success—just smart strategy, serious mindset shifts, and a tonne of intention behind every move. Proof that you don’t need to wait for the “right” market or perfect timing—you just need to back yourself and build something worth talking about. Hope you love this chat as much as I did! I like to kind of keep my pricing pretty simple, because I really do think that an overwhelmed, confused brain is just going to shut down and it's not conducive. I just like to keep things pretty simple and clean. I don't like my ordering sessions to take more than about an hour, if possible. – Renee Bowen That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 611: Renee Bowen – Senior Portraits That Sell: What Teens Want, What Parents Buy appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area George Tatakis of www.tatakis.com was a rare and beautiful find for this podcast episode. It's rare to feature a European photographer on the podcast, particularly a photographer who shoots in the style and income-producing strategy of George Takais. After exchanging a few emails, I learned enough to ask him to do this interview. I'm pretty sure we can all learn something from his entrepreneurial spirit and go-getter attitude. To give you a little background… He's currently bringing in well over $100,000 Euro through photography. He's based in Greece. He shoots exclusively in black and white. He has multiple income sources, including selling his work through a gallery in Geneva, photographic book sales through Amazon, licensing fees for using his photography in commercial applications, partnerships with a travel company, selling work through museum shops, mentoring and portfolio reviews, and commissioned work. He left his job as an electrical engineer to chase his dream of being a photographer. It was a hard slog, but photography is now his primary source of income. In this interview, George shares how he has been able to turn a creative obsession into a thriving photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Engineer turned artist – Walked away from a safe career in Greece to chase what lit him up. Went all-in with nothing lined up – Quit the day job with zero income, but 100% belief. Slept in cars to chase the dream – No money, no plan B—just vision and a camera. Defied cultural norms – Ignored the voices saying “photography isn’t a real job.” Carved out a niche in Greek tradition – Found his voice in storytelling portraits that honour his roots. Built it on a shoestring – Couch-surfed, hustled, and made it work without money. That first dollar hit hard – It wasn't much, but it proved he could make this real. Saw business as the game-changer – Says 80–90% of success is business, not the camera. Heart-led obsession – The kind of devotion that keeps you up at night—in the best way. Hustled to build community – Ran photo walks, co-founded a creative hub, and made his own opportunities. Landed early brand deals – Sales savvy + great work = ambassador gigs and exposure. From candid to crafted – Evolved into powerful, stylised portraits with deeper stories. Persistence landed prestige – Followed up relentlessly and landed a solo show at the Benaki Museum. One exhibition changed everything – Led to international recognition and collaborations (including with a French publisher). Exhibitions brought credibility, not cash – But they opened bigger doors. Got into Athens Airport – Thought beyond galleries, pitched his way into a major public space. Licensing deals followed – Smart networking = his work on Hollywood film sets. Still grounded – Big wins, but still humble. Still surprised it all worked. Won’t compromise for cash – If a job doesn't align with his vision, he walks. Web presence matters – Uses his site and blog to connect, attract, and build brand equity. Now chasing film – Creative restlessness led to video—a fresh challenge with income potential. Future-proofing with video – Sees filmmaking as both creative evolution and financial smarts. Believes in hustle + heart – Luck helped, but action opened every door. Proved it’s possible—even in crisis – Built success in the middle of Greece’s economic mess. Only do it if you must – He’s clear: this path isn’t for dabblers. Sacrificed for the dream – Slept rough, kept going, never stopped. Bride in Diafani, Olympos, Karpathos, Greece, by photographer George Tatakis What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. Business is the biggest part of the journey. I mean, I would say that 80 or 90% of my time goes to the business side, and then it's only 10 to 20% which is the creative side. And I know that many artists don't realize that, and I think I'm blessed in a way that I started as an engineer. – George Tatakis You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. I think filmmaking is a more lucrative work in these days. I think that even social media move toward this direction of videos. I also find YouTube to be an exciting place to be, because I think you do work that lingers on the platform, actually. So for example, you can do the video today, and after a couple of years, people will still be watching that video, which is not the case with other platforms. Also, there is more money in creating videos. – George Tatakis In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. GREECE. Thrace. Issakion. 2020 What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what George shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. You have to be where the opportunity lies, and then wait for luck to strike and give you the opportunity that you want to take. – George Tatakis If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask George, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. Karagouna costumes of Trikala, Thessaly, Greece iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. I actually started by organizing a photo walk. Immediately after quitting my job, I thought to myself that if you want to be in this business, then you want to get to know people that revolve around photography. – George Tatakis If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. I would probably say that after five years, I started being able to fully fund the projects and be able to spend time in actual hotels myself. So I would say, like, for the first two years, maybe three, I was completely trying to do everything as free as possible, without hotels or that stuff. – George Tatakis Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. This week, a big shoutout to Donna Todd, who shoots equestrian photography art and was recently looked out of her Facebook account, finally got it back and has offered to help anyone who ever finds themselves in the same situation. Here's the email chain we exchanged during her ordeal… Hi Andrew, hope you're well. I'm one of your subscribers and love your podcasts. I am just writing to you in the hope that, with your vast network, you may be able to help me. My Facebook was hacked without me knowing, I have since found a fake page with my name and DOB, etc, that may have caused the problem. As the fake hackers sent some of my friends, friend requests and my friends alerted me and took a screenshot of the fake page.. Facebook has disabled both my business account and personal account due to some dubious activity they were performing, which, as you can imagine, is very distressing. They say I have 178 days to appeal, and I have tried through my Instagram page, which I still have. Do you know of any Facebook experts who may be able to help me get my Facebook accounts back? I have tried everything I can think of and even paid some guy who turned out to be a scammer. All the best Donna Todd. I put Dona in touch with Richard Grenfell , who faced something similar and shares how he managed to get his accounts back here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1B69ed27NA&pp=ygUQcmljaGFyZCBncmVuZmVsbA%3D%3D Richard was invaluable and spoke with Donna but could not help her get her accounts back — he had faced and dealt with a different issue where hackers rang up a massive bill for FB Ads with his account! Then, earlier this week, I learned that Donna had her account back! She shared the following details: Hi Andrew, It was a gruelling process, lol! Firstly, I contacted a professional hacker who scammed me, charging an upfront fee and then telling me he had my account on a proxy and that if I wanted it, I would need to pay him triple the amount that I had already paid him…I refused and reported him to Meta. So needless to say, he didn’t help at all, so I definitely don’t advise anyone going down that path. I still had my Instagram account, so I verified it by paying a fee of, I think, about $20 per month. Once you are verified, there is support, and you can open a case with them there. I let them know that my account was hacked and that I was restricted and couldn’t gain access to my Facebook accounts. Eventually, someone replied, and after weeks of answering the same questions, they finally gave me back my accounts. I'd be happy to help anyone if it happens to them. Donna Dowry in Olympos, Karpathos by photographer George Tatakis Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: George Tatakis Website George Tatakis on Facebook George Tatakis on Instagram George Tatakis on YouTube 95% is work, and then maybe five, up to 5% is luck. But this, you know, this small bit of luck goes a long way. – George Tatakis Bride, Metaxades, Thrace, Greece, by photographer George Tatakis Thank you! Thanks for tuning in! Massive thanks to George for sharing the raw, real stories behind his creative journey. From sleeping in cars to landing exhibitions in major museums and airports. His path proves you don’t need a trust fund, perfect timing, or a Plan B—just obsession, grit, and a deep belief that this is what you’re meant to do. What an inspiration. I think that in this kind of in this line of work, if you are not extremely excited about creating art, then business will not work. – George Tatakis That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew George Tatakis with Nea Vyssa Girls I had the realization how business workw before starting to pursue something in art. I think people that start by going to a fine art school, for example, don't take into consideration the business part or the marketing that is needed. I think this can be the problem for them. – George Tatakis The post 610: George Tatakis – Turning Creative Obsession Into a Thriving Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Brooke Jefferson of www.brookejefferson.com/photography was first featured in the Coaches Predictions episode that kicked off in 2025, where she said that Behind The Scenes Content (BTS) will be a game changer for photographers this year. She knows exactly what it takes to turn a passion for photography into a thriving business. She is a photographer, business coach, and Book More Clients Photography podcast host. She first picked up a camera in 2014, with a baby on her hip and a borrowed camera, hoping to earn extra income for her family. What started as a side hustle quickly turned into a full-time career, and by 2018, she left her job as a teacher to go all in with photography. One of her coaching clients, Loretta, says… “Best investments I've made for my business. I've tried a couple of other photography coaches, and while they shared some valuable information, Brooke is 100% the secret sauce.” With over a decade behind the camera and six years as a coach, Brooke is walking the walk, not just talking the talk. In this interview, Brooke shares how living in a small town doesn't mean you can't have a booked-out photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: From borrowed camera to booked out – Brooke went full-time with her photography Small town, big growth – marketing works anywhere when you know what you’re doing Clients come from community – Google, referrals, Facebook groups… Brooke uses them all Style that stops the scroll – your signature look matters more than you think Shoot what you love, attract who you want – personal work brings the right clients Studio smarts – Brooke turns her studio into a year-round money-maker Right clients, right growth – niche down, stand out, stay booked Collab > competition – peers can be your best referral partners Inspired, not imitating – stay true to your style and still stand out Coaching that moves the needle – refine your strategy, raise your prices, grow Map it before you make it – goals first, bookings second Want to go full time? Set the target – Brooke helps photographers define what “full-time” actually means Profit starts with pricing – charge your worth with confidence Goodbye pricing panic – shift the fear and raise your rates Be consistent, be booked – clear style and messaging = magnet for dream clients Raise your prices without losing your people – it’s about scaling with intention Post your prices, get better leads – no more fluff inquiries Moving locations? You’re not starting over – rebuild fast with SEO, networking and local marketing Social growth that books – tagging and sharing is more than just engagement Don’t post everything – curate a feed that converts Show the work and the work-in-progress – BTS builds connection and trust Get found on Google, not just Insta – local SEO = leads that stick Network like a human, book like a pro – in-person wins every time Need clients fast? Use this strategy – Brooke’s go-to for quick bookings The “Book More Photography Clients” Podcast – weekly marketing & biz advice that works Learn while you listen – coaching, interviews, real talk on building your biz No matter your niche – weddings, families, newborns… there’s something here for you What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. My dream session is when a client reaches out and they want me to photograph them on their own property, whether that's their ranch or their farm. And the best part is when we can't drive to the location. We have to ride the ATVs. That is my favourite thing to do. So we get a little bit of fun and adventure. – Brooke Jefferson You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. I have to know your booking goal. I have to know your revenue goal. That is the very first place I start. From there, I dig into what you already have. And typically where people want me to start is their pricing and packages. So that's the very next place I'll go. – Brooke Jefferson In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Brooke shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. Networking, networking, networking. The things that photographers don't want to do, because it is so easy to type up a social media post, cross your fingers and hope you get bookings, it is so much harder to leave your house and actually go and talk to real humans and get your name out there, your business cards, things like that. But it can be done. – Brooke Jefferson If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Brooke, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. I am heavily relying on happy clients to keep my name going in the community. – Brooke Jefferson If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. Something that I am passionate about teaching, that works really well for me, is getting very involved in my community. I'm trying to make it to local events, partnering with business owners, things like that. So I try to market my business in a variety of ways so that the leads are always coming in. – Brooke Jefferson Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Brooke Jefferson Website Brooke Jefferson on Instagram Work with Brooke Jefferson Book More Photography Clients Podcast Voxer Thank you! Thanks for listening! A huge shoutout to Brooke for keeping it real and pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to build a lasting photography business . From a borrowed camera to six-figure success, her story is proof that you don’t need a big city, fancy gear, or a backup plan—just purpose, strategy, and a whole lot of grit. Show the best of the best. Don't show them all, especially when you're newer, you're going to need more content. You're going to have to re-share these sessions again while you're building your clientele, so just don't show everything all at once. – Brooke Jefferson That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 609: Brooke Jefferson – How a Small-Town Photographer Built a Booked-Out Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Joe Jenkins of www.joejenkinsphoto.com sent one of the best interview requests I've received in the 12 years since starting the podcast. The subject line read: How a scam on Craigslist kicked off my full-time, professional photography career in NYC. Then, the email… My name is Joe, and I’m a full-time photographer in New York City. I fell into photography after a talent agency tried to scam me into buying a $1000 headshot session, and I decided to start taking my own. I wasn't even a photographer at the time. Since entering the profession in 2013, I’ve opened a studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where I do fashion, headshots, event and commercial work. I currently shoot for some of the largest brands and modelling agencies in the world. This year I photographed Reese Witherspoon for Docusign, Jeff Bezos for Oxford University, the head of Samsung North America and Eli Manning for other brands. I was hooked, but I wanted to clarify a few things before inviting him on for an interview and make sure there was going to be something in this for you, the listener, beyond a great-sounding story. I learned he is a full-time photographer, his sole income source. Before COVID, he earned about 150k/year, but his business dried up until his recovery in 2023. He currently does over 100k between headshots, event work, and fashion photography, though he expects he'll be back to 150k and beyond this year or 2026. In this entertaining interview, Joe shares how he went from a Craigslist scam to a six-figure photographer. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Scammed Into a Career – A dodgy Craigslist ad stole his money. Instead of giving up, Joe grabbed a camera and built a career. NYC Photography is Brutal – If you’re not hustling, you’re invisible. Joe cracked the code by adapting fast and stacking income streams. Fashion Photography is a Long Game – Want to shoot fashion? Get ready for unpaid “test” shoots—Joe invested years before the paid gigs rolled in. Big Money is in Advertising – Headshots keep the lights on, but Joe’s playing for seven-figure ad campaigns. Smart Free Work Opens Doors – Shooting for top modelling agencies = instant credibility. Done right, it leads to paying clients. One Revenue Stream = Disaster – Joe juggles headshots, events, fashion, and commercial work. One fails? The others keep cash flowing. Marketing That Actually Works – Google ads, social media, referrals—Joe figured out the formula for a steady flow of clients. Sales Skills = More Profit – Simple pricing, smart upsells, and giving clients what they actually need = bigger paydays. Work Fast, Earn More – A 15-minute LinkedIn headshot session? Done. When your workflow is dialled in, you don’t need to grind. No Plan B. All In. – 100-hour weeks, a Brooklyn studio, and zero backup plans—Joe made it work because failure wasn’t an option. Networking That Doesn’t Suck – A casual bar convo landed Joe a gig on Ink Masters . The best connections aren’t made at “networking events.” Hard Work Wins – Adapt, persist, and keep showing up. That’s the real secret to making it in photography. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. The phrase fashion doesn't pay is, actually very literal, because it's such a competitive field that you work for free for a very long time. – Joe Jenkins You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. I had $100,000 in the bank going into COVID Now, now I'm deeply in debt, and it's fine. The fortunate thing about photography is that if you can find the work, it's a very well paying field. It's extremely well paying field. It's just finding the work, it's just running it as a business, but it's still tough. I'm not gonna lie, especially becasue I had to pretty much rebuild from scratch after COVID, and it's still very much a hustle. – Joe Jenkins In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Joe shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. I feel part of the reason I work so much is because I feel like I'm close to breaking out. I feel like I can see this the finish line, and I'm sprinting towards it. – Joe Jenkins If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Joe, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. Eventually you get to the point where your test work is so good that you start getting paid, which is where I'm at, but it's still pretty inconsistent. I still do a ton of free work. – Joe Jenkins If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. My best advice as a photographer is to just diversify your revenue streams, or just try to really keep your source of business diverse. – Joe Jenkins Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Joe's website — Headshots NYC Joe Jenkins Event Photographer NYC Joe Jenkins on Instagram Joe Jenkins on Facebook The end game for me is to not make $1,000 a day, even though that's awesome. Like $1,000 a day is not bad money anywhere in the world, but my end game is to make seven figures off of my work. – Joe Jenkins Thank you! Thanks for tuning in! Big thanks to Joe for keeping it real on what it takes to succeed—hustling, marketing, and knowing your worth. From getting scammed to building a six-figure business, Joe's story highlights how strategic moves (and a no-plan-B mindset), you can make it happen. If you do what a photographer does, there is no better dollar on the planet than advertising money. – Joe Jenkins That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 608: Joe Jenkins – From Craigslist Scam to Six-Figure Photographer appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Heather Lahtinen of https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/ first appeared on my radar when Wisconsin Dog Photographer and Premium Member Jan Bezzo recommended her. Jan emailed to tell me that she'd been coached by Heather in the past and would do so again, hopefully soon. Heather is no-nonsense and realistic but always treats people with integrity and kindness. Jan added… Heather just doesn't accept that “nothing is working” and helps you look at challenges from different perspectives, then works with you to troubleshoot. And Heather will give you tough love if needed. That was enough for me. Following that, Heather first appeared on the podcast in the coaches' predictions episode at the start of the year. I looked forward to discussing business, marketing, and mindset with this motivated and passionate coach behind The Flourish Academy and her Elevate program. In this interview, Heather shares why your photography business isn’t growing (And How to Fix It). Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Stop Saying “Nothing is Working” – Heather challenges vague negativity. Get specific about what’s not working. Look at What Is Working – Shift focus from problems to wins. That’s where growth happens. No More Excuses – Blaming the economy, competition, or social media algorithms won’t fix your business. You’re in control. Business is Math or Mindset (And It’s Always Mindset) – Pricing and revenue goals are just numbers. The real challenge? The thoughts holding you back. Pricing is Just Math – The numbers don’t lie. The hard part is having the confidence to charge what you’re worth. Mindset is the Real Challenge – Fear, doubt, and hesitation around pricing or marketing come from beliefs, not reality. Your Success is Possible, No Matter Where You Live – Location isn’t the issue. Belief and action are. Double Your Prices? Easy in Theory, Hard in Execution – The math is simple. The mindset and marketing shifts are where the real work happens. Your Prices Reflect Your Belief in Your Value – If you don’t believe in your worth, clients won’t either. Raise Your Prices Faster – The longer you wait, the harder it gets. Fear slows action. Not Booking at New Prices? – It’s not just about the price. Manage your thoughts, adjust your approach, and keep refining. Self-Concept is Everything – How you see yourself as a photographer and business owner determines your success more than “confidence” ever will. Think Like a Pro, Then Like an Entrepreneur – First, own your craft. Then, own your business. The Three Identity Shifts – Photographer → Entrepreneur → CEO. Each stage requires new thinking. Marketing Can Be Simple – A one-page (or even half-page) plan focused on what’s already working is all you need. Go Deep, Not Wide – Master a few marketing strategies instead of chasing every new trend. Referrals and Experience Win — Successful photographers consistently grow through happy clients and strong word-of-mouth, not endless social media posts. Turn Clients into “Sneezers” – Deliver such a great experience that people can’t help but tell others. Human Connection Still Matters – Picking up the phone, responding quickly, and caring go further than you think. Define Success on Your Terms – Growth for the sake of growth isn’t the goal. Build the business that fits your life. Check Your “Why” for Staying Small – If you’re holding back on growth, is it a choice or just fear? Stagnation Can Lead to Boredom – Staying still for too long can turn into self-sabotage. Keep growing in some way. Balance is Possible – You can have a thriving business and time for other passions. It’s about intention and systems. Work Smarter, Not Just Harder – The goal isn’t more work. It’s more profit with fewer hours. Efficiency is everything. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. I don't tolerate excuses or reasons or circumstances or like the sky is falling or the weather or the economy or anything like that. That's never going to fly with me. – Heather Lahtinen You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. I am a compassionate Navy SEAL. It's like someone who's like in your face yelling at you get up. Oh, but you know, I understand where you're coming from. It's hard to get up, and I've got you, but it's time to go, because we're done messing around. – Heather Lahtinen In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Heather shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. Essentially, I want to create what Malcolm Gladwell calls sneezers. Sneezers are people who are infected with your business and they love you so much they're telling everyone. – Heather Lahtinen If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Heather, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. When I get inquiries and they don't book right after I raise my prices, here's what I'm going to choose to think, because your brain's going to go haywire, and it's going to say, What have I done? I've ruined my business. I better drop the prices. – Heather Lahtinen If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. I have been in business for over 22 years. That means five presidential administrations, a major housing market crash, a couple of recessions in COVID, and I've never had a problem. And I don't think that's because I'm like, different or special at all. I think it's just because I don't allow circumstance to dictate my results, like there is no circumstance that could happen in the world or to me that could prevent me from moving none. – Heather Lahtinen Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: 151 Ways to Get Clients in Your Photography Business Free PDF Elevate Your Photography Business Website Flourish Academy Coaching Flourish Academy on iTunes Flourish Academy on Spotify Flourish Academy on Instagram If you make your clients happy, if they are your number one priority, you can almost run… a lot of your referrals in your business can be run from that, and then you're killing two birds with one stone. – Heather Lahtinen Thank you! Thanks for tuning in! Massive thanks to Heather for cutting through the fluff and getting real about what actually moves the needle. Success in photography isn’t just about taking great photos—it’s about backing yourself, owning your pricing, and making smart, strategic moves. Heather laid it all out, from ditching excuses to doubling your rates with confidence. If you’re ready to stop playing small, charge what you’re worth, and build a business that works for you, this episode is the perfect fit, My thoughts are, if you are not where you want to be in business, revenue, growth, whatever, it has to be one of two problems… it is either a math problem, like my pricing or number of clients, right? It's a math problem or it's a thought problem. And all problems are thought problems, okay? – Heather Lahtinen That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 607: Heather Lahtinen – Why Your Photography Business Isn’t Growing (And How to Fix It) appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


1 606: Caitlin McColl – From Postpartum Depression to Rebuilding a Thriving Photography Business 44:31
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Caitlin McColl of www.ragamuffinpetphotography.com.au and www.tailsoftheworld.com is one of Australia's best pet photographers! Her work first caught my eye over ten years ago, and we followed up with episode number 24 of the podcast , where she shared the details of working with pet shelters — I listened back to part of that recording this morning, and oh my god, we both sound so young! We later followed up by recording episode 282 where we dived deep into her photography books as a marketing and sales tool. I've asked her back today, following a recent email where she wrote… G'day Andrew, I'm just sitting here editing and listening to the podcast and decided I really need to send you a thank you. I'm coming out the other side of a four year postpartum depression haze and having spent those years just doing bare minimum to keep my business afloat and family fed, I was feeling lost and uninspired in business. But I knew EXACTLY where I needed to go to reinvigorate myself and as always Photobizx didn't disappoint. I've spent the last few weeks binge listening, and for the first time in a long time, I feel enthused about work again. I asked if she'd feel up to talking about her experiences. Caitlin said yes, and in this interview, she shares her experience of postpartum depression to rebuilding a thriving photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Mindset drives success – Overcoming challenges can transform your business. Outsource to grow – Hiring helps free up time for business growth. Diversify income – Multiple revenue streams create stability. Mental health matters – Prioritising wellbeing impacts business success. Maternity leave strategy – Six months off without losing income. Build the right team – Smart hiring streamlines operations. Expos = More bookings – Strategic approach secured 40+ sessions. Planning calls boost sales – Pre-session consults lead to bigger profits. Gear matters in pet photography – Investing in quality equipment pays off. Passion projects fuel growth – Tails of the World raised $150K and built brand credibility. Scaling means letting go – Hiring associates for business expansion. Asking for help is a strength – Support is key in business and life. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. I'm coming out the other side of a four-year postpartum depression haze, and having spent those years just doing the bare minimum to keep my business afloat and my family fed, I was feeling lost and uninspired in business, but I knew exactly where I needed to go to reinvigorate myself. – Caitlin McColl You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. Rather than saying, Hey, can I talk to you about pet photography? My line is, Oh, would you like to win a pet photo shoot? Would you like to win a photo shoot with your dog? And nine out of 10 people are gonna say ‘no'. – Caitlin McColl In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Caitlin shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. I feel like I'm really excited about my business, and I'm really excited for changes, and I want to work on it, rather than just doing the shoots and whatever I need to do to get by. So yeah, I can feel my like myself again, not like my old self. You never go back to your old self once you had kids, as you know, but I can feel my spirit back. It's really nice. – Caitlin McColl If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Caitlin, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. I've always been so geeky and passionate about automation and efficiency and productivity all that kind of stuff. But through the last four years, the importance of also being able to outsource became really, really apparent. – Caitlin McColl If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. Every other year I have done this. I sell a loss leader discounted session voucher, and sell maybe 40 sessions. The sales of those cover the stall fee. – Caitlin McColl Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Tails of the World Ragamuffin Pet Photography Website Ragamuffin Pet Photography on Facebook Ragamuffin Pet Photography on Instagram Ragamuffin Melbourne Pet Photography on YouTube Focused on Time Podcast Online Jobs PH Episode 24: Caitlin McColl – The Business of Pet Photography Success Episode 282: Caitlin McColl – How to run profitable book projects for portrait and pet photographers Episode 559: Karinda Kinsler – Why you need to treat every photography client like a $20,000 client Thank you! Thanks for tuning in! Huge thanks to Caitlin for sharing her journey and game-changing insights. Her story proves success isn’t just about great photos—it’s about mindset, smart moves, and taking action. If you’re serious about growing a sustainable photography business, this is the stuff that matters. One of the big things that I've learnt through this is the importance of all my eggs not being in my own basket. – Caitlin McColl That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 606: Caitlin McColl – From Postpartum Depression to Rebuilding a Thriving Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


1 605: Jeff Brown – The Business Failure That Changed Everything—And What You Can Learn From It 54:18
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Jeff Brown of www.thephotographersmentor.com needs no introduction if you've been listening for any time! He's appeared on the podcast multiple times, focusing mainly on LinkedIn and utilising that platform to attract and book clients. He also has a couple of courses on PhotoBizx—one on LinkedIn with a very recent update and another on building a high-converting and very simple website, recently mentioned by Richard Grenfell in his Advertise Like a MoFo course . His primary focus is Photography Business Mentoring, Accountability, and support, where he works with photographers worldwide. In addition to all that, he has published multiple books for photographers, which you can find on Amazon, including: The Photographer's Gratitude & Mindset Journal, Develop a Positive Routine for Happiness and Improved Self Belief: Your 100-Day Daily Self Help Diary— the perfect stepping-off point to kick-start your year. In this interview, Jeff shares the business failure that changed everything—and what you can learn from it to grow your photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Your mindset is your biggest asset – A strong, positive mindset will help you attract more clients, charge your worth, and build a thriving business. Gratitude fuels success – Focusing on what’s working (even in tough times) boosts resilience, confidence, and momentum. Visualise the business you want – Act as if you already have the success you’re aiming for—this shifts your thinking and actions to make it a reality. Big goals need small steps — Breaking down big dreams into daily, achievable actions makes them feel doable and keeps you moving forward. Failure isn’t fatal—it’s a launchpad – Jeff’s rock-bottom moment led to his most successful business. Learn from setbacks and come back stronger. Mentors accelerate your results — The proper guidance helps you avoid costly mistakes and fast-tracks your success. It’s not about the gear — your mindset, marketing, and client experience matter more than the latest camera. Journaling keeps you on track – This simple habit of gratitude and goal-setting keeps you focused, motivated, and making progress. Resilience beats temporary setbacks – Every challenge you overcome builds the confidence to handle bigger opportunities. Your success starts in your mind – If you can see it, believe it, and take action, you’re already on the way. Morning routines shape your day – Jeff’s 4:44 AM start fuels creativity and productivity—what habits set you up for success? Struggling with social media? – Consistency and storytelling transformed one photographer into an industry leader—it can work for you too. Your mental health matters – Success isn’t just about business; looking after yourself is just as important. Gratitude + goals = unstoppable momentum – When you combine the right mindset with intentional action, your results will skyrocket. Failures are stepping stones, not stop signs – Each setback is an opportunity to learn, adjust, and grow into a more profitable, confident business owner. Want more bookings? – Visualise the clients you want, create content that speaks to them, and watch your calendar fill up. Writing a book builds authority – Publishing your expertise helps you stand out, attract premium clients, and open doors to new opportunities. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. There's no such thing as a goal that is too big, because the process of achieving a big goal is exactly the same processes of achieving a small goal. It's just the time span is different. – Jeff Brown You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. Realize that…not everything is bad as it initially seems….remember that there's so many people in the world who you influence and rely on you and love you and care about you…speak to somebody, take professional advice. – Jeff Brown In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Jeff shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. I had a breakdown 10 years ago, and had a pub venture that went completely wrong…and that actually led me to running away…because I felt like a complete failure. And from that point, I had to reset my life. – Jeff Brown If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Jeff or want to say thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. PhotoBizX with Johl Dunn presents this FREE training… Last year was a shocker. The last 4yrs even! Let’s not sugarcoat the fact that it has been challenging and that there has been a lot of uncertainty in the market. So why have some businesses struggled and some thrived? It all comes down to mindset, habit and our distorted view of reality (Johl will explain more in the training). In the training. Johl will share: The Real Reason Some Businesses Thrive While Others Struggle Breaking Free from Burnout: Practical Strategies to Reclaim Your Energy How to Create More Balance & Still Run a Thriving Business Productivity & Focus: Working Smarter, Not Harder Unlocking Joy & Fun in Your Business (Yes, It’s Possible!) The Ultimate Mindset Shift: You Are the Key to Your Success When: Thursday, February 27th @ 7AM AEDT – your local time is here Cost: FREE Recording? Yes, if you are registered, I'll have a recording available after the live training with free access. If you're not registered for the live training, the cost will be USD$47. REGISTER HERE: https://learn.photobizx.com/unblock-your-business-registration/ iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. Now, 10 years later, I look back and realise that that was the best failure I ever had in my life, because it's changed my direction. – Jeff Brown If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. I'm making sure that I'm directing my product and myself as a brand towards pet lovers… I'm not just a pet photographer, I'm a pet expert in a way. – Jeff Richards Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. I've always said that if you listen to the podcast without implementing anything you hear, it's purely entertainment and not the business resource it should and could be. ★★★★★ Four reviews with one simple idea! Late last week, I received an email from a premium member and Las Vegas corporate event, convention and conference photographer Adrienne Angelo. She listened to the recent interview with Noel Marcantel, who talked about using a QR code that people scan at his business . I will try this tomorrow at a headshot station for a business with about 14 people who need new headshots. Fast forward a couple of days later, and Adrienne messaged me to say… “4 reviews at my 1st business today ” Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Jeff Brown The Photographer's Mentor Website The Photographer's Mentor on Facebook Jeff Brown on LinkedIn Jeff Brown on Amazon The Ambitious Photographer's Journal – Overcome Procrastination and Grow Your Photography Business Faster, 52 Week Photography Business Success by Jeff Brown The Photographer's Gratitude & Mindset Journal, Develop a Positive Routine for Happiness and Improved Self Belief: Your 100 Day Daily Self Help Diary by Jeff Brown The Photographer's Gratitude & Mindset Journal, Develop a Positive Routine for Happiness and Improved Self Belief: Your 100 Day Daily Self Help Diary by Jeff Brown Episode 397: Richard Grenfell – The Coaching Diaries with Steve Saporito Episode 549: Richard Grenfell – The successful and profitable move from family to boudoir photography 025 Premium Only Episode: Johl Dunn – Facebook Ad tactics with competitions and third party alliances Episode 330: Johl Dunn – How to create a money making portrait photography business Episode 526: Johl Dunn – Modern day marketing and success for portrait photographers Episode 556: Johl Dunn – Unlock Your Photography Business Potential and Stop Unblock Your Photography Business – FREE TRAINING Thank you! Thanks for tuning in! A huge thank you to Jeff for sharing his invaluable insights and personal stories on building a successful photography business. His journey proves that success isn’t just about taking great photos—it’s about mindset, strategy, and consistent action. Whether mastering your niche, attracting high-value clients, or staying resilient through setbacks, Jeff’s advice is a game/life-changer for any photographer looking to grow their business successfully. Life is a massive roller coaster, and it's all about having more ups than downs, because you're going to have downs anyway, right? But you're going to get back up there. – Jeff Brown That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 605: Jeff Brown – The Business Failure That Changed Everything—And What You Can Learn From It appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


1 604: Belinda Richards – Game Changing Strategies to Attract the Right Photography Clients 1:25:02
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Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Belinda Richards of www.belindarichards.com popped up on my radar following a beautiful email from PhotoBizX premium member and German-based photographer Birgit Zimmerman. I jumped over to check out today's guest's website, and OMG… SO GOOD! Her website is filled with humour in the form of copy, images, and a video on the home page—which is fantastic. In addition to all that, her photography is first-class. And you'd expect nothing less when you see the number of awards she has earned, including the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Australian Pet Photographer of the Year! All her photography is done in studio. She started her working life as a dog groomer. Later, she completed her diploma in photography, which led to a Bachelor of Fine Arts. And today, she is the proud owner of what looks to be an incredible business: Frog Dog Studios. In this interview, among other things, Belinda shares her game changing strategies for attracting the right photography clients to her business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Awards build trust & boost SEO – Win credibility, attract premium clients, and get free publicity. Niching is your secret weapon – Specialising (like pet photography) makes you stand out and scale faster. Stop getting ghosted – Clear pricing and pre-shoot consults turn inquiries into bookings. Gear won’t grow your business – Business coaching and financial skills will. Profit and creativity can coexist – Charge what you’re worth with smart business decisions. Awards aren’t just for bragging – They open doors to media coverage and premium clients. Want better SEO? Get featured – Media coverage (like Forbes) boosts rankings and leads. Make journalists notice you – Build relationships and get easy media coverage. Press releases falling flat? – Write them in a way that actually gets picked up. More gear ≠ more success – Coaching grew revenue to $205K—without a new camera. Earn more, work less – Scaling down to $130K meant more balance and fulfilment. Attract your dream clients – An exclusive model lets you work less and earn more. Love photographing dogs? – A dog-only studio turned into a thriving business. Admin killing your time? – The right CRM, accounting tools, and automation fix that. Hate phone calls? – Email and text make bookings way easier. Want a fully booked calendar? – Two key promotions locked in a year of bookings. No clients yet? – Portfolio-building promotions get you booked fast . Viral success isn’t luck – One “Footy Dog” shoot led to massive exposure. High-end pricing, big results – “Grow Sessions” turned puppies into $5,200 bookings. Learn from the best – Get insights from top industry mentors and workshops. A welcome video changes everything – A government grant made it happen—here’s how. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. I initially started entering awards because… I leveraged free publicity… of bringing trust, and then people start to know you as the expert in your field. – Belinda Richards You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. One of the things that I did know, because I had previously owned businesses, is that I needed to pay for help, not buy a new camera. – Belinda Richards In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Belinda shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. I never get on the phone to my clients. Everything is done by email and text message. They book online. They're, you know, get they pay online, apart from when they, you know, they come in here for the ordering appointment.- Belinda Richards If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Belinda or want to say thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. PhotoBizX with Johl Dunn presents this FREE training… Last year was a shocker. The last 4yrs even! Let’s not sugarcoat the fact that it has been challenging and that there has been a lot of uncertainty in the market. So why have some businesses struggled and some thrived? It all comes down to mindset, habit and our distorted view of reality (Johl will explain more in the training). In the training. Johl will share: The Real Reason Some Businesses Thrive While Others Struggle Breaking Free from Burnout: Practical Strategies to Reclaim Your Energy How to Create More Balance & Still Run a Thriving Business Productivity & Focus: Working Smarter, Not Harder Unlocking Joy & Fun in Your Business (Yes, It’s Possible!) The Ultimate Mindset Shift: You Are the Key to Your Success When: Thursday, February 27th @ 7AM AEDT – your local time is here Cost: FREE Recording? Yes, if you are registered, I'll have a recording available after the live training with free access. If you're not registered for the live training, the cost will be USD$47. REGISTER HERE: https://learn.photobizx.com/unblock-your-business-registration/ iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. It is more about refining your voice, like I really enjoy art and art history and things like that. And I think that education in the fine art degree that I did at RMIT has really helped me in creating the artworks that I do… – Belinda Richards If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. I'm making sure that I'm directing my product and myself as a brand towards pet lovers… I'm not just a pet photographer, I'm a pet expert in a way. – Belinda Richards Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Here are the latest reviews… ★★★★★ Incredibly Useful! Via Apple Podcasts by London-based documentary photographer Gary Williams, in the United Kingdom on February 8th, 2025. I’ve enjoyed Andrew’s podcast for a long time (and finally had the honour of being a guest last year ). I just love how super practical and useful Andrew makes each interview. He asks the questions that we photographers really want answered. Thank you, Andrew! ★★★★★ I’m always learning from your guests Via Apple Podcasts by Western Australian rural photographer Caro Telfer, in Australia on February 11th, 2025. The latest instalment sounds like an episode I need to listen to! But what I find is that even the podcasts I think don’t relate to me at all—boudoir, pet photography, etc.—always have something valuable to teach me, whether it’s about customer service, CRM, or marketing strategies. Thanks, Andrew, as always, for the best photography business podcast available! Caro was also featured on the podcast: 529: Caro Telfer – How to Generate an Income with Stock Photography Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Belinda Richards Website Frog Dog Studios Website Frog Dog Studios on Facebook Frog Dog Studios on Instagram No one gets to have a session with me unless they're prepared to come to full consultation first… And then they come back to actually do an IPS design and ordering appointment… they actually hit my studio four times before they actually take their artwork home and and hang it on the wall. – Belinda Richards Unblock Your Photography Business – FREE TRAINING Thank you! Thanks for listening! A massive thank you to Belinda for sharing her invaluable insights on growing a profitable photography business. From nailing your niche to booking high-paying clients, she’s proof that success isn’t just about taking great photos—it’s about making smart, strategic moves that actually grow your business. I'm immersing myself in the pet industry, not the photography industry. – Belinda Richards That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 604: Belinda Richards – Game Changing Strategies to Attract the Right Photography Clients appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast


Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Vanessa German of www.vannfineart.com and her photography business was a bit of an enigma to me. I was excited to dive in and learn more about what I believe is an incredibly successful business… but I just wasn't sure. Here's some background… The photography on her website is exquisite. It's studio-based and classic in how her subjects have been lit, posed, and framed. Her clients all look happy, mostly looking down the lens and smiling. I'd also describe them as looking wealthy, like they can afford to invest in a luxury experience. Her Instagram and Facebook accounts appear to take a back seat with few posts, the last one on Facebook being over four months ago and Instagram a month ago. I can't see any current ads running. I know she's had sales over the $10,000 mark. Whenever I read her comments or posts in the PhotoBizX Members Facebook Group, they scream business savvy, intelligent and realistic business operator to me. In this interview, Vanessa shares how living in a small town doesn't exclude you from big profits and how to build a thriving photography business, no matter where you're based. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: How to grow beyond your local market – Struggling to find clients in a small town? Learn how to attract bookings from outside your immediate area. Why profitability isn’t about high-income clients – Vanessa shares how she built a thriving business by focusing on middle-class families who truly value photography. The secret to managing client expectations – Offering a mix of formal and casual portraits. Here’s how to guide your clients to make the best choices for stunning results. Why studio sessions are a game-changer – Higher efficiency, better profit margins, and less time spent editing—Vanessa reveals why studio photography is a smart business move. Silent auctions done right – A marketing tool that brings in new clients… but only if you do it properly. Learn how to set minimum bids and ensure gift certificates actually get used! Transforming your sales process – Discover how an effective consultation, projection software, and the right messaging can significantly boost your print sales. Time is money: How to simplify your workflow – Drop shipping, outsourcing, and smarter systems—how to free up your time while keeping profit margins high. Adapting when business shifts – Market trends change—are you keeping up? Learn how to test, pivot, and drop what’s not working. Finding the balance between creativity and business – Mastering your craft is one thing, but building a sustainable business requires a different mindset. Vanessa shares how to shift gears. The fastest way to grow: Learning from those who’ve done it – Why mentorship and proven strategies are the real shortcuts to success. What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. My focus is on being a six figure salary studio, not a six figure revenue studio. – Vanessa German You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. I would rather be one woman show and outsource as much as I can and run really lean and efficient because that's just so much less stress for me. – Vanessa German In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Vanessa shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah , I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode. I do find that the auction system, I call it, or the Golden Circle of giving. I do find that to be one of my most successful marketing plans, because it is one way that I can bring people to my studio that don't live near me. So I can bring them from a farther distance to me. – Vanessa German If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Vanessa or want to say thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show. I found as my children grew and my personal life changed, my focus shifted also, what I felt was more important changed over that time. – Vanessa German If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google . You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast . Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them. My client avatar is someone who values what I do. So that can look like a lot of different things. – Vanessa German Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Vanessa German Website Vanessa German Fine Art on Instagram Vanessa German Fine Art on Facebook Episode 476: Arica Dorff – How to have your own photography supported road tripping adventure Projector People Episode 595: Claire Thomas – Chasing stories and an income as a documentary and fine art photographer Free Download from Vanessa — The Auction Program Essentials Checklist Thank you! Thanks for listening! Huge thanks to Vanessa for sharing her game-changing insights on building a profitable photography business. From attracting the right clients to running a smarter, more efficient studio, she’s proof that success isn’t just about talent—it’s about making smart business moves. To be successful no matter where you are, at some point you have to transition from being the artist to being a business person. If you don't make that transition, you'll just continue to chase your art. – Vanessa German. That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business! Thanks, and speak soon Andrew The post 603: Vanessa German – How to build a small town thriving photography business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business .…
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