Pricing might just be the hardest piece of the business puzzle, and not because most of us don't love math. Sure, you need to know your numbers, but there's so much psychology involved in pricing, too: it's one of the most powerful ways you communicate your value, your brand, and your confidence. In this episode, I’m walking you through the five key building blocks of a strategic pricing system - the pieces that take your rates from guesswork to a rock-solid reflection of what you really offer. ...
Jul 15, 2025•17 min•Ep. 325
What if your next senior session didn’t just capture once-in-a-lifetime memories… but created them as well? In this episode, I’m joined by Kellie Llewellyn, a North Dakota-based photographer who has carved out a unique (and wildly appealing) niche in her business: destination senior sessions. Kellie has traveled with seniors, their best friends, and even their families to locations like Joshua Tree, the Oregon coast, and beyond, turning traditional photo sessions into unforgettable experiences. ...
Jul 08, 2025•35 min•Ep. 324
When you're deep in the thick of running a business, it’s easy to feel like you should be further along. But just because you haven’t “made it” yet (whatever that means) doesn’t mean you’re not making real, meaningful progress. In this episode, I’m sharing three often-overlooked signs that you’re doing better than it may feel like you're doing. We’ll talk about how to recognize sustainable growth, why rest isn’t a setback, and how efficiency quietly signals your evolution as a business owner. Th...
Jul 01, 2025•15 min•Ep. 323
Ever wonder what makes some photographers get tons of referrals and repeat business while others struggle to generate that kind of buzz? Hint: it's probably not the quality of their images. In this episode, I’m talking with wedding and commercial photographer Miles Witt Boyer about what it looks like to be the most valuable person in the room, and why that matters more than ever in today's competitive landscape. This is a conversation about client experience, pricing, creative fulfillment, and m...
Jun 24, 2025•42 min•Ep. 322
We all know that small, consistent actions pay off over time… but when it comes to marketing our photography businesses, too many of us are still chasing quick wins and big bursts of effort that - let’s be honest - often lead to burnout and disappointment. When things slow down, it’s easy to fall into the trap of panic marketing… throwing out a flurry of posts, sending a couple of emails after months of silence, maybe even dreaming up a last-minute sale to get the calendar moving again. But that...
Jun 17, 2025•10 min•Ep. 321
Just because something works doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it. Today, I’m joined once again by my brilliant friend Sabrina Gebhardt for a conversation that’s all about letting go... of offers, expectations, even identities that no longer serve you. Sabrina shares three major decisions she made in 2024 to release things that were still generating revenue (and still “made sense” on paper), but that no longer felt aligned. We talk about the fear of quitting, the mental weight of dragging some...
Jun 10, 2025•35 min•Ep. 320
There’s this idea floating around that unless you’re all-in on your photography business—fully booked, full-time, aiming for six figures and beyond—what you're doing doesn't really count. But over the years, I’ve worked with countless photographers who are intentionally building part-time businesses, whether that's because they’re just getting started, running a household, or working another job that they can't or don't want to give up. And in many cases, those "limitations" lead to more clarity...
Jun 03, 2025•18 min•Ep. 319
You don’t have to dance, lip sync, or post every day to make Instagram work for your photography business, but you do need a strategy. This week, I’m joined by food photographer, educator, and author Kimberly Espinel who literally wrote the book on Instagram strategy. We're diving into what’s actually working on Instagram in 2025, whether you’re trying to attract more clients, stay top-of-mind, or stop second-guessing your content. With her refreshing approach, Kimberly highlights three simple s...
May 27, 2025•35 min•Ep. 318
Most photographers build their businesses around one signature offer—and that’s a great place to start. But if that’s the only offer on your menu, your business may be more fragile than you think. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the three types of offers every photography business should have: your core offer (aka your bread and butter), an entry offer (for those not quite ready to go all-in), and an expansion offer (for the people who already love you and want more). When these three work...
May 20, 2025•11 min•Ep. 317
Your website might look great—but is it actually doing the work of turning curious browsers into paying clients? In this week’s episode, I’m joined by web designer and strategist Caitlin Teixeira (aka Catie Means Business), the mastermind behind my current website and one of the most insightful, strategic creatives I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Caitlin shares why a website isn’t just a digital business card—it’s a credibility engine, a trust builder, and a strategic tool that should hel...
May 13, 2025•35 min•Ep. 316
If you’ve ever said yes to a last-minute request you didn’t really have time for, or delivered more than you promised because you were afraid of disappointing someone, this one’s for you. In this short solo episode, I’m talking about boundaries: not just as a form of self-protection, but as a powerful way to communicate your brand, serve your clients well, and build trust in your process. Saying no can be hard, but boundaries create clarity. And clarity builds trust. We’re digging into why bound...
May 06, 2025•7 min•Ep. 315
We’re constantly told that blogging is great for SEO, but most photographers still aren’t doing it. Why? Because it feels like a heavy lift for an uncertain payoff (not to mention it's hard to know what to say)! This week, I’m joined by photographer and PR pro Kate Wark, who not only understands the power of blogging from a strategic perspective but actually ghostwrites blogs for other creatives. She’s sharing practical tips, mindset shifts, and tangible topic ideas to help you get started (or g...
Apr 29, 2025•30 min•Ep. 314
You’ve done the math. You know what your cost of doing business is. You’ve looked at what other photographers in your market are charging. So why does pricing your work still feel so complicated ? This week I’m getting into the real reasons pricing can feel so hard. I’ll walk you through three key mindset shifts that every photographer needs to make in order to price their work confidently, communicate that value clearly, and stop tying their self-worth to their price tag. We’ll talk about what’...
Apr 22, 2025•21 min•Ep. 313
We all love the idea of a business that grows effortlessly through word of mouth....but that kind of growth doesn’t come from luck—it comes from delivering a client experience that’s SO good, people can’t stop talking about it. In this episode, I’m joined by photographer and educator Natasha Sewell, who’s built a thriving, referral-based business by getting super intentional about how she connects with clients—before, during, and after the session. Natasha's strategies go way beyond what most pe...
Apr 15, 2025•36 min•Ep. 312
Marketing isn’t just about getting seen—it’s about building trust. And building trust, as it turns out, is a lot like building your credit score.... Clients are constantly (and often unconsciously) evaluating whether they trust you enough to book with you. It’s not exactly a number they can look up, but the signals you’re sending through your website, social media, pricing, and consistency are all part of the equation. Think of it like a business version of a credit score. It builds slowly, gets...
Apr 08, 2025•13 min•Ep. 311
Some interviews go exactly where you expect… and others take a beautiful turn into even better territory. That’s exactly what happened in this conversation with photographer, systems wizard, and community builder Stacey Rolfe. What started as a conversation about client experience ended up touching on everything from burnout recovery and flexible business models to the power of taking imperfect action and letting go of people-pleasing in your business. Stacey shares the evolution of her career—f...
Apr 01, 2025•36 min•Ep. 310
When things slow down or feel uncertain in your business, it’s easy to think you need to overhaul everything or spend your time hunting down new leads. But more often than not, the best opportunities are already sitting in front of you—specifically, in the form of your happiest clients. In this episode, I’m sharing four tried-and-true strategies for turning one great client into more. These are simple, relationship-focused ways to bring people back in, get them talking about you, and build more ...
Mar 25, 2025•24 min•Ep. 309
If you've ever felt a sinking feeling as you send in your taxes, wondering if you're missing something (or have just signed and avoided the numbers altogether), you're not alone. That’s why I brought in Danielle Hayden, founder of Kickstart Accounting, to break down exactly what photographers should be doing year-round to stay on top of their numbers, avoid surprises, and maximize their tax deductions. The truth is, that managing your business finances doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, when...
Mar 18, 2025•41 min•Ep. 308
AI is everywhere right now, but let’s be real—most of us don’t have time to sort through all the noise to figure out which tools actually help photographers run their businesses better. That’s why I called in Colie James. She’s a workflow automation expert, a photographer, and someone who has gone much further with AI than most of us (but in a way that makes running a business easier , not more complicated). In this episode, she’s breaking down how she’s using AI to speed up content creation, si...
Mar 11, 2025•44 min•Ep. 307
Photography may seem like a business with low legal risk, but if you don’t cover your bases, one unexpected issue—like a contract dispute, a tax audit, or an independent contractor misclassification—can cause major headaches. Today, I’m talking with Braden Drake, a lawyer and tax expert who specializes in helping creative entrepreneurs actually understand business compliance, contracts, and financial protection. And trust me, this conversation is anything but boring. Braden makes legal and tax t...
Mar 04, 2025•33 min•Ep. 306
Most photographers assume that if they don’t shoot in a studio, they don’t need one. But what if a studio space could be so much more than just a backdrop for sessions? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Michelle McAfee, a photographer who turned her studio into so much more than just a place to shoot. She shares how she transitioned from using her space exclusively for client sessions to creating a studio membership model—one that serves other photographers and small business owners, boosts ...
Feb 25, 2025•33 min•Ep. 305
If you’ve ever felt like your emails are going out into the void—ignored, unopened, or worse, unsubscribed from—this episode is just for you. Email marketing doesn’t have to feel awkward or forced. In fact, when done right, it’s one of the most powerful ways to turn casual followers into loyal clients. But what actually makes an email engaging? How do you keep people excited to hear from you instead of clicking delete? Today, I'm breaking it all down, with a fun analogy (of course!) How to get p...
Feb 18, 2025•17 min•Ep. 304
Generating leads for your photography business can feel like a full-time job. You put yourself out there, cross your fingers, and hope the inquiries roll in—but what happens when they don’t? That’s where a smart, strategic approach to lead generation makes all the difference. This week, I’m talking with photographer, business coach, and Gold Biz Podcast host Rachel Traxler about how she approaches lead generation intentionally —not just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. Rachel brea...
Feb 11, 2025•27 min•Ep. 303
Most photographers spend their time marketing in all the usual (free) ways—posting on social media, tweaking their SEO, and waiting for word-of-mouth referrals to kick in. And while all of those can work, they also take time... often a lot of it! But what if you could get your business in front of people right when they’re searching for a photographer ? That’s exactly what Google Ads do. Unlike social media ads that interrupt people mid-scroll, Google Ads only show up when someone is actively lo...
Feb 04, 2025•31 min•Ep. 302
It’s easy to lose the creative spark that brought you to photography in the first place. Between running a business, keeping up with clients, and tackling your endless to-do list, the joy of making art can start to feel like a distant memory. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Trish Chong, an incredible family photographer, educator, and all-around thoughtful human being, to talk about the power of personal work in a creative business. For over a decade, Trish has kicked off each year with her “J...
Jan 28, 2025•31 min•Ep. 301
Considering switching to Simples Sales? What's better than a case study? How about three? I'm excited to share this in-depth conversation with Robyn, AnneMarie, and Christina: three recent students who've launched Simple Sales in their three very different businesses. We discuss: How and why each of them decided to give Simple Sales a try - what was (and wasn't) working in their businesses that gave them the push to seek a better solution Their fears and hesitations about the System Their experi...
Jan 21, 2025•39 min•Ep. 300
New Year, new mindset. 🥂 As we turn the page to 2025, it’s time to take stock of what’s been working in our businesses—and more importantly, what hasn't . In this episode, I’m sharing seven things you can leave behind to build a stronger, more sustainable businesses moving forward. If you’ve been caught in the cycle of saying “yes” to too much, pricing yourself too low, or running yourself ragged, you’re not alone. We’ll explore how these common patterns take a toll—and, more importantly, how t...
Jan 14, 2025•22 min•Ep. 299
Burnout. Overwhelm. Frustration. If you’re feeling the weight of running your photography business, you’re not alone. Lately, I’ve been hearing from so many photographers who are unsure if it’s even possible to keep going. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dayna—my partner in The Consistency Club and all-around champion of real talk—to tackle those big questions head-on. Where does the photography industry stand right now? Why are so many of us feeling stuck? And the biggest question of all: i...
Jan 07, 2025•38 min•Ep. 298
It’s New Year’s Eve, and what better time to talk about setting yourself up for a successful (and sustainable!) new year? 🎉 In this final episode of the Sustainability Series (and the year!), I’m giving you a little taste of something I cooked up for you: a private podcast series called Recipe for Success. Think of your business like a favorite recipe—some ingredients are non-negotiable, but others? You can totally swap, simplify, or even skip altogether. From outsourcing to batching to creatin...
Dec 31, 2024•9 min•Ep. 297
In this third episode of the Sustainability Series, I’m diving into one of the biggest time and energy drains for photographers: marketing. Let’s face it—hunting for clients can feel like an endless Easter egg hunt. But what if, instead of searching for golden eggs, you focused on finding a golden goose? In this episode, I share how I created a portrait membership that became my golden goose—a predictable, recurring revenue stream that reduced my marketing workload and made my business more sust...
Dec 24, 2024•10 min•Ep. 296
