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
As a creative, you’re likely avoiding the technical aspects and responsibilities that come with protecting your client’s files. We get it—securely setting up a backup system can feel intimidating.
In episode 466 of the Bokeh Podcast, Livingston Lee reviews the 3-2-1 rule to protecting your files and why it’s so important for you to prioritize your backup system. Listen in as he shares his own system and the tools he prefers to use in his 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.
Investing in Day Trading (1:32)
How to Day Trade for a Living by Andrew Aziz
Brand Position: Photography & video at a fair price with albums in each package. (6:07)
Client Experience: Be upfront, honest, and humble. (13:23)
“People only get upset if they feel confused or lied to." - Nina Larsen Reed Bokeh Podcast Episode 456
Technique for Time: Automation (21:00)
Delegation/Outsourcing: Editing (23:48)
Book Recommendations: (32:11)
Blink by Malcom Gladwell
The Tipping Point
Leaders Eat Last
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Protecting Your Images & Data (34:35)
Have a Backup by Shooting on Two Cards (38:51)
The Three, Two, One Rule: 3 copies of your data in 2 formats and 1 copy offsite. (44:09)
1. Original - On computer
2. Copy 1 - NAT Server (Synology) (Format 1)
3. Copy 2 - Server Backed Up to External Hard drive (Format 2)
4. Copy 3 - Backblaze Backup
Using Backblaze (53:12)
Links:
instagram.com/livingstonleephoto
Are you effectively managing your finances to simplify your efforts when it comes to tax time?
In episode 465 of the Bokeh Podcast, Taylor Ingles describes three ways to improve how you as a business owner can efficiently manage and simplify taxes. Listen in as she explains the importance of documenting and tracking your finances.
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: Michigan Wedding photographer for the couple that believes marriage is an opportunity to spend every day with their best friend. By photographing everything from barn weddings to city weddings, I allow my clients personalities to take the center stage of my work and my artist touch is felt through timeless editing and elegant posing. (1:46)
Client Experience: Reading the Room (10:27)
Book Recommendations: Shoe Dog (23:04)
Transitioning from Accountant to Photographer (34:59)
1. Receipt Management: You’re required to keep your receipts for three years. (44:41)
- Track all of your receipts in a receipts folder.
- Organize it by year, then by month.
- Track the date, amount, and vendor in the file name.
2. Expense Tracking System: Find a system that works best for you while also classifying expenses. (50:36)
- Paper & Pencil
- Quickbooks
- Excel Files
3. Stay on top of your tracking. (1:01:51)
- Pay your estimated taxes every 3 months.
Links
instagram.com/tayloringlesphotography
Workshop March 20th in Farmington Hills Michigan
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Does making a difference motivate you to do and be better in your business?
In episode 464 of the Bokeh Podcast, Shawn Lee joins us to talk about why making a difference is the cornerstone of the brands he has build. Listen in as he highlights how he's focused on making a difference through outreach and community in his photography brand, as well as his conference, Rock That.
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.
Rock That (:47)
Serving Your Clients: Give without expectation. (8:36)
Time Management: My rest is found in the fulfillment of the mission. (14:20)
Delegation/Outsourcing (16:58)
Book Recommendations: (19:37)
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Time Management from the Inside Out
About MAP: Multicultural Association of Professional Photographers (30:26)
Creating Community with the Rock That Conference (35:52)
Structure of the Rock That Conference (37:02)
Day 1 - Photography Skill Focused
Day 2 - Photo Walks
Day 3 - Business Focused
Transparency, Encouragement & Community (37:47)
Community Outreach & Impact (40:54)
Links
instagram.com/welovephotogs
Rock That Virtual Conference May
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Is your website content easy to navigate, while also providing the details and information that your potential clients are looking for? Ensuring your website is serving it's purpose begins with outlining your sitemap.
In episode 463 of the Bokeh Podcast, Meghan Baskin of Baskin Co joins us to discuss the importance of building a strong sitemap for your website by ensuring it supports the goal of your website! Listen in as she explains how you can improve and rebuild your existing sitemap!
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.
Business Backstory: Philadelphia Wedding Photographer transitioning into Web Design and Branding Agency for Photographers (1:31)
Brand Position: Elevate your business with strategy forward website design that connects with your ideal clients. (1:53)
Customer Experience (5:11)
Technique for Time (7:31)
Delegating/Outsourcing (16:10)
Book Recommendations: The Defining Decade by Meg Jay (29:37)
The Purpose of Your Website (32:20)
1. Show Work
2. Share Experience
3. Invite to Connect
What is a sitemap? (35:56)
The blueprint of your website. The hierarchy of the content and pages of the site.
Tying Your Sitemap to Your Website’s Purpose (36:21)
Layout Out Your Site Map with Miro.com (38:14)
Steps to Improve Your Sitemap (44:55)
1. Evaluate - Is it easy to navigate for each type of client?
2. Establish Goals - Does your website take them on a journey?
3. List out improvements you want to make.
Links
Download the Pricing Showit Guide Page
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Whether you've been lurking in Clubhouse rooms for a while or just hesitant to download the app, there is an opportunity to learn and grow on this trending social media platform.
In episode 462 of the Bokeh Podcast, Devin Robinson joins us to discuss the pros and cons of Clubhouse, along with how to use it in your business. Listen in as he shares what his experience has been on the app over the last two months!
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.
Integrity in Business (4:47)
What is Clubhouse? (12:39)
Managing Time Around Clubhouse (29:14)
Selecting Educators in Your Room & Good Moderation (34:16)
Long Game in Clubhouse (41:20)
1. Resources & Sales
2. Vendor Relationships
Hope for Photographers on Clubhouse (45:34)
Find the right group of people to hang out with
Searchable Bios on Clubhouse (47:44)
Grab Your .club Domain (49:25)
Links
Clubhouse: @devinrobinson
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Do you have what it takes to launch the photography business you've been dreaming about? Maybe you're still trying to figure out where to start.
In episode 460 of the Bokeh Podcast, Shané K. Gooding of Imiivo joins us to share a few ideas to consider when launching a business. Beginning with advice on what to do and not do, Shané walks us through the steps you should take in approaching your financials, managing your marketing, and building your community in order to start a successful 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: A photography and video studio that specializes in family, beauty and video portrait sessions to help people tell the story of their life. (8:18)
IMIIVO: Infinite Memories In, Infinite Visuals Out.
Customer Experience: Listening; you can’t underestimate the power of listening to your clients. (10:54)
Delegation/Outsourcing (22:29)
Book Recommendations: The Compound Effect (23:40)
bokehbookshelf.com
Advice for New Photographers: What Not to Do (29:31)
1. Stop being a perfectionist and overanalyzing.
2. When writing website copy, trim it down.
3. Don’t be a generic practitioner—you don’t have to take on everything.
4. It’s easy to get caught up in buying all the templates, but you don’t need them all.
5. Avoid business debt.
Proactive Steps to Launching a Photography Business (37:00)
1. Create a one-pager about your business: Your audience, mission, services, elevator pitch.
2. Know they numbers: budget, finances, emergency fund.
3. Register your business with Google Business Listing
4. Open a business bank account.
5. Setup the backend of your business: Website, CRM, Social Media, etc.
Concepts for Saving Money (51:09)
1. Utilize free resources.
2. Utilize free trial.
3. Find a co-share space.
4. Rent your gear or purchase used.
5. Avoid paying for expensive templates, ads, courses/education.
Marketing with a Tight Budget (57:35)
1. Call on your people.
2. Give people an incentive to share and follow.
3. Yard signs, flyers, and business cards.
Building Community for Your Business (1:00:11)
Links
Are you passionate about volunteering, but haven't quite found a way to incorporate it into your business?
In episode 460 of the Bokeh Podcast, Jesi Cason explains how you can service others and your business through volunteerism. Listen in as she shares how to find the right organizations to volunteer with and how that work can grow your 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: Southwest FL based photographer that partners with commercial and personal brands to create content that is as bold as they are. (4:09)
Review our Brand Position Episodes: bokehpodcast.com/brand-position
Customer Experience: Earning a client’s trust. (6:57)
Technique for Time: Charge a profitable rate for your services. (12:32)
Delegation/Outsourcing: Accounting (15:21)
Book Recommendations: (17:35)
The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib
Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller
Passion for Volunteerism (22:05)
How Volunteerism Enables Business Growth (26:10)
1. Networking: Volunteering your Time/Services will connect you with potential clients
2. Marketing Your Values: Another way to put your values into your business publicly.
3. Pricing: Not undercutting other photographers.
Organizations to Approach for Opportunities (33:17)
Think about your ideal client and where they would give their time.
- Business Owners: Rotary, kawanas
- Families: Non-Profits that help single moms, community centers, etc.
- Pet Families: Humane Society
Building Your Style & Portfolio through Volunteerism (35:56)
Links
Are you missing out on potential revenue by giving away your images to clients instead of licensing them?
In episode 459 of the Bokeh Podcast, Adam Taylor joins us to share how a licensing mindset can increase your business' profitability and client base. Listen in as he shares the avenues and workflows for licensing your images, as well as how to approach potential clients with the option to license them.
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.
Get to Know Adam (1:17)
The Seven Layers of Why (3:02)
Brand Position: I help interior designers, architects, builders, and home product companies build their brand and tell their story through high-end photography. (9:35)
Technique for Time: Notes App Called Get To Do (18:57)
Outsourcing/Delegating: Lead Generation & Virtual Assistance on Upwork.com (23:31)
Book Recommendations: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind (27:20)
Bokehbookshelf.com
Licensing Mindset: A way of looking at and thinking of your photography work that allows you to keep thinking, who would this image be valuable to? (30:32)
Avenues for Licensing (43:17)
1. Become a contributor on a stock photography site.
2. Directly involved parties.
3. Third parties who are not directly involved.
Adam’s Current Workflow (50:40)
1. Sends client a rate sheet (pricing, process, and licensing usage).
2. Sends client deposit invoice (job description and overview of agreement).
3. Once booked, they get another copy of their agreement as a reminder.
Approaching Companies to Sell Licenses (55:32)
Links
Licenseyourphotos.com | 25% off with code: bokeh
Contract Episodes:
Episode 453: Contracts: Protect Yourself During Uncertain Times - Samantha Clarke
Episode 405: From Amateur to Professional: Important Considerations - Magi Fisher
Episode 130: 5 Steps to Legal Success for Photographers - Paige Griffith
Are you providing an experience that offers your clients a sense of refuge? To Anna & Ryan Leonard of Refuge Photography, providing refuge creates an opportunity to serve your clients beyond just capturing their photos.
In episode 458 of the Bokeh Podcast, Anna & Ryan join us to discuss what it means to build this experience for your clients, along with 5 ways to proactively create refuge in your business. Listen in as they share how they've incorporated this concept of refuge into every aspect of their 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: To be a refuge fore every person they serve. (1:30)
Client Experience: Turnaround Time (5:00)
Technique for Time: Systems & Automations (9:26)
Enneagrams & Communicating w/ Team Members (13:19)
Book Recommendations: (29:19)
What is Refuge? (43:03)
Creating Refuge for Non-Believers (36:28)
Bulletproof Coffee (38:33)
The Camera is a Tool to Love and Serve (40:58)
"Our camera is a tool to love and serve our people, where many photographers use their people to love and serve their camera to create the photos they want."
What does serve or service mean? (49:47)
5 Ways to Proactively Create Refuge (56:48)
Be a Yes, Man
Follow the Golden Rule
Gift to Your Clients
Educate Your Couples & Manage Expectations
Be an Encourager
Gift Giving (1:02:37)
Refuge Retreat (1:04:01)
Links
We've all spent hours watching Youtube videos at one time or another, but have you ever considered the potential it has to be an additional income stream in your business?
In episode 457 of the Bokeh Podcast, John Branch IV joins us to discuss how he's created an additional stream of revenue with Youtube! Listen in as he shares how to create valuable content that not only serves his audience, but supports his business and family financially.
Plus he's sharing his favorite video equipment to use when filming for Youtube!
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: Creating a personable experience for their clients. (1:50)
Customer Experience: Spirit of excellence. (4:03)
Technique for Time: Take one day a week to not work, then carve out intentional days to spend time together. (6:09)
Book Recommendations: (8:37)
The Meaning of Marriage
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Delegation/Outsourcing (17:53)
Becoming an Ambassador (23:27)
The Gear Bag for Youtube (33:52)
Fujifilm 23mm lens
Fujifilm 35 f2 lens
Fujifilm Xt4 Body with Fliparound
A-Roll Lighting Set Up (38:35)
Natural Light + Artificial Light with Genere LED Lights as Bounce Lights
Godox SL 60W with Magbox pointed directly on subject.
Audio (40:24)
Rhode Microphones (ask for model number)
Rhode Video Mic Pro
Genuineness: Being open to helping other like you would yourself. (42:54)
Creating Valuable Youtube Content (51:05)
1. Teach from a real world perspective.
2. Find a niche that isn’t talked about as much.
Links
Natural Feels - jbivphotography.com/preset-store
Shaun Austin Episodes:
Episode 18 – In Pursuit of Simple
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