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
Have you taken the time to really dive into defining your ideal client based on the people you're already serving?
In episode 307 of the Bokeh Podcast, Erin Youngren explains why you should understand who your ideal client is and what motivates them, based on your past clients. Listen in as she describes three primary mistakes you are making when it comes to defining your ideal client.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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: Classic and traditional wedding photographers positioning themselves as 'Black Ties & Ballrooms,” helping their couples take in their wedding day. (13:11)
Advice for Photographers: We all experience the same creative battles. There will never come a time when you don’t experience fear, self-doubt, or rejection, but don’t same yourself for them. (19:07)
Technique for Time: Build a business around your life, rather than a life around your business. Credit to Julia Woods. (22:25)
Erin’s Podcast: thecreativerising.com
Book Recommendation: Start With Why - bit.ly/bp-startwithwhy (28:25)
The Gear Bag: Costco Trail Mix and Kiss Styling Mats - bit.ly/bp-kissstylingmat (32:20)
The Importance of Having an Ideal Client (36:23)
Figure Out the Why of Your Ideal Client (40:13)
Weirds: The things you choose to do with your time and money - from Seth Godin in We Are All Weird - bit.ly/bp-weareallweird (41:58)
Getting to Know Your Ideal Client (48:26)
3 Mistakes You’re Making with Ideal Clients (52:44)
1. Staying at the surface of the conversation and not going deeper.
2. Taking all of your client’s surface characteristics of yourself and making that your ideal client.
3. Making an unrealistic image of your ideal client.
Links:
Free Training: dreamieclass.com
The Complete Book of Questions by Gary Poole - bit.ly/bp-completebookofquestions
If… Questions for the Game of Life - bit.ly/bp-if-questions
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Have you considered lowering your prices in order to book more of your ideal clients?
In episode 306 of the Bokeh Podcast, Melissa Hersey explains why she decided to lower her prices (nearly in half) in order to attract the clients she enjoyed working with most. Listen in as she shares three concepts to consider when setting your prices.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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: Relaxed, natural and intimate photography is her tagline, but she’s ok with having a similar business as those around her. (3:34)
Just in Case of Emergency Clause: A pact with 5 photographers who share similar brand positions to cover each other’s weddings just in case of emergency. (4:53)
Advice for Photographers: Be grateful for what you’ve got and set boundaries. (10:42)
Technique for Time: Setting timers for your tasks. (16:22)
Jess Jordana’s Episode
Book Recommendations: (18:44)
Boys Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Any Ordinary Day
The Gear Bag: Nikon gear in a world transitioning to Sony. 30-year-old 50mm 1.8 lens. (25:40)
Melissa’s Wedding Pricing History (2008-2019): (29:29)
Lowest: $850 AUS - $577 USD
Highest: $6500 AUS
Current: $3500 AUS
Melissa’s Price Increase Plan: Raise every season due to supply & demand. (32:25)
How Raising Prices Didn’t Go As Planned (35:37)
What Photographer’s Should Consider When Setting Prices: (43:50)
1. Awareness of your ideal client and where they sit in their budget
2. Awareness of what we need.
3. Don’t get too privileged in yourself.
Links:
instagram.com/melissasphotographyperth
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Are you passionate about your business, but struggling to keep it afloat? Does it seem like it will inevitably fail?
In episode 305 of the Bokeh Podcast, Matt Baron joins us to provide practical help to turn your failing business around! Listen in as he shares how he created a profitable, sustainable model out of his family's failing business.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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: Gear Focus is an online marketplace for photographers and videographers to sell their gear for top dollar. (4:49)
Advice for Photographers: Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. (10:48)
Technique for Time: Shut the business off during family time. (16:42)
Book Recommendation: Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill - bit.ly/bp-thinkgrowrich (20:03)
Important Behaviors that Lead to Failure: (25:04)
1. Complacency
2. Not Being Aware of Your Competition
3. Not Looking at ROI
Key Principals to Turn a Failing Business Around: (40:26)
1. Productivity with Efficiency
2. Marketing
3. Team - Find the right people for the bus, then find the right seat.
4. Look at things differently.
Links:
instagram.com/gearfocusmarketplace
Click Up - clickup.com
Quickbooks - quickbooks.intuit.com
Good to Great - bit.ly/bp-goodtogreat
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Marketing is an essential part of any business, but are you creating a marketing plan that sets you up to achieve your goals?
In episode 304 of the Bokeh Podcast, Heidi Thompson explains why creating a great marketing plan is important for your business. Listen in as she walks through the benefits of developing a marketing strategy, along with how to create a plan that leads to success.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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: Help wedding professionals grow their business without going crazy in the process. (2:49)
Advice for Photographers: Do things with intention. (6:41)
Technique for Time: Ask what are your 3 most important things to move me closer to my goals. (9:24)
Podcast Recommendation: mindyourbusinesspodcast.com with James Wedmore (10:37)
Approaching a Marketing Plan: Make as many of your marketing decisions up front so CEO you can delegate to the worker you. (14:27)
Benefits to Creating a Marketing Plan: (16:59)
1. Clarity & Focus
2. Allows you to do more of what’s working and less of what’s not.
Tracking Your Data: (20:23)
1. Map your data with the tool that works best for you (spreadsheet, pen and paper, etc)
2. Quickbooks
3. Google Analytics
Drawbacks of Not Having a Marketing Plan: (24:53)
1. Waking up every day not knowing what you’re doing.
2. Developing overwhelm by having too much to accomplish without a plan in place.
Creating a Marketing Plan: (29:08)
1. Goals - Set your goals with numbers.
2. Research - Interview your best clients, do a competitive analysis. Get the training here: evolveyourweddingbusiness.com/webinar
3. Messaging - Review your communication in your brand.
4. How - When, where, what, and how you’re going to market.
5. Measure - Check in on the results on your efforts on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
Links:
evolveyourweddingbusiness.com/webinar
Instagram.com/evolveyourweddingbusiness
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Does overthinking your strategy for IGTV cause you to avoid using it altogether?
In episode 303 of the Bokeh Podcast, Anesha Collins joins us for a second video marketing episode to discuss the benefits of IGTV. Listen in as she shares how to easily develop content for your channel, along with creative ways to leverage Instagram's platform!
Bonus: She's even sharing how you can get the swipe up feature without having 10k followers on Instagram!
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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.
Learn more about Anesha: Episode 258 (1:11)
Anesha’s Processing (3:17)
Editing Skin Tones (10:09)
Introduction to IGTV (17:00)
Anesha's IGTV Channel: instagram.com/unashamedimaging/channel
Adding to IGTV from Desktop: (19:48)
1. Log into IG and go to your IGTV channel.
2. Click the upload button.
3. Add new IGTV video (within length and size parameters of IGTV).
4. Add the cover, details, description, feed preview, and share to FB Page. TIP: Save it as a draft.
Video Length Limits on Instagram: (21:52)
Stories - 15 seconds
Feed - 60 seconds
IGTV - 15 minutes from phone and 60 minutes from web.
Feed to IGTV Preview Feature: Make the first 60 seconds of your preview compelling enough to get people to your IGTV video. (22:27)
Three Benefits of IGTV:
1. You already have a following on Instagram (unlike starting new on youtube).
2. Consumers are ready to buy on Instagram, but learn on Youtube.
3. If you have less than 10k followers, you can get the Swipe Up feature.
“Scared money doesn’t make money” - Britney Han
Three Concepts for Content Creation on IGTV:
1. Make sure that your CTAs make sense and are relevant.
2. Be unique in the content you’re creating.
3. Repurpose content from other platforms and think through the formatting.
Three Creative Ways to Leverage IGTV for Business:
1. Tutorials, Webinar, Series, Education, Entertainment, and Product Showcasing
2. Highlight Behind the Scenes
3. Low Cost Advertising
"I shoot for the message, not for the length."
Links:
Instagram.com/unashamedimaging
Learn with AC Collective – unashamedimaging.com/education
Facebook Group: bit.ly/learnwithac
See
Are you striving to add value to your clients’ lives by doing more than just taking photos?
In episode 302 of the Bokeh Podcast, Robert J. Hill explains his desire to develop genuine connections with his couples in order to empower their relationship. Listen in as he shares tangible steps to finding and adding purpose to what you do in your business.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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: My camera is my tool to help couples deepen their lives and empower their relationship so they can have a stronger and more intentional marriage. (2:05)
Advice for Photographers: Focus more on who you are than what you do. (8:52)
Technique for Time: Work Less and Make More, Set up a Strict Schedule, and Find a Co-Working Space (9:29)
Book Recommendations: (15:38)
How to Win Friends and Influence People - bit.ly/bp-winfriends
The Power of Now - bit.ly/bp-powerofnow
The Gear Bag: (23:31)
Holdfast Pouch - bit.ly/bp-holdfastpouch
Pelican Case for Cards - bit.ly/bp-pelicancardcase
Robert’s Original Motivation with Photography (26:17)
How Robert Empowers Relationships with His Work (30:30)
"Seek to Understand Rather than be Understood"
Adding Meaning to Your Business
1. Questioning - Ask Why
2. Look Internally for Education and Growth
3. Find a mentor or business coach that is willing to get to know you.
4. Personal growth and self development outside of business.
Links
The 80/20 Principle - bit.ly/bp-80-20
Untethered Soul - bit.ly/bp-untethered
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Do you get overwhelmed with writing scripts or managing the backend production of video marketing for your business?
In episode 301 of the Bokeh Podcast, our hosts continue the conversation in part 2 of this interview with Haylee and Nathan about simplifying video marketing in business. Listen in as they share the importance of creating direct messaging in your video content, along with the post-production and editing portion of their workflow.
The audio from Workflow Wednesday episodes is from our weekly Facebook Live videos. Tune in live on Wednesdays at 2:00PM EST, at facebook.com/photogsedit.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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.
Connect:
Links:
Premier Pro CC
Final Cut Pro
Gary V Video - youtu.be/v8cBTK45Uqw
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Are you looking for ways to use your photography business to make a positive emotional impact on your clients?
In episode 298 of the Bokeh Podcast, Tosha Gaines provides an inside look at her therapeutic photo sessions—connecting clients with their emotions. Listen in as she shares how to listen and engage on a deeper level with your clients, in order to pull their raw emotion into the camera.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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.
Based in: Birmingham & Atlanta (1:45)
Brand Position: Commercial, Lifestyle, and Branding Portraits (2:00)
Advice for Photographers: Believe in yourself. (10:30)
Technique for Time: When working events, I’ll ask for media credentials for my kids so they can come with me. Starting to outsource. (15:16)
Content Recommendations: (20:12)
Gifts to My Future Self
Focus
Goal Digger
The Gear Bag: Taffy and a card from her dad (21:36)
The Semicolon Project (32:04)
Engaging on a Deep Level with Clients (33:18)
Benefits Clients Have Seen from Therapeutic Photography: (38:10)
Grief has no time-frame.
It’s ok to be emotional openly.
How to Bring Emotional Healing to Your Subjects:(42:31)
1. Don’t be judgmental.
2. Be an active listener.
3. Be empathetic.
Empathy: Understanding and entering into another’s feelings. (53:01)
Links:
Wordbook App - bit.ly/bp-wordbookapp
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Are you ready to redefine your editing style, but get easily distracted by the variety of inspiration you see from other photographers?
In episode 299 of the Bokeh Podcast, Nick Brimmer shares five practical steps to evolve your editing style and how to approach social media scrolling to avoid self-doubt. Plus, Nick and Nathan chat about their personal journeys with fitness and health.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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: Authentic, beautiful wedding photography with exceptional service to leave you glowing about your day. (5:47)
"People don’t remember your product as much as they remember how they feel about your product." (12:30)
Advice for Photographers: You cannot manage what you do not measure. (23:04)
Understanding Your Numbers: Calculate your base level of income required to succeed. (25:33)
Technique for Time: Focus and eliminate distractions. (28:05)
Book Recommendation: (32:02)
Consistent Cashflow by Tom Palzawicz - bit.ly/bp-consistentcashflow
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport - bit.ly/bp-sogoodtheycantignore
The Gear Bag: Fractal Prisms - getfractals.com (35:24)
Fitness Book Recommendation: Bigger Leaner Stronger by Mike Matthews - bit.ly/bp-biggerleanerstronger (37:06)
My Fitness Pal App (49:19)
The Impact of Instagram Scrolling (51:16)
1. Surface Level Thought - I’m mad that this person is better than me; I feel bad about myself.
2. Deeper Thought - Is it the photographer’s fault that you feel bad?
Owning Your Responsibility: (52:33)
1. Take a step back and consider why you feel the way you feel/
2. Understand the insecurity in yourself.
3. Find a way to improve yourself.
Defining Editing Style: A consistent set of preferred editing choices across a portfolio that reflects an artist’s unique preference or style. (59:38)
"The consistency of your editing is always in the opacity of your blacks." (1:02:35)
Influential Photographers to Nick: (1:07:10)
Jordan Daniels
Olivia Strohm
Evolving Your Editing Style:
1. Don’t take other people’s work personally.
2. Pull images you love and create a portfolio of images in dropbox.
3. Review the images and try matching the editing style.
4. Create the time to develop skills that you desire to have.
5. Show up to everything prepared with creative direction.
Links:
Heck Ya Photo Camp by bensasso.com
Are you struggling to find balance as an entrepreneur, due to your involvement in multiple roles?
In episode 298 of the Bokeh Podcast, Janioris Diaz Rodriguez describes what it takes to create a multi-faceted life and manage it all. Listen in as she shares how she manages a full-time job, creating music, capturing portraits, encouraging others through speaking engagements, and so much more—while loving every second of it.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. 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.
Based in: Del Tona, FL (2:11)
Brand Position: Help people preserve their stories through photography as both a masterpiece and a work in progress. (3:37)
Advice for Photographers: Learn from every person; everyone knows something you don’t know. (13:50)
Technique for Time: Having an accountability partner. (19:51)
Content Recommendations: (2:55)
Podcasts: bokehpodcast.com, goaldiggerpodcast.com, shepodcasts.com, Cultivate Your Life - bit.ly/bp-cultivateyourlife
Books: A Million Little Ways by Emily P Freeman - bit.ly/bp-millionlittleways and the Bible
The Gear Bag: Hair ties and Sunpack Lens Pen - bit.ly/bp-sunpaklenspen (26:23)
Get to Know Janioris (31:07)
Considerations for Making Choices on Your Commitments: (39:44)
1. What is your personality type and does the task fit it? You need self-awareness for what projects do for you.
2. What are your priorities or value-set? Check out Powersheets by Laura Casey
3. What season of life are you in?
How to Add Variety to Your Life: (43:59)
The 3 A’s: (45:40)
1. Ability
2. Affinity
3. Affirmation
"Find a hobby that makes you money, one that keeps you fit, and one that promotes your creativity."
Links:
facebook.com/JaniorisPhotography
Powersheets by Laura Casey - bit.ly/bp-powersheets
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