Stay ConnectedWelcome to The Bokeh Podcast, where we help photographers build sustainable businesses!
Host Nathan Holritz and his guests will help you build your brand, focus your marketing efforts, refine your workflows, and dial in your photographic technique – all with efficiency in mind.
In the end, we not only want you to succeed as a photography business owner, but to still have a life through it all.
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Copyright: © Copyright Photographer's Edit
What are you doing to stand out amongst the throngs of photographers in your market? A strong, distinct brand positioning is a great place to start.
In episode 506 of the Bokeh Podcast, Loren Haar of Lore Photography joins Nathan to refine her brand positioning and develop a clear and distinct position statement to capture the specific style she offers to clients. Listen in to hear the recommendations and ideas that will help her stand out from her competition!
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Location of Loren's photography business: Ventura County, CA (2:40)
Definition of a Brand Positioning Statement: (3:55)A unique value proposition (UVP) that sets your business apart from the competition in your market.
Benefits of a Clear and Distinct Brand Position: (4:50)
A. Enables Potential Clients to Immediately Know Your UVP
B. Filters Irrelevant Potential Clients
C. Simplifies/Focuses Marketing Efforts
D. Encourages Better Time Management
Loren's focus: Documentary family photography and wedding photojournalism (6:05)
Loren's description of documentary-style photography vs. lifestyle photography (9:02)
Driving motivation for Loren and her photography business (32:00)
Analysis of Loren's competition (39:26)
Potential Brand Position Statement (1:03)
Ventura's Documentary Photographer
Ventura's Premier Documentary Photographer
Links:
instagram.com/lorephotographyventura
Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
Ready to begin working on Brand Positioning for your business? Check out our free downloadable worksheet today, and learn more about how to position yourself in your market!
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"You need to work more." "The house isn't clean enough - why are you resting when you should be cleaning?" We all have that inner critic that we tend to listen to, causing us to feel overwhelmed and always "busy."
As business owners, it is easy to get caught up in feeling stressed and overwhelmed, causing us to run our businesses in a way that is not productive. In episode 505 of The Bokeh Podcast, Aja White of Fur and Lace Photography shares not only what causes us to feel overwhelmed, but also practical tools for helping to change our mindset in order to be more positive and productive in life and business!
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Brand Position (9:28)
Creating a great customer experience (14:56)
Technique for time management (19:08)
Outsourcing/Delegation (24:26)
Book Recommendation (27:40)
Aja's experiences that led to feeling overwhelmed (29:55)
3 Issues that are at the root of overwhelm: (35:40)
1. We choose to be overwhelmed
2. We listen to our inner-critic
3. Lack of awareness of how time is spent
4 Tools for addressing overwhelm: (39:26)
1. Start with gratitude
2. Don't be so serious
3. Develop a pre-shoot routine
4. Have systems in place
Links:
instagram.com/refocus.and.refresh
Are you genuinely engaging with your clients and potential clients in a way that makes them feel like more than a number? Don't they deserve to feel valued and appreciated?
John Mansfield of All Heart Photography truly lives out the name of his business - he puts his heart into his interactions with clients. When potential clients shared with him that they have felt like a number with photographers, he made it a goal to change that perception. Listen in to episode 504 of The Bokeh Podcast to hear his proactive approach to building genuine relationships with his clients.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Brand Position (7:43)
Creating a great customer experience (12:36)
Technique for time management (18:41)
Outsourcing/Delegation (24:53)
Book Recommendation (35:57)
Photographers treating clients like a number (40:48)
4 ways photographers can bring genuine energy to clients (45:43)
1. Show interest in your clients - ask specific questions, then follow up with more questions!
2. Give insight into the planning process:
a. Provide resources to help with wedding planning
b. Open line of communication - being available as a resource
c. Take notes when meeting with the client to have all of the details
d. Lead a Facebook group to post tips/tricks for planning
3. Give gifts to clients
4. Cheer the clients on through the experience
a. Follow them on social media - then engage!
b. Send emails that aren't only logistics-related
c. Be proactive - anticipate questions and provide answers before they ask
Links:
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
You know the feeling - a knot is forming in your stomach and your hands begin to sweat. It's time to make a sales call to a potential client, and you'd rather be doing anything but this.
Not Carissa! Carissa Woo has found a strategy that combats the uncomfortable, dreaded sales call! Listen in to episode 503 of the Bokeh Podcast to hear how she structures her call to include fun, upbeat conversation, along with a journey through a previous wedding album, to earn the trust and affection of her potential clients.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You're Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Brand Position (4:26)
Creating a great customer experience (6:50)
Technique for time management (10:28)
Outsourcing/Delegation (13:08)
Book Recommendation (21:50)
Why are photographers afraid of sales? (29:00)
What was the turning point that caused Carissa to focus more on her sales approach? (31:20)
Steps for a great sales call (38:00)
1. Create rapport with small talk to get to know each other
2. Build further rapport with photography-related questions
3. Learn about the client's wedding day through the process of walking them through one of your albums
4. Ask the potential client what they like about your work
5. Presentation of the packages offered
6. Rapid-fire questions for fun to bring the energy back up
7. Offer bonuses to wrap up the call (such as extra time on the wedding day, a second shooter, etc.)
8. Ask for the sale!
Questions that Carissa asks during the call (42:00)
1. What are you looking for in a wedding photographer?
2. What is your vision of the wedding - the vibe and the aesthetics?
3. Fun, rapid-fire questions such as "Who kissed whom first?" and "What do you love most about your partner?"
Links:
Drew Renner and Chad Brown's Bokeh Podcast Episode
Jordan Correces's Bokeh Podcast Episode 214
Space is limited. Elite members only. Reservations required. All of these statements elicit the assumption of exclusivity, right? How would you like for your photography business to be thought of in that way?
Michael Sasser of Sasser Stills Boudoir has created processes in his photography business that have made him more desirable to clients, due to the feeling of exclusivity! In episode 502 of The Bokeh Podcast, he shares the steps clients must take in order to book a session with him, as well as the benefits he has seen both financially and personally. Listen in as he shares his strategy, along with a hard lesson learned in the process.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You're Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Sasser Stills Boudoir Brand Position (6:03)
Creating a great customer experience (8:24)
Technique for time management (11:00)
Outsourcing/Delegation (13:54)
Book Recommendations (18:46)
The 4-hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
This is Marketing by Seth Godin
What exclusivity means to Michael, and how he created a sense of exclusivity in his business (23:10)
1. Limited the number of shoots and dates available for sessions
2. Only books clients through a scheduled, personal phone call
3. Clients receive emails with videos and information about the shoots prior to ever booking
Objectives clients must meet in order to book with Michael (32:53)
1. Sign up for the waitlist
2. Clients book a phone call with Michael
3. Select one of the limited dates for a shoot during the phone call
Motivation for Michael to create this exclusivity model (42:00)
Michael's Courses (47:24)
Links:
Michael's first Bokeh Podcast Interview- Episode 46
What are you doing to stand out amongst the throngs of photographers in your market? A strong, distinct brand position is a great place to start.
In episode 501 of the Bokeh Podcast, Nadine Nasby of Nadine Nasby Photography joins us to refine her brand position as a senior and wedding photographer. Nadine has extensive experience in documentary photography and would love to incorporate more of that style into her brand. Listen in to hear the recommendations and ideas that will help her stand out from her competition!
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You're Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Definition of a Brand Positioning Statement: (3:45)
A unique value proposition (UVP) that sets your business apart from the competition in your market.
Benefits of a Clear and Distinct Brand Position: (4:15)
A. Enables Potential Clients to Immediately Know Your UVP
B. Filters Irrelevant Potential Clients
C. Simplifies/Focuses Marketing Efforts
D. Encourages Better Time Management
Based in: Orlando, FL (7:30)
Focused on: Documentary wedding photography and HS Senior photography (16:30)
What Nadine is looking to accomplish with a revised brand position (34:30)
Nadine's Competition Analysis (40:20)
Nathan’s Suggestions (50:00)
1. Include more of Nadine's past work on her website
2. Focus on one type of photography, or build a second brand for senior photography
3. Work with a designer to create a website that builds the brand
Potential Brand Position: "Orlando's documentary photographer"
Links:
instagram.com/nadine_nasby_photography
Bokeh Podcast Brand Positioning Worksheet
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The adversities of 2020 caused suffering in multiple areas of life - both personal and professional. How can we move forward from those experiences to get back to a forward-moving, proactive life?
Dee and Kris Robinson were thrown not only into the pandemic, but also dealt with wildfires, riots that caused damage to their studio, racism, and more. In episode 500 of The Bokeh Podcast, Dee and Kris share with us how they dealt with both business and personal adversities, yet found opportunities to move forward and find positivity in times of struggle.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Dee and Kris's Brand Position (9:28)
Creating a great customer experience (16:42)
Technique for time management (21:38)
Outsourcing/Delegation (27:11)
What are key principles in the process of communication in delegation and leadership in business? (30:56)
Book Recommendations (35:24)
You're a Badass at Making Money
Adversities that Dee and Kris have faced in the past 18 months (42:45)
1. Wildfires in Northern California
2. Pandemic
3. Riots that caused damage to Dee and Kris's studio
4. Racism directed towards Dee and Kris and their business
5. Personal emotional struggles
What principles or ideas have helped Dee and Kris move forward from adversity?
1. Find and acknowledge the good in bad situations
2. Seek opportunities to help others
Kris's adventure into a new business (1
You're ready to hire an assistant. You have a friend who would be PERFECT for the position. Could it work?
Andrejka Hirschegger and Becky Gast have been friends since college, and are now in a boss-employee relationship as well! Listen in to episode 499 of The Bokeh Podcast to hear their advice for ensuring your friend is the "right" person for the job, as well as suggestions for how to set boundaries once the working relationship is in place.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Andrejka's experience of delegation through working with Photographer's Edit (4:32)
What was Andrejka's impetus for hiring an assistant? (14:45)
How did Andrejka and Becky handle the apprehension of working together as friends? (18:50)
What were Becky's initial pain points of working for a friend? (25:15)
Understanding that her work was to service Andrejka's brand
What are the top 3 qualities of a good boss - according to Becky? (27:50)
1. Clear communication
2. Patience
3. Empathy
What were the learning opportunities for Andrejka in delegating to Becky? (32:25)
What would be the lines that can't be crossed that would cause Andrejka to not continue in a working relationship? (35:30)
What are the top qualities photographers should look for when hiring an assistant? (41:40)
1. Shared values
2. Someone who fills in your gaps
3. Ensure you can trust who you hire
4. Strong communication skills
Links:
instagram.com/andrejkaphotography
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
How often do your clients respond with extreme emotion when you deliver their wedding day memories to them? If you aren't experiencing that on a regular basis, maybe it is time to start adding video into your packages!
Taylor Jackson has not only become an expert in providing his clients with a hybrid photo + video package, but also teaches other photographers how to do the same! Listen in to episode 498 of The Bokeh Podcast to hear his advice for what to do and what to avoid when getting started in the hybrid market.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Taylor's Brand Position (19:36)
Creating a great customer experience: (26:28)
Keep efficiency at the forefront of the entire experience - even on the wedding day!
Technique for time management: (32:40)
Outsource and proactively plan in order to combine work and play
Outsourcing/Delegation: (34:55)
Photo and Video Editing
Book Recommendations: (41:30)
The Four-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
Why add video? (44:27)
1. Video allows you to tell stories in a different way
2. Clients connect emotionally to video more than to photos
What questions should photographers ask themselves when considering whether to add video? (52:26)
1. Are you confident enough in your photography to add in video?
2. Can you multi-task during the wedding day?
What are a few mistakes photographers make when beginning to shoot video? (57:00)
1. Forgetting to record video during the wedding day
2. Selling videography before having proof that they can do it
3. Offering too much too quickly
What are key technical concepts to keep in mind when beginning video? (1:00:44)
1. Understand and know how to work in different lighting situations
2. Shoot with a camera that has a fast buffer, and work with fast memory cards
3. Don't worry with using ND filters - use a plugin during editing instead!
4. Shoot in slow motion
5. Shoot less to cut down on the editing process - focus on the big moments of the wedding day
Links:
We all make mistakes. How we respond to them determines whether we fail forward or fail backward.
Madison Banks faced several moments of failure over the last few years, including being bullied on social media. Listen in to episode 497 of The Bokeh Podcast to learn how she was proactive in her response to those situations, which allowed her to not only move forward, but also boost her business and personal growth to the next level.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer and Miilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Best piece of advice for new photographers (6:33)
What does the word "failure" mean to Madison (14:47)
Examples of "failures" Madison has had over the past few years (19:25)
What are the top 3 lessons learned for moving beyond failure? (34:23)
1. Don't let the failure define your journey as a business owner
2. Don't let the failure define the way you treat your friends and family
3. When you make a mistake, stop what you're doing and correct it
How Madison dealt with naysayers (46:29)
How does Madison balance self-confidence with client perception of her work? (56:07)
Links:
Madison's 1st Bokeh Podcast Episode 408
instagram.com/photographymadisonbanks
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