#111: Here's How I Would Make My First $100,000 If I Were Starting Over
Release Date: 01/25/2024
#134: I've Been Feeling Overwhelmed - Here's What I'm Doing About It
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Lately I have found myself feeling overwhelmed after having a marathon in my business in the spring that went past its original end date. I feel I've gotten into the habit of taking on too much and not having enough boundaries. I'm trying to reset things, and I wanted to walk through the process of what I do when I start to feel this way. This episode will discuss what can contribute to overwhelm and some actionable steps to overcome it. Highlights from this episode: 01:21 Identifying the Source of Overwhelm 03:52 Learning New Skills and Systems 06:15 Unrealistic Expectations 09:29...
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#133: What's in My Gear Bag for a Brand Photography Session?
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In this episode, I'm sharing my minimalist approach to photography gear! I doubt that it's a surprise when I tell you that I am not much of a gear-head when it comes to my photography business. Obviously there are certain tools that I need to do my job and do it well, but I am not the person to go out and buy the newest camera out there. I got my start in photography with a $300 camera. It was a crappy camera, but I loved it. I had it for years until I upgraded. Truthfully, it is so much more about knowing how to use the tools than it is the newest and latest and greatest gear. That said, gear...
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#132: My Favorite Business Books (and fiction reads, too!)
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If you have been in a conversation with me for longer than 5 or 10 minutes, we've probably talked about what I'm reading. This is one of my favorite topics, and in this episode I'm sharing my specific reading routine, plus my top favorite book recommendations. 00:58 The Power of Nonfiction and Fiction 04:13 Favorite Business Books 14:51 Top Fiction Picks 25:55 Embracing a Reading Ritual I would love to hear your top favorite reads or if you feel inspired to implement the reading routine I shared! Come and to let me know. CONNECT WITH MADDIE: LINKS:
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#131: Ready for Your Business to Explode? Do THIS (with Green Chair Stories)
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Rachel Greiman is a copywriter and documentary family photographer in Denver, CO. She owns Green Chair Stories, a company committed to writing websites that get photographers booked. The episode conversation dives into the benefits and challenges of niching down in the photography and copywriting industries. Rachel offers practical advice on how photographers can effectively market their services when juggling multiple niches, the importance of having a focused brand voice, and strategies for DIY-ing your website. Whether you're a photographer looking to specialize or someone interested in...
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#130: Rebrand Spotlight - Balancing Creativity and Strategy with Laura Pulliam
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In this episode, Laura Pulliam shares her journey of officially starting her own photography business two and a half years ago. She shares her interactions with , from initially signing up during a chaotic time to fully committing. Laura talks about how helped her discover her niche in brand photography, build confidence, and implement crucial business systems and processes. She highlights the valuable resources, community support, and coaching that enabled her to flourish in her business. 00:48 Connecting with Rebrand 03:58 The Decision to Join Rebrand 06:56 Implementing Rebrand Strategies...
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#129: Finding Clarity in Rebrand with Krista Marie
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Krista Marie is a photographer, podcast host and business coach for women creatives & small business owners. Her experience as a personal brand photographer also helps to support her clients in identifying their own unique personal brand. Krista was part of my last Rebrand cohort. In this episode, Krista discusses her journey from wedding and engagement photography to brand photography. Krista speaks about the pivotal moments that led to her shifting focus, including her experience with burnout and the need for creative fulfillment. She shares insights on the changes she implemented in her...
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#128: Everything You Need to Know about Rebrand
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In this episode, learn about , my 16-week group coaching program for photographers who want to transition into personal brand photography. The program aims to help participants charge four figures per session while enhancing their confidence in brand photography. The episode discusses the structure of Rebrand, including weekly coaching calls, a comprehensive curriculum with swipe files and templates, and a Slack community for continuous support. Key features include portfolio reviews, a booking tracker for measuring success, and the upcoming Rewind video training series. Enrollment begins...
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#127: Make Your First $500 with Brand Photography - Here's How
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If you're looking to pivot into personal brand photography, I'm running a running from June 10-14 to help you make your first $500. This episodes walk you through what will be covered in the training to help you successfully transition into the personal brand photography niche and ultimately start making money. Listen in to this episode to get an overview, and be sure to . Highlights from this episode: 00:00 Embarking on the Personal Brand Photography Journey 00:54 Introducing the Brand Photography Jumpstart Mini Course 02:58 Day 1: Establishing Your Position as a Brand Photographer...
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#126: Are Your Thoughts Making Your Business Harder?
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This episodes discusses the transformative impact of positive thinking and mindset work on running a photography business. When running your own business, it can be easy to have negative thoughts, get discouraged, or experience jealousy. I think everyone's been there. But learning to recognize unhelpful thoughts and reframe them can make a huge impact on how you show up in your business. This episode shares tips for overcoming these challenges. Here are the highlights: 01:11 The Impact of Mindset on Business Success 03:56 Navigating Negative Thoughts and Reframing Your Mindset 10:39 Practical...
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#125: Can You Be a Brand Photographer if You're not a Branding Expert?
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I'm talking about the misconception that you need to be a branding expert to excel in brand photography. Your business background and marketing knowledge can be sufficient. And truly what brand photography comes down to is asking the right questions and understanding the client's goals. Crafting strategic brand sessions is key! If you're willing to think strategically with your brand sessions and figure things out, brand photography is definitely for you, even if you don't feel like a branding expert. Here are the highlights of this episode: 00:30 Overcoming the Brand Expertise Myth 00:59 The...
info_outlineA 100k year is a huge milestone for entrepreneurs, and there seems to be chatter in the online business community that's split into two camps: 1) there's nothing magical about 100k, and 2) it's absolutely everything to get to 100k. No surprise, I fall somewhere in the middle. My business coach refers to 100k as a sustainability point for business and I totally agree. We all know we're not taking home all of the money we make, so at 100k that typically gives you room to pay for expenses, pay yourself, pay your taxes, maybe start outsourcing a little bit, maybe have some profit leftover if you're lucky. While it's not EVERYTHING to hit 100k, I do think it's a big deal because it gets you to a point where you can really sustain and start to look at growth and scaling.
I talked in a previous episode about multiple streams of income and how I didn't start pursuing that until after I hit 6 figures, and this got me thinking about what I would do if I were starting my business over and striving for that 6 figure mark from scratch. In this episode, I am talking about every step I would take if I were starting over and trying to make six figures with my photography business. Here are the main things discussed in this episode:
- Picking a service to focus on
- Being seen as an expert when you have a specialty
- Doing a few free or low priced sessions to build your portfolio
- How to create an awesome experience that creates chatter
- Taking your images from your free/low priced sessions and using them to market yourself, grow your social media, and build your personal brand
- My thoughts on taking on most clients that inquire if trying to reach 100k and being aware of your capacity
- Slowly raising prices as your calendar fills up
- How hiring an editor can help you book more sessions (yes, it’s okay to give up some of this control!)
- Get more specific about the work you take as you become busier
- After 6 figures, looking where you can trade money for TIME and outsource
This is also the process I walk you through in my mini course, The Brand Photography Jumpstart: learn how to make your first $500 with brand photography. This free course runs February 12-16, 2024. Join me for about 30 minutes a day for 5 days over the lunch hour to learn AND be coached. Claim your spot here!
That mini course tees up my group coaching program, Rebrand, as enrollment will be opening February 16. Rebrand is both a curriculum and coaching. We follow these same steps talked about in this episode to help you build a successful brand photography business that makes six figures and charges four figures for a brand session. Learn more about Rebrand here!
The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.
Full show notes here