The Reality of Being Trolled as a Small Business Owner with Rhiannon Louden
Release Date: 02/18/2026
Inside OFFF Festival- What I Learned as a Creative Business Owner
Building your Brand
In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes debrief from my time at OFFF Festival in Barcelona; one of the world’s most inspiring creative conferences. I chat about the standout talks and industry trends (including honest conversations around AI) and the power of community and creative energy. This episode is a reflection on what really matters as a creative business owner. Key Takeaways Creativity is still deeply human (even in the age of AI) Many top creatives aren’t rushing to replace their craft with AI; they genuinely love the process, problem-solving, and hands-on work....
info_outline
Beyond the Shiny Finish: Scaling, Sacrifices, and Software with Michael Bruny-Groth
Building your Brand
In this episode, I chat with Michael Bruny-Groth, the founder of (aff link) Michael created a tool that has become a staple for logo designers worldwide, but behind the "overnight success" lies a story of immense sacrifice, strategic pivots, and radical vulnerability. Michael shares the behind-the-scenes reality of running a software company, including the personal toll of scaling and his bold decision to run a "Pay What You Want" Black Friday campaign rooted in deep, personal storytelling. This is a refreshingly honest look at what it actually takes to build and maintain a successful brand...
info_outline
How I juggle motherhood and running a business
Building your Brand
A behind-the-scenes look at the real, unfiltered juggle of running a business while raising a family. In this episode, I’m sharing the contrast between big career moments and the everyday realities of motherhood, plus the systems, support, and mindset shifts that make it all possible. Key Takeaways The “highlight vs reality” contrast is normal You can go from career highs to cleaning up sick (or dealing with nits) overnight. Both can exist and that doesn’t diminish your success. You don’t have to do it all alone Support systems; whether that’s a partner, family, freelancers, or...
info_outline
Redefining Growth: From a Team of 10 to a Team of Two with Lauren Harvey
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast I chat with Lauren Harvey, who is the owner and founder of with her husband, Alex. I think so often we view running a business as a very linear journey, but often it doesn't really look like that. Over the last 15 years of owning their business, Lauren and Alex started off with just Lauren, grew to a team of 10, and then intentionally scaled back down again to just the two of them. We talk about that experience, how they had to unlearn the traditional narrative of "success," and the new niche they've settled into. We also discuss what it is really like working with your...
info_outline
Two failed client projects that had the biggest impact on my business
Building your Brand
In this solo episode, I’m sharing two early client mistakes that knocked my confidence; but ultimately shaped the way I run my business today. I talk vulnerably about my previously poor boundaries and some communication breakdowns, and how these experiences taught me lessons I still carry into every project. If you’ve ever had a client situation go wrong, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone and you can come back stronger. Key Takeaways Your gut is part of your business strategy If something feels off; whether it’s pricing, scope, or a client fit; it’s worth paying...
info_outline
Book Design as Branding: Lessons from Penguin with David Pearson
Building your Brand
In this episode of Building Your Brand, I’m chatting with , a world-class book designer who began his career at Penguin Books before venturing out on his own. David specializes in both book covers and the internal layouts (text design) of books. We dive deep into the "crossovers" between book design and branding, exploring how David handles the unique challenge of designing for "dead authors" while trying to capture entirely new audiences. David shares his refreshing and somewhat rebellious take on the creative process, explaining why he identifies as a "slow designer" and why he’s...
info_outline
Where I Stand on AI (as a Branding Designer)
Building your Brand
In this solo episode I'm sharing honestly on where I currently stand on AI. It's a topic I’m still wrestling with; from its undeniable benefits to the deeper ethical and creative concerns, this isn’t a definitive take; it’s a real-time reflection. If you’ve been feeling conflicted, cautious, or even curious about AI, this episode opens up the conversation and invites you to think more critically about the role it plays in your work, your creativity, and your life. Key Takeaways You don’t need to have a fixed opinion It’s okay to sit in the grey area. Growth comes from questioning,...
info_outline
The Invisible Impact: How Your Font Choice Defines Your Brand with Alen Kapetanovic
Building your Brand
In this episode I dives into the often-overlooked but essential world of typography with Alen Kapetanovic, a type designer and founder of Alen shares his fascinating transition from civil engineering to running a large design agency, and finally finding true success and freedom through the meticulous art of type design. We explore why fonts are as impactful as color for brand mood, the technical science behind "beautiful collections of letters," and how choosing a unique typeface can elevate a brand without requiring a massive budget. This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type...
info_outline
How I Prepare For Giving a Talk
Building your Brand
Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to speak at some incredible events including Adobe MAX London (in front of 750 people and Adobe MAX LA. This year I am speaking at Atomicon and OMR Festival in Hamburg. In this episode I share how I prepare for the talks I give. Every talk is different but with the help of public speaking coach Charlotte Lewis who I have previously interviewed on the podcast I have managed to come up with a process that works well for me. If you have done any public speaking I would love to hear your experience, and if there is anything else you...
info_outline
The Truth About Professional Jealousy with Hannah Isted and Lois Seco
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast, I've invited two of my closest friends, Hannah Isted and Lois Seco, to chat about another vulnerable topic: dealing with professional jealousy. Last time we spoke, we tackled our fear of success, and this time we are diving into the messy feelings of comparison and envy. I am sure everyone has experienced professional jealousy at some point, and honestly, I feel it pretty regularly. In this episode, we chat about how to extract useful information from your jealousy, why taking action is the best antidote to comparison, and the danger of letting the social media...
info_outlineHas the fear of being trolled ever impacted how you show up online? It definitely has for me, and sometimes I feel like I can't share all the things that I want to in case I attract hate.
Today on the podcast I'm chatting to Rhiannon Louden, who is a brand and wedding photographer, all about an incident where she got trolled and exactly how she handled it.
A big facet of this conversation is about values, and I love that it comes back to something that has been chatted about on this podcast so many times before: the importance of your brand values. Rhiannon shares a candid story about a reel featuring a trans wedding that attracted significant hate, and how she navigated that storm while protecting her clients and standing by her beliefs.
We touch on personal branding, attracting the right clients, running your business with integrity, and why "going viral" isn't always the dream we think it is.
Key Takeaways:
- Viral isn't always a victory: Rhiannon shares how a reel hitting 5 million views brought a wave of hate rather than just "success". It serves as a reminder that visibility without the right audience can be damaging.
- Values act as a filter: Being vocal about your values (e.g., trans rights) effectively repels people who don't align with you. While the trolling was difficult, it ultimately solidified her niche and signaled safety to her ideal clients.
- Client care comes first: When the post blew up with negative comments, Rhiannon’s first priority was her couple. She communicated openly with them and gave them the option to delete the post, prioritizing their mental health over the "viral" reach.
- Have a crisis plan: It is helpful to think about how you would handle trolling before it happens. Having a process—like warning clients or knowing when to turn off comments—can help you stay calm in the moment.
- Separating your brands: We also discuss Rhiannon's decision to run two separate brands (Rhiannon Neale for weddings/families and Rhiannon Louden for branding) to ensure her messaging stays clear and relevant to each specific audience.
Episode Highlights:
- 02:00 – Rhiannon’s journey from journalism to photography and moving to Scotland.
- 04:00 – The decision to split her business into two distinct brands to clarify her messaging.
- 06:00 – The story of the viral reel: How a post celebrating a trans wedding attracted millions of views and a storm of hate.
- 13:00 – Handling the fallout: How Rhiannon communicated with her clients and gave them the power to decide the post's fate.
- 15:00 – The aftermath: Why repelling bigots is actually a business positive, and how it has led to more aligned inquiries from the LGBTQ+ community.
- 19:00 – The reality of viral fame: Why we need to stop romanticising the idea of "blowing up" online.
About The Guest:
Rhiannon Louden is a photographer and brand mentor based in Scotland. She runs two businesses: Rhiannon Neale, focusing on alternative, documentary-style wedding and family photography, and Rhiannon Louden, where she offers personal brand photography and mentorship for female entrepreneurs. She is passionate about diversity, inclusivity, and helping business owners show up authentically.
You can find her wedding work at https://rhiannoneale.com/ and her branding work at https://www.rhiannonlouden.co.uk/
Mentioned in this episode:
-
Rhiannon’s Viral Post: The reel discussed regarding the trans wedding (though comments are turned off!).
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @lizmmosley or @buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!