BTI #351: Future of Online Customer Experience with Jill Schiefelbein
Release Date: 03/16/2022
How to Calculate Your Rates as a Photographer
Beyond the Image Podcast
Are your photography rates leaving you busy, booked, and broke? In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick breaks down exactly how photographers can calculate sustainable rates that cover their cost of doing business, desired income, and all the hidden hours spent editing, marketing, and running their business. Learn step-by-step formulas to figure out your true hourly rate, price your shoots correctly, and turn every session into profit through usage, upsells, and add-on services. Whether you’re a portrait, commercial, editorial, or lifestyle photographer, this episode gives you...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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. ...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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...
info_outlineNote: Check out this podcast episode's post at JamesPatrick.com to see an AI video in action!
When was the last time you had a delightful consumer experience? It’s hard to think of one because it’s almost like our brains are wired to only remember the negative consumer experiences that did not go well. The ones that are so distasteful that they send us straight to Google or Yelp to hash out our 1 star review. Fun fact: I love reading 1 star reviews because so often, that 1 star review has nothing to do with the product or service and so often is more of a user error.
Anyway - I think the reason it’s hard to remember being delighted is because we’ve started to tune out so much when it comes to marketing and sales. But there’s a tremendous opportunity as a business owner to find the touch points you have with your clients and how you can delight them. Every interaction you have is a new opportunity and if you are the pioneer of delighting your consumers and enhancing their experience, that’s what you’ll be remembered for.
In today’s episode we are going to talk about a fascinating new way to liven, enhance, and celebrate the consumer experience. My guest today is Jill Schiefelbein, the founder of The Dynamic Communicator.
“That’s what meaningful connections do, they change our physiological state.”
IN THIS EPISODE
- What an AI video avatar really is and how it can be used.
- How you can use AI video in your business and how much it may cost.
- Different AI video versions and price points.
- Where this technology is going in the next couple of years and how it’s evolving.
- Building trust and catering to your consumers.
- Breaking the status quo.
- Meaningful connections and how to create them.
- Concerns and fears behind using AI video in their business.
- How consumers are responding to different avatars and why.
- Why you need a documented sales process and finding where AI fits into the process.
- How to host avatar videos.
Connect with James
Website: jamespatrick.com
Instagram: @jpatrickphoto
Text me marketing questions @: 480-605-3254
Connect with Jill
Website: www.thedynamiccommunicator.com
Facebook: @dynamicjill
Instagram: @dynamicjill
Email: info@dynamicjill.com
Share this podcast with a friend and remember to leave a 5-star review!
For more, visit jamespatrick.com