
PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast
Photography business and marketing success with strategies from the pros
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Jul 7, 2024 • 50min
573: Chris Gillett – How to build and run a successful long term headshot photography business
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Chris Gillett of www.liketherazor.com was first featured on the podcast for episode 158 in 2016, when he'd just gone full-time with his headshot photography business.
Before going full-time, he was a successful Lawyer, and at the time of recording, he sounded happy to have left that career behind.
At the time, he had three packages, starting at $300.
Check out his website today, and you will see the following…
3000+ happy clients
10 years experience
0% bullshit
100% client satisfaction
Not to mention the high-end, beautifully lit and varied headshots.
Interestingly, his pricing is lower today… and, you get more time allocated for your headshot photography sessions.
I asked this talented photographer and long-term business operator back onto the podcast… to hear an honest update on how things have played out over the last 10 years in business. The ups and downs, the wins and losses and most of all, the lessons he's learned to help you stick at it and grow your business successfully and, ideally, by avoiding a few mistakes along the way.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Fulfilment Over Regret: Chris leaves law for a rewarding photography career
Find Your True Calling by discovering how photography became more fulfilling than law for Chris
Invest in Growth by learning from a decade of ups and downs
Navigate Industry Changes by adapting to AI impacts in headshot photography
Achieve a Six-Figure Income by thriving in headshot photography despite AI threats
Be Prepared for Change, with Chris ready to pivot if AI takes over
Authenticity Over Automation shows the limits of AI in capturing genuine family portraits
Remember that Human Touch Matters, with real connections being vital in fitness photography
Simplifying Pricing with Chris' approach to clear, straightforward pricing
Easy Booking through simplified pricing for ease and clarity
Increased Demand by raising prices to match high demand and success
Raise Prices with Confidence through Chris' busy schedule leading to higher pricing
Continuous Improvement with yearly enhancement of photography skills and sales techniques
High Standards by delivering top-notch images for repeat clients
Boosting Sales with effective headshot pricing strategies
Strategic Offers through limited-time deals increasing headshot purchases
Embrace Client Feedback with open communication for successful shoots
Client Collaboration by working together for better outcomes
Harness the Word-of-Mouth Power through Chris' marketing success via client recommendations
Instagram Wins by leveraging personal and professional content for business growth
Authentic Engagement through connecting with clients via a genuine social media presence
Enjoy Fun and Relaxed Shoots by creating a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for clients
Offer Unique Services to stand out by tailoring services to client needs
Optimise Online Presence with a contemporary website, enhancing Chris' professional image
High Praise through consistent quality, earning a stellar reputation
Thoughtful Gestures with acts of kindness like discounts and free headshots
Mentorship's Role in growth through learning from industry experts like Peter Hurley
Embrace Critique through self-acceptance and critical thinking as keys to growth
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 think anybody who's in this business full-time will know this already, but like, you've got to be open to the negative criticism, because that's where you learn the stuff. – Chris Gillett
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.
Wealthy people are used to hiring and relying on experts, and they want you to be in charge. – Chris Gillett
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 Chris 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 can be picky and and so I found that the more specific I am about who I am, what I do, who I do it for, why I do it, it's kind of unintuitive, because you think, well, if I cast a bigger net, I'll get more stuff. And it's kind of the opposite. I guess the net has a lot of holes in it, because you want to like a spear and go, ‘nope, that one.' ‘I don't want that one.' ‘I don't want that one.' It gets me better clients. It gets me clients, and I've just done a better job of that as I've grown over the last 10 years. – Chris Gillett
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Chris, 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.
I want to be an individual that sticks out from everybody else. I want to enjoy it and have fun. And then the other part of it is, I know there's a lot of ways to get people to perform in front of the camera, but one of the things I like to do is just to kind of create a fun atmosphere. – Chris Gillett
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.
There are so few things that are heirlooms and photographs are that. – Ashley Kaplan
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:
Chris Gillett Website
PBX158 Episode: Chris Gillett – From Lawyer to Full Time Headshot Photographer
Chris Gillett on Instagram
Chris Gillett on Facebook
Episode 463: Jon Meadows – LinkedIn mining for more fantastic photography clients
Episode 362: Tony Taafe – Build a profitable headshot photography business by allowing clients to spend more
Episode 145: Peter Hurley – How To Survive and Thrive as a Headshot Photographer
Episode 268: Alex Vita – Everything you need for a successful photography website
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and to Chris for coming back on and sharing his candid thoughts, ideas and experience on creating a long term and successful headshot photography business by continually learning, upskilling and adapting with the times.
You know you're getting good at something when you start to get really critical of yourself and you don't mind. – Chris Gillett
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 573: Chris Gillett – How to build and run a successful long term headshot photography business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Jun 30, 2024 • 0sec
572: Ashley Kaplan – From $20k to $200k a blueprint for explosive photography business growth
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Ashley Kaplan of www.ashleykaplanphotography.com is a San Francisco, Californian-based family photographer, mentor, and educator.
She told me about her passion for intentionally incorporating location into portrait photography to add more meaning, memory, and belonging to her work, which she said leads to a higher-end offering for clients.
She's been in business for almost 8 years, is booked out nearly year-round, and is becoming known for her environmental portraits.
I always become a little wary when I hear the terms educator and mentor being used when it comes to interview guests so I asked a few more questions to get a better idea if she'd make a great guest for you.
I learned that 90% of her income comes from photography clients and 10% from education.
Her revenue from photography is over $200k, her work is gorgeous, and her portrait photography pricing starts at over $1500.
In this interview, Ashley shares a blueprint for explosive photography business growth and how she went from 20k to $200k in quick time.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
From Hobbyist to Pro: Ashley’s Journey to Photography Success
Invest in Growth: The Impact of Business Classes on Photography Ventures
Capture the Moment: Why Meaningful Locations Matter in Photography
Balancing Education and Bookings: Ashley’s Photography Mastery
Elevate Your Craft: Creating High-End Portraits with Thoughtful Backdrops
Ashley’s Passion for Location-Integrated Portrait Photography
Launching a Photography Business as a Stay-at-Home Mom: Ashley's Success Story
From $20k to $200k: How Business Coaching Transformed Ashley’s Photography Business
Thriving Without Paid Marketing: The Power of Word-of-Mouth Referrals
Unique Offerings and Quality Work: Ashley’s Secret to a Full Schedule
Relying on Referrals: Building a Photography Business Without Incentives
Breaking Records: How Ashley Earned $50,000 in One Week
Boost Your Bookings: Upselling Tips from Ashley’s Photography Business
Streamline Your Workflow: Automated Invoicing and Contracts with Honey Book
The Value of Photos: Ashley’s Near-Miss Wildfire Experience
Balancing Work and Family: Tips for Avoiding Missing Key Moments
The Benefits of Business Coaching and Branding for Photographers
Focus on Environment: Ashley’s Journey to Mastering Environmental Portraits
Defining Environmental Portraits: Capturing Interaction in Photography
Prioritizing Client Preferences: Ashley’s Approach to Emotional Photo Shoots
Navigating Rescheduling Policies and Fees in Photography
The Importance of Setting Rescheduling Fees for Your Photography Business
Educating Clients: Rights, Responsibilities, and Boundaries in Photography
Enhancing Family Photos with Meaningful Locations
Automated Payments: Simplifying the Booking Process for Clients
All-Inclusive Photography Packages: From Editing to Social Media Shares
Timely Deliveries: Finalized Galleries and Client Feedback Processes
Master Environmental Portraits: Join Ash’s ‘Sense of Place’ Photography Course
Course Insights: Location Scouting, Lighting, and Local Business Connections
Common Mistakes in Environmental Portraits and How to Avoid Them
Creating Stories Through Framing and Negative Space 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.
I decided to become a stay-at-home mom and run a photography business just as a side hustle to earn money. – Ashley Kaplan
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 Ashley 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 that you like invest in people that support you to run the things that are not in your zone of genius and you stay in your lane in your zone of genius and it helps me actually make more money by paying people to do things that I don't love and don't do well. – Ashley Kaplan
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Ashley, or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
PhotoBizX Premium Membership Special — LAST CHANCE TODAY!
It's rare to see a special price for the Premium Membership, but there's one available for you until Sunday, June 30th 2024.
Why the special?
Because it's holiday time (I'm off to France) and there's no better reason to celebrate!
The 12-Month Premium Membership – is normally $200… NOW $120… https://photobizx.com/holidayspecial
This is the cheapest you'll ever see the 12-month membership.
SPECIAL BONUS FOR EXISTING MEMBERS
If you've made a membership payment this month already and want this deal, I'll refund this month's payment for you.
For me to process the refund, you'll need to email me your PayPal email address, which may be different to your regular email address.
Make sure you join first, then cancel your existing payments. This way, your Premium RSS Feed URL stays the same.
NOTE: If you are already on the special price from last year, there's no need for you to do anything. Your existing membership will automatically renew at the special price.
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 a terrible situation happen and my home burnt down, what are the things that truly matter besides my people? And photographs and albums are that for a lot of people and it's one of the only things we invest in that our children's children's children will have. – Ashley Kaplan
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.
There are so few things that are heirlooms and photographs are that. – Ashley Kaplan
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's the latest review:
★★★★★ Essential listening for professional photographers
Via Apple Podcasts by Los Angeles Family Photographer Sarah Sido, in the USA on June 25th, 2024.
This review is long overdue! There is no other podcast that has been as important and impactful to my business growth.
Andrew is a fantastic interviewer who always gets the most helpful information from his guests. Instead of vague concepts, he really pushes for real numbers and specific strategies. The only thing left for you is to make sure you implement the strategies that resonate with you.
But what really separates this podcast from so many others is the community that comes with the premium membership and Andrew himself. I don’t know how he does it, but somehow Andrew finds time to respond in detail to any questions or requests for feedback in the FB group. And I don’t mean quick lines of encouragement, he gives real, thought through, helpful feedback. I’m consistently blown away.
Definitely try out the premium version. So worth it!
★★★★★ This is priceless!
Via email from Adelaide pet photographer, Tanya Simmonds, in Australia on June 28th, 2024.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for letting me know. I have to admit, a few times I have contemplated leaving the membership to save some money, but I wanted you to know that the reason I stay is that you have created such a lovely, nurturing and safe haven for photographers where I feel very supported, that I just have to stay. Thank you for bringing together such a lovely and positive group of people! This is priceless!
Warmest regards,
Tanya
THE BE INSPIRED JOURNAL – The Ultimate Mindset & Morning Ritual Journal for Business Owners
Photography business and mindset coach Johl Dunn has finally released his journal for photographers!
Why You’ll Love It:
Daily Prompts: Simple questions to help you stay aligned and focused.
Track Your Progress: Monitor your days, weeks, and months all in one place.
Cultivate Habits: Consistent use realigns your thought patterns positively.
What’s Inside?
Morning Routine: Reflect, plan, and set your intentions for the day.
Night Routine: Dive into gratitude, track your energy, and end your day positively.
Weekly Winning Habits: Track the habits that feed your energy and connect you to your goals.
For more details and to order yours, head to: https://photobizx.com/beinspired
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
A Sense of Place – Learning to Intentionally Incorporate Location To Enhance & Elevate Storytelling Course
Ashley Kaplan Website
Ashley Kaplan on Facebook
Ashley Kaplan on Instagram
With environmental portraits, composition is paramount. People can get really lost in the image if you are not very intentional about where you are placing them and how you're composing the image and how you're cropping it. And so sometimes I can show how minor tweaks can really elevate an image quite a bit. – Ashley Kaplan
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and to Ashley for coming on and sharing her thoughts, ideas and experience on creating backlinks for a successful and fast-growing photography business based around gorgeous environmental family portraits.
That really impacts me in what I deliver to clients knowing that sometimes we have these pressures on ourselves in the moment but you're not my only client. Your great great grandkids are also clients that I think about and that's why I'm all inclusive because I want all of those pictures, the full story. – Ashley Kaplan
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 572: Ashley Kaplan – From $20k to $200k a blueprint for explosive photography business growth appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Jun 23, 2024 • 49min
571: Kari Bjorn – Double your wedding photography income with SEO
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Kari Bjorn of www.karibjorn.com is an Icelandic wedding and elopement photographer based in Connecticut in the USA, where he also photographs weddings.
We chatted recently, and he told me he'd love to share what he's learned in the past 2.5 years while optimising his website and SEO for my own business.
As a bit of a backstory, three years ago, he moved with his family from New York to Arkansas—about 2000km away—which meant he lost all of his corporate contacts and wedding referrals.
And he just moved again!
He had to start from scratch as most weddings had been booked via referrals.
He invested heavily in SEO in 2021 and nearly doubled his income between 2022 and 2023. He also started booking destination elopements in Iceland.
His website looks great, and everything he's written has been written for the couples he's looking to attract. His photography is colourful and vibrant.
In this interview, Kari shares how he doubled his wedding photography income with SEO backlinks and how you can do the same for your website.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
How Kari doubled his income in 2021 through SEO optimisation.
With 15 years of photography experience and nearly 4 years photographing weddings, Kari aims to focus on elopements in Iceland to save on expensive holidays.
Why his SEO strategy targets the local Icelandic market, even though it's easier to rank for local wedding photography in Connecticut.
Ranking for destination wedding photography terms is challenging, but Kari prefers SEO and organic Google search over Google Ads for cost-effectiveness.
Focusing on transactional keywords like “Iceland elopement photographer” is more effective than generic content about locations.
Having experience shooting in specific locations can significantly help in ranking for elopement photography clients.
Kari created a separate page on his website for Iceland weddings, using links and photos to support the content. SEO results took months but benefited from the main website's domain authority.
Quality backlinks from high-authority websites are crucial for SEO. Avoid buying backlinks from controversial sites, as they can harm rankings.
Leveraging smaller wedding blogs and getting featured in high-authority publications can boost SEO.
Kari pitched to 50 tour agencies in Iceland, securing 3 backlinks from blog posts on their websites. Each post had its own landing page, enhancing link juice.
Using descriptive anchor text is vital for SEO, helping target specific search terms effectively.
Maintaining consistent branding and using proper anchor text links on the website are essential for SEO success.
Nofollow links, while ignored by Google, can still benefit SEO.
Facebook and Instagram pages can appear in Google search results due to SEO optimisation, with relevant hashtags increasing visibility on Instagram.
It's crucial to remove or disavow bad, spammy backlinks using Google Search Console to maintain a healthy SEO profile.
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.
Outranking local photographers for destination weddings is pretty difficult. But it doesn't mean that it's not worth it. Because weddings and elopements is such a high ticket item, that it's not the same as searching for something like best Mexican restaurant for lunch, or some people are just going to click on the first point two or three results. – Kari Bjorn
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 Kari 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 helps when your domain has reasonable authority already with Google. So if you have a lot of backlinks pointing to your domain, it helps make the switch. – Kari Bjorn
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Kari, or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
PhotoBizX Premium Membership Special!
It's rare to see a special price for the Premium Membership, but there's one available for you until Sunday, June 30th 2024.
Why the special?
Because it's holiday time (I'm off to France) and there's no better reason to celebrate!
The 12-Month Premium Membership – is normally $200… NOW $120… https://photobizx.com/holidayspecial
This is the cheapest you'll ever see the 12-month membership.
SPECIAL BONUS FOR EXISTING MEMBERS
If you've made a membership payment this month already and want this deal, I'll refund this month's payment for you.
For me to process the refund, you'll need to email me your PayPal email address, which may be different to your regular email address.
Make sure you join first, then cancel your existing payments. This way, your Premium RSS Feed URL stays the same.
NOTE: If you are already on the special price from last year, there's no need for you to do anything. Your existing membership will automatically renew at the special price.
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.
Definitely stay away from anything that is too good to be true in the backlink world. – Kari Bjorn
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:
Kari Bjorn – Iceland Elopement and Wedding Photography
Kari Bjorn on Instagram
Kari Bjorn on Facebook
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and to Kari for coming on and sharing his thoughts, ideas and experience on creating backlinks to boost your SEO and get booked for the type of photography and locations you want to be booked for.
When it comes to anchor text, it matters that you have a lot of anchor text links that are your brand name, or kind of a variation, exactly, as you mentioned, on what you do and where you do it. – Kari Bjorn
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 571: Kari Bjorn – Double your wedding photography income with SEO appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Jun 17, 2024 • 38min
570: Kim Jongen – Mother Puppers… The power of unique branding and original marketing ideas
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Kim Jongen of www.motherpuppers.nl is today's special guest. She popped up on my radar after leaving a Google review for the PhotoBizX podcast. As usual, I jumped over to check out the reviewer's website and was blown away!
Her dog photographs popped off the screen and were so much fun.
Photographed in the studio, the dogs have fantastic expressions on their faces and are framed against beautifully bright and coloured backgrounds. She has over 30 different coloured backgrounds to choose from!
I learned that her business, Motherpuppers, has only been operating for two years and is doing very well. She is booked out with three-month lead times and photographs 4-5 sessions per week!
She believes business has been busy from the start because her style or concept had not been seen in the Netherlands.
Most of her bookings came via Instagram after she created an account for her dog and asked for referrals from dog owners interested in photographs like the ones she created.
She also told me that as happy as she is to come on the podcast, it's on the proviso that we're ok with not perfect English.
It was a resounding yes from me, and I know you'll feel the same after seeing her work and hearing what she has to share.
In this interview, learn and be inspired by the power of unique branding and original marketing ideas.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Kim’s dog photography business is a hit. It offers over 30 coloured background options and maintains a 3-month booking lead time, which clearly shows how popular and in-demand the business is.
Kim's journey is truly inspiring. After 17 years as a butcher and another 17 years in dancing, Kim switched to full-time photography without prior experience. It’s a great example of how successful career changes can be.
Starting with basic equipment, Kim began attracting clients by photographing their dogs and posting pictures on Instagram. As the business grew, so did the quality of the equipment, showing an organic growth strategy that works.
Kim officially started the photography business last year, two years after starting. Their employer was supportive during the transition to full-time photography, highlighting how important external support can be.
Now, Kim handles 4-5 clients weekly, indicating a steady and reliable client base.
Even though it was scary, Kim has gradually raised prices, a necessary move for business growth and sustainability.
Kim is incredibly dedicated to client satisfaction, often working late to accommodate their needs and prioritising them over personal time.
Instagram plays a big role in bookings, with reels and posts drawing a significant following, especially from Dutch clients. This shows the power of effective social media marketing.
Creating reels used to take a lot of time, but Kim has streamlined the process, making content creation much more efficient.
Engaging with comments and messages on Instagram and TikTok is key to building strong client relationships and ensuring client retention.
About 60% of Kim's clients come from Instagram, while 40% find them through Google ads. Impressively, Kim learned how to use Google ads by watching YouTube videos, showcasing a diverse approach to client acquisition.
Outsourcing has been a bit of a struggle for Kim, who wants to find someone who can execute their vision accurately. This is crucial for maintaining quality.
Having a professional website is essential for credibility and building client trust.
Kim prefers to handle booking inquiries over the phone rather than email, which helps foster more personal connections.
When discussing bookings, Kim covers details, deposits, and cancellations and advises on colour choices and shoot preparation, ensuring the best results for clients.
Offering a variety of background colours for dog photoshoots gives clients plenty of choices.
Clients can be in the photos, although most prefer not to. This highlights their preferences.
A typical session costs 300-320 Euros, which includes 10 retouched digital images, offering great value for money.
Referral marketing and coaching other photographers are strategies Kim uses to grow the business.
The “Ugliest Dog” contest was a brilliant marketing idea that gained significant media coverage.
This contest was even featured on TV in the Netherlands, showcasing the impact of unique and original marketing ideas.
The business name “Mother Puppers Studio” has a great story behind it, emphasizing the importance of a memorable brand identity.
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.
Make captions…You need to keep it simple, and automatically you want to think very deep about things but you don't have to. Just keep it simple and act like a child who read the captions and that's, I think, the trick to get views on reels. – Kim Jongen
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 Kim 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.
Eventually, I want people to see my work not only from the Netherlands but from other countries too. – Kim Jongen
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Kim, 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.
When I try to learn something, I watch YouTube videos. You can learn antyhing you want. You just need to look for the right thing. – Kim Jongen
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:
Mother Puppers Website
Mother Puppers on Instagram
Mother Puppers Studio on Facebook
Episode 563: Julia Semak – How to find the best photo retoucher for your photography business
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and to Kim for coming on and sharing so many incredible details about her successful business, the marketing she does and how the power of unique branding and original marketing ideas have led to fast growth and success as a pet photographer.
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 570: Kim Jongen – Mother Puppers… The power of unique branding and original marketing ideas appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Jun 10, 2024 • 59min
569: Kim Buccheri and Bud Thorpe – Unlocking the secrets to high sales in your photography business
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Kim Buccheri and Bud Thorpe of www.kimberlysarahphotography.com say on their website… We are artists who specialise in pet photography.
Scroll down their home page to see images of beautiful wall art in people's homes.
The whole process is laid out a little further: design consult, studio portrait session, ordering session and artwork delivery.
A little more scrolling and you learn their Gallery is Open to the Public and looks stunning.
This interview came about through an email exchange, during which I learned that their studio has low volume and high sales. They only see a small number of clients per month. And they are strictly pet photographers.
The sales average is $8,500 with multiple $15K or more sales.
And yes, they get plenty of “I’m not interested, or, you’re just too expensive.” comments when talking with potential clients.
In this interview, learn how to unlock the secrets to high sales in your photography business.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Kim and Bud focus on quality over quantity, achieving an average sale of $8,500 with multiple sales exceeding $15,000.
They maintain strong sales averages by effectively addressing and overcoming pricing objections despite being strictly pet photographers.
Delivering high-quality service and an exceptional client experience is their top priority.
Their reputation attracts clients from local and distant areas, some of whom travel up to three hours to reach them.
Since 2016, they have maintained high pricing, with a minimum commission of $1,500, excluding the session fee.
Confidence in their skills, client interactions, and periodic price increases have fuelled their business growth.
Their gallery is a powerful marketing tool, attracting clients who know their pricing and quality standards.
Hosting events in their gallery space, partnering with organisations, and running campaigns help them attract potential clients.
Positive word-of-mouth referrals lead to repeat customers and increased spending from existing clients.
Guiding clients through a three-step process, they focus on rapport building and understanding client needs without disclosing pricing upfront.
Clients feel fully involved and valued, resulting in high average spending per client.
Pricing pushback or client rejections are seen as learning opportunities, with calls recorded and analysed to improve their approach.
Maintaining a calm and engaging phone persona helps build client trust and rapport.
They are selective about clients, ensuring alignment with their business model and values.
Constantly seeking ways to improve processes and client interactions, they use recorded calls for learning and refinement.
Utilising CRM for thorough notes and personalised follow-up emails and texts, they showcase value and stories.
Clients meet both photographers during sessions, ensuring comfort for pets and a cohesive experience.
Tailored portraits are discussed during design consultations with a focus on personal connection.
Their dual-purpose gallery/studio transitions seamlessly between functions.
During sales sessions, meetings are conducted in a cosy, well-equipped environment with specialised beverages and snacks.
ProSelect software showcases images in clients' homes for better visualisation.
They offer single-piece, custom-sized wall art to clients.
Clients can view rough edits for better visualisation.
A diverse collection of props is utilised to create personalised scenes.
Both photographers are present during sales sessions, providing comprehensive support.
They prioritise selling larger pieces first, creating a pathway for clients to access smaller items.
Prices are discussed during the design consultation to avoid surprises.
They provide time and space for clients to discuss purchases privately if needed, minimising buyer's remorse.
Despite running a successful business, Kim and Bud prioritise time for travel, family, and personal interests.
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.
Interestingly, you cannot correlate client income or their pretty house or car. It absolutely, positively does not correlate with photography sales. People love what they love. – Bud Thorpe
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.
You have to have something that people can spend their money on. Pricing is key to all of this, because it allows the client to spend. – Kimberly Buccheri
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 Kim and Bud 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.
When do you want to hear ‘no'? You want to hear ‘no' early, so that you're not wasting their time and yes, yours. – Bud Thorpe
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question, you’d like to ask Kim and Bud, 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.
If it sounds like it's a miracle, it's not. It's hard work. And there's only so many hours in a day. And bear in mind how many times Kim has to hear no, on that initial phone call to get a yes. You have to be willing to take the hit to your artistic ego every time someone says no, because they're going to hear that a lot. – Bud Thorpe
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, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and 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:
Kimberley Sarah Photography Website
Kimberley Sarah Photography on Instagram
Kimberley Sarah Photography on Facebook
Kimberly Sarah Photography on YouTube
The Dog Art Gallery Website
Hey Winston Website
Bud Thorpe Website
The Master Lighting Course
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and for Kim and Bud for coming on and sharing so many incredible details about their successful business and how they put in the work to find and create the amazing clients they have who are willing and happy to invest as much as they do in photography and wall art.
We want them to be happy with the purchase that they did make. I don't ever want to take money away from someone that isn't willing to give it to me. – Kimberly Buccheri
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 569: Kim Buccheri and Bud Thorpe – Unlocking the secrets to high sales in your photography business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Jun 2, 2024 • 47min
568: Sarah Perez – Diversifying your income and relocating your photography business successfully
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Sarah Perez of www.sfbrandco.com is a USA-based mum who runs a successful Brand Strategy and Web Design business that provides Brand Photography, Drone photography and video, plus headshots for her clients.
She previously ran a family photography turned branding photography business AND owned a small portrait studio in New York.
In addition to the business side of things, she's homeschooling four kids and is a military spouse who frequently moves around the country.
Sarah's business breakdown regarding income is as follows:
Photography – 34%
Brand Strategy – 33%
Web Design – 33%
While chatting before recording, I learnt that she finds most of her clients organically—at local playgrounds, of all places!
In this interview, learn how to diversify your income, relocate your photography business painlessly and have time for family first.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Thriving on Challenges: Embracing the unique challenges of moving and starting over, finding inspiration in new communities and fresh perspectives.
Turning Unused Resources into Profits: Launching a mobile headshot service for busy professionals, maximizing resources.
Building Trust with Authenticity: Sarah incorporates faith into her marketing and branding work, attracting clients who appreciate her genuineness and respect her beliefs.
Balancing Family and Business: Prioritising a family's well-being, scaling back when needed and openly communicating with clients when faced with unexpected situations.
Building a Strong Network: Actively network at events, carrying business cards and offering services to build valuable connections.
Client-Centric Sales: Sarah prioritises genuine connections and personalised proposals over a one-size-fits-all approach, ensuring her services perfectly meet each client's needs.
Planning for Smooth Transitions: When relocating, keep existing clients informed and plan ahead to minimise disruption.
Time Management is Key: Time-tracking software helps you stay organized and focused, prioritise tasks, and minimise distractions.
Quality Over Quantity: Prioritising quality work and client satisfaction over client overload, aiming for a manageable number of clients at a time.
Finding Your Flow: Sarah thrives when “in the zone,” focusing on delivering exceptional client results.
Building a Sustainable Business: Emphasising the importance of organic growth, prioritising building genuine connections and clear communication over aggressive marketing tactics.
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.
This is how I think in person marketing works. This is how networking works. If you realize that you're okay with me, Sarah the person, because we met at a networking event or just out in public, then you go to my website, you're just learning more about something you already like. – Sarah Perez
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.
As far as growing my business, I utilise a waitlist because I want to make sure that my business serves my family and not the other way around. I never want to say no to my children in order to serve my business. So I make sure that I have enough time to do everything I want to do for my family. And then my business fills in the gaps. – Sarah Perez
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 Sarah 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 just driven and I enjoy it. I love to watch people thrive in what they do. So like these small businesses that I work with, I don't know. I derive so much pleasure and satisfaction from helping them do what they do, but do it better. – Sarah Perez
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Sarah, 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.
I'm never selling anyone anything they don't need. So that, I think, provides the backbone of my confidence and the proposals I write for people. – Sarah Perez
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, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and 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:
Sarah Perez Website
Sarah Perez on Instagram
Sarah Perez on Facebook
Elorus – Time Tracker
Episode 421: Phillip Blume – The step by step process for profitable mini sessions
Episode 230: Chris Scott – How To Simply Sell More Photography Wall Art
Episode 245: Julie Christie – Make More Money in Your Off Season with Photography Classes
Episode 318: Chris Scott – In person photography sales made easy and profitable
Episode 370: Julie Christie – How to use an email autoresponder series in your photography business
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and for Sarah for coming on and sharing the story about how his photography and passion for business and entrepreneurship led to a company servicing photographers shooting in cold and crazy climates by producing photography-specific gloves.
Priorities drive my life. If my business starts to take away from my quality of life, I don't enjoy my business. – Sarah Perez
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 568: Sarah Perez – Diversifying your income and relocating your photography business successfully appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

May 27, 2024 • 0sec
567: Carl van den Boom – From photography to a photography glove business
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Carl van den Boom of www.photographygloves.com is featured in this episode — an interview that wasn't going to happen — I wasn't sure it would be a good fit for you.
I received the intro letter from Carl's good buddy, Lukas. He wrote…
I'm Lukas from Vallerret Photography Gloves. I'm reaching out to ask how you'd feel about interviewing our founder and my good friend Carl.
After leaving New Zealand to chase the snow in Austria, he never returned. And that's where we met.
We spent time snowboarding and photographing some pro snowboarders. After that, mushing dogs in Sweden and Alaska, running a bike rental business in Denmark, and some other ventures.
Carl finally found the niche where he could combine all his passions (winter, photography, entrepreneurship, fun) into one: Photography Gloves.
I replied to Lukas with…
Hi Lukas — Thanks for your interest and background story – the gloves look great.
PhotoBizX is focused on the business side of photography, not shooting.
Wishing you every success with your outreach.
Lukas came back with…
Sorry if this didn't come across well in my email, but this is exactly why we wrote to you.
Carl is a photographer and has made good money with real estate photography and other genres, BUT wanted to escape the “daily grind” of looking for customers.
We thought that might be interesting for your audience.
Okay, so that piqued my interest, and I hope you're keen to hear more, too.
In this interview, Carl shares how his photography passion and entrepreneurship led to a photography glove business.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Learn how to blend creativity with entrepreneurship to build a successful business in the photography industry
Carl's journey sheds light on the path from hobby to profitable venture
Gain insights from a real entrepreneur's experience, turning passion into profit
Discover how collaboration can enhance business growth and reach a global audience
Learn how to leverage your hobby to create supplementary income and fuel your passions
Understand how to spot market opportunities and turn them into successful business ventures
Gain motivation and strategies for overcoming obstacles to launch your own successful business
Discover the secrets behind Carl's success in creating niche products for photographers, meeting market demand, and scaling production
Learn how to identify market needs, test product ideas, and scale your business effectively
Understand how to launch and grow a business on a shoestring budget while ensuring product quality and competitiveness
Discover strategies for expanding your business network, sharing ideas, and increasing sales through trusted platforms
Learn how to create engaging content and leverage influencer partnerships to increase brand visibility and sales
Discover strategies for managing the demands of entrepreneurship while maintaining personal well-being and enjoyment
Learn actionable strategies for launching, designing, and marketing your products or services in the photography industry
Carl's first glove product images that he drew/Photoshop'd when he first started – as discussed in the interview.
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.
Just don't be afraid of sharing your ideas with people. – Carl van den Boom
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.
We were so niche, and it's a lot of work to do this lifestyle business. That and we're such a small fry, they're not going to come in and put all the time and effort in to take our small piece of the markets. – Carl van den Boom
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 Carl 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.
With a small team, we can achieve quite a bit. – Carl van den Boom
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Carl, 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.
Don't be afraid of sales, and then start building an email list and working on those funnels. – Carl van den Boom
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, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and 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.
Just try and grow an email list. And then you've got someone to talk to and someone to sell to when you bring out a new product. – Carl van den Boom
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…
★★★★★ Wish I had done the premium sooner!
Via Google reviews by DMV Photographer Stir Greer in the USA on May 21st, 2024.
Andrew curates an impressive collection of interviews—there is always something I can take away and use in my own business!
Love your Podcast, and wish I had done the premium sooner! ????
Thank you Andrew!
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Photography Gloves Website
Vallerret Photography Gloves on Instagram
Vallerret Photography Gloves on YouTube
Episode 368: Joshua Holko – Building a successful photography business with wildlife photo expeditions
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and for passport Carl for coming on and sharing the story about how his photography and passion for business and entrepreneurship led to a company servicing photographers shooting in cold and crazy climates by producing photography-specific gloves.
When I was trying to hustle and grind my way through, that's when I felt the worst because no one is lifting up my load, it's only me. So, if I'm off having fun, the work stopped being done. But then, you know, we brought on someone for the marketing team, and then all of a sudden, all the social media was being catered for. I didn't have to worry about that, too. I could then have a little more freedom. – Carl van den Boom
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 567: Carl van den Boom – From photography to a photography glove business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

May 19, 2024 • 43min
566: Sarah Jamieson – Passport photos as a well paying lead generator for any photography business
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Sarah Jamieson of www.pictorialphotography.co.uk photographs a genre never discussed on the podcast! Passport Photos.
We were exchanging emails, and Sarah told me…
I know a lot of photographers who shrink back in horror when I say I do passport and visa photos. They don't think it's worth their time and effort, but I think it's great.
I've been doing it for over 10 years; it's all automated, consistent income (covering all my studio bills and rent), and easily the most profitable service I offer.
Families who have never stepped foot in my studio find their way through passport and visa photos. They see the art on the walls, we chat, and voila!
The know, like, and trust factor kicks in. They join the mailing list and often book full sessions. It's like the VIP pass to a whole new clientele!
Needless to say, I was hooked and wanted to learn more!
A couple more emails, and I learned…
Her passport photo booking page is discreetly tucked away on her website, accessible only to those seeking the service through Google or local word of mouth.
Thanks to scheduling software on her website, the booking process is streamlined.
Each passport photo costs £15/20 (around USD$25 and AUD$38), so Sarah's time spent on passport photos works out to £120 per hour.
In addition to the financial earnings, she's found a huge side benefit in connecting with so many people in person. For this reason, she does the passport photos herself.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Automated Bookings for Steady Income: Learn how Sarah uses an automated booking system to maintain a consistent flow of clients for her passport photo business.
Expertise in Passport Photo Services: Discover Sarah's successful approach to meeting passport photo requirements in a quaint UK town, catering to diverse local and international clients.
Visa Photos for All Occasions: Providing high-quality visa photos for various purposes, ensuring hassle-free travel arrangements for clients, whether they're on holiday or working abroad.
Better Experience, Superior Quality: Understand why clients choose Sarah for passport photos, appreciating the convenience and top-notch quality they offer compared to other options.
Financial Sustainability and Growth: How Sarah turned passport photography from a side hustle into a thriving business, covering studio expenses and expanding operations over time.
Precision Printing Techniques: Learn about Sarah's printing process using dye sublimation technology, ensuring glossy, professional passport photos every time.
Transparent Pricing and Client Conversion: Discover how Sarah sets transparent prices and converts passport photo clients into long-term photography customers through personalised service and incentives.
Strategic SEO: Gain insights into Sarah's SEO strategies for increased visibility and explore additional revenue streams.
Marketing Mastery and Client Engagement: Dive into Sarah's marketing strategies, including email campaigns and personalised client interactions, to boost bookings and foster strong relationships.
Tailored Services and Profitable Pricing: Understand how Sarah tailors photography sessions to client needs, offering services with high-profit margins and exceptional value.
Navigating Unique Business Challenges: Learn from Sarah's experiences navigating the challenges of running a photography business in a small UK town near the Scottish border.
Grant Opportunities for Creative Projects: Explore how Sarah leveraged her passport photo business experience to secure grants for personal photography projects, enhancing her creative pursuits.
AI-Assisted Grant Application Success: Discover how to successfully apply for a grant to fund a dog photography exhibition by leveraging AI.
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 main clients that come in for passport photos are the ones that know that it's not easy in a photo booth — for example, newborn babies. I get loads of people bringing in newborns, people in wheelchairs, people with things like a lazy eye, who know that might not just be straightforward, and elderly people. – Sarah Jamieson
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.
There's not enough passport photography work at that price to pay my wages as well. So I do use the income from that to cover the studio expenses. So the rain, the electric, the water bill, and it covers a bit more than that. – Sarah Jamieson
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 Sarah 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 my life, it's better to be shooting pictures, and not because I get something out of it either. I love taking pictures. I love doing the actual job. – Mark Maryanovich
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Sarah 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.
Things change in business too. It seems to be the vibe just now that everyone's having branding photos done. And that's the nice thing about being a multiservice photographer is that it's fluid and it changes all the time. – Sarah Jamieson
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Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Sarah Jamieson Website
Passport, Visa and ID Photography
Passport Photography Course
Sarah Jamieson on Facebook
Sarah Jamieson on Instagram
Sarah Jamieson on Linkedin
The Photographers Voice Membership
Episode 245: Julie Christie – Make More Money in Your Off Season with Photography Classes
Episode 370: Julie Christie – How to use an email autoresponder series in your photography business
Episode 551: Josh Beaton – How to use your photography to finance a passion project and get paid
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and for passport photo expert Sarah for coming on and sharing her thoughts, ideas and advice for anyone interested in offering passport photos as a service to their existing business to help attract more high-paying clients for regular photography sessions like portraits, branding and commercial photography work.
So when I started, I used to use a scalpel and a ruler and I thought you know, I'm doing so many of these, I'm going to take my finger off one day, and then have a bloodbath. So I found that you can actually buy a die cutter… So I've got three different die cuts. And those cover everything that I need. – Sarah Jamieson
That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew
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566: Sarah Jamieson – Passport photos as a well paying lead generator for any photography business
Andrew Hellmich: Today's guest shoots a genre never discussed on the podcast in the last 11 or so years of doing interviews, I'm talking about passport photos. And we were exchanging emails, and she said, "I know a lot of photographers who shrink back in horror when I say that I do passport and visa photos. They don't think it's worth their time and effort, but I think it's great. I've been doing it for over 10 years now. It's all automated, consistent income covering all my studio bills and rent, and is easily the most profitable service I offer. And families who have never stepped foot in my studio find their way in through passport and visa photos. They see the art on the walls, we get chatting, and voila, that no, like and trust factor kicks in. They join the mailing list and often end up booking full sessions. It's like the VIP pass to a whole new clientele." So needless to say, I was hooked, and I wanted to learn more. And we exchanged a few more emails, and I learned that her passport photo booking page is discreetly tucked away on her website, accessible only to those actively seeking the service through Google or through local word of mouth, and thanks to her scheduling software on a website, the booking process is totally streamlined. Each passport photo costs around 15 or 20 pounds, which is about US 25 and Australian $38 which means that her time doing passport photos works out to around 120 pounds per hour. So in addition to the financial earnings, she's found a huge side benefit in connecting with so many people in person. And for this reason, she does all the passport photos herself in her business. I'm talking about Sarah Jamieson of Pictorial Photography in the UK, and I am rapt to have her with us now. Sarah, welcome.
Sarah Jamieson: Thanks, Andrew. Thanks for the intro as well. I love that.
Andrew Hellmich: I love the name of the town that you live in. What's it called?
Sarah Jamieson: Berwick-upon-Tweed
Andrew Hellmich: Berwick-upon-Tweed? Very, very British.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, it's right on the border of England and Scotland, so you might hear that in my accent, but we're on the East Coast, and it's a very historic town. We've got some old bridges and lots of castles and things around here, so it's nice.
Andrew Hellmich: Is it a big town, or is it a city?
Sarah Jamieson: I'd say it's a medium sized town for the UK, definitely not a city, but bigger than a village.
Andrew Hellmich: Right. So the people that you're serving with your photography business, do they all come from your town, or are they coming from nearby cities and towns as well?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, so well, mostly from the town. It's not a wealthy town at all, but there are pockets, you know, there's farmers and people that run online businesses and things that have a bit more money to spend on photography. But for passport photos, people come from around up to about 30 miles, unless it's a specialist one, like I do quite a lot of Canadian visas, which is a funny size. So people come quite far for that. But yeah, the passport photos is mostly local people, and then, like, family portraiture and stuff, because it's a tourist town, we get people who, I get people who come from like, well, they're staying local. They're staying in a holiday apartment or something, and they'll book a session on the beach or things like that.
Andrew Hellmich: So the passport side of the business, that's all locals, isn't it? That's all people from the UK looking to travel abroad.
Sarah Jamieson: Pretty much. Yeah, yeah. Oh no, sorry. The visa photos. So there's quite lots of different types of people that will come in for that. So I get quite a few people who live in the UK who need to renew their documents to stay. I get people who are traveling for work to different countries, yeah, and people who are going on holiday to countries that require visas. So there's quite a few different ones. There's quite a lot of people who work on like the rigs or gold mining and, you know, rope access and stuff, and they need lots of unusual visa photos.
Andrew Hellmich: Right. So interestingly, like before we started recording, I Googled passport photos in, do you say Berwick upon Time?
Sarah Jamieson: Berwick-upon-Tweed
Andrew Hellmich: Berwick-upon-Tweed, sorry. And so you came up. You're all over page one. You know you're on the map. You're come up organically on page one as well, in position one. And then when I do the same thing in my local area, I get like, camera stores and office works. And these, you know, the post office even, and I know they do terrible and ordinary looking photos. So why do people come to you instead of those department stores with a local photo shop?
Sarah Jamieson: Well, they don't always come to me first. A lot of times people do try using a booth or in the post office, for example, and a lot of times those pictures will be rejected. They'll either be sitting too far forward, too far back, or the lights often not right. There's actually a competitor in town, which is like a place that cuts keys, and they also do passport photos, but I know that they can't do them in the afternoon because there's too much light comes through the shop window. So sometimes people come in for that, but my main clients that come in for passport photos are the ones that know that it's not easy in the booth. So, for example, newborn babies who get loads of people bringing in newborns, people in wheelchairs, people with, for example, like a lazy eye, who know that might not just be straightforward. And elderly people so and also people who are quite conscious of their appearance, business professionals will come in. They just know that they want a nice photo, and it has to be used on different things, so and it's for work, so they can claim it as a business expense and stuff, right?
Andrew Hellmich: So some people come to you directly, or they come to you after they realize they can't do it themselves easily.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah. Well, it's a bit of both. It's a real mixture, yeah, if they get it rejected, they come back quite frustrated because they've already spent money, and then they'll come to me and they'll have a much nicer experience, hopefully, and go away, and it'll pass. So yeah, they're always..
Andrew Hellmich: Absolutely. So with that side of your business, I mean, I alluded to the fact that you're using the income, or, you know, there's enough income from passport photos to pay the rent on your studio. So how much time are you dedicating to passport photos? You know, daily or weekly or I mean, how many are you doing?
Sarah Jamieson: As many as come in really? I mean, it's worth it for me. So the way that the Scheduling Calendar is used at security scheduler, which works with my website, and I have it set up so that, because I use an online calendar anyway, if I have a job booked in through my CRM or just by putting it in myself, I'll put the job in as 'mark myself as busy'. So the scheduler knows not to book the passport photos on those times. And then there's a small buffer of about 10 or 15 minutes before and after that job, and then the passport photos just get inserted into any little pockets that are where I'm available, and all I'm doing is I'm sitting in the office, in the studio anyway, usually editing wedding photos. So don't mind jumping up, take a quick passport photo, print it out or send it digitally to them, and it literally takes less than five minutes, and they're running out, you know, unless I start talking, which I can do, takes a little bit longer. But I do like chatting to people, which I think a lot of photographers do. And that's really the beauty of it, because get to know so many people in the town. So it's great.
Andrew Hellmich: Could you sustain yourself financially just on passport photos, or is it really an avenue to feeding the other parts of your business as well?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, no, I couldn't. There's not enough passport photography work at that price to pay my wages as well. So I do use the income from that to cover the studio expenses. So the rent, the electric, the water bill. It covers a bit more than that. I have employed staff to do the passport photos for me before, but that was when I used to do regular drop in slots. So it was like a regular hours kind of job for the person. So yeah, so the having this photography studio is basically covered, and then anything else covers my wages, camera upgrades and things like that. But that's my main business, which is family and weddings and branding and stuff.
Andrew Hellmich: So tell me about how you got started in passport photos, because, like I said in the intro, and like you've experienced, like people normally, other photographers like would squirm or pull back at the thought of doing passport photos and thinking, "Wow, what are you doing?" But how did you get into it?
Sarah Jamieson: So I used to be like a wedding photographer. When my children were really little, I would be wedding and family photographer, natural light, you know, just a kind of regular working from home kind of person. And we got the opportunity to buy a beautiful building which needed a lot of work, but we had the time to do it, so me and my husband did all that and replaced floors and ceilings and parts of the roof and everything, brought it back to life. And the upstairs of the building was taken on by a tenant. So somebody rented upstairs, and the downstairs was for me to have a studio. It's always been my dream, so I moved into that studio. But I didn't really have any kind of plan. I didn't have a business plan for it. I couldn't use studio lights. The building actually had 18 windows, which was a complete nightmare for lighting. I mean, it's not particularly bright in the UK and where it is surrounded by, like historic walls and stuff. So yeah, I needed to use studio lights in there, and I didn't know how to, so I was doing a lot of learning. So I was sitting in there, kind of using it as a very nice office. And quite often people would be knocking at the door like local people. All be knocking at the door and saying, "I need passport photos. Can you take my passport photos?" And I was kind of like, I could, but it'll probably take about a week for them to come back, and I'm not really sure how to do it. So anyway, after sending a few of these people away, thinking at that time, I was thinking I could maybe charge about five or 10 pounds, which you know, if you're not earning anything else, and you've just spent a whole load of money refurbing a building, you kind of need some cash. So it was playing on my mind that was sending these people away. And I just thought, you know what? I really need to learn how to do this and get something back. So I did a bit of research. I practiced on friends and family, made quite a few mistakes, and just started doing it. Bought a little printer. In those days, there was no digital codes or anything that they needed, so, yeah, learnt how to do that, and haven't really looked back. I started taking bookings over the phone, and I felt like I was on the phone quite a lot, so I started to have regular drop-in sessions on a Saturday morning and a Wednesday afternoon, I think it was, and that's when, yeah, in the summertime, like when it was summer holidays, that's when I started taking somebody on, and when I was shooting weddings as well, I couldn't do passport photos and weddings at same time, so I had a member of staff that I trained up to do them for me and part time. And then now that it's all online, and the scheduling software is just fantastic, so I don't need to do that anymore, and just brought it back. It's just me now so.
Andrew Hellmich: Amazing. I got a few questions for you. So is there a document online in the UK, you know, from the passport office or the visa office that says, "Hey, this is how you have to take photos." So you then, in regard to lighting and posing, I know you know that, a smile..
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah
Andrew Hellmich: But is there a guide for photographers, or you just have to interpret what they want and create it?
Sarah Jamieson: There is the, pretty much every country that has specifications, so it's specifications for UK passports, and, yeah, for wherever you are. So Australia will have them, and, you know, even India and places like that, they'll have the document. And I would say there's, like, roughly about five different types that you'll need that, there are very slight variation. Sometimes it's worth reading the document, but there tends to be just these five types, and it's just rinse and repeat every time.
Andrew Hellmich: Right. So and you mentioned you bought a printer and we were chatting, I think I read somewhere in one of your emails, or I saw online, you still use the same printer today. So is that a special kind of printer that you need, or just any old photo printer?
Sarah Jamieson: No, but the one that I use, it's a little printer, and actually, I've used it to print stuff out for the kids, for the homework and things. But it's a small six by four photo printer.
Andrew Hellmich: Oh
Sarah Jamieson: And just the way that's set up back in print off passport photos from it.
Andrew Hellmich: So it's a regular ink jet printer?
Sarah Jamieson: No, it's a dye sublimation printer. So it prints on..
Andrew Hellmich: Okay, so can you use inkjet? Or it has to be dye sub.
Sarah Jamieson: They need to be glossy, like they need to look like a photo. Actually, I'm not sure you probably could use inkjet as long as it looks like a glossy photograph.
Andrew Hellmich: Some might depend on the stock.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah. However, it's mostly digital codes now, but the printer that I have is really cheap. It was like, I think you can get them for about 100 pounds new, but you can pick them up on eBay for like, 30 quid now. And the paper is not expensive. It's like, less than it's about 30 pence a sheet.
Andrew Hellmich: Right, and you mentioned digital codes a couple of times now, what are they? Are they something that's required by the government?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, I don't know if you have them where you are, but in quite a lot of countries in Europe and India, I think need them now, doing the passport application, it just asks for a code. So I upload the picture that I take into the cloud, and there's a bit of software that generates a code, and I email them the code, and then they just, when they're doing their application online, they insert the code, and it pulls their photo from the cloud, and that's the way that the passport agencies seem to prefer to do it now.
Andrew Hellmich: So do you have to be registered as a photographer to get that code.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, yeah. It's not like a legal registration. It's just a piece of software that you need to get.
Andrew Hellmich: Okay. So pretty simple.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, it's pretty straightforward. So you've got to pay for like 20 upfront, like 20 pounds or something. So it's actually more expensive to do digital codes than printing them out physical prints.
Andrew Hellmich: Is that right?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, yeah.
Andrew Hellmich: Wow. So that's why you have different prices. So if someone wants a digital code, it's going to be more expensive.
Sarah Jamieson: No, I just, it's not that much different. So okay, I just charge the same. So I charge 15 pounds for either digital or print for regular passport photos. But then if they want both, I charge 20 pounds or a digital and, and a lot of people go for both, sort of, because sometimes they haven't decided if they're applying online or with the form. Like manually and they like to have the backup and have it in the bag if they apply for something else,
Andrew Hellmich: Got it. If you do the photos, you go to your printer once you've got the photo. So I guess you take your SD card out, or whatever you're doing, put it in the printer, print or to your laptop or computer. Then are you, are you cutting it up with a guillotine? Are you using scissors, or you just print four and gives it to them? Like, is it really simple, or is it involved?
Sarah Jamieson: So when I started, I used to use a scalpel and a ruler, and I thought, you know, I'm doing so many of these. I'm going to take my finger off one day, and I'm going to have some blood bath everywhere. So I found that you can actually buy, they are like, like a die cut, like a die cutter, and it's the, fits the right sizes. So I've got three different die cuts, and those cover everything that I need.
Andrew Hellmich: Right. So you basically, it's like a cookie cutter.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah. It's like a cookie cutter, yeah. And they just pop out the top.
Andrew Hellmich: So good, so good, unreal.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah
Andrew Hellmich: This is such a great lead generator and an income producer at the same time, because I don't want to devalue what you do, but because it's a kind of a commodity style of photography, how did you come to the price you're at? Like, why not double the price? Why not make it triple the price?
Sarah Jamieson: I probably could. Because a lot of people say, like, "Oh, it's less than I thought and things." But I don't want to alienate anyone. I kind of want to make it as inclusive as possible. And also I've always said this, is that if I didn't do passport photos, it just like, I would do it for free, basically, because it brings in so much work, like future work, you know.
Andrew Hellmich: It's that good. It really is that good?
Sarah Jamieson: It really is that good. So the way that my studio is set up, the front door, we've got parking. People can get in. It is disabled access. It's all on one level. So they come in and there's sort of a hallway. It's quite a big hallway. So I've got, I've got albums on a sideboard, like a cabinet, and then I've got wall art. So I've got all different like, I've got a framed canvas, I've got a big acrylic orb. I've got a big wall gallery, so they see all this. And then this is before they even get to the door to the studio part. Then they come into the studio. There's more wall art, and there's another cabinet with things on, and they can have a sit down with nice leather sofa, and I'll come through and talk them through it, and put studio lights on, take the photo, and then when I'm printing it or sending it to them, they've got the time to just chat to me, and they really get to know me. And I also ask, in the, when they book the passport photo, there's a ticky box to say, "Would you like to join the mailing list?" So some of them will join that. So I'm getting people onto the email list as well and keeping in touch with them that way. And that's really how I've built, like, a really good sort of local community following, I guess.
Andrew Hellmich: So with the artwork and the albums in the hallway and in the studio, is there pricing on any of that? Or do they have to ask you what things cost?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, so I feel like that's it's really important for people to know, same like on your website and stuff, you want to give them an indication, because so that just eliminates people that you know don't want to spend that much. So have on the artwork. I've got little price tags actually, they're probably about the size of a business card and on a little bit of string. They're sellotaped to the back, but they're hanging underneath each of the frames, so they just flip them over. It says what kind of wall art it is, has a description, and it has the price. And then I've got, like, pricing brochures lying around that they can take away and things so, so they're getting used to those prices. You know, it's like a gateway entry.
Andrew Hellmich: Is it, just so I understand Sarah, how does that? So you got like, a little business card hanging down from behind the frame. I understand that. So why do they have to turn them around to see the price? Why isn't it just displayed on the front?
Sarah Jamieson: I don't know actually, it was the person that gave me the idea was, he was a rep from the framing company, and he said, "Have them that way around. Have them so that the blank side is at the front." And he said, he actually said it "So you can see what they've been looking at, because they don't turn them back around."
Andrew Hellmich: Nice. That's a great idea.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah. But actually, in my head, it's more just, it's tidy, and there's not lots of like writing. It's just nice white, you know.
Andrew Hellmich: And is he correct that guy? And do people actually leave them turned around with a price showing so you know what they've looked at?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, they do. Yeah.
Andrew Hellmich: So good.
Sarah Jamieson: And then if I walk back out with them, I can see that they've been looking at like an acrylic orb. And then I'll start talking about that particular item. So, yeah, it's just, it's a little clue, isn't it I suppose?
Andrew Hellmich: That is so good. I want to talk more about converting the people that come in for a passport photo to a family client. But tell me, with the passport photos, do you have, you know, a plain background and your light, your studio lights just permanently set up for passport photos, or do you have to rejig things before people come in?
Sarah Jamieson: It depends on what I've had in beforehand. There's usually a bit of moving around. But I have one camera, which is a really, really old. In fact, it's quite embarrassing. I think it's a Canon 350D. It's like, probably about 10 years old, and that is sat on the same settings all the time. The reason for that is because I have to have the photos taken in JPEG rather than RAW to be able to print on that little printer. And if I do it on my big camera, I'll forget and then I'll be like, "Oh no, I need to get people back in or have to put them on computer and mess about with it." So have that set up, and I have, like, two soft boxes. I mean, it's, if I have it set up any other way, it doesn't take long to change it. And then I've just got one chair, and there's, there's a white background that I can I've got paper background I can pull down, but you don't have to have that. I've had in my old studio. I used to use the back of the toilet door. It's just a white surface. So it doesn't really matter what you use.
Andrew Hellmich: I love it. So it's really simple. So if someone comes in, you just set the power output for your two lights. Your camera is already set to whatever shutter speed and f/8 or f/11, whatever it is, and away you go.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, yeah. Nice and quick.
Andrew Hellmich: Wow. So almost no thinking. So really, you could focus on converting, potentially that person to a future client, more so than be focusing on the passport photos.
Sarah Jamieson: Oh, yeah. Like, I can do that in my sleep, the passport photos now, and I do a lot of talking to people and find out about I'm quite like, I'll ask, like, "Oh, where you going on holiday?, taking the kids?" So I find out if they've got kids, or if it's for work, "What kind of job do you do?" And then if it's for work, it's usually a good job if they're sending them away abroad. So it's like, "Oh, have you," you know, do they need headshots? "Have you had, you know, how's your LinkedIn profile looking?" Just getting all those kind of that little bits of information and just sort of plants some seeds in their heads. And then sometimes, if I really am getting on quite well with someone, I'll pop them a little voucher in the envelope with their photos, and just say, if you come in and I'll tell them in person. I'll say, "If you're coming, if you let me know in the next two weeks, I can give you 50 pounds off a headshot session", or, you know, that kind of thing. So it gives them like something to get back to me on when it's a short redeemed by date, and it makes it official by having a bit of paper.
Andrew Hellmich: I'm curious, like, do you have any like, photographic competition, if you want to call it that, is there other photographers in the town?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, there are. There's probably about three or four. They are all like natural light people. So there's no other studio, not for probably 60 miles. So I'm in between Edinburgh and another city called Newcastle. So think there's, there might be one about 40 miles away. So yeah, it's not too bad, because, yeah.
Andrew Hellmich: I mean, I was thinking more along the lines of, if they see, I guess no one would suspect you're doing that well from passport photos, because I know, with my business, if I saw, you know, Joe Blow photographer down the road doing passport photos, I would probably be laughing rather than thinking it's a great business decision. And look, you've proven so wrong. This is amazing, I said in the intro. And you know, and I've also had a look at your website, which is beautiful, by the way, that there's no direct menu leading me to the passport photography page, but if I Google you, I can find it, and if I Google passport photos in your town, I can find it. So why do you do that? Why don't you have that on your website?
Sarah Jamieson: Well, people that are looking for passport photos, tend to just Google it. And people who know me, know that I do passport photos because I've done it so long now, and I didn't want it to be part of my brand. So have quite a sort of nice family, beachy, woodland kind of look about it. And I'd spoken to other sort of guru, mentor photographers. And I did have it for a while in my menu 'passport photos', and they all said, "Oh, take that off." So I did and but I really keyworded that page, the passport page. So I did a lot of SEO work on that. And it does it comes up, comes up quite well, as you've realized.
Andrew Hellmich: It does. Did you do that SEO work yourself, or did you hire a consultant or someone to do it?
Sarah Jamieson: No, I did it myself. Actually, I'm part of a really good group. I think, you know Julie, don't you?
Andrew Hellmich: Julie Christie?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, The Photographer's Voice
Andrew Hellmich: Yeah, she's amazing.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah. It's such a good group. So she has, think it's, can't remember what it's called, like, part, like, a little course on SEO, which there's a guy called Lee who runs it for her. And I just followed that to the letter and did all that work. And, yeah, it's really, really good. I need to do it on more pages, actually, to come up for other things. So yeah.
Andrew Hellmich: Like I said, you come up straight away page one. You're on the map. You're on the organic listing there as well, in position one. So it's obviously working so well. If someone's listening and they want to get into this, give it a try. Like, where would you start? Like, I guess the first thing for you was you had to learn how to use studio lights even. So, where did you learn that?
Sarah Jamieson: Where did I learn that? I just I learned that on like, YouTube videos and things. I think I bought some courses in the early days. I can't even remember who, who run them, or anything, but just a lot of practice, really, to get started in it. I mean, there is a little bit of equipment that you'll need, but not a lot. I mean, most of the stuff every photographer will have if they've got a studio. So you'll have a couple of studio lights, you'll have a camera. You'll need a trigger, a white background, or a white door, and a chair, and possibly a little printer if they want printed ones. But if you're just doing them, like the digital ones, you can do them straight away. I've done a course. So if anyone wants to learn and not make all the mistakes I've done over the last 13 years, they can do the course. But yeah.
Andrew Hellmich: So you've got a course on 'how to become a passport photographer for photographers'?
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, yes.
Andrew Hellmich: Okay. Where do we find that?
Sarah Jamieson: So that's on my website, and there's a tab that says 'For Photographers', so they can go and they can have a look at that if they want to. And that's something that I've just made because I was actually at a Photographer's Voice Conference in Edinburgh, and I was talking about how lucrative passport photography was to other photographers, and nobody, no one really believed me until I started talking about it. And yeah, and there was quite a lot of interest, and quite a lot of people just wanted to know a bit more about it. So that's how it kind of came about, really.
Andrew Hellmich: When you were at the Photographer's Voice Conference and you were talking about this, tell me what the photographers were most impressed about, because I'm curious, was it what you're earning from passport photos or converting clients?
Sarah Jamieson: It was more the converting the clients afterwards and building an audience type thing that they were interested in and then, but then, when I got talking to them, I was saying like, you know, "Why haven't you considered doing it before? Have you ever been asked?" A lot of them have been asked by clients and friends one or two times and just kind of said, "No, it's too much hassle. It'll take too long. It's not worth it.", because you only get like five pounds out of a booth. And they just presumed that you could only charge like five pounds per one, and it might take them an hour to process this photo that because they haven't ever done it before, so they just hadn't thought about doing it. And then there was other things came up, like, "Oh, well, it's not very good for my brand to be a passport, you know, like a local shop kind of thing." And I said, you know, it's kind of hidden in my website. They only find it through Google. So some of those photographers were quite interested, and I spoke to Julian, she was like, "Yeah, why don't you try and make a little course for people just to learn it quickly and be able to offer it, you know, next day, kind of thing."
Andrew Hellmich: So good. Okay, so the website is pictorialphotography.co.uk, and then there's a main menu item there for photographers, and that'll lead you to the course. Have you set a cost, a price for the course?
Sarah Jamieson: Yes, and I can't actually remember what it is. Gosh, that's a good question. And it's half price anyways, at the moment, I think it's about $83, I'm very new to making courses, someone told me to make the price in dollars so that it's easier for anyone to buy worldwide. But yeah, so it's early bird discount, and I'm running that until end of May, at 50% off. But if someone is listening to this podcast and hadn't listened to it until after me. Just get in touch with me and I'll sort you out. I just go.
Andrew Hellmich: Awesome. I'm on your page right now, Sarah, okay, so..
Sarah Jamieson: Right
Andrew Hellmich: Not to discredit what you just said, but it's not $79, that's Passport Pro Academy early bird discount price. And then you got 158, Passport Pro Academy. So what's the difference? Is that the full price?
Sarah Jamieson: Oh, so that's a full price, yeah, and then the half price is on a different cost thing.
Andrew Hellmich: Okay, got it right? Okay, so people can get up to the 79 and that's US dollars, like I'm presuming.
Sarah Jamieson: Yes
Andrew Hellmich: Got it, okay, awesome. And if someone listens to the episode after the early bird finish. If they mentioned they heard you on this interview, then you're going to pass on that early bird special?
Sarah Jamieson: Sure thing.
Andrew Hellmich: Amazing. That is so good. So tell me, let's say I come into your studio for my passport photos, and you do the things you mentioned earlier. You know, you're telling to me, you find out I'm married, I've got two kids. We love the beach. I've got a pet dog, you know, all those things. And then you might even give me a voucher for 48 hours. Let's say I don't respond to that, and you've got my email address. So I said, "Yeah, I'm happy." So are they the two ways you're trying to get me? One is with the voucher. One is with the, when I say, 'get me', I mean, attract me as a client.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, yeah.
Andrew Hellmich: They're the two ways.
Sarah Jamieson: Those are the two ways. Yeah. So I wouldn't directly email you about that promotion. I would just put you on my general email list and email every fortnight as to all that email, so it just keeps top of mind and just builds that familiarity. And you know, people will hopefully eventually come back. I probably should be a bit more hot on the market, in the direct marketing, but I'm quite busy with other things. So yeah, that's enough for me to do.
Andrew Hellmich: Right. So those emails, I mean, that's a pretty soft sell. That's enough to get people in.
Sarah Jamieson: Yeah, yeah, it's enough. Sometimes it can take a couple of years, so, and then an event will come up, or, you know, like, it's somebody's birthday. I want a nice portrait for my mom's 60th or that kind of thing. I'll come up. And Sarah has been emailing for two years. So yeah, they can't get rid of me.
Andrew Hellmich: That's so good. So give me an idea of what you're, what you're including in these emails. So if I tick the box to say, "Yes, I'm happy to go on your email list", do I go into an initial sequence, or do I go straight into the just the fortnightly general emails?
Sign up to listen to the Premium Version https://photobizx.com/premium-membership
Andrew Hellmich: But this is also good for your business. Amazing.
Sarah Jamieson: It's, yeah, it's fab, it's really good, exciting.
Andrew Hellmich: So good. Sarah, this has been such a delight. I'm blown away by passport photos, what it can lead to, how much it brings in.
Sarah Jamieson: Who knew..
Andrew Hellmich: This grant as well. And it's just incredible. So look, thank you so much for coming on. For you the listener, the website is pictorialphotography.co.uk, go and check out the course, the brand new course that Sarah's put together. If you want to dive deep into the passport photos, also go and check out her other amazing work. It's all there on her website. I'll also add links in the show notes to where you can find Sarah on the socials. Sarah again, massive thanks for coming on, for sharing what you have, you're incredible. Really appreciate your time and everything you shared.
Sarah Jamieson: Thanks, Andrew, I really enjoyed it. My first podcast.
Andrew Hellmich: Wahoo!
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The post 566: Sarah Jamieson – Passport photos as a well paying lead generator for any photography business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

May 13, 2024 • 44min
565: Mark Maryanovich and Natasha Martinez – Photography business success in and out of the music industry
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Mark Maryanovich and Natasha Martinez of www.markmaryanovich.com appeared on my radar for this interview following an email I received…
I represent Award-winning Photographer Mark Maryanovich.
We recently wrote a book called Photography Business Basics: 10 Years of Photography Business Knowledge in 10 Short Chapters.
As two real-world Photography business entrepreneurs who’ve struggled and learned (sometimes the hard way) how to go from starving artist to savvy businessperson, we wish to help the most people have the greatest success in Photography by avoiding the pitfalls many artists in the business world fall prey to.
As good as the email sounded, my sceptical self started checking out Mark's work, which I wasn't familiar with.
What I found blew me away. His photos appear on album covers and artwork for companies such as Sony, EMI, and Warner Chappell Music. His commercial clients include Gibson Guitars and Peavey Electronics. His work has been published in Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines, not to mention multiple book covers.
I quickly said yes, let's get you and Mark on the podcast and hear your thoughts on photography business success, both in and out of the music industry.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Harnessing Partnership Strengths – Discover how a photography business can soar when partners blend their strengths, with one focusing on the art of photography and the other managing the business side, like accounting and marketing.
Thriving in the Music Industry as a Photographer: The passion and resilience needed by photographers in the music scene, tackling high expenses and scarce opportunities.
Prioritizing Client Relationships – Learn the importance of nurturing lasting connections for repeat business and referrals in the music photography niche.
The Power of Visual Branding – Uncover why compelling visuals are critical for musicians in today’s marketplace.
Fostering Creative Collaborations – Insights into collaborating with musicians on styling and choosing locations to create striking images.
Streamlining Your Editing Workflow – Efficient editing and timely delivery can enhance client satisfaction.
Crafting Clear Contracts – The necessity of precise contracts that detail licensing and usage rights before engagements.
Managing Income Variability – Tips on budgeting for the ebbs and flows of business income throughout the year.
Effective Marketing Strategies – Strategies for showcasing your work brilliantly on your website and boosting your visibility with a robust social media presence.
The Art of Networking – Forging valuable industry connections by attending events and mingling with industry insiders.
Developing a Standout Portfolio – Guidance on creating a compelling portfolio highlighting your best work and attracting the right clientele.
Learning Business Skills – Balancing photography prowess with essential business skills to run a thriving enterprise.
Tailoring Pricing and Packages – Customising offerings to meet diverse client needs and expectations.
Enhancing Client Retention – Techniques for keeping in touch with clients through thoughtful communication and memorable touches.
Adapting to Client Needs – Being flexible and well-prepared for varying client preferences and comfort levels, especially when dealing with celebrities.
Building Trust and Rapport – The importance of face-to-face meetings in establishing trust and showcasing your experience to prospective clients.
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.
80% of our business is repeat clients, and word of mouth and referrals. And that's really kind of an ideal business model for any photographer just because it's, you know, the client onboarding time, everything just makes it simpler. – Natasha Martinez
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.
There's 74 million photographers in the world right now, there's lots of us. So you always have to keep in touch with clients. – Mark Maryanovich
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 Mark and Natasha 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 my life, it's better to be shooting pictures, and not because I get something out of it too. I love taking pictures. I love doing the actual job. – Mark Maryanovich
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Mark and Natasha 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.
If you try to make yourself for everyone, you're going to be kind of like, third, fifth, tenth choice, or, you know, for those people, you're not going to get the business. – Matt Badenoch
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, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and 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.
Only be showing your website for the work you want to get. There's no sense in showing people a bunch of beautiful flowers, a bunch of beautiful buildings, if you're trying to get a headshot job. I mean, you should have different websites for everything you do. – Mark Maryanovich
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.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best!
Shelby over at Shelby Leigh Photography has put together a ripper of a free video training series. We're talking over 20 industry experts – in photography and social media – ready to share their knowledge on:
Boosting your bookings: No fluff, just actionable strategies to keep your calendar full.
Attracting high-quality leads: Build a client base that values your work.
Building unshakeable confidence: Become a self-assured entrepreneur behind the lens.
Supercharging your income: Let's face it, bills need paying.
These are all proven strategies you can implement immediately.
Here's the link: https://photobizx.com/shelby
Here's what you'll unlock:
Identifying your ideal client: Attract clients who appreciate your unique style.
Mastering marketing strategies: Expand your toolkit with fresh, effective ideas.
Shifting your mindset: Ditch the imposter syndrome and embrace your expertise.
Social media domination: Learn strategies for Instagram, Pinterest, and more to amplify your reach.
The power of video: Elevate your marketing and create an exceptional client experience.
Conquering imposter syndrome: We've all felt it, but you can overcome it.
Serving clients with confidence: Build strong, lasting relationships with your clientele.
Plus, Shelby's sharing her golden sales secrets – learn how to navigate those tricky conversations with ease.
This is the Beyond the Camera Master Course Series — it's happening this week!
New Masterclass coming up! Mastering Lead Magnets, Copywriting & Newsletters with AI.
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/ai-marketing-part-2-registration/
Here's what you'll learn…
Turn Interest into Action: Discover the secrets of high-converting lead magnets that solve your ideal client's biggest problems.
The Power of Words: Craft copy that hooks, inspires, and drives your audience to take action.
Build a Loyal Following: Learn how to nurture relationships and grow a devoted fan base with captivating email newsletters.
BONUS: Continue your AI mastery with even more of Brianna's done-for-you AI prompts, ensuring you'll never run out of lead-generating ideas.
The live training is Thursday, May 23rd 2024 @ 7:00am 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.
AND, 20 done-for-you AI prompts for instant content creation, social media strategy, lead magnets, sales blueprint, & more!
All the details are here: https://photobizx.com/ai2
The future of photography marketing is here. Master AI before it all gets too hard.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Mark Maryanovich Website
Photography Business Basics: 10 Years of Photography Business Knowledge in 10 Short Chapters by Natasha Martinez with Mark Maryanovich on Amazon
Mark Maryanovich on Instagram
Mark Maryanovich on Facebook
Mark Maryanovich on Linktree
Photography Business Basics Book landing page
10 Elements of Professional Images
Chapter 5: Pricing – Photography Business Basics: 10 Years of Photography Business Knowledge in 10 Short Chapters
Chapter 9: Part One: Marketing Math – Photography Business Basics: 10 Years of Photography Business Knowledge in 10 Short Chapters
Amazon Australia Photography Business Basics Book Product Page
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and for music industry photographer Mark Maryanovich and business partner Natasha Martinez for coming on and sharing their thoughts and ideas for growing a successful and profitable photography business no matter in the world you're based or the genre you focus on. Whatever you do, don't miss the sample chapters from their business made easy for photographers book linked above.
If you're ever in a photo with a group of people always stand on the right. Do you know why? Because when you stand on the right on the photo, your name comes up first, when it's written. – Mark Maryanovich
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 565: Mark Maryanovich and Natasha Martinez – Photography business success in and out of the music industry appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

May 6, 2024 • 0sec
564: Matt Badenoch – Follow your street photography passion as a working wedding photographer
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Matt Badenoch of www.streetwithmatt.com and www.mattbadenoch.com teaches street photography via travel workshops and runs a successful wedding photography business in London.
I'm lucky enough to call Matt a friend and a photography travel buddy after one of the most epic adventures to India a few years ago with half a dozen photographer friends from the UK and Romania.
Matt discovered a love of photography more than ten years ago and has been a full-time wedding photographer for almost as long. Since then, he's photographed close to 150 weddings in 18 countries across 3 continents!
He says in his bio that he's a social introvert, which I have to say totally surprised me after seeing him in action with camera in hand and on the streets.
With a total love for street photography, it was no surprise to see him offering workshops on the topic in the UK before venturing further afield.
I wasn't sure if the plan is to make street photography a pathway to a full-time income or if it's a side gig to help fund world travel and more street photography projects to far-flung places on the map.
It was a real pleasure to host this interview with super talented, always smiling Matt, who, in addition to all the street talk, shared a ton on building a successful wedding photography business and getting found in a saturated market.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
Street photography for retirement? You bet! Teach workshops, sell prints, and grow your online presence.
Wedding photographers with ADHD: Prioritize ruthlessly to avoid late deliveries (we've all been there!).
UK Photography business owners — stay under the VAT threshold to avoid a nasty tax surprise!
Wedding season lull? Target families and proposals for quick wins.
Extra cash from past clients? Offer discounts on family shoots and reminisce about the good times!
Get seen online: Make your website an SEO magnet to attract more clients.
Target the right audience: Use Instagram to laser-focus your marketing efforts.
Smart marketing = more weddings: Invest in marketing that gets results.
The rule of seven: Start with basic info for early adopters, then slowly convince later audiences.
Are workshops worth the investment? Absolutely! Personalized learning will take your skills to the next level.
Dealing with difficult students? Set clear expectations to avoid bad reviews.
Ready to share your knowledge? Offer street photography workshops and help others capture the magic.
Find your ideal students: Target your marketing to photographers who share your niche.
Feeling like a fake? Surround yourself with supportive people to overcome imposter syndrome.
Difficult participants? Acknowledge the possibilities, address them directly, and set boundaries from the start.
Golden hour goodness: Shoot early mornings for beautiful light and fewer crowds.
The perfect street lens: A 35mm lens is your versatile street photography companion.
Digital for the win: Digital cameras are easier and cheaper than film for capturing life on the streets.
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.
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.
Street photography is really hard to make money from. If you speak to anyone out there, they'll probably tell you the same thing. Most people do it for the passion. – Matt Badenoch
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 Matt shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.
Build a page for whatever you want be found for. It should answer all your client's questions. What are they looking for? What is useful to them? Give that. Don't write for Google. This has always been a mistake, at least the last 15 years, don't try and write for a robot, write for people. – Matt Badenoch
If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Matt 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.
If you try to make yourself for everyone, you're going to be kind of like, third, fifth, tenth choice, or, you know, for those people, you're not going to get the business. – Matt Badenoch
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, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and 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's the latest review for Johl Dunns recent Masterclass on Community Fundraisers:
Amazing training! It covered some of what I already do but has given me so many ideas on how to improve it! I’ve already started pulling my database together! — Launceston family portrait photographer Samantha Kuruvita
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best!
Shelby over at Shelby Leigh Photography has put together a ripper of a free video training series. We're talking over 20 industry experts – in photography and social media – ready to share their knowledge on:
Boosting your bookings: No fluff, just actionable strategies to keep your calendar full.
Attracting high-quality leads: Build a client base that values your work.
Building unshakeable confidence: Become a self-assured entrepreneur behind the lens.
Supercharging your income: Let's face it, bills need paying.
These are all proven strategies you can implement immediately.
Here's the link: https://photobizx.com/shelby
Here's what you'll unlock:
Identifying your ideal client: Attract clients who appreciate your unique style.
Mastering marketing strategies: Expand your toolkit with fresh, effective ideas.
Shifting your mindset: Ditch the imposter syndrome and embrace your expertise.
Social media domination: Learn strategies for Instagram, Pinterest, and more to amplify your reach.
The power of video: Elevate your marketing and create an exceptional client experience.
Conquering imposter syndrome: We've all felt it, but you can overcome it.
Serving clients with confidence: Build strong, lasting relationships with your clientele.
Plus, Shelby's sharing her golden sales secrets – learn how to navigate those tricky conversations with ease.
This is the Beyond the Camera Master Course Series — it's happening this week!
New Masterclass coming up! Mastering Lead Magnets, Copywriting & Newsletters with AI.
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/ai-marketing-part-2-registration/
Here's what you'll learn…
Turn Interest into Action: Discover the secrets of high-converting lead magnets that solve your ideal client's biggest problems.
The Power of Words: Craft copy that hooks, inspires, and drives your audience to take action.
Build a Loyal Following: Learn how to nurture relationships and grow a devoted fan base with captivating email newsletters.
BONUS: Continue your AI mastery with even more of Brianna's done-for-you AI prompts, ensuring you'll never run out of lead-generating ideas.
The live training is Thursday, May 23rd 2024 @ 7:00am 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.
AND, 20 done-for-you AI prompts for instant content creation, social media strategy, lead magnets, sales blueprint, & more!
All the details are here: https://photobizx.com/ai2
The future of photography marketing is here. Master AI before it all gets too hard.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Matt Badenoch Wedding Website
Matt Badenoch on Facebook
Matt Badenoch on Instagram
Matt Badenoch Street Photography Website
Matt Badenoch Street Photography on Instagram
Brighton wedding photographer Corina Badenoch's Website
Chu Việt Hà – Vietnam Street Photographer
Episode 117: Anna Pumer – Photography and Branding Mastery
Episode 250: India Street Photography Interviews – Shooting Personal Projects to Grow as a Photographer
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and for Matt's coming on and sharing her thoughts and ideas for growing a successful and profitable wedding photography business in London and following his passion for street photography by creating a business and travel workshops to help other like-minded photographers grow their skills on this super popular genre of photography.
My goal, I want like 30 wedding bookings a year. If I get 30 people, and I'm their number one choice, I'm fully booked. If I have 1000 people, and I'm their fifth choice, I can end up with no weddings. So I really think it's just as much knowing who you're for and who you're not. – Matt Badenoch
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 564: Matt Badenoch – Follow your street photography passion as a working wedding photographer appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.