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#286: 13 of My Best Photography Marketing Ideas

Worth Every Penny Joycast

Release Date: 10/22/2025

#307: The REAL Reason Your Portrait Photography Business Isn’t Growing show art #307: The REAL Reason Your Portrait Photography Business Isn’t Growing

Worth Every Penny Joycast

You’re busy. Weekends booked, nights spent editing, yet the numbers still don’t add up. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I working so hard and still not making real money?” this episode might hit close to home. In this solo episode, Sarah Petty shares what she’s learned from working with more than 33,000 photographers. The truth? Most aren’t failing because of talent. They’re focused on the wrong things. Sarah walks through the hidden bottlenecks that quietly keep photographers stuck and how to finally break through them. • The 5 diagnostic questions that instantly reveal...

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#306: Secrets from $200K Yay Award Winners show art #306: Secrets from $200K Yay Award Winners

Worth Every Penny Joycast

Ever wonder what actually pushes photographers past the $200K mark? At Go Boutique Live this year, more photographers crossed that milestone than ever before. And the truth might surprise you. It wasn’t hustle. It was clarity. In this episode, Sarah sits down with several brand new $200K Yay Award winners who share the shifts that finally unlocked their growth. From mindset to systems, their stories reveal what really changes when your business levels up. • Turning numbers into a motivating game that drives consistent growth • Letting go of scarcity and finally charging what your work is...

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#305: If You’re A Shy Portrait Photographer…Do This show art #305: If You’re A Shy Portrait Photographer…Do This

Worth Every Penny Joycast

If your heart races before every session. If you replay pricing conversations in your head at 2 a.m. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just too shy for this.” This episode is your permission slip to stop trying to be louder and start being smarter. Sarah shares why being introverted isn’t the thing holding you back, it might be your biggest advantage. Through Audrey Terris’ story, from hiding behind $400 sales to confidently crossing $1,000 again and again, you’ll see what changes when personality stops being the excuse and systems take the lead. You’ll walk away with: • A...

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#304: Why Mini-Sessions Are Killing Your Photography Business show art #304: Why Mini-Sessions Are Killing Your Photography Business

Worth Every Penny Joycast

You’re working nonstop, filling your calendar with mini sessions—and still barely scraping by. It feels like you’re making progress, but what if these quick wins are actually keeping you stuck? In this episode, Sarah Petty unpacks the hidden costs of mini sessions and shows you a better way to build profit and joy. ● Why mini sessions attract the wrong clients—and burn you out ● The emotional cost you’re quietly paying every busy season ● A simple framework to start attracting high-value clients today If you’ve been wondering why it still feels so hard, even when you’re...

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#303: From Decades of Dabbling to $20,000 in Wall Portraits: How This Mom of Three Finally Went All In show art #303: From Decades of Dabbling to $20,000 in Wall Portraits: How This Mom of Three Finally Went All In

Worth Every Penny Joycast

You know that quiet voice that says, “I’m meant for more than this.” And then life hits. Grief. A cross-country move. A husband losing his job. Most people would shrink back. Jamie Ross decided to go all in. After decades of dabbling, Jamie made one bold decision, to run her photography business like it mattered. What followed was a whirlwind year of loss, courage, and $20,000 in wall portrait sales in just weeks. This isn’t about hustle. It’s about choosing purpose when everything feels uncertain. Here’s what you’ll walk away with: • Why running a business is a decision, not a...

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#302: How I Made $3M with Portrait Photography (as a busy mom) FROM $75 SESSIONS TO MILLIONS: The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything show art #302: How I Made $3M with Portrait Photography (as a busy mom) FROM $75 SESSIONS TO MILLIONS: The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

Worth Every Penny Joycast

You didn’t start your photography business to work harder and still feel broke. But how do you actually build a life where you make real money and get to be the kind of mom you want to be? In this raw solo episode, Sarah shares the honest journey from barely breaking even to earning $3M in portrait sales—all while raising three kids. You’ll hear: • The mindset shift that made everything click (and why it matters more than talent) • How one pricing decision changed the course of her business—and her life • The system that gave her time and profit, even during economic downturns If...

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#301 - Give Me 12 Minutes, and I'll 10x Your Portrait Photography Business show art #301 - Give Me 12 Minutes, and I'll 10x Your Portrait Photography Business

Worth Every Penny Joycast

You’re hustling, grinding, doing all the things… yet still wondering why your business isn’t growing. Sound familiar? You’re likely stuck in the Quicksand Zone—where hard work doesn’t equal success, and burnout feels inevitable. In this episode, Sarah breaks down the six stages of the Photographer Freedom Staircase—a proven path to escaping the struggle and building a thriving portrait business with purpose. ● Why most photographers never move past stage 3—and how to be the rare few who do ● The real reason your skills and hustle haven’t translated to income ● What the...

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#300: Working Her Tail Off But Still Broke: How Jacie Went From Hating Christmas to $3,700 Sales show art #300: Working Her Tail Off But Still Broke: How Jacie Went From Hating Christmas to $3,700 Sales

Worth Every Penny Joycast

She had the dream studio. The elaborate sets. The big heart. Jacie was doing everything right—or so she thought. But behind the Santa sessions and boutique service was a mom drowning in debt, doubt, and burnout. If you’ve ever wondered why working harder still leaves you broke, this episode will hit home. Jacie opens up about the year she almost quit photography altogether. From taking out a loan just to stay afloat, to questioning her worth as a business owner and mom, she shares how learning a system—not pushing harder—completely turned things around. Now she’s making $3,700 sales...

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#299: Copy this Partnering Strategy, It'll Blow Up Your Photography Business show art #299: Copy this Partnering Strategy, It'll Blow Up Your Photography Business

Worth Every Penny Joycast

Most photographers think partnering with charities is just a feel-good move. But what if it’s actually your smartest marketing strategy? This episode unpacks how to use charity partnerships to tap into a stream of ideal, trust-filled clients—while doing work that matters. You’ll learn: ● How to spot high-converting charity partners (and which to avoid) ● A proven event structure that raises money and books premium clients ● Real student examples of raising $43K+ while building six-figure studios If you’re craving clients who see your value before you even pick up your camera,...

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#298 – How to Price Your Portrait Photography show art #298 – How to Price Your Portrait Photography

Worth Every Penny Joycast

You're burning out trying to serve everyone with cheap digital files—and deep down, you know it's not sustainable. You’re working nonstop and still not making what you deserve. But what if there were a better way? In this episode, Sarah Petty walks you through five simple steps to price your printed portraits profitably—without scaring off clients. Drawing from her $3M portrait business, she shares how shifting to a boutique model changed everything. ● A simple pricing formula that ensures you're finally paid what you're worth ● Why giving away files is costing you more than just...

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More Episodes

You don’t need more followers or fancier gear—you need clients who value what you do. If you're tired of posting and praying, Sarah’s sharing the 13 marketing moves that actually bring in premium clients. These strategies built her $3M business—and they’re working for 32,000+ photographers today.

In this solo episode, Sarah breaks down the exact approaches that took her from overwhelmed mom to one of America’s most profitable photographers. These aren’t fluff tips. They’re tried-and-true strategies you can start using now, no matter your experience level.

● How to turn silent auctions into high-ROI lead machines
● The “dog whistle” marketing piece that makes right-fit clients say, “I need you!”
● Why friends and family may be your most untapped marketing goldmine

If your business feels stuck—or you're ready to level up with more joy and fewer discounts—this episode is your roadmap. Take notes, take action, and start attracting clients who say yes with their hearts and wallets.

RESOURCES:

 Photography Business Tools to Get Started

37 CLIENTS WHO CAN HIRE YOU TODAY
 

INSTAGRAM – DM me “Conversation Starters” for some genuine ways to strike up a conversation about your photography business wherever you are.

https://www.instagram.com/sarah.petty

 
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YOUTUBE:

Check out my latest how to videos: 

https://www.youtube.com/photographybusinessinstitute

 
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