PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Jamie Booth of www.tellingtailsstudio.com is a dog photographer based in the UK. If you take a look at his website and socials, you'll see fantastic photography, both in studio and outdoors. His Instagram feed is consistently updated, and you'll find a ton of glowing 5-star reviews from very happy clients. All this to say… do we ever really know how a photographer is going? I was surprised and shocked to receive this email from Jame recently. He says… In August this year, I nearly gave everything up. I was struggling, not sure whether I would meet my monthly expenses and literally panicking. I had two options: give up and get a job, or hustle. I chose the second option, now have one employee, have just offered her a 36K-a-year full-time contract, am booked out for the rest of the year, and have had the best 2 months since I quit my full-time job last year. Less than 90 days, and I turned it all around. Needless to say, that was enough for me to ask him on for this interview. In this interview, Jamie shares what led to that breaking point, the decisions he made when the pressure was at its peak, and how a handful of changes — made quickly and imperfectly — helped him regain control of his business, his income, and his confidence in less than 90 days. This is a feel-good story of a working photographer who went from panic to booked out in 90 days and the exact process he followed to get there. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: How a dog photography business can look “successful” on the outside — and still unravel quickly when paid ads are paused. Why Jamie’s real problem wasn’t bookings or talent, but what happens when momentum quietly turns into complacency. How avoiding discovery calls created invisible gaps in the diary that snowballed into real financial pressure. How an ADHD diagnosis — and rejection sensitivity — finally explained years of resistance around sales conversations. The exact moment Jamie realised his business wasn’t sustainable — and why that panic became the turning point. Why launching ads during a family holiday proved that systems matter more than perfect timing. How switching discovery to WhatsApp temporarily removed friction and kept leads moving without burnout. Why launching outdoor sessions wasn’t about higher averages — but about restoring confidence and cash flow fast. How returning to discovery calls (even imperfectly) immediately stabilised the business. Why hiring a passionate past client outperformed outsourcing — and changed everything almost overnight. How removing discovery calls from Jamie’s plate protected his energy while keeping bookings strong. Why relying on a single marketing channel is a quiet risk most photographers ignore. Why clients will happily travel hours for specialist dog photography when the experience feels intentional. How a hospitality-driven studio experience dramatically increases perceived value beyond the images. Why Jamie’s turnaround proves that sustainable photography businesses are built on self-awareness, systems, and adaptability — not endless hustle. 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. I was literally at the airport about to go on a family holiday when I realised I might not be able to pay myself the following month. — Jamie Booth 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. From the outside, everything looked like it was working. Inside, I was quietly panicking. — Jamie Booth 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 Jamie 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. I realised I’d built myself a job, not a business — and that was breaking me. — Jamie Booth If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Jamie, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. At first I thought showing the same things over and over on my social media would not be a great thing, but actually, clients know what to expect, and they love that they're getting Telling Tail Studios kind of signature, essentially. – Jamie Booth 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. Discovery calls weren’t the problem — my relationship with rejection was. — Jamie Booth 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. Generating a lead is not a client. You're not getting a client from that lead. I mean, you're not getting a client, you're getting a lead, you're getting an opportunity to speak to them and create a client. – Jamie Booth 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.​   Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Telling Tails Studio Website Telling Tails Studio on Facebook Telling Tails Studio on Instagram Episode 630: Jon Mills – How a Pet Photography Business Hit £200K in Two Years Episode 526: Johl Dunn – Modern day marketing and success for portrait photographers Episode 077: Yervant – It’s Time to Get Serious About Your Photography Business I knew my averages would drop, but cash flow mattered more than perfection in that moment. — Jamie Booth Thank you! Huge thanks to Jamie for such a generous and honest conversation. This episode is a powerful reminder that real momentum in photography comes from clarity — about your offers, your clients, and the kind of life you want your business to support. I’d love to know what this interview shifted for you, and what you’re now seeing differently in your own business. Desperation makes you want to bend your standards, but that’s when protecting them matters most. — Jamie Booth 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 653: Jamie Booth – From Panic to a Booked-Out Photography Business in 90 Days appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Emily Cummings of www.emilycummingsphotography.com was introduced to me by Nidhi Dahiya in Episode 637 of the podcast. In an email, Nidhi told me that Emily is having amazing success in her photography business and that her revenue is on track to hit half a million this year. I jumped over to her website to take a look and loved what I saw! A beautifully bright, clean, and easy-to-navigate website includes a great introduction video. Take a look at the services she offers, and you'll see it's a range that includes: Flat Lay, Commercial, Headshots, Personal Branding, Products, and Fashion. But it was the dating photography services she was most excited about when we started talking about recording. After a little more digging, I found a whole new website: Ten Little Birds, which appears to be her separate brand for newborn, children and family photography. I'm not sure how she's juggling all this, but it was fun to dive in and learn more! In this interview, Emily shares how dating photography became a high-value, year-round revenue stream. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: How Emily built a near–half-million-dollar photography business by running multiple complementary brands, including a studio that pays for itself through rentals. Why choosing a highly accessible studio location — parking, transport, nearby amenities — quietly removes friction and attracts higher-value, out-of-town clients. How turning a 1600-square-foot studio into an experience hub, not just a shooting space, improves efficiency, confidence, and client buy-in. Why niching into dating photography worked because it solves a specific emotional problem — not just a visual one — and positioned Emily as the go-to specialist. How a dedicated website page for a niche service does more heavy lifting than social media by pre-qualifying clients before they ever enquire. Why Google Ads and strategic partnerships outperform organic reach when you’re targeting serious clients beyond your local area. How premium pricing becomes easier to hold when the client experience includes consultations, styling, hair and makeup, and guided image selection. Why showing images immediately after the shoot builds trust, boosts satisfaction, and prevents buyer’s remorse before it can start. How consistent pricing across all genres simplifies decisions for clients and protects long-term profitability. Why investing in mentors, marketing support, and systems isn’t a cost — it’s how Emily scaled without burning out or stalling.     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. People didn’t want to hire just a family photographer for their dating photos. Having a dedicated dating page showed this was a specialised service, not a side thing. – Emily Cummings 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 used to price everything differently, and it was just messy. Now everything follows the same structure, and it’s made my business so much simpler. – Emily Cummings 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 Emily 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. People can tell when photos are AI. What AI can’t replicate is the experience of seeing yourself and realising you actually look great. – Emily Cummings If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Emily, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. Definitely have a specific dating page. That is one thing that I've heard people say to me that they didn't want to just hire the family photographer… they understand that there's a nuance there. And so when I had a specific page for that, it set me apart. – Emily Cummings   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. Dating photography is evergreen. People are always looking for relationships — it doesn’t disappear in January. – Emily Cummings 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. Instead of telling myself why something wouldn’t work in my town, I just tried it — and it usually worked better than I expected. – Emily Cummings 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.​   Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Emily Cummings Photography Website Ten Little Bluebirds Website Ten Little Bluebirds on Facebook Emily Cummings on LinkedIn Emily Cummings on Instagram Episode 462: Nidhi Dahiya – Focus on ROI and what makes you happy for photography business success Episode 637: Nidhi Dahiya – Taking Headshot clients to $14K Family Portrait Sales Episode 553: Liz Hansen – This is the pathway to a million dollar photography business Episode 355: Heidi Hapanowicz – Everything you wanted to know about personal branding photography Episode 087: Sue Bryce – How to Make Real Money From Your Photography Business Right Now When it comes to family photography, that’s a want. But when it comes to business headshots or dating photos — people need those. – Emily Cummings Thank you! Huge thanks to Emily for such a generous and honest conversation. This episode is a powerful reminder that real momentum in photography comes from clarity — about your offers, your clients, and the kind of life you want your business to support. I’d love to know what this interview shifted for you, and what you’re now seeing differently in your own business. Clients don’t just walk away with photos — they walk away feeling confident, and that confidence carries straight into their dating life or their business. – Emily Cummings 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 652: Emily Cummings – How Dating Photography Became a High-Value, Year-Round Revenue Stream appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

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: Total Capture Website 14 Day Free Trial to GoHighLevel CRM Total Capture Crew Total Capture on Instagram Total Capture on Facebook Stephanie Hill on YouTube Episode 647: Ben Potter – How Fundraising Replaced Facebook Ads in His Portrait Studio 025 Premium Only Episode: Johl Dunn – Facebook Ad tactics with competitions and third party alliances Episode 556: Johl Dunn – Unlock Your Photography Business Potential and Stop Episode 487: Mark Rossetto – Shady marketing practices, pricing for profit and a game changing welcome video for photographers 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.

Join industry experts Alex Vita, a web designer specializing in SEO, and Richard Grenfell, a boudoir photography owner, as they predict the changes in photography for 2026. They dive into the shift from SEO to AEO, emphasizing the need for photographers to be seen as trusted authorities rather than just attracting clicks. Insights on creating irresistible offers, improving client experiences, and the significance of emotional editing using AI are also shared. Tune in for actionable strategies to elevate your photography business!

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Vincent Peters of www.vincentpetersstudio.com doesn’t just capture moments — he reveals something deeper about the people we think we already know. He's a German-born photographer, artist, and visual storyteller whose images have graced the pages of Vogue, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar, and whose work for fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, and Nike has helped shape modern photography. What sets Vincent apart isn’t just the magazines or the brands — it’s how he sees his subjects. He doesn’t just shoot models or celebrities — he treats them as actors in a story, using light, shadow and composition to find something deeper. His cinematic style — inspired by the classic films of Hollywood’s golden age — gives his photographs a timeless, almost quality that feels less like fashion photography and more like poetry in image form. He believes every photograph should be felt before it’s fully seen. And that goes for his portraits, fashion spreads, or his limited-edition prints. In this interview, Vincent shares how slowing down, trusting intuition, and embracing imperfection are the only ways photography can still mean something in a world obsessed with speed and surface. Following this conversation, will you have the courage to stop imitating and start seeing with your photography? Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: How Vincent Peters’ cinematic, Hollywood-inspired style proves that powerful photography starts with emotion — using light, shadow and composition to make images felt before they’re seen. Why slowing down your creative process matters — and how treating shoots like long-form ideas, not quick jobs, leads to more meaningful and distinctive photographic work. The overlooked importance of authorship in photography — and how developing a clear personal vision helps you stand out in a crowded, fast-changing industry. Why being true to your creative identity attracts the right clients — and how alignment beats chasing every opportunity that comes your way. How the shift from traditional publishing models to today’s open market has reshaped photography businesses — and why adaptability is now a core professional skill. Why AI and advanced technology should support, not replace, creative control — and how imperfection and restraint often produce more human, memorable images. The creative advantage of mistakes — and how embracing unpredictability, especially with film and continuous light, adds depth and authenticity to your work. How deeper emotional connection with your subject transforms portraits — moving beyond direction to reveal unconscious reactions and genuine human presence. Why technical mastery alone isn’t enough — and how balancing skill, intuition and artistic vision is what ultimately creates photographs that resonate and endure. 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. Most people are other people. Their thoughts are somebody else's opinions. Their life is a mimicry, and their passion is a quotation. And that's very true, you know. And most photographers are other photographers. – Vincent Peters 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. Think about your work as a different media. Think about it. Look, if you think about your work, for example, if you think about your pictures as music, what instrument would it be? Would it be more than one instrument? Would it have a rhythm, or would it just be a melody? – Vincent Peters 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 Vincent 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. The shot you take is not the person. The shot you take is that particular moment and the way he's reflecting the light at that moment back to you. And that is also something AI can never do. It's not a monolog, it's a constant dialog. – Vincent Peters If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Vincent, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. You want people to hold attention because you want people to listen to your story, and there again, you with form and content…If you don't have a content, you just shoot a pretty picture of a pretty person. That might work, that works for a lot of people but that is not necessarily something that's going to remain but if you reveal something in that content, and if you reveal something that shows not a person of them, but that has, you know, to use a bigger word, that reminds people of the human condition, suddenly there's something. – Vincent Peters 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. You cannot make people feel something if you don't feel it. – Vincent Peters 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: ★★★★★  The depth and honesty of the interviews are outstanding! Via Google Reviews by Adelaide family photographer, Carolina Roennau, in Australia on December 23rd, 2025. I really want to say how impressed I am with PhotoBizX. The depth and honesty of the interviews are outstanding, and it is very clear how much care and thought goes into the work you do. I have genuinely valued what I have listened to so far, and it has been very inspiring! Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Vincent Peters Website Vincent Peters on Instagram You have to redefine yourself. You have to come up with your own ideas. Authorship suddenly becomes more important, because it's not enough trying to be Helmut Newton. – Vincent Peters Thank you! Massive thanks to Vincent for an honest and thought-provoking conversation. Vincent’s story is a timely reminder that long-term success in photography rarely comes from chasing what’s easy or popular — it comes from having the courage to choose depth, intention, and risks over convenience. What stood out for you from this episode, and where has it challenged the way you think about your own work or business? Sometimes it takes me just from a production scale, a year to produce one shoot. Just in my head. Six months is the least of the time I take, you know, to form the idea that I'm thinking, ‘Okay, this could be interesting,' and then to really make it work. – Vincent Peters 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 649: Vincent Peters – The Courage to Stop Imitating and Start Seeing with Your Photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Raphaëlle Granger of www.raphaellegranger.com has a background in photojournalism and fashion. Based in Canada, she spends her time shooting weddings both there and Europe. She originally trained with the goal of becoming a war photographer — chasing adrenaline and intensity — before discovering a very different kind of intensity in documenting love stories. Now based in Montréal and named one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of 2024, Raphaëlle’s work blends cinematic artistry with raw, honest storytelling. She believes that slowing down — creatively and strategically — is what allows meaningful work to emerge, and that the most enduring photographs are often made when the photographer stops trying to control the moment. In this interview, Raphaëlle shares how she built a near $200,000 wedding photography business by doing fewer weddings, charging more, getting radically clear on her values, and building genuine relationships — even when that meant uncomfortable conversations, saying no to “good” clients, and taking a long-term view in an industry obsessed with shortcuts. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: How Raphaëlle’s early grounding in photojournalism and fashion shaped her creative instincts — and why translating that into weddings required building a business that supported real life, not just beautiful work. Why undercharging didn’t make Raphaëlle more bookable — and how raising prices became a positioning decision rather than a financial one. The nuance behind increasing prices without burning bridges — and why alignment, timing, and intent matter more than the number itself. Why Raphaëlle’s most successful rebrand had nothing to do with logos or aesthetics, and everything to do with values, perception, and consistency. How genuine, human relationships with planners and vendors replaced cold outreach — and why trust compounds faster than visibility. The internal shift that comes with saying no to the wrong clients — and how thoughtful referrals can strengthen both brand clarity and industry reputation. What working internationally really involves beyond the Instagram fantasy — including cultural differences, legal complexity, and the importance of local trust. Why Raphaëlle uses Instagram ads for positioning rather than bookings — and how visibility can serve influence even when it doesn’t convert directly. How sensory and emotional details in the client experience — pacing, tone, presence, even scent — reinforce brand memorability at the high end. Why partnering with an agency wasn’t about scaling faster, but about protecting creative energy while maintaining meaningful client relationships. Why “looking successful” can still lead to burnout — and how misalignment often shows up as exhaustion before it shows up as failure. 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. I realised I was doing work that looked perfect on Instagram, but it wasn’t aligned with how I actually wanted to photograph people. – Raphaëlle Granger 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. Once I defined how I wanted my clients to feel, every decision became easier — branding, pricing, even who I said no to. – Raphaëlle Granger 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 Raphaëlle 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. I lost weddings because I was too cheap. The planners told me my pricing didn’t match the level of work. – Raphaëlle Granger If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Raphaëlle, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. Pricing isn’t just about income — it’s a signal. If it’s wrong, people assume something is wrong with your service. – Raphaëlle Granger 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. I loved the outdoors and the adventure, but I didn’t love directing couples for five or six hours. That disconnect matters more than people think. – Raphaëlle Granger 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. At some point, like maybe six years in, I felt like I couldn't go much further. It was already like the plateau, and I couldn't see myself work 30 more years like that. So I had to, I had to take a leap of faith and just start all over like new, on my own. – Raphaëlle Granger 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 are the latest reviews: ★★★★★  Absolutely the best photography business podcast! Via Google Reviews by Houston and Sugar Land's family and newborn photographer, Danielle West, in the USA on December 19th, 2025. Absolutely the best photography business podcast I have listened to! I am in the process of launching my own photography business, and the tips and tricks that Andrew has shared on his podcast have been absolutely invaluable. The best part is that Andrew makes sure to ask the relevant questions that photographers have, not just the fluff that most other photography podcasts seem to focus on. He gets into the nitty-gritty of numbers, finances, specific marketing, and so much more. 10/10 recommend for any photographers who are looking to start or expand their business! Thanks so much, Andrew! ★★★★★ Thanks for making it easier than going it alone! Via email by Sunbury pet and equine photographer, Abi Wiseman in the UK on December 22nd, 2025. Hi Andrew I hope you are well and are heading into a restful Christmas with your lovely family. I just wanted to finish this year with a heartfelt ‘thank you' where it is most due. This time last year, I said on your podcast that I was planning to give up teaching at the end of this year to go full-time with my pet photography business. It was the first time I had said it, and saying it on a podcast listened to by many people (including a lot of my friends) made it real and held me accountable. A week ago, I walked through the school gates for (hopefully) the last time as a teacher. I have taken a year off and will decide towards the end of next year if my business brings me the joy I am hoping for, as well as the financial security I need. I also listened to Kim Hamblin on your podcast and realised she was the coach for me. She is the right mix of encouraging, nurturing and ball-breaking! For the first time ever, I have 17 clients booked in for the coming year already, and I am hopeful (and a little terrified!) for what is to come. So thank you Andrew. Thank you for being a good bloke, a great podcast interviewer and for helping me achieve my goals WAY more easily than going it alone! Merry Christmas, and here's to a fabulous 2026. Abi Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Raphaëlle Granger Website Raphaëlle Granger Education Raphaëlle Granger on Instagram Raphaëlle Granger on Facebook Apartment Twenty Episode 635: Maddie Mae – How to Run a Profitable Destination Elopement Photography Business It's all about genuine connections. Honestly, it seems so simple, and it is. I think we are scared of doing the first move. We are scared of being rejected. It is very humbling. It feels like going back to high school and trying to find a place to sit in the cafeteria when we have no friends. It feels exactly like that. – Raphaëlle Granger Thank you! Huge thanks to Raphaëlle for an open and thoughtful conversation. Raphaëlle is the perfect reminder that long-term success in photography rarely comes from shortcuts — it comes from courage to make decisions that genuinely support the way you want to work and live. I’d love to know what stood out for you from this episode, and where it has you rethinking parts of your own business. I'm very determined, and I'm super ambitious, sometimes too much, but I was determined to make a living out of photography. So of course, at the beginning, I did everything. I did families, I did corporate head shots, I did a little bit of E com as well. And slowly but surely, I worked my way to weddings only. But that took me a few years. — Raphaëlle Granger 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 648: Raphaëlle Granger – Building a $200K Wedding Photography Business with Fewer Weddings appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Ben Potter of www.bpportraitart.com.au is someone I’ve known for a long time… and known of for even longer. We’ve messaged and emailed back and forth plenty of times over the years — there’s still a lot I didn’t know about him until this conversation. Here’s what I do know. Ben loves photography — the craft, the art, the whole process — but it’s the business side that really lights him up. He’s quick to jump on new marketing ideas, test them properly, and see what actually happens. And just as importantly, when something stops working, he’s not emotionally attached — he moves on. He works with coaches. He studies what others are doing. He listens, experiments, tracks the numbers… and then ruthlessly doubles down on what works — whether that’s after a few weeks or a few years. He’s also not afraid to invest in his business — and I mean properly invest. One of my favourite examples: he once reached out to a past PhotoBizX guest and bought their entire marketing email sequence — years after it had been sent — purely so he could study it, understand the thinking behind it, and adapt it for his own studio. Ben is part of a tight-knit group of photographers who openly share what’s working, what’s not, and what they’re testing next. He’s constantly refining systems, improving margins, and building a business that actually makes financial sense — not just one that looks good from the outside. When I first thought about inviting Ben on the podcast, my gut said he’d be an incredible guest… but I wasn’t sure how much he’d be willing to share. I asked anyway — and to my surprise (and delight), he said yes. And I’m genuinely glad he did. In this interview, Ben shares how he rebuilt his portrait business from the ground up, why he walked away from Facebook ads, how community fundraising became his most reliable growth lever — and the mindset shifts that allowed him to stop guessing, start trusting the numbers, and build a studio that’s both highly profitable and surprisingly calm to run. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: How Ben built a highly profitable portrait studio by walking away from Facebook ads and leaning into a fundraising-led voucher model that delivers warm, high-trust leads at scale. Why community fundraising consistently outperforms cold marketing — and how trust, goodwill and genuinely strong offers lift booking rates and average spend. The real reason most “done-for-you” systems fail — and why adapting, testing and truly owning the process is what turns ideas into long-term profit. How relying on a single lead source quietly caps growth — and why diversifying acquisition channels creates both stability and leverage. Why running a photography business solo eventually becomes the bottleneck — and how a tight circle of peers, coaches and mentors accelerates better decisions and faster growth. How COVID forced a hard pivot from weddings to portraits — and why fully committing to one model unlocked higher margins, cleaner systems and momentum. Why raising prices alone doesn’t move the needle — and how anchoring, product sequencing and perceived value shape confident buying decisions. The psychology behind leading with premium products — and how showing the top first makes mid-range options feel like the obvious choice. Why sales become easier when you stop making them emotional — and start trusting numbers, averages and positive expectancy instead. Why messy action beats perfect planning every time — and how small tests, pilots and pop-ups reduce risk while revealing what actually works. How automation now functions like extra staff — handling follow-ups, confirmations and reschedules so growth doesn’t come at the cost of burnout. Why sustainable growth comes from systems, not hustle — and how focusing on high-value activities creates a business that’s both profitable and calm to run. 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. If other people can do it, I can do it. I’ve just got to learn the skills — simple as that. – Ben Potter 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. The biggest change in my business was getting away from Facebook ads and realising how dangerous it is to rely on one lead source. – Ben Potter 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 Ben 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. I don’t really care about telling people exactly what I do, because the chances are most people aren’t going to do it anyway. – Ben Potter If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Ben, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. With a strong offer, my booking rate went from three out of ten to eight out of ten — and that completely changed the business. – Ben Potter 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. Every time someone walks into my studio, the business is worth about $1,900 on average. Once you know that number, decisions get much easier. – Ben Potter 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. Positive expectancy changed everything for me. It turned sales from an emotional rollercoaster into a numbers game. – Ben Potter 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.​ Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Ben Potter Website Ben Potter on Facebook Ben Potter on Instagram Episode 177: G.E. Masana – Bucking the Trend With his Wedding Photography Website Episode 580: Brendan Taylor – The TogPod CRM Revolution… The Future of Photography Business Episode 643: Nik Buttigieg – The Low-Pressure Strategy Filling His Studio With Ideal Clients Episode 556: Johl Dunn – Unlock Your Photography Business Potential and Stop Failing The numbers tell me I should be raising prices by 30%, but psychologically that’s still hard. The fear never fully goes away. – Ben Potter Thank you! Huge thanks to Ben for being so open and generous in this conversation. He’s a great reminder that a profitable photography business isn’t built on luck or chasing the latest tactic — it’s built on systems, clear thinking, and decisions backed by numbers, not emotion. And yes, I can appreciate how difficult all this is! What I really appreciate about Ben’s approach is that there’s no hype, pressure or gimmicks. It’s about understanding where trust is created, putting strong offers in front of people, and building processes that make the business easier to run as it grows. Less guesswork. Less stress. Better results. I’d love to know what stood out for you. What’s one idea from this interview you’re going to take and implement in your own photography business? If there was one thing that I think is the holy grail to this — and to life — it’s taking action. Stop waiting for the perfect time. Take messy action. Throw mud against the wall and see what sticks. – Ben Potter 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 647: Ben Potter – How Fundraising Replaced Facebook Ads in His Portrait Studio appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Brittni Schroeder of www.brittnischroeder.com first joined me way back in Episode 337. Before shifting into coaching, she spent more than ten years as a professional photographer, named one of the most influential photographers of 2016, with features in the Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America and a stack of industry publications. Today, Brittni helps business owners (photographers included) grow revenue and reclaim time through smarter automation, stronger systems, and lead generation that actually converts. Her work centres around effective funnels and the kind of client experience that fuels real word-of-mouth. If you’re wanting to grow or scale your photography business — without burning out — she’s someone worth paying attention to. When we were chatting recently, she sent over a list of topics she’d be excited to unpack: The 3 Sales Funnels Every Photographer Needs Automation for Your Photography Business How to Get Your First 10K Email Subscribers How to Diversify Your Photography Business How to Create (Realistic) Passive Income as a Photographer Solid, right? Any one of those could’ve been a whole episode — so we dug into as much as we could. In this interview, Brittni shares how to identify growth opportunities, streamline your client experience, and build systems that free your time while increasing your profitability. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: How Brittni realised she missed the creative side of photography — yet discovered her true strength was building the systems and automations that make businesses profitable. Why raising your prices isn’t enough — and how understanding supply, demand, and your ideal client changes everything about how a photography business grows. The overlooked signs you’re ready to scale: constant exhaustion, too many manual tasks, and feeling like you’re always “catching up.” The simple automations that instantly improve your client experience — from reminders to scheduling to post-shoot communication — and why they dramatically increase referrals. Why automation should act as a safety net, not a substitute for personal connection, and how photographers can strike the perfect balance. The three essential funnels every photographer should build: the post-purchase funnel, the lead-magnet funnel, and the sales funnel — and how each one nurtures clients before, during and long after the shoot. Why your email list will outperform your social media — and how consistent, value-driven emails turn casual subscribers into loyal clients. Creative lead magnet ideas (like “Best Bridal Gifts” or “Most Instagrammable Locations”) that position you as the go-to resource long before someone books. What makes associate teams thrive — and how scheduling apps, automation, and clear workflows can remove 90% of the stress of managing multiple photographers. The story of how one chaotic associate schedule was fixed overnight using Acuity — and how the right tool can remove growth bottlenecks instantly. Why SOPs (standard operating procedures) are the backbone of a scalable photography business — and how simple looms, checklists, and templates make them easy to create. What to look for in a great VA — and why dependability, communication style and cultural alignment matter more than the cheapest hourly rate. How Brittni uses tools like Airtable, Voxer and Marco Polo to manage her team without constant meetings or back-and-forth messages. The long-game power of having landing pages on your own website — and why SEO-focused content is still one of the strongest traffic drivers for photographers. Brittni’s biggest message for growth-minded photographers: automation, clear systems and consistent communication are what make a business feel profitable and sustainable. 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. You think an email only takes a minute, but minutes add up to hours. If you can automate it, why wouldn’t you free up time and grow your business? — Brittni Schroeder 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. SOPs are the backbone of a scalable business. As soon as you know what one is, you should be creating one. — Brittni Schroeder 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 Brittni 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. Most photographers have amazing CRMs — they’re just using a tiny fraction of what those tools can actually do. — Brittni Schroeder If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Brittni, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. If you want to scale, you have to let go of the idea that you can’t replicate yourself. That mindset is what keeps so many photographers stuck. — Brittni Schroeder 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. Your client experience is the very first thing that should be automated. Nothing is more powerful than a seamless experience that drives word-of-mouth. — Brittni Schroeder 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. Your client experience is the very first thing that should be automated. Nothing is more powerful than a seamless experience that drives word-of-mouth. — Brittni Schroeder 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.​ Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Brittni Schroeder Website High Converting Sales Funnel Guide Brittni Schroeder on Instagram Redefine Your Business For Entrepreneurs Facebook Group Brittni Schroeder on YouTube Episode 337: Brittni Schroeder – How to build a money mindset for photographers Episode 466: Helen Schryver – Work less and make more by tripling your portrait photography prices Airtable Marco Polo A lead magnet isn’t optional anymore — it’s the one thing you own. Social media has shifted. Your email list is where the real conversion happens. — Brittni Schroeder Thank you! Big thanks to Brittni for being open and generous in this chat. She’s a good reminder that a thriving photography business isn’t built on luck — it’s built on systems, thoughtful communication and a client experience that feels effortless from start to finish. What I love about her approach is that none of it relies on hype, pressure or awkward asks. Instead, it’s understanding what your clients need at every stage, automating the parts that save you time, and showing up personally where it actually matters. That’s how you create the kind of experience that drives referrals, repeat clients and real growth — without burning yourself out. I’d love to know what stood out for you. What’s one thing you’ll take from this interview and implement in your own photography business? Automation is a safety net — not a replacement for you. It answers questions and frees your time so you can create real personal touch where it matters. — Brittni Schroeder 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 646: Brittni Schroeder – How to Streamline, Systemise and Scale Your Photography Studio appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Stacey Brown Randall at www.staceybrownrandall.com is the undisputed expert in generating referrals for a photography business. You probably already know, one of the best feelings in business is when a new client gets in touch and says, “My friend told me I had to book you.” That’s gold. You didn’t have to run an ad, discount your work, or chase anyone — they just showed up, already trusting you. The issue is… even photographers doing incredible work don’t always get those kinds of referrals as often as they should. It’s not because the photos aren’t good enough… It’s because the experience they're giving their clients isn’t designed to be referable. Stacey has made it her mission to fix that. She’s recently published a new book… The Referable Client Experience — A Proven Method to Generate Referrals Without Asking, and she’s built an entire system to help small business owners generate referrals. In this interview, Stacey shares exactly what makes a photography client talk about you, return to you, and refer you — and why most photographers unknowingly miss the moments that matter most. Follow what Stacey shares to create a referral system every photography business needs. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: The mindset shift that helps photographers see referrals not as “luck” but as an evergreen, relationship-driven system — one that works in any market, even as AI changes how clients find us Why most photographers struggle with consistent referrals despite rave reviews — and how a truly referable client experience bridges the gap between happy clients and clients who actually talk about you How Stacey identifies “referral hot zones” in the client journey — and why spotting these moments can dramatically increase word-of-mouth without awkward asks or incentives The power of small, thoughtful touch points — like handwritten notes and personal gestures — and why they make clients feel valued in a way that automation simply can’t Why the new → active → alumni client-experience structure matters — and how managing client feelings at each stage builds loyalty, repeat work, and long-term trust How subtle “referral seeds” outperform direct requests — and how to weave these naturally into conversations without sounding salesy or desperate The smart way to respond when a client says they’ll refer you — and how to use that moment later to reinforce trust and strengthen your referral pipeline How tracking referral patterns helps you identify your true referral sources — so you can double down on the relationships that reliably grow your photography business Why personalised communication still beats automated messages — even with the best CRM — when it comes to creating a client experience worth talking about How playing the long game with client relationships leads to a photography business built on repeat clients and reliable, consistent referrals 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. Your client experience is happening whether you design it or not. The question is: is it referable? — Stacey Brown Randall 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. When a client says, ‘All my friends need you,’ don’t pounce. Note it, plant the seed, and play the long game. — Stacey Brown Randall 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 Stacey 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. Your clients may love you, but that doesn’t mean they’ll refer you. There’s a gap — and you have to bridge it. — Stacey Brown Randall If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Stacey, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. 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. Doing great work does not equal referrals. If it did, we’d all be drowning in referrals. — Stacey Brown Randall 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. Stop looking for the easy button. If you want to impact people emotionally, you have to show up differently. — Stacey Brown Randall 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.​ This week's shoutouts go to… ★★★★★ His superpower is asking probing, direct questions Via email from Sonoma Boudoir photographer Jason Guy, in the USA on November 30th, 2025. I recently had the pleasure of talking with Andrew on his podcast. Andrew is truly a wealth of knowledge, and I’m not sure who learned more from our conversation. What stands out even more, though, is that Andrew is an authentic and genuinely kind person, both on and off the microphone. I stopped listening to photography podcasts a long time ago because most of them felt like extended infomercials from photographers trying to sell me something. I never get that vibe with PhotoBizX. Andrew is a curious interviewer whose superpower is asking probing, direct questions that uncover the unique angles and strategies photographers use in their businesses, so he can become a better marketer himself. After this experience, PhotoBizX is a podcast I definitely plan to keep in my regular rotation. If you really want to tap into his deep well of knowledge, I highly recommend joining his premium membership and, in particular, reading his eBook “Book Even More Portraits.” I read it cover to cover, and even as someone who’s been in business for 10 years, I still found fresh angles and valuable nuggets I’m excited to apply to my own business. Thank you, Andrew! ★★★★★ The premium set-up is worth every penny Via email from Brighton headshot, fashion and dance photographer, Jaideep, in the UK on November 31st, 2025. Dear Andrew, Thank you so much for making me aware of this deal: I love listening to your podcast and think that it's brilliant! It's so refreshing to hear from you in this way, and a strong contrast to various companies that have taken payment without any notification beforehand for subscriptions I do not even use   Thank you for providing such quality information in each edition of your podcast: the premium setup is worth every penny. Best wishes Jaideep ★★★★★ My car is the Andrewmobile Via email from Calgary pet and people photographer, Heidi Grace, in Canada on November 31st, 2025. Dear Andrew, Can you check to see if I'm on the special Black Friday memebrship? I think so, but… want to be sure! My car is the Andrewmobile… always listening when I drive anywhere. ★★★★★ Huge Thanks!  Via email from South Jersey wedding photographer Gen Palmer, in the USA on October 18th, 2025. Hi Andrew, I’ve been meaning to reach out and say a huge thanks for taking time a few weeks ago to connect with me about mentorship & business mastermind groups. I haven’t taken steps towards forming a mastermind group yet, because since we talked and you asked fantastic probing questions (as you always do ), I’ve spent time thinking about the direction I want to take my business. And now that I have more of an understanding there, I feel better reaching out to others to get a group going! I will definitely follow up and let you know how that goes. Separately, I’ve been meaning to thank you for an episode you did a while ago with Stacey Brown Randall (I think it was Episode 492, I had to look it up!). Stacey talked about thanking and following-up with people who refer business, and I realized at that time that I wasn’t doing a good job following up. After that episode, I implemented a step in my process, based on her recommendation: I send a handwritten thank you card + a $5 coffee gift card for every referral, regardless of whether the client books me. So many people tell me how special it is to get those cards, especially because nobody else does it. I’ve sent around 40 cards this year, so with postage + the cost of the cards that’s a ~$400 marketing expense. And the payback is tremendous because 85% of my business comes through referrals. I wanted to write and say thank you – every time I write one of these cards I think about you, Stacey and that episode and send a thank you out into the universe!! I should probably send you both a crate of coffee gift cards as thanks! Hope you’re having a great week and talk soon! Gen P.S…. Here’s a quick photo of the two cards I’m sending out this morning. Black Friday Sale — Finishes Tomorrow! There's a big sale on everything PhotoBizX this week! Details here: https://photobizx.com/blackfriday Facebook Ads Course — 50% off — $97 Photography Pricing Masterclass — 50% off — $47 Online Sales Masterclass — 50% off — $47 LinkedIn for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117 Expos for Photography Lead Generation and Bookings — 40% off — $117 Lead Ads Training for Photographers Course — 40% off — $177 Profitable Book Projects for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117 Facebook Competitions for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117 Qualify Your Leads Like a Pro! — 40% off — $239 How to Make Bigger and Better Sales — 40% off — $117 How to Build a High Converting, Beautiful Website FAST — 40% off — $177 Set up for Success and Profit Fast as a Pet Photographer — 40% off — $117 The Art Of Selling: Sales Training For Photographers — 40% off — $239 Community Fundraising Lead Generation For Photographers — 40% off — $239 AI Marketing for Photographers — 40% off — $239 The Art Of Selling: Sales Training For Photographers — 40% off — $239 40 Over 40 Portrait Campaigns Masterclass — 40% off — $239 Master Photography Exhibitions to Drive Sales, Bookings, and Build Your Brand — 40% off — $117 Photography SEO and UX Masterclass — 40% off — $177 Unlocking Joy & Fun in Your Business — 40% off — $29 How to Advertise Like a Mofo — 40% off — $117 How to Sell Like a Mofo — 40% off — $239 How to Finance Like a Mofo — 40% off — $239 The Model Framework for Photographers — 40% off — $57 Beyond SEO: Future-proof your photography website — 40% off — $57 IF YOU ARE ON THE $20 PER MONTH PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP, THE 12-MONTH OPTION IS A NO-BRAINER… 12-Month Premium Membership — 40% off — $120 Sign up for the 12-month option and cancel your $20 payments (or let me know, and I'll cancel for you). Note: If you paid your monthly membership in November, let me know, and I'll get that refunded for you, too. Specials are available from now until Tuesday, 2nd December. Here's the link again: https://photobizx.com/blackfriday IMPORTANT: No matter what you purchase, if you feel something isn't a good fit, let me know, and I'll happily refund you. Or feel free to ask if you're unsure about something. Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Stacey Brown Randall Website Stacey Brown Randall on Facebook The Referable Client Experience The Referable Client Experience Free Chapter Stacey Brown Randall on LinkedIn Stacey Brown Randall on Instagram Stacey Brown Randall on YouTube Stacey Brown Randall Podcast The Referable Client Experience: A Proven Method to Generate Referrals Without Asking by Stacey Brown Randall on Amazon Generating Business Referrals Without Asking: A Simple Five Step Plan to a Referral Explosion by Stacey Brown Randall on Amazon Episode 259: Stacey Brown Randall – Photography Business Growth by Referrals Episode 492: Stacey Brown Randall – How to get the best photography business referrals, without asking for them Client experience is how your client feels when they work with you. The work matters, but the feelings drive the referrals. — Stacey Brown Randall Thank you! Huge thanks to Stacey for being so open and generous in this chat. She is the perfect reminder that referrals aren’t an accident — they’re the natural outcome of a thoughtfully designed client experience. She’s built an entire body of work around helping small business owners create experiences that feel good for clients… the kind of experiences that quietly drive repeat business and word-of-mouth without scripts, nudges, or awkward asks. It’s not hype or tricks — it’s understanding what your clients are really feeling at each stage, and meeting them with intention. I’d love to know what stood out for you — what’s one takeaway you plan to implement into your own photography business after hearing this interview? We don’t pick the name mentioned the most on social media — we pick the name mentioned by someone we trust. — Stacey Brown Randall 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 645: Stacey Brown Randall – The Referral System Every Photography Business Needs appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Bruce Vincentiis of www.bdv.photography brought something refreshingly different to this interview — and it’s one I was excited to dig into. Bruce is a long-time listener of the podcast, which had me scratching my head at first… because he’s a luxury hotel photographer based in Southeast Asia, not a wedding, portrait, headshot or branding photographer like most listeners. He started out shooting landscapes, drifted into urban exploration, and eventually found his way into a high-end niche photographing some of the world’s most recognised hotel brands, including Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt. What makes his story even better is how he learned the craft — entirely self-taught through YouTube, picking up techniques in internet cafés across Asia and honing everything through trial and error. Take one look at his portfolio and you’ll spot it instantly: jaw-dropping interiors, a beautiful balance of ambient and artificial light, and the kind of imagery you’re used to seeing in luxury travel campaigns, glossy brochures, and high-end resort advertising. Alongside still photography, Bruce now offers aerial drone work and video — with food photography next on his list as his brand continues to evolve. In this interview, Bruce shares how he has gone from YouTube photography tutorials to a luxury hotel photography business. This is a great story with many business lessons for any photographer to implement. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: The bold move that took Bruce from self-taught traveller to in-demand luxury hotel photographer — and why relentless experimentation still wins over formal training in niche markets. How offering smart, low-pressure “portfolio builder” shoots opened doors to high-end hotels and helped Bruce land credibility with brands like Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt faster than you’d expect. The relationship-first networking strategy Bruce uses to stay top-of-mind with hotel decision-makers — and why it keeps repeat clients coming in across Southeast Asia. Why mastering the dance between ambient light and flash is the foundation of magazine-worthy hotel interiors that clients gladly invest heavily in. The behind-the-scenes staging process Bruce uses with housekeeping teams to make every room look pristine — saving hours in post-production and dramatically improving client satisfaction. How a consistent Capture One + Photoshop workflow protects your style, speeds up delivery, and positions you as a true professional in the commercial space. The simple, project-based proposal structure that works across branded hotels, architects, and independent properties — without encouraging price shopping or undercutting your value. Why adding drone imagery and video has become a competitive advantage for Bruce — and how diversifying your deliverables can set you apart in a crowded hotel photography market. The weather-proof mindset Bruce brings to every assignment — including how he still walks away with hero images when conditions are far from ideal. How clear communication, expectation-setting, and a calm workflow turn demanding hotel clients into long-term partners who trust you with their brand identity. The long-game strategy behind growing a hotel photography business: refine your portfolio, nurture key relationships, invest in the right gear, and commit to continual improvement. Bruce’s biggest success driver: staying curious, experimenting constantly, and evolving with every shoot — because in hotel photography, progress comes from momentum, not perfection. Anantara Angkor Resort 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. When I started shooting hotels, I would go out and do what we call portfolio shoots…to offer to shoot a space at no charge, and let the hotel have the images. And so. there's not too much pressure on you if you do make a mistake, and you can try different techniques, etc, but never on a paid shoot. – Bruce Vincentiis 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. LinkedIn gets me real jobs, it’s far more valuable than Instagram — Bruce Vincentiis 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. AVANI+ Riverside- Seen Bar and Restaurant What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Bruce 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. I do a lot of reaching out to clients, to old clients, to networking contacts, to new networking contacts that I keep. I've got to try and reach out to so many people every week, and just keep people top of mind, because it does make the work come through. – Bruce Vincentiis If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Bruce, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below. Fairfield by Marriott Phnom Penh 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. The shooting is the shortest part of the job, the longest part is preparing the scene — Bruce Vincentiis 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. It's a lot easier to include one price and not to list everything individually, put it together as a project price. – Bruce Vincentiis 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.​ This week's shoutout goes to… ★★★★★  This tip made my YEAR! Via email from San Diego dog photographer Alexis Heisa, in the USA on November 23rd, 2025. Hi Andrew! Such a great episode with Nik Buttigieg! My business aligns with Nik as far as marketing strategies, but it made my year when you were talking about the CRM built on the GoHighLevel platform. When he shared that you can create a single voicemail and send it to runner-ups, my mind was blown. It’s exactly the information I needed since I’m currently getting used to that platform as my CRM (through Brendan Taylor’s Togpod). Hope you are doing well! Keep up the great work. Thanks, Alexis Black Friday Sale — ON NOW! Finishes December 2nd. There's a big sale on everything PhotoBizX this week! Details here: https://photobizx.com/blackfriday Facebook Ads Course — 50% off — $97 Photography Pricing Masterclass — 50% off — $47 Online Sales Masterclass — 50% off — $47 LinkedIn for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117 Expos for Photography Lead Generation and Bookings — 40% off — $117 Lead Ads Training for Photographers Course — 40% off — $177 Profitable Book Projects for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117 Facebook Competitions for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117 Qualify Your Leads Like a Pro! — 40% off — $239 How to Make Bigger and Better Sales — 40% off — $117 How to Build a High Converting, Beautiful Website FAST — 40% off — $177 Set up for Success and Profit Fast as a Pet Photographer — 40% off — $117 The Art Of Selling: Sales Training For Photographers — 40% off — $239 Community Fundraising Lead Generation For Photographers — 40% off — $239 AI Marketing for Photographers — 40% off — $239 The Art Of Selling: Sales Training For Photographers — 40% off — $239 40 Over 40 Portrait Campaigns Masterclass — 40% off — $239 Master Photography Exhibitions to Drive Sales, Bookings, and Build Your Brand — 40% off — $117 Photography SEO and UX Masterclass — 40% off — $177 Unlocking Joy & Fun in Your Business — 40% off — $29 How to Advertise Like a Mofo — 40% off — $117 How to Sell Like a Mofo — 40% off — $239 How to Finance Like a Mofo — 40% off — $239 The Model Framework for Photographers — 40% off — $57 Beyond SEO: Future-proof your photography website — 40% off — $57 IF YOU ARE ON THE $20 PER MONTH PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP, THE 12-MONTH OPTION IS A NO-BRAINER… 12-Month Premium Membership — 40% off — $120 Sign up for the 12-month option and cancel your $20 payments (or let me know, and I'll cancel for you). Note: If you paid your monthly membership in November, let me know, and I'll get that refunded for you, too. Specials are available from now until Tuesday, 2nd December. Here's the link again: https://photobizx.com/blackfriday IMPORTANT: No matter what you purchase, if you feel something isn't a good fit, let me know, and I'll happily refund you. Or feel free to ask if you're unsure about something. More Insights From 600+ Photographer Interviews Quick side note: if you’re not sick of my voice after this episode, I was recently interviewed by Ina Jalil for The Pet Photographers’ Journal. She wanted to dig into the business patterns I’ve seen after interviewing more than 600 photographers on PhotoBizX — the habits that lead to consistency, the marketing traps that slow people down, and the decisions that actually move a photography business forward. We talked about what’s working for photographers right now, why experience consistently outperforms perfection, and the simple shifts that help turn interest into real bookings. It’s very much a business-focused chat, and if you want a distilled look at the themes that keep showing up across every successful studio I’ve spoken to, you might enjoy it. You’ll find the link to that episode here: https://the-pet-photographers-journal.captivate.fm/ Or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jTI2ljbV2tPtaVLXTTaq2 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-pet-photographers-journal/id1821073326?i=1000737146521 Novotel Sihanoukville Holiday Resort Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode: Bruce Vincentiis Hotel Photographer Bruce Vincentiis on LinkedIn Bruce Vincentiis on Instagram I don't believe in shooting multiple angles. When you walk into a hotel room, you know by instinct what the best angles are. You just know it, and by experience as well. So for me, it would be a waste of time shooting these additional angles, which are not going to be nice photos. It'd be waste of my time and a waste of the clients time and the client's money to shoot them. – Bruce Vincentiis Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach Thank you! Huge thanks to Bruce for being so open and generous in this chat. His story — from teaching himself photography through YouTube videos in Asian internet cafés to becoming a go-to photographer for luxury hotels — is such a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you stay curious and keep moving toward the work you love. He’s built a thriving business on his own terms by focusing on relationships, consistency, and delivering world-class imagery that truly elevates a hotel’s brand — not hype, shortcuts, or chasing trends. I’d love to know what stood out for you — what’s one idea or perspective you’ll take into your own photography business after hearing this interview? I get AI to put together a report for me of the clients website, all their reviews and the history of the hotel. So I get a good report on everything about the hotel, about what's included, what people are saying positively about the hotel, what people are saying negatively about the hotel. So we can also rectify those negative comments or reviews with the photography, or at least address them with the photography. – Bruce Vincentiis 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 644: Bruce Vincentiis – From YouTube Tutorials to a Luxury Hotel Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.