Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Craig Peterman of www.petermanphotovideo.com is a wedding photographer and videographer based in Phoenix, Arizona with over a decade of experience. Over the past two years he has successfully generated over $200,000 annually in revenue and is on track for $300k this year. His work has been featured on The Knot and Style Me Pretty, and is a mixture of natural light with vibrant dessert colours with some black and white edits. Here's why I'm most interested in learning more from Craig… I see a nice looking, easy to navigate website, great photography, social media accounts that are ticking along – he has close to 60k followers on Instagram – but nothing jumping out as an obvious reason for success. There is no aggressive marketing, special offers, or specific online ads, and his website doesn't rank highly in search for major keywords. How is he achieving the success he is? In this interview, learn how to build a $300K wedding photography business without aggressive marketing strategies or pushy sales techniques. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Maximising Slow Seasons: Use downtime to invest in your education, audit your social media, and strengthen vendor relationships. These efforts will pay off when business picks up. Optimising Your Team and Workflow: Building a team can help you manage multiple bookings and deliver a seamless client experience. Consider adding assistants or delegating tasks to streamline your workflow. Leveraging Post-COVID Opportunities: Enhance your SEO, strengthen vendor partnerships, and improve your online presence to take advantage of new opportunities and grow your business. Targeting Your Ideal Clients: Use targeted ads and SEO strategies to reach local and out-of-state clients. Understand your client base and focus your marketing efforts where they’ll be most effective. Improving Client Engagement: Quick follow-ups, relaxed meetings, and showcasing your best work can help you build strong, personal relationships with clients, leading to more bookings. Offering Flexible Packages: Simplify your service offerings by providing both separate and combined photography and videography packages, making it easier for clients to choose what fits their needs. Maintaining Quality Through Post-Processing: Ensure your team works well on shoots, and consider managing post-processing yourself to maintain consistent quality and fast turnaround times. Building Strong Vendor Relationships: Stay approachable and build solid relationships with vendors. These connections can increase referrals and strengthen your business network. Focusing on Continuous Improvement: Keep growing by working hard, expanding your network, and improving your online presence. Building strong relationships will lead to long-term 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 unique selling proposition, is selling high quality luxury service at a fair price. You know, something that can attract the masses. So, I'm not I'm not pricing couples out immediately. – Craig Peterman 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. 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 Craig 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. Put yourself in many places as you can. Invest wisely in your ads and see where that leads you. – Craig Peterman If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Craig, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. It's This week… Don't Miss this business and life-changing training! The “40 Over 40” Campaign Masterclass helps portrait photographers attract high-value clients by focusing on women over 40, a powerful and often underserved demographic. Led by Laurie Brown, who has successfully run these campaigns multiple times, the course provides step-by-step guidance on creating a luxury experience that boosts client satisfaction, generates referrals, and significantly increases profits. You will learn marketing and pricing strategies and how to create lasting relationships with clients. This training is perfect for photographers seeking to elevate their business with a proven, profitable campaign. All the details are here –>> https://learn.photobizx.com/40over40/ Here's what you'll learn… How to attract high-value clients with a “40 Over 40” portrait campaign. Marketing strategies targeting women over 40. Techniques for creating compelling portraits. Generating referrals and long-term client relationships. Using social media ads and email marketing effectively. Storytelling techniques to connect with clients. Designing a luxury portrait experience. Pricing strategies for high-end clientele. When: The live training is on September 26th 2024 @ 7:00am AEDT. AND October 2024 @ 7:00am AEDT You will have access to the recording, stand-alone course and any downloadables after the live training has been delivered by Laurie. Click here for your local time. Where: Zoom (I'll provide a link once you register) Why: To fill your calendar with fantastic clients who love what you do and leave raving about you to everyone they know. Cost is $197 and doubles after the live training. Early bird bonus: $100 off any other existing PBX Course (to be used in 2024). All the details are here: https://learn.photobizx.com/40over40/ If you want a full calendar of high-value portrait clients, this could be your perfect marketing campaign.  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 don't offer a discount. I will say this though, if a couple has a budget that they want to start with, I'll work with them. I mean, it's not worth losing a sale over 500 bucks or $1,000. Sometimes you just gotta make it happen. – Craig Peterman 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 both 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. Respond to your clients immediately, within 24 hours at the very most. There's too many vendors out there and photographers that wait way too long to respond back. I respond back immediately with an email letting them know ‘Thank you for contacting. Can we set up a meeting?' And we kind of take it from there. So, yes, email responses. The first thing if I don't get a response back after that initial email response, and about three to four days I will give them a call to see if they're still interested. – Craig Peterman 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: Craig Peterman Website Craig Peterman on Instagram Craig Peterman on Facebook Craig Peterman on Tiktok Craig can help you with building a profitable photography business Thank you! Thank you again for tuning in, and a big thanks to Craig for sharing his valuable insights on how he has been able to build a $300K wedding photography business without aggressive marketing strategies or pushy sales techniques. If you're going to do a zoom meeting with a couple, don't just wing it. Prepare for it. Have a plan of what you're going to talk about because that does translate really well across the couples. They remember that. And if they're talking to five different photographers, and you don't have anything memorable about you, they're not going to remember you. – Craig Peterman 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 584: Craig Peterman – Build a $300K Wedding Photography Business Without Aggressive Marketing appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Steve Tepp of www.rightsclick.com is a seasoned copyright expert and co-founder of RightsClick® — a company on the front lines, protecting the rights of photographers and other creators where they say you can turn copyright infringement Into income. He has an extensive background in IP law and started his career as an attorney for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, then worked at the U.S. Copyright Office, where he handled major international cases, including one against China. He also led intellectual property efforts at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce before starting his own consultancy, Sentinel Worldwide. In addition to working in the field, he teaches copyright law at George Washington University and continues to be a key voice in the fight for creative rights. In this interview, Steve shares everything a photographer needs to know about copyright and protecting your images. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Copyright Registration: Emphasises the need for US photographers to register their work for legal protection, as foreign authors are exempt. Legal Protection for Photographers: Highlights the importance of copyright registration to access statutory damages and attorneys' fees. Copyright Applicability: Copyright applies to anyone creating tangible works, including photographers, designers, and sculptors. Retaining Copyright Ownership: Advises photographers to use written agreements to retain copyright and clarify terms with clients. Licensing vs Selling Copyright: Differentiates between licensing for non-exclusive use while retaining ownership, and stresses the use of metadata to track images. Fair Use Challenges in the US: Describes the unpredictability of fair use in US courts and reinforces the value of copyright registration for stronger legal standing. US Copyright Registration Process: Outlines the steps involved in registering images with the US Copyright Office to strengthen ownership claims. Infringement and Cease and Desist Letters: Encourages using tools like RightsClick to assess infringements and issue cease and desist letters, bolstered by copyright registration. International Copyright Differences: Notes variations in international copyright laws, with Australia offering extra damages and using public pressure to resolve disputes. AI-Generated Image Copyright Issues: Discusses the evolving challenges of copyrighting AI-generated images, with human involvement playing a key role in claims. 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. Everyone who's trying to make a business as a photographer should be paying attention to their copyright rights. Everyone. All the way down to even just the man or woman on the street, who happens to pull out their phone and snap a photo of a newsworthy event, if they think that there's value in that photograph, then they have copyright rights at the moment they've snapped that image. – Steve Tepp 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. 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 Steve 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. In order to be eligible for statutory damages, you must have registered with the copyright office before the infringement began. Not before you discovered it, before it began. – Steve Tepp If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Steve, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. Register now for this business and life-changing training! The “40 Over 40” Campaign Masterclass helps portrait photographers attract high-value clients by focusing on women over 40, a powerful and often underserved demographic. Led by Laurie Brown, who has successfully run these campaigns multiple times, the course provides step-by-step guidance on creating a luxury experience that boosts client satisfaction, generates referrals, and significantly increases profits. You will learn marketing and pricing strategies and how to create lasting relationships with clients. This training is perfect for photographers seeking to elevate their business with a proven, profitable campaign. All the details are here –>> https://learn.photobizx.com/40over40/ Here's what you'll learn… How to attract high-value clients with a “40 Over 40” portrait campaign. Marketing strategies targeting women over 40. Techniques for creating compelling portraits. Generating referrals and long-term client relationships. Using social media ads and email marketing effectively. Storytelling techniques to connect with clients. Designing a luxury portrait experience. Pricing strategies for high-end clientele. When: The live training is on September 26th 2024 @ 7:00am AEDT. AND October 2024 @ 7:00am AEDT You will have access to the recording, stand-alone course and any downloadables after the live training has been delivered by Laurie. Click here for your local time. Where: Zoom (I'll provide a link once you register) Why: To fill your calendar with fantastic clients who love what you do and leave raving about you to everyone they know. Cost is $197 and doubles after the live training. Early bird bonus: $100 off any other existing PBX Course (to be used in 2024). All the details are here: https://learn.photobizx.com/40over40/ If you want a full calendar of high-value portrait clients, this could be your perfect marketing campaign.  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. Registration is per work. So, once you register a particular image, that image is registered forever or for the rest of the life of the copyright. But if you take more images, you've got to register those images. – Steve Tepp 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 both 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. Everyone who's listening, who is a US based author, if you have not registered your work with the US Copyright Office, you cannot go to federal court to enforce your rights. If you file a lawsuit, it will be dismissed out of hand for failure to register. That is an absolute prerequisite for US authors in the US. – Steve Tepp 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… ★★★★★ The best $20 you'll ever spend Via Google by Morris County, New Jersey family and pet photographer Stephanie Blum, in the USA on September 12th, 2024. I listen to Andrew's podcast every Monday. It's become part of my Monday morning ritual.  He is one of the absolute best interviewers.  I've listened to many other photography podcasts but his provides the most value and education around. He asks great questions and I learn something every episode. I highly recommend paying for the premium membership. It's the best $20 you'll ever spend. ★★★★★ This photography podcast makes you a better runner!  Via Google by Leigh Woolford, who specialises in Melbourne kindergarten photography, in Australia on September 13th, 2024. This might be a strange measurement of how much I value these podcasts… Went for a 4k run this morning, put the headphones in and ended up running 6 because I had to finish listening! Not only can I confirm Andrew has helped me become a 1.5x better runner, these podcasts are proving invaluable in the pursuit of creating a better Photography business! ★★★★★ Directly contributed to the growth and success of my photography business. Via Google by Ponte Vedra Beach & Jacksonville headshot photographer Chris Cottrell, in Florida, USA, on September 13th, 2024. Photobizx has been an invaluable resource for me as a photographer. Andrew’s weekly episodes offer a wealth of actionable advice, from marketing strategies to how-to courses. His ability to break down complex topics into digestible pieces makes it easy for both new and experienced photographers to benefit. Over the years, I’ve gained countless insights from Photobizx that have directly contributed to the growth and success of my photography business. The interviews with industry professionals provide unique perspectives and real-world examples. I highly recommend Photobizx to anyone looking to take their photography business to the next level. Thank you, Andrew, for your dedication to helping photographers thrive! ★★★★★ Directly contributed to the growth and success of my photography business. Via Google by Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Hunter dog photographer Kelly Munce in Australia on September 14th, 2024. I took the book projects course with Photo Biz Xposed, and it was packed with valuable information from both Katie and Andrew. Andrew has been incredibly helpful even after the course, always available to answer any questions I’ve had. Photo Biz Xposed is a fantastic resource. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: RightsClick Website RightsClick on Facebook RightsClick on Instagram Thank you! Thank you again for tuning in, and a big thanks to Steve for sharing his valuable insights on copyright and photography. I hope that after listening, you feel more empowered and informed about protecting your work from unauthorised use and understand how to seek compensation or take action if your photography is used without permission. The copyright law in most countries has been written in a way to give the copyright owner as strong a hand as possible, especially against willful infringement. – Steve Tepp 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 583: Steve Tepp – Copyright Essentials for Photographers appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Arica Lipp of www.aricalipp.com caught my attention when a video of her behind-the-scenes shoot of a young dancer was circulating on social media. The photo looked, literally, like a painting, but when you see the video, you realise there was paint involved—it was on the young girl in the photo. You can see the photo in the show notes below to appreciate how amazing this photographer/artist is. The comments that followed that video and image in the PBX Member's Group went like this… Wow! People are just so bloody clever!!!!! This is amazing Amazing! I'm astounded! I was literally just watching the BTS when you reposted. This is just magic! So so gooooooood!!!!!!!! Love the creativity! I dug a little deeper to find a super-talented US-based photographer who has won a ton of awards… over 100! Who photographs headshots, portraits, seniors and dance photography clients. Take one look at her website and portfolio, and you'll see a photographer who truly knows her craft. I was guessing and hoping there was a fantastic business behind this incredible photographer, I was not disappointed. In this interview, learn how to combine your passions to build a thriving photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Embrace Business & Marketing: Arica highlights the importance of integrating business and marketing into your photography practice, emphasising them as key drivers of success. Background & Transition: Arica’s journey from fine art to photography, driven by personal need, shows how combining passion with a clear business focus can lead to success. Viral Success: A single viral photo gave Arica’s business a major boost, proving the power of emotionally impactful, shareable content that resonates with clients. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Staying true to yourself and avoiding comparisons with others is key to personal and business growth, as Arica shares from her own experience. Niche Down & Build Online Presence: Finding a niche, such as headshots, and building a strong online presence are critical steps in growing a successful photography business. Client Relationships & Upselling: Building genuine relationships with clients, educating them on the value of professional photos, and mastering the art of upselling are essential to boosting revenue. Specialised Photography: Focusing on niche markets like dance photography and headshots allowed Arica to meet specific client needs and strengthen her business. Networking & Marketing: Effective networking involves attending events, building relationships, and giving back to the community, such as through charity donations, to build goodwill. Business Growth & Delegation: Arica’s plans for business growth include outsourcing tasks, hiring staff, and learning how to delegate effectively to support expansion. Vision for the Future: Arica’s vision includes expanding her services while maintaining high-quality work, offering valuable insights into scaling a photography business. The purpose of niching in the beginning is to become memorable in the minds of a consumer, in the minds of your community, in your market. When you have a specific style, and it's consistent, you're more quickly remembered in the minds of people and viewers. – Arica Lipp 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 had to get over the fear of how I look in front of the camera. Because I can't ask my clients to do something I'm not willing to do myself. It's just not right. We all know that. So I put myself out there. – Arica Lipp 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. 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 Arica 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'm going to value my work and even though it feels gut wrenchingly difficult, I'm just going to do it. And it gets easier. And then the more work you put in, the more you value that time and effort. – Arica Lipp If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Arica, 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. My clients will come by just to say ‘hi' a lot. And I'm okay with that. And that's what I honestly feel is the secret of the success. When you treat people like they should be treated, they will come to you. AI is not going to take care of them the way I'm going to take care of them and it comes down to that. – Arica Lipp 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 both 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. 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… ★★★★★  Ticks All The Boxes! Via Google by Adelaide pet photographer Sarina Veliz, in Australia on September 3rd, 2024. Andrew is an amazing educator. I came across him a few years ago when I did a short course on video creation – I didn’t even know he was a photography expert! But boy I am glad I discovered him. He is also a fantastic podcast host, his interview style is fun and easy to listen to – I struggle sometimes finding podcasts that are both engaging, educational and have some light entertainment – his ticks all those boxes! The thing that really stood out for me is that there is no problem too small for Andrew to jump right in, have a chat and figure things out. Also I randomly replied to one of his newsletters one day and of course he responded straight back! Just an all-around great guy! Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Arica Lipp Website Arica Lipp on Facebook Arica Lipp on Instagram Episode 012: Jerry Ghionis – Cooking Up Wedding Photography Success, Don’t Get Caught in the Fire Episode 145: Peter Hurley – How To Survive and Thrive as a Headshot Photographer Episode 087: Sue Bryce – How to Make Real Money From Your Photography Business Right Now Episode 448: Megan DiPiero – Go high end with your photography business or get ready to fail Thank you! Thanks again for listening and for Arica's sharing her journey from starving artist to thriving photography business owner by combining her love of dance, painting, photography and business. We as photographers had that power to create these wonderful things that will keep giving to people that we created it for. And I wouldn't miss that. And I wouldn't feel like me if I stopped serving people to that extent. And it fulfills me. It fulfills me as an artist, fulfills me as a human, being able to connect with other humans. Headshots and branding only takes me so far artistically. There is a limit to the artistry. – Arica Lipp 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 582: Arica Lipp – From Paint to Profit: Building a Thriving Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Gary Williams, of www.garywilliams.photography, has been published in the New York Times, had his photography displayed in galleries around the world, shown on billboards across London, and describes himself as a London-based documentary photographer. If you visit his website, it’s clear that his primary focus is on weddings and portraits. However, if you explore further, you’ll find he also specialises in commercial, event, and headshot photography. Recently, he completed a four-year project documenting and celebrating the businesses and people of what he describes as London’s most charming street—Camden Passage—located not far from his home. In an email, he mentioned that this project has been invaluable for developing his photography skills. It has also boosted his confidence in approaching and networking with people and has helped him attract new clients to his photography business. Although his business is relatively new and his income modest, his work is outstanding. A project like this could be life-changing for you and your business. I hope you’re as eager to learn more as I am. In this interview, learn how personal projects can boost your photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Insights on growing a business through a four-year project. Personal struggles with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. The importance of recognising and celebrating personal achievements despite the challenges of the creative industry. Starting a photography career later in life. Exploring photography genres and addressing the stigma often associated with wedding photography. Gary reflects on his initial hesitation towards wedding photography due to negative attitudes from his street photography peers. The potential threat of AI to his corporate headshot business and exploring alternative options like weddings and events. Debunking misconceptions about wedding photography. Gary recounts his experience shooting his first wedding. VAT registration for UK photographers offers insights on avoiding VAT and its impact on business growth. Gary shares how his projects have been instrumental in his development and business growth. Street photography challenges, such as dealing with unwanted attention and criticism. The inspiration behind Gary’s photography project was to improve his street portraiture skills and connect with his local community. He discusses the loneliness that can come with being a photographer and how he sought human interaction. Gary’s sales techniques highlight the importance of effort and practice. He set a goal of making 100 cold calls per week to improve his sales skills, despite initial struggles and rejection. Gary discusses how consistent effort and practice have been key to building his skills, stressing the importance of putting in the time to improve. The importance of practice and repetition in honing skills. Cultivating and developing talents through hard work and dedication. Gary began making zines of his photography for personal satisfaction, eventually realising it could become a book. After taking a bookmaking workshop, he learned about sequencing and considered publishing a book. The process of creating a photo book, including portfolio reviews, sequencing images, and managing printing costs. Printing 150 books costs around £1,500, with additional expenses for portfolio reviews and related costs. His projects have led to unexpected opportunities, including paid work and networking connections, showcasing the value of pursuing one's passions. Creating 30-second videos to showcase your personality, making it easier for potential clients to connect with you. If there's one area of photography that I feel might be under threat from AI it's business and corporate headshots… And I thought, ‘I really want to be a photographer. I want to make my living from this. What else can I do?’ And I thought weddings and events. – Gary Williams 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 found the value of personal projects has been incredible, both in terms of what I've learned, and my development as a photographer, and in my business. – Gary Williams 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. 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 Gary 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'm a big believer in doing things for the right reasons. You do it just because you love doing it. You do it for what is it right in front of you, which is the opportunity to to learn and to interact with interesting people and just to be a better photographer. And then if those other things come along, like credits or some work, then that's great. But I actually think if you do it for the right reasons, they usually do come along. – Gary Williams If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Gary, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. REGISTER AND SAVE, LAST CHANCE! Scaling with AI: Lead Generation, Pricing, SEO & Essential Tools. If you're tired of spending hours on social media to attract clients only to see minimal results. Or you're ready to break free from the content creation grind and focus on other things. Good news! Brianna's training will be a game-changer for you. All the details are here –>> ​ https://learn.photobizx.com/session-3-ai-marketing-for-photographers-registration/ Here's what you'll learn…      AI-Powered Lead Generation: Learn to identify your target audience with precision and create lead generation strategies that consistently deliver high-quality leads.      Data-Driven Pricing: Master the art of setting profitable prices based on market research, cost analysis, and your unique value proposition, so you're always paid what you're worth.      SEO Optimization with AI: Elevate your website's visibility and attract organic traffic by mastering AI-powered keyword research and content optimization strategies. Essential AI Tools for Photographers: Discover additional AI tools that can streamline your workflow, enhance your online presence, and boost your overall efficiency. The live training is on Thursday, September 5th, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. Sydney local time. Your local time is here. Cost is $197 and doubles after the live training.  Early bird bonuses… $100 off any other existing PBX Course. All the details are here: https://photobizx.com/ai3 The future of photography marketing is here. Master AI before it all gets too hard. 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. There are no shortcuts. There are no shortcuts. I wish there were and if somebody knows some tell me and save me a lot of time and trouble. Everything that I've done where I've had any measure of success, it's just work. It’s just doing it. It's just putting the time in. And those people who say, ‘Oh, I can't talk to anyone.’ Yes, she can. Just do it and keep doing it until you get better at it. – Gary Williams 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 both 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. 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: Gary Williams Website Gary Williams on Instagram The Little Book of Camden Passage This is Camden Passage on Instagram Thank you! Thanks again for listening and for Gary's sharing his journey so far and uncovering how personal projects can boost your photography business in so many ways. There's no secret. It's just do it. This is why I did all of those photographs for free and I still do for free this at home projects. I'll be doing it for years. Because the more I do, the better I get. – Gary Williams 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 581: Gary Williams – How Personal Projects Can Boost Your Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Brendan Taylor of Baby Art Studios and The TogPod CRM for photographers has appeared on the podcast twice, and both interviews were eye-opening gems and not to be missed, with so many good ideas shared on how to grow your photography business In episode 502, Brendan hit hard with some home truths about running a successful photography business today. Trust me when I say he knows his numbers, marketing, business, and how to be profitable with a photography studio. Then, in episode 557, he shared exactly how he and his team make incredible lead conversions from their marketing campaigns and how they lead these new clients to fantastic wall art sales. This episode also shares another eye-opening idea. Since our last recording, Brendan has been nominated for best marketing campaign worldwide and overall entrepreneur of the year. Amazing stuff! In his last interview, he hinted at a new CRM for photographers: The Tog Pod. As the CRM is about to come to market, there has been a lot of chat in the Premium Members Group after good friend Elle Payne shared details of her beta testing of the product — which sounds like the solution of all solutions to running a photography business. I asked Members to post any questions they'd like answered about the new CRM, and I'm thrilled to say I have Brendan Taylor, a past guest, owner of Baby Art Studios, and the man behind Tog Pod, with us for this episode. In this interview, Brendan shares everything you need to know about TogPod, the new CRM that will revolutionise photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Brendan discusses a new CRM for photographers, TOGpod. Brendan discusses the challenges of using CRM systems for his photography business, including high costs and limitations. Brendan Taylor claims his new system replaces various tools photographers use, including CRM, email marketing, and reporting systems, with unlimited features. The Tog Pod automates list cleanup and segmentation, ensuring only active subscribers receive emails. Brendan discusses using The Tog Pod for business management, imagery integration, and user support. How The Tog Pod system automates the photo editing and ordering process. Automating order uploading to a lab, saving time and reducing errors. The importance of future-proofing the system to tie into other labs globally. Updates on the integration of Xero with the photography CRM system. The difference between white labelling and reselling Go High Level based CRMs for photographers. Brendan and his team have customized The Tog Pod with their own workflows and automations, which they use to run their successful photography business. The customizations are unique to The Tog Pod and can be tailored to suit each user's business needs, including adding new features. How Baby Art has merged its marketing and CRM systems to streamline operations for newborn and family photography studios. Brendan emphasizes that the system is not just for newborn photographers but can be applied to any photographer capturing memories of various life events. Automated workflows integrate with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Google ads for qualified leads. How The Tog Pod takes over and schedules a session for a client. Brendan outlines a new pricing strategy for TogPod, unlocking all features for all users at different stages of adoption. Tiered pricing will be introduced, with early adopters paying a lower price and later adopters gradually increasing their payments. Discussing pricing and data ownership for Go High Level's CRM system. Brendan reveals that the CRM owner retains ownership of all data and email addresses, sparking concern and debate. Brendan emphasizes data ownership and privacy at Tog pod. The Tog Pod commits to securing user data, exporting/downloading, and terminating. Brendan mentions that transferring data from other systems to The Tog Pod will involve manual work, depending on how easily the information is extracted from the other systems. Brendan confirms that a VA or employee can become a user or admin on The Tog Pod account to look after the account, and restrictions can be set to limit their access to certain features. Brendan discusses using Go High Level CRM for newborn and boudoir photographers. Using Tog Pod for CRM and communication, including features and onboarding process. Brendan explains that The Tog Pod does not allow users to use their existing mobile numbers, but they can port their numbers over from other providers like Twilio. Brendan demonstrates The Tog Pod's unified inbox feature, which consolidates all communication channels into one place, making it easier to manage and track customer interactions. The benefits of using Go High Level's CRM system include two-way text messaging and a customizable app. How to use The Togg Pod for event payments, with a small setup fee for onboarding. SMS and email costs for businesses, with specific numbers provided. Using The Tog Pod for sales and marketing, with follow-up and brand management tips. Brendan shares his experience with following up and generating sales, citing $120,000 spent on a coaching program to learn the technique. Brendan explains that the platform syncs with Ad Manager and other social media platforms, and there's a new Ad Manager feature for $100/month. Brendan highlights the convenience and ease of use of Go High Level, a CRM system specifically designed for photographers. Using WhatsApp and text messaging for business, with mentions of costs and AI capabilities. TogPod's AI capabilities include automated review replies and email creation using chat GPT. Building a successful photography business focusing on customer experience and long-term growth. Brendan emphasises the importance of support in the new podcasting platform, saying it's more important than any other feature. Brendan explains the pricing strategy for the platform, which has been changed to be more affordable and sustainable in the long term. Brendan discusses building trust and community over time to improve businesses and generate more income. Brendan's company will offer lead gen and bookings for other studios and provide a money-back guarantee. We have a saying here. We either automate, delegate or eliminate. When we're having business meetings and trying to figure out how we can improve what we're doing, we always go back to automate delegate and eliminate. – Brendan Taylor 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. Replying to reviews is very, very important. If somebody's going to leave you a review and take time out of their day to leave your review, you should take time out of yours to reply, to say, “Thank you very much.” – Brendan Taylor 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. 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. 9- 11% open rate on emails is the average. It's 98% for text messages. So if you’re not using text messages, you should be. – Brendan Taylor What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Brendan 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. One of our beta testers in one month, in July, within their whole pool of text messages, email costings, spent $431.16…But this person also had a $45,000 sales month. So you need to understand the size of this business for them to spend that amount. They're a big business. – Brendan Taylor If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Brendan, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. REGISTER AND SAVE! Scaling with AI: Lead Generation, Pricing, SEO & Essential Tools. If you're tired of spending hours on social media to attract clients only to see minimal results. Or you're ready to break free from the content creation grind and focus on other things. Good news! Brianna's training will be a game-changer for you. All the details are here –>> ​ https://learn.photobizx.com/session-3-ai-marketing-for-photographers-registration/   Here's what you'll learn…      AI-Powered Lead Generation: Learn to identify your target audience with precision and create lead generation strategies that consistently deliver high-quality leads.      Data-Driven Pricing: Master the art of setting profitable prices based on market research, cost analysis, and your unique value proposition, so you're always paid what you're worth.      SEO Optimization with AI: Elevate your website's visibility and attract organic traffic by mastering AI-powered keyword research and content optimization strategies. Essential AI Tools for Photographers: Discover additional AI tools that can streamline your workflow, enhance your online presence, and boost your overall efficiency.   The live training is on Thursday, September 5th, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. Sydney local time. Your local time is here. Cost is $197 and doubles after the live training.  Early bird bonuses… $100 off any other existing PBX Course.   All the details are here: https://photobizx.com/ai3 The future of photography marketing is here. Master AI before it all gets too hard. 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 we've built something ourselves, then of course, we're not going to allow you to take our stuff out of the system and plug into another one. But any thing you've built yourself, you're more than welcome to take with you if you decide to leave. The plan is you won't leave because you'll love it so much. – Brendan Taylor 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 both 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. Problem is, if you don't follow up, well, if you don't know how to pose a sale, if you're sending out emails and text messages and not turning that into business, then it's a lot of money to be spending. But the whole point of The Tog Pod and what we've built inside it, and the follow up systems and the ongoing support that we're going to give you in our community as well, is you're going to be able to spend $431 a month sending 3000 SMSs and 260 calls and messages, because we're going to help you generate the leads and bookings to warrant spending that amount. – Brendan Taylor 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: The Tog Pod The Tog Pod Features Baby Art Studio Episode 502: Brendan Taylor – Facebook lives as a killer lead generator and some hard truths about business Episode 557: Brendan Taylor – Photography business success all comes down to the follow up Episode 429: Elle Payne – When business and service become the motivator over great photography Go High Level Thank you! Thanks again for listening and for Brendan's candid answers to the all new CRM for photographers, TogPod and what we can look forward to with what sounds like an incredible piece of business operating software. We're not doing the Bronze, Silver, Gold thing. You can have everything from the moment you're getting it. We're not holding anything back. And if it doesn't cost us any money, we're not charging you anything for either, as in, we're not charging you to have 10,000 email addresses stored or to send 1000 emails. You can have unlimited emails. If you're a person doing a photography course and you're uploading videos and stuff, unlimited video hosting. – Brendan Taylor 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 580: Brendan Taylor – The TogPod CRM Revolution… The Future of Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Venus Michael, a Profit First professional and author of the book tailored for photographers, shares transformative financial strategies for photography businesses. She highlights the importance of focusing on bottom-line profits over top-line revenues. Venus discusses personalized financial advice, effective budgeting, and planning for both personal and business expenses. Listeners learn how to implement the Profit First methodology for sustainable growth, including the global applicability of specific bookkeeping systems and the mindset shift necessary for financial freedom.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Sam Hollis builds websites for photographers and is an SEO specialist who popped up on my radar when premium member Adrienne Angelo suggested I listen to an episode of the “Shoot To The Top” podcast, where the discussion was focussed on utilising Google Maps to generate leads for your photography business. Sam is the podcast co-host and runs a web design business with a difference—you pay for your website monthly with no upfront fees and no long-term commitment. If the website isn't working, you don't pay. In addition to sharing his expertise to help with your SEO, I'm keen to hear his take on the recent nightmares for photographers, mainly in the UK, who have had their Google Business Profile flagged by another photographer and subsequently taken down. In this interview, Sam shares how to generate photography leads with Google Maps and increase your overall search rankings. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Utilising Google Maps for generating photography leads. Most photographers are either well-organised or need serious help; few are in the middle. Assessing a website's SEO by analysing content, menus, and Google Analytics/Search Console data. Google Business profiles can rank well even if the website has poor SEO. Depending on the situation, Google Map results can take users to the website or a Google Business Profile. Google business profiles and their importance for photographers, with tips on optimising them. In urban areas, Google Business Profile can be a winner for photographers due to high population density. Google Business Profile may be less effective in rural areas due to a limited customer base. Using a virtual address for Google, which can be a co-working space or an address provided by an accountant. Using a relative's address in the UK as their business address on Google Maps, as per Google's rules for service areas. Photographers often list their home addresses on Google My Business without understanding the implications. Most photographers are not trying to game the system; they simply fill out the form without fully understanding the requirements. The process of trying to contact Google for assistance is slow and painful. Photographers should choose clear and descriptive names for their businesses to improve visibility. Reviews are crucial for moving up the rankings on Google Maps. Use all available space on your Google Business profile to provide information about your business. Encourage clients to use keywords and mention the area in their reviews. Using Google My Business to improve local SEO and attract more customers. Posts should be regularly added to the Google My Business profile to keep it active and relevant. Do not expect interaction on Google Business Profile posts, but they are useful in their own right. How to analyse competition by looking at reviews, products, and inertia to improve local SEO rankings. Long-term clients can leave reviews at intervals of more than six months without appearing suspicious. The importance of storytelling on photographers' websites. Emphasising the importance of storytelling in wedding photography, the presentation stresses the need to showcase the photographer's skills and techniques beyond photography. Sam suggests including text on a website's wedding page to provide context and details about the photographer's role in the wedding, including client testimonials. Optimising a photography website for SEO and user engagement. Sam suggests analysing website engagement metrics, such as time spent on pages, to identify areas for improvement. Recommending making call-to-actions more tempting by offering value, such as free tips or guides, to encourage visitors to take action. Family and wedding photography are on the homepage to appeal to both audiences, which is okay. Balancing the amount of copy and images on a photography website is crucial for engagement and conversion. Pop-ups and opt-in forms can be effective for photographers, but timing and relevance are important factors. Sam recommends creating specific wedding pages with relevant keywords to improve SEO and ranking. Internal linking and backlinks from other websites are important for SEO and should be prioritised after creating quality blog content. Using AI for content creation and potential penalties for over-reliance on AI. Suggestions for using AI as a writing aid, not a pure writing tool. Discussing the potential penalties for using AI to generate content that violates Google's rules. Sam provides valuable insights and tips for photographers looking to grow their businesses. I select to service an area because the rules on Google are that if you have a pin, you've got to have a permanent signage and people have to come and see you. Effectively, it's like a shop or an office where somebody's always there in office hours and they can come in while the area is more people don't come and see you, you provide services to people within that area. – Sam Hollis 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. Then you want move up the rankings and there's quite a lot you can do. One of the most important is getting reviews. Lots of reviews and regularly. Keep getting them. It might be that you spent six months working hard got ton of reviews and then you stop that still isn't great if a year down the line all your reviews are a year old. – Sam Hollis 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. 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. The only thing you have to be careful of is reciprocal links. So if you did the blog post, wrote about it and then she linked to your blog post, great. If you did the post and your post is also linking to her site and her sites linking to you, Google will go, “Hmmm, they’re just kind of scratching each other's backs,” and doesn't count it as powerfully as if she linked to you. – Sam Hollis What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Sam 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. Always link to the relevant page. Linking to your homepage usually is a bit confusing. If you're promoting something, make sure you've got a page about that very, very specific thing and send them to it. And you can also link within pages so it might be even an offer within your wedding's page and you can link to a specific location of the page. – Sam Hollis If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Sam, 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. On Google Analytics, which you can plug into your website for free, you can literally see how long people are staying on your page and it gives you averages. But you know, if people are staying on for a minute or so that's pretty impressive. If people are staying on for 10 seconds, you've probably got a problem. So yeah, you can kind of look at how long have they stayed, so that's the first thing. And if they're staying for a short time, then what is there is not engaging or then they're just instantly not liking the look and they're leaving. So then that would be the first thing to work on. But if they were staying and they're still not clicking it means you're not offering them something they want. So you got to really look at your call to actions. – Sam Hollis 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 both 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. You've got to have a really clear story, really clear writing on your website that tells all of that story because that's what sets you apart. That's what makes it interesting. That's what people are engaging with. – Sam Hollis 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: Website 4 Photographers Sam Hollis on LinkedIn Shoot to the Top Website Shoot to the Top Podcast on Spotify Shoot to the Top Podcast on Apple Using Google Maps to get leads – Shoot To The Top Podcast Thank you! Thanks again for listening and for Sam's candid thoughts, ideas, and experience in generating more photography leads by utilising Google maps effectively and learning how to rank more effectively for your specific search terms. In terms of photographers, it's really important to tell your story with words. So, I find lots of photographers think but their photographs are telling their story and telling what's going on. And to me they do that to some extent. But and other photographers will probably look at your pictures and see the technique and see the skills, but actually the general public won’t. – Sam Hollis 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 578: Sam Hollis – How to generate photography leads with Google Maps appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area D'Ann Boal of www.smittenandswoon.com is a phenomenal photographer — professional in every way. Beautifully lit family portraits with natural expressions that look to be so much fun to be a part of for her clients. She has a portfolio most photographers would swap theirs for. It's part of the reason she is a pro photo ambassador, leads photography retreats, is an instructor at Click Photo School, and a mentor at Click Community. She also has a Master’s degree in education and became a 5th-grade teacher but picked up a camera after her son was born and never looked back. I love that she shared with me that there have been countless struggles in her 13-year photography journey. She's lost memory cards, been yelled at by clients, charged too little and didn’t feel valued, given away too much and not been thanked, and taken bad pictures without a speck of good light… the list is endless. She also says and believes that if you value yourself, your success will snowball. In this interview, D'Ann shares how confident pricing and personal growth is the path to a $4900 average photography sale. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: D'Ann shares her 13-year photography journey with struggles and successes. D'Ann pricing has grown over time as they prioritize their personal worth and family values. Emphasizing the importance of starting with high prices to create an abundance snowball effect, leading to better images and more clients. D'Ann believes there is a limit to how much she can charge. Her current average sale is $4,900, and she could potentially raise prices next year. D'Ann aims to balance work and family life by setting a yearly cap on sessions and prioritizing quality over quantity. D'Ann aims to balance client sessions (40/year) with personal life, teaching, and other revenue streams. Discussing imposter syndrome, revealing its impact on pricing and the experience she delivers to clients. D'Ann shares how she became more confident in her photography business but still strives to learn more. The importance of finding a consistent location for photography sessions. D'Ann shares personal insights on her photography journey, including embracing natural light and using off-camera flash when necessary. Prioritising the task of providing beautiful light for clients, even in cloudy or rainy conditions, and finding creative solutions when necessary. Having a unique style and in-person sales sessions are key to increasing profitability. Developing a unique voice and providing value throughout the client experience can lead to high profits. Delivering a great photo shoot experience, including personalized prompts and addressing client discomfort. D'Ann’s approach to delivering a great experience for clients, from the moment they arrive to the final image. The importance of personalisation and creating a memorable experience for clients. Using clients' names to make them feel seen and build rapport. Creating meaningful moments by having family members express love for each other. Suggesting prompts to clients to help them express their feelings and create personalized art, such as compliments or emotions. Using humour and empathy to put clients at ease during sales sessions. Decision makers present at the session result in higher sales. D'Ann explains how she approaches photography sales, starting with a slideshow and then asking clients to choose their favourites. Highlighting the value of packages, which include a 20×30 print, 8-10 8x10s, digital files, and a beautiful album. Using Pixellu Smart Albums for album design, pricing, and client options, showing 20-60 images per session. Using Pixellu Smart Albums to streamline the album design process and save time and money. D'Ann believes photographers must value themselves and their work more to be profitable. D'Ann sees a lack of bravery in pricing and selling as a major obstacle for photographers. How D'Ann's photography business gets booked 12-18 months in advance, with 20-30 sessions booked by December. Due to Colorado's golden landscape, D'Ann pushes summer and winter sessions instead of fall sessions. Balancing work and family life as a busy photographer, sacrificing hobbies and personal time. D'Ann shares her marketing strategy, which involves not doing sales or promotions but instead focusing on building a client base that values their art and is willing to wait for a session. Mentoring and teaching services to help other photographers improve their businesses and marketing strategies. Recommending Google ads for fast lead generation for photographers. D'Ann shares stories of mishaps and mistakes in her 13-year photography career. I've just always thought I want to charge what I feel like my time is worth and what it's worth to me to miss tucking my kids in or miss having dinner with my kids, miss having a sunset with my kids and my family. What is that worth to me and that is where I have put my baseline prices. – D'Ann Boal 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 never did promotions. I never did incentives. I never wanted to market that way. I did mini sessions maybe for two years and I realized those aren't the clients that are going to value me and that I can give a really high touch experience to so I dropped that. So part of my marketing strategy has been to not do sales, not do promotions. I want the people coming to me that really sought me out and were willing to wait and loved my art and weren't coming for some cheap freebie thing. – D'Ann Boal 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. 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. Ensure that there is no ceiling on what a client can purchase. So I never have a package that includes all the digital or that includes all the images in the album, because I want to give my clients the opportunity to purchase more if they have the means and budget and they want to. – D'Ann Boal What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what D'Ann 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 underlying theme within all my work is gratitude. I'm so grateful for my business. I'm so grateful I get to do this. This is such a fun job. I'm so grateful I get to be profitable and then teach others. – D'Ann Boal If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask D'Ann, 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'm not so focused on a number. I'm focused on the quality of life that I have. – D'Ann Boal 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 both 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 biggest business tip I have for being more profitable is having in person sales sessions. So if you've got your voice developed and your art is unique to yourself and clients seek it out, and you do in person sales sessions, and your prices are high, and you're giving a lot of value within like welcome guides, and the products you're selling and in every step of the experience the client has with you, your profits are going to be so high. – D'Ann Boal 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: D'Ann Boal Website D'Ann Boal on Instagram D'Ann Boal on Facebook Pixellu SmartAlbums Profoto How the Stylish, Breakthrough Z f Can Change the Way You Take Pictures…and Why You’d Want To – Nikon article Featuring D'Ann Boal Romance, Light & Magic in Photographs with D’Ann Boal via Nikon Creators Episode 087: Sue Bryce – How to Make Real Money From Your Photography Business Right Now Thank you! Thanks again for listening and for D'Ann's candid thoughts, ideas, and experience on getting confident with higher than average pricing and personal photography growth has been the path to a $4900 average photography Sale The most powerful thing that a person can hear is someone saying their name. It makes them feel so seen. So I use their name right when I greet them. – D'Ann Boal 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 577: D’Ann Boal – Confident Pricing and Personal Growth is the Path to a $4900 Average Photography Sale appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Richard Waine, a former finance professional turned successful headshot photographer, shares essential insights on mastering Google Business Profiles. He discusses the unethical practice of reporting competitors to boost one's own ranking, sparking controversy in the photography community. Waine emphasizes the importance of ethical online presence, offers strategies for optimizing visibility, and highlights the challenges of juggling business and family. He provides practical tips on enhancing online profiles and encourages respectful communication over deceitful tactics.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Ayla Quellhorst of www.aylaquellhorst.com is a retired U.S. Air Force Photojournalist. She comes from a blue-collar family that lived paycheck to paycheck but made her way through university to graduate with a degree in business administration. Her main studio shoots only boudoir photography and generates a revenue of $700,000 annually. Her husband opened his own boudoir studio this year, and they are projecting $100,000 in sales this first year. She and her husband work full-time in the business and employ a makeup artist and a product advisor—I wasn't entirely sure what that is, but we find out in the interview Ayla told me that she sees herself as a businessperson first and a photographer second. She has presented at Shutterfest in 2022, written multiple published posts on helping other photographers succeed and is passionate about seeing other photographers get profitable and make a terrific living through photography. In this interview, Ayla shares how her passion led to a simple recipe for a very profitable boudoir photography business. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: Promoting body positivity and diversity in boudoir photography Clients value the experience over just edited photos Empowerment is key to Ayla Quellhorst's boudoir photography business Creating a welcoming studio experience with personalised conversations and taking notes Personal touch leads to positive word-of-mouth and increased business Using coded language and safe words for client safety during shoots Clear communication about roles on set, ensuring client comfort How Ayla’s background in photojournalism led her to boudoir photography Financed studio space with student loans, managing financial challenges How Ayla’s business income grew from $100,000 to $700,000 annually, and aiming for $1 million Diversified ventures include a family studio, fashion, and marketing companies Prioritising safety in suspension photography with liability releases and weight checks Aiming for $700,000 in revenue with 200-300 clients per year through unique Shibari photography Higher volume of leads due to market trends, with older clients more stable Happy with two clients/day, aiming for 3-4, ideally 8+ Lead list of 6000, tracking ad performance for 50-60 leads/2 weeks Strategies to book 3-4 clients every two weeks from the lead list Facebook leads higher than Instagram despite using both platforms Prefers lead ads, keeping clients on the platform with automated text follow-ups Uses landing pages for specific campaigns needing upfront information Finding success with personalised texts and video content Uses Go-High-Level system for marketing, focusing on personalised and strategic messaging Reveals service cost at the end of calls, typically $500, with most clients spending $3,000 Spends $30 for 6000 text blasts, filters clients based on various factors Strategies to avoid Facebook and Instagram ad restrictions with specific poses and client selection Changing flagged or denied photos in ads to comply with platform guidelines Why struggling photographers often lack a business mindset and focus 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 want people to love where they are right now, knowing that they can still make adjustments, they can still change things that they want to. – Ayla Quellhorst 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. 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 Ayla 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. It's not my place to tell you that your body's not beautiful. I'm going to show you what I'm seeing and what I think is beautiful, and then you can tell me ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We have five base poses we use for all of our clients, and then I might tweak from there. But every client is shot the same way because we want them to see that they're beautiful how they are. And I'm not going to put that judgment on them in our studio. And I think our clients really appreciate that. – Ayla Quellhorst If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Ayla, or if you want to say thanks 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. My love is really with these women, and hearing their stories, and learning about them, and helping a lot of them, in a way, navigate some life challenges that they've faced. I've been through a lot, and so it not only I think are the shoots helping them, but it's also helps me, because I realized that like as women, a lot of us have been through similar things, and not even just women, because we photograph a lot of men now too, and we're finding men are actually more self conscious than the women we get in and so I think it's just really that that piece of empowerment, is really just what I gravitate to. – Ayla Quellhorst 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 both 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. Everything for us is very strategic, and we try to focus on like, the psychology of it. Like, the more yeses I can get before asking for a sale, the better. – Ayla Quellhorst 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: Ayla Quellhorst Website Ayla Quellhorst on Facebook Ayla Quellhorst on Instagram Ayla Quellhorst on TikTok Ayla Quellhorst Shibari Photography Portfolio Thank you! Thanks again for listening and to Ayla for coming on and sharing her candid thoughts, ideas and experience on creating a successful and highly profitable boudoir photography business based on her passion and drive to have women feeling great about themselves. We've really made a point to have different body types and different color tones and like all the range of people in our studio, because we think it's important that everybody be able to have this experience. And we don't Photoshop like we don't use liquify on any of our clients. And I think that's really important too. – Ayla Quellhorst 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 575: Ayla Quellhorst – A simple recipe for a very profitable boudoir photography business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.