608: Joe Jenkins – From Craigslist Scam to Six-Figure Photographer

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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.​

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