BTI #314: My Entrepreneurial Journey with Cody Rininger
Release Date: 12/03/2021
Should You Put Your Rates on Your Website?
Beyond the Image Podcast
Should your pricing be public… or is that quietly limiting your business? In this episode, I break down the real impact of listing your rates online. Not just from a convenience standpoint, but from a positioning and revenue perspective. Because while publishing pricing can filter inquiries, it can also create a ceiling on what you earn, reduce your ability to upsell, and shift how clients perceive your value before you ever have a conversation. We dig into when “starting at” pricing can work, where it falls short, and how most creatives unintentionally turn themselves into commodities...
info_outline
Who Pays Who? Models or Photographers?
Beyond the Image Podcast
This episode is a direct response to the conversations, debates, and hot takes sparked by two recent reels that hit a nerve. The question seems simple on the surface: who should pay who, the model or the photographer? But once you peel it back, it exposes a much bigger issue around value, expectations, and how people position themselves in the industry. In this episode, I break down the different scenarios where a model should be paid, where a photographer should be paid, and where neither should be reaching for their wallet. Because the truth is, this is not about rigid rules, it is about...
info_outline
Ego vs. Critique: What’s Really Hurting the Photography Industry
Beyond the Image Podcast
In this episode, we’re breaking down a problem that’s quietly holding the photography industry back—ego. After watching a photographer get flooded with hateful comments on their work, it became clear that much of what gets labeled as “critique” isn’t actually constructive feedback at all. It’s insecurity, comparison, and ego showing up as opinion. We dive into: The difference between real critique and ego-driven criticism Why “it’s public, expect feedback” misses the point The truth behind “I’m just being honest” How toxic feedback impacts creativity, collaboration,...
info_outline
The Truth About Underbidding in Creative Work (And Why It Hurts Everyone)
Beyond the Image Podcast
When a client takes one creative’s bid and shops it around to get someone else to undercut it, they’re not evaluating based on value, vision, or fit, they’re turning it into a race to the bottom. That devalues the work across the board. And on the flip side, a photographer who’s willing to drop their rate just because they saw someone else’s numbers isn’t really pricing based on what the project is worth, they’re just reacting to pressure. That’s not sustainable, and it hurts the industry long term. Healthy competition is presenting your best work, your best concept, and your...
info_outline
Stop Wasting Money: What Doesn’t Grow Your Photography Business
Beyond the Image Podcast
Most photographers don’t have a revenue problem… they have a focus problem. In this episode, I’m breaking down the biggest money traps in the photography industry. The things we’re told will grow our business… but don’t. From expensive websites and paid ads to studio spaces, rebrands, presets, and productivity tools, I’m sharing what I personally invested in that didn’t move the needle and why. More importantly, I’m unpacking what actually does drive growth so you can stop wasting time, stop wasting money, and start building real momentum. Because looking like a professional...
info_outline
Stop Worrying About Copycats: The Truth About “Stolen Ideas” in Photography
Beyond the Image Podcast
What should you do when another photographer copies your work? Nothing. In this episode, I break down why the fear of “stolen ideas” is one of the biggest things holding creatives back. After a recent post sparked debate, I dive into the difference between inspiration and theft, what copyright actually protects, and why most photographers are focused on the wrong problem. We’re talking about: Why ideas aren’t the asset, execution is The truth about “first usage rights” and copyright How a scarcity mindset slows your growth Why competition is actually a good thing And how...
info_outline
Are Photographers Actually Ruining the Industry?
Beyond the Image Podcast
Are photographers actually ruining the photography industry by charging too little? It is a complaint that has echoed through the photography community for decades. Photographers often blame other photographers for lowering prices, devaluing photography, and training clients to expect cheap or free work. But what if that belief is based on a misunderstanding of how markets actually work? In this episode of the Beyond the Image Podcast, photographer and creative entrepreneur James Patrick breaks down a recent debate with another photographer who argued that clients simply do not value...
info_outline
How I Became a CreativeLive Instructor — And What It Really Took
Beyond the Image Podcast
In this episode of Beyond the Image, commercial photographer James Patrick shares the story behind being invited to teach as a CreativeLive instructor photographer — and what it really takes to earn opportunities at that level. CreativeLive has featured some of the most respected photography instructors and creative entrepreneurs in the industry. Being selected as a CreativeLive photography instructor is not about virality or follower count. It is about depth of expertise, consistent production quality, and long-term credibility. In this episode, James breaks down: How major creative...
info_outline
Can A Bad Logo Ruin your Company?
Beyond the Image Podcast
Imagine if every single person thought the name of your company was something different. Not just a slight mispronounciation, but a fundamentally different word altogether. They would not know what to call your business, they would not know how to find it, how to search for it online and thus, they would be unable to ever actually hire and work with you. This is the situation a small business found themselves in. A low investment into a brand logo that was designed esthetically but not legibly led the company to waste tens of thousands of dollars on wasted marketing materials, product...
info_outline
Copyright vs. Usage Rights: What Photographers Keep Getting Wrong
Beyond the Image Podcast
Most photographers get copyright wrong—and it’s costing them more than they realize. In this episode of Beyond the Image, I break down the critical difference between copyright and usage rights, explain why payment or delivering RAW files does not transfer ownership, and show how photographers can protect their work while confidently licensing images to clients. We’ll cover why the photographer automatically owns copyright in almost every independent contractor situation, how clients are only buying permission to use your work, and what a proper work-for-hire or copyright assignment...
info_outlineMy guest today is Cody Rininger, the founder of 2B Imperium. He is a recent attendee of our annual FITposium conference and left quite an impression, so we wanted to invite him on the show to talk about all things entrepreneurial.
“Only you can control you.”
IN THIS EPISODE
- Cody’s background and what got him into the fitness industry.
- Where you should draw your motivation from.
- Why giving your best is one of the most important things to do consistently.
- It’s more than fitness.
- Being sure of yourself regardless of the bullies.
- The beauty of supporting others.
- How serving others should be one of our motivations.
- Focusing on the positives.
Connect with Cody
Facebook: @2BImperium
Instagram: @rininger50
Thrive Fitness Website: www.thrivefitness-sd.com
Share this podcast with a friend and remember to leave a 5-star review!
For more, visit jamespatrick.com