BTI #224: Grow Your Network to Grow Your Net Worth with Karen Stanley
Release Date: 04/21/2021
Why the Vanity Fair Portraits Made People Uncomfortable — and Why That Matters
Beyond the Image Podcast
The recent Vanity Fair portraits by Christopher Anderson sparked an unprecedented reaction across the creative world. Some called them powerful. Others called them “bad photos.” In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick breaks down why that criticism reveals more about viewer expectations than photographic quality. From extreme close-ups and intentional lighting choices to the role of honesty, narrative, and authorship, this conversation explores what actually defines a successful photograph. We unpack why photography is a form of storytelling, why not every image is meant to...
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When Photographers Turn on Photographers
Beyond the Image Podcast
Photographers… this may shock you — but not everyone is going to like your work. And sometimes, the loudest critics are other photographers. In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick breaks down why criticism from other creatives often has nothing to do with your talent and everything to do with ego, insecurity, and misplaced comparison. You’ll learn how to tell the difference between constructive feedback and noise, why other photographers don’t get to decide your value, and how to stay focused on what actually matters — creating work you’re proud of and serving the...
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Why Photographers Are Getting Pricing Wrong
Beyond the Image Podcast
In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick takes a direct, professional look at one of the most polarizing conversations in the photography world: ethical pricing. After a viral post claimed that “$2,000 for 100 photos is unethical,” the industry erupted into yet another round of pricing debates, judgment, and misinformation. James breaks down why these arguments happen—and more importantly, why they’re built on a limited, inaccurate understanding of how photography pricing, usage, licensing, and value-based business models actually work. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why...
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When the Client Is the Problem: How Photographers Protect Themselves
Beyond the Image Podcast
In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick dives into one of the biggest questions photographers asked after his viral video: “What do you do when the client is the difficult one?” After more than 20 years, hundreds of shoots, and more personalities than he can count, James breaks down the real root of “bad clients,” why a vague contract is more dangerous than a tough personality, and how to protect your work, your energy, and your business with clear boundaries. You’ll learn: • Why your contract is your #1 line of defense • What MUST be included in every scope and...
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Strategy No One Talks About Which Landed Me A Dream Job
Beyond the Image Podcast
In this episode, I break down exactly how I landed a dream project—not through luck, connections, or waiting to “get discovered,” but by creating the kind of work I wanted to be hired for. I share the full strategy behind building a spec portfolio, crafting content marketing around it, and ultimately generating a wave of viral visibility that positioned me as the go-to creator for that exact style of work. If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for the “right” clients to find you, this is the blueprint for taking control of your opportunities and building demand around your passion. ...
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Biggest Portfolio Mistakes Photographers Make (and Why Your Portfolio Isn’t Enough)
Beyond the Image Podcast
Fresh off a portfolio review at a local college, I’m breaking down the biggest and most common mistakes photographers make when trying to showcase their work—and why these mistakes might be standing between you and your next client. In this episode, I cover: • Mistake #1: Overloading your portfolio with too many images • Mistake #2: Showcasing work you don’t actually want to shoot • Mistake #3: Not showing enough of the work you do want to be hired for And then we get into the biggest mistake of all: relying solely on your portfolio as your entire marketing strategy. Because in...
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Before You Shoot Video: Essential Guide for Photographers
Beyond the Image Podcast
Stepping into video work as a photographer? Before you hit record, you need to understand the technical fundamentals that make—or break—your footage. In this episode, James Patrick breaks down the 10 essential technical skills photographers must know before transitioning into video, including shutter speed rules, frame rates, ND filters, autofocus behavior, lighting continuity, audio basics, codecs, bitrates, and more. Whether you're adding video to your services or simply exploring motion for the first time, this episode gives you the roadmap to get started the right way.
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Nightmare Productions: 13 Times Everything (Almost) Fell Apart
Beyond the Image Podcast
In the spirit of Halloween, I’m pulling back the curtain on 13 real-life production horror stories — projects that went sideways, off the rails, or barely escaped disaster. From shoots that spiraled out of control to campaigns that almost didn’t see the light of day, these are the lessons learned the hard way from behind the lens and behind the scenes. Whether you’re a creative, a brand, or a business owner, this episode is your survival guide for when everything that can go wrong… does. Tune in, take notes, and maybe keep some sage on standby.
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Being Ghosted: The Real Horror of 2025
Beyond the Image Podcast
It’s 2025 — and ghosting has gone professional. From clients who vanish after getting a proposal, to contractors who disappear mid-project, and collaborators who drop off without a word, we’re all haunted by the same modern nightmare: bad communication. In this episode, James Patrick dives into the spooky, hilarious, and painfully relatable world of ghosting in business. He shares dramatized stories of the vanishing client, the disappearing collaborator, and the contractor who seemed promising — all told with a sharp sense of humor and a dash of Halloween flair. But this isn’t just a...
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5 Biggest Mistakes Creatives Make When Bidding Jobs (and How to Fix Them)
Beyond the Image Podcast
Pricing your work shouldn’t feel like guesswork—but too often, creatives leave money on the table simply by how they bid. In this episode, I break down the 5 most common mistakes photographers and creatives make when quoting projects—from vague pricing and missing line items to failing to set boundaries. You’ll learn how to bid with clarity, confidence, and control, so you protect your value and land better clients without endless back-and-forth negotiations. https://jamespatrick.com/
info_outlineSomething I bring up a lot on this show is the importance of having a strong foundation that you are building your business upon. In past episodes, I shared about my own journey in how I chose to focus on my physical health, my mental wellbeing, and to foster successful relationships. When I chose to do these three things, my business actually took off. In today’s episode, we are talking about why we need to cultivate the best relationships; not only with others, but also with ourselves. And how these relationships can improve our business.
WHO IS KAREN STANLEY?
Karen Stanley is the best-selling author of Becoming Mrs. Stanley, an agency owner, and an entrepreneur based in Arizona. At the beginning of her journey, she struggled with self-worth and self-confidence until she decided to start applying her knowledge of relationships in business to her personal life. Karen believes relationships truly are the key to being successful.
“You can’t be successful on an island by yourself, you need people.”
But she also believes that the best way to have strong and healthy relationships with others, is to have a strong and healthy relationship with yourself. Her book came out of her personal experiences of attracting confident and strong relationships in her life, including her husband of 6 years.
WHY DO WE STRUGGLE WITH SELF-WORTH?
Karen learned that we develop our core beliefs during childhood. There are events that happen to us before the age of 7 that lead us to create a story around the event, which then leads us to create a core belief. EX: Abused as a child -> “I’m not worthy.”
“We have to identify the beliefs and then get clear on what the facts are.”
The believes that we have that aren’t true, are limiting us. It’s important to build new and empowering beliefs.
BEING DILIGENT ABOUT YOUR INPUT
Karen is a big believer of being very particular of the things we put into our brains. The things we watch, look at, listen to. Everything we look at and listen to matters. It’s also important to be diligent about who we follow and look up to. If someone or something is making you feel less than your best, get rid of it! We want to follow people who inspire us and who have been successful, because this inspires us to do the same. We don’t want to follow people who are faking it or haven’t actually achieved success. It’s okay to take that person off your feed!
HOW TO INCREASE SELF-CONFIDENCE
When Karen realized the missing piece in her life, she made time for things that in turn, increased her self-confidence and changed her life.
- Karen made time to work on her mindset.
- Karen made time for fitness.
- Karen made time for reading.
“It’s an inside job. You’re the only one who can give yourself self-confidence.”
In turn, Karen said she started to feel great, and this is truly when her business started to grow. She pinned down what was missing and decided what was important. Taking time for herself was a missing piece that led to many other things falling into place. The secret sauce is the internal work. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s an intentional work that pays off.
FOCUS ON THE WINS
Highly driven individuals are goal oriented and always making sure they get things done. Oftentimes, we may forget to take a step back and acknowledge all the things we did accomplish. One of Karen’s best strategies for herself is to focus on her wins in the morning.
EX: Did I have a great conversation with ___? Did I have a great meeting with that client?”
When you start to see the list of wins, we see what we have a new appreciation for the progress you’ve made.
“There’s actually more dopamine released when you make progress towards the goal, than when we actually achieve it.”
Karen has found that really taking time to quiet your mind and be grateful for the things you do have now, brings a joy and fulfillment that is so important to our lives. Entrepreneurs often look towards the future and the goals we want to accomplish, which is great and keeps us going, but being thankful for the right now, magnifies all the great things that come.
Another simple task that Karen emphasizes is actually writing things down. Karen writes down a positive quote and her goals daily in the morning. She talks about how writing helps to slow down our brain and sets us up for success.
THE SCIENCE OF HABITS
Have you heard, “It takes 21 days to create a habit?” Karen shares how that’s not true. It’s a minimum of 66 days all the way up to a year. Knowing this, you can commit to doing something you know will make you successful for 90 days. (ex: a great morning routine, working out.)
If you can create habits you don’t have to think about, it saves time and energy and leads to your success. The energy you no longer spend on being intentional about creating the habit, can be used to build your business or build relationships.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A WHY
Living every day towards purpose and intention is what helps us reach our goals. When we know exactly why we are doing something, it makes it easier to do. For Karen, she works out because she wants to be active with her grandkids. Find your why and it will lead you to choosing to do the things that make you successful. This then leads to building that self-confidence and to knowing that you are doing what’s best for your business and your clients.
“When you start to believe in the work you’re doing, it makes it a lot easier to put it in front of other people.”
MORE FROM KAREN STANLEY
Tune into the episode to hear more detailed strategies from Karen and personal stories that will help you feel connected to her. Karen shares about the things that have given her great success and how she helps her clients.
Follow Karen on her website mrskarenstanley.com and on Instagram @officialmrskarenstanley . Karen drops a blog weekly so make sure to follow along!
CONNECT WITH HOST JAMES PATRICK
https://www.jamespatrick.com/coaching - To apply for 1-on-1 business coaching
https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto - Follow in IG
Text James at (480) 605-3254
This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!