PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast 651: Stephanie Hill – Building a $200k Photography Studio On Two Days a Week
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Stephanie Hill of www.totalcapture.com.au is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to photography business and life!
She founded her Adelaide photography business, Total Capture Photography, at the age of 19!
She says she was originally driven by “a fascination with light and a passion for capturing people’s stories.”
Today, she has a team of photographers to service a wide range of clients and genres, including: family portraits, weddings, events, personal branding and commercial work.
And they boast “Thousands of happy clients”, “over 130 five-star reviews”, and a satisfaction guarantee.
She is massive on outsourcing and no wonder, because in addition to her photography business, she's a wife, mum and wellness blogger.
In this interview, Steph shares how to build a $200k photography studio on two days a week!
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
- How Steph built a location-independent photography business by focusing on brand strength and marketing systems — giving her the confidence to move cities, niches, and life stages without starting from scratch.
- Why quitting a stable job wasn’t the real risk — and how committing fully to personal branding and ideal-client marketing accelerated her business growth.
- The mindset shift that made motherhood and business coexist — and why investing in coaching unlocked both clarity and a significant increase in turnover.
- Why scaling didn’t start with shooting more — but with hiring a studio assistant and outsourcing admin so Steph could focus on sales, leadership, and client relationships.
- How building a small, aligned team (not just hiring photographers) protected the client experience while giving the business room to grow sustainably.
- The marketing strategies that consistently drive bookings — from seasonal campaigns to in-person planning appointments that double-qualify clients and reduce friction.
- Why long-term success depends on systems and support, not hustle — and how using the right CRM and marketing platform creates stability, consistency, and freedom.
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews.
In order to be able to double my prices while honoring I've only got this much time to shoot… We need to double qualify our clients. – Stephanie Hill
You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all.
I had to realize my money blocks are not my clients’ money blocks, you know, if I have this sweet spot with how much I want to earn. That’s me capping on the person that walks in my door. – Stephanie Hill
In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and help you build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours—to build a more successful photography business.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Steph shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.
We’re fully transparent. We have pricing on the website that clearly shows that our minimum buy in is $1,000 and then we also have written on the vouchers full disclosure, you know, if they’re a major Prize winner, yes, they get $1,000 voucher. – Stephanie Hill
If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Steph, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
I just had to knuckle down and only listen to Johl’s advice and laser focus, and I literally had nothing to lose, because I could kick on as $100,000 a year business. But you know, it needs to grow in order for me to be able to breathe easier. – Stephanie Hill
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.
Suddenly you have to be yourself, and that is actually one of the hardest things to be in life. – Vincent Peters
If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.
I thought I had a marketing problem, and I didn’t. I had a mindset problem, so I thought marketing was hard… After I did the work with Johl on my mindset, I changed my mindset to marketing is fun and easy. – Stephanie Hill
Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.
Here is the latest review:
★★★★★ Definitely my favourite podcast!
Via Google Reviews by Gippsland Photography Workshops expert, Louise Sedgman, in Australia on January 10th, 2026.
Photo Biz X is definitely my favourite podcast!
Not many FB communities are like Andrew's, and I have to say, it's special.
With interviews from people around the world, all different but all made with the intention of making our photography businesses better.
Thank you Andrew. Absolutely worth every cent and more!
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
14 Day Free Trial to GoHighLevel CRM
Episode 647: Ben Potter – How Fundraising Replaced Facebook Ads in His Portrait Studio
Episode 556: Johl Dunn – Unlock Your Photography Business Potential and Stop
007 Premium Only Episode: Mark Rossetto – 8 Steps to the Ultimate Client Experience
Episode 643: Nik Buttigieg – The Low-Pressure Strategy Filling His Studio With Ideal Clients
By the time you get to the sale, you shouldn't be asking any more questions…just picking their favorites. – Stephanie Hill
Thank you!
Huge thanks to Steph for such an open and generous interview. Her journey is the perfect reminder that sustainable success in photography isn’t built by doing more or chasing trends — it’s built by making intentional decisions that support the life you actually want to live.
I’d love to know what resonated most for you in this episode, and where it has you rethinking parts of your own business.
If you can make it work in Melbourne, you can make it work anywhere. That confidence changes everything. – Stephanie Hill
That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks for listening—speak soon,
Andrew
The post 651: Stephanie Hill – Building a $200k Photography Studio On Two Days a Week appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.