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
Is your business losing money when you know it should be growing?
In episode 107 of the Bokeh Podcast, photographer and business coach Polly Alexandre shares 10 ways you’re holding yourself back from potential clients and income in your photography 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.
About Polly:
Polly Alexandre is an International Success Coach for Creative Entrepreneurs.
With a background in fashion, advertising & photography before becoming a coach and healer, Polly is a serial entrepreneur and leading money block coach. She mentors, coaches & supports ambitious, creatives to overcome their past, and the blocks & fears holding them back, so they can truly fulfill all their potential in life and business.
Polly helps people overcome their negative money beliefs, raise their rates and make more money, and in the process become more empowered, more confident and create more peace, freedom and happiness.
As a photographer Polly fulfilled all her goals of shooting weddings all over the world, being extensively published and getting commissioned by Martha Stewart Weddings, including her dream a Martha Stewart Weddings print cover. She now takes a few select wedding commissions a year & blogs at livingbeautifully.com.
Polly’s Aha Moment: You have to keep evolving and you can’t resist change.
Time Technique: The first 2-3 hours of Polly's day are spent on her so that she can get in the mindset that she wants to be in for her clients.
Photographers Mentioned in this Episode:
10 Ways Your Photography Business is Losing Money
1. When you allow your worth to be determined by someone else’s budget.
2. Planning your pricing based on the local market.
3. Holding onto regrets, resentments, and mistakes. This blocks the flow of abundance.
4. Not developing ongoing relationships with your existing clients.
5. Believing that print sales are dead and buying into the mentality that “nobody does that anymore.”
6. Trying to do everything yourself.
7. Doing admin support.
8. Not working on yourself because you’re so focused on your business.
9. Apprehension about money. If you’re uncomfortable with receiving money, you’re going to be uncomfortable running a business.
10. Having a fear of success and being in the public eye.
Links
Coaching Website: pollyalexandre.com
Wedding Website: alexandreweddings.com
Are you looking to improve the processes in your photography business?
In episode 105, Jeff Watkins of KolorPHX Photographic Co. shares about the importance of iteration and workflows in business that proactively improve overall client experience. Listen as he provides four tips to effectively iterate the processes 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.
Jeff’s Aha Moment: Being confident in my faults and stop playing the comparison game.
Time Tool: Schedule your time.
Brand Position: They set themselves apart by creating a wonderful client experience that allows their client to trust them.
The Gear Bag: Canon 5D mk III & IV, 24 mm, 50 mm, 70-200mm, 85mm, and 100 mm
Tips for Timelines with Planners:
Build the relationship with the planner first. After relationships are built, you can make suggestions and offer to make their job easier by providing insight on your thoughts as a photographer.
Four Ways to Effectively Iterate and Improve Processes:
1. Be self-aware and understand your weaknesses.
2. Listen to your clients and give them what they want.
3. Schedule everything
4. Create an inner circle of professionals that are already at a place you want to be at that will act as mentors.
Links:
Website: https://kolorphx.com
Instagram: @kolorphx
Facebook: Kolor PHX Photographic Co.
JPEGMINI - Reduce file size by up to 80%.
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We all want to figure out how to spend less time doing busywork, but most of us are artist types - not workflow engineers!
Unless you’re Carrie. 😃
Listen in to today’s Bokeh Podcast interview as engineer-turned-photographer, Carrie Wildes, shares 3 important elements of her workflow that have helped her photography business run way more efficiently!
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.
The Gear Bag: Spider Belt
Three Steps to a More Efficient Photography Business:
1. Hire an editor or outsource your editing.
2. Hire a Studio Manager or Virtual Assistant to handle the admin work you don’t enjoy.
3. Implement a workflow system.
Wedding Wiz - Transforms your clients’ answers
- Provides answers for families interested in fostering or adopting children.
- Helps raise funds for families wanting to adopt.
Links
Website: Carriewildes.com
Instagram: @carriewildes
Facebook: Carrie Wildes
The E-Myth Revisited - Michael Gerber
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Do you ever feel overwhelmed, stressed, or burnt out from the responsibilities of being an entrepreneur?
In episode 104 of the Bokeh Podcast, Nathan Holritz, Heather Smith, and Haylee Gaffin discuss mental health and finding a peace of mind as the last topic in this series on health. Listen in as they share their struggles with mental health and the steps they've taken to proactively ensure a healthy state of mind. The audio from Workflow Wednesday episodes is from our weekly Facebook Live videos. Tune in live on Wednesdays at 1PM 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.
Tips to maintaining peace of mine:
1. Know your limits & recognize them.
2. Learn to say no to the things you don't enjoy.
3. Invest in yourself through another passion. ex: piano.
4. Try out the 4-7-8 Technique.
5. Soothing music and meditation or prayer before bed.
6. Create margins in your life.
7. Cut out caffeine.
8. Epsom salt baths with lavender essential oil.
9. Read: Re-Awaken the Giant Within - Tony Robbins
10. Understand the significance of two factors: belief (the meaning you give an experience), and choice (the power to move beyond an experience and make the life you want).
11. Read: The Untethered Soul - Michael Singer (learning how to give less significance to the voice inside your head, and meditate)
Links:
Facebook Page: Photographer's Edit
Host: @nathanholritz
Co-Host: @heathersmithrsp
Co-Host: @hayleegaffin
Are you looking to test out commercial photography in your business?
In episode 103 of the Bokeh Podcast, Lindsay Abshagen of Eppich Photography shares how she got started in commercial photography while still managing her wedding and portrait photography business. Listen as she shares her product shoot workflows, along with three tips to get started in commercial shoots.
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.
Lindsay’s Aha Moment: After struggling and what Lindsay describes as climbing a mountain, her aha moment came when we realized she made it. She made photography work as a business.
"Don’t strive for the perfect balance."
Time Tool: Use your calendars and lists to stay organized.
Brand Position: Rather than building a brand based on style or material things, Lindsay builds her brand based on relationships.
The Gear Bag: Canon 5D mk IV, Canon 70-200mm, Canon 50mm f/1.2
Tips for those interested in commercial photography:
1. Just try it out so you can practice and learn.
2. Realize that much of the commercial world is self taught.
3. Start talking to people locally.
Links:
Website: eppichphotography.com/
Instagram: @eppichphotography
Facebook Eppich Photography
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
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Does running a photo booth sound like a good addition to your photography business?
In episode 102 of the Bokeh Podcast, Michael and Melissa McManus of M2 Photography and Poser PhotoBooth Co share how they decided a photo booth was the right move in their market. Listen in as they share how to get started with the right booth, hire the right people, and execute a plan for a successful 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.
Michael & Melissa’s Aha Moment: After years of taking any and everything, Michael and Melissa realized that the things that would make them happiest were easily obtained through:
1. Taking less weddings.
2. Raising their prices and having associates for lower budget weddings.
3. Saying no to people that weren’t a good fit.
The Gear Bag: Nikon D850
Gethrr:Gethrr was created to allow anyone to make a tangible difference in other people’s lives starting with $1/month donations.
Why a Photo Booth?
1. There was a need for a photo booth company that had it all together in their market.
2. It was an opportunity that would allow them to shoot less weddings.
The Importance of Photo Booths:
1. It’s a perfect Segway for photographers to take on another business venture.
2. It’s an experience you’re providing
Two Way to Misuse a Photo Booth:
1. Photographers aren’t treating their Photo Booth like a business.
2. They’re not hiring and training good people to run the booth.
How to Hire the Right People:
1. Take formal applications, conduct interviews, and provide preliminary video training.
2. Have a paid in-person training of the photo booth and company expectations.
3. Bring them on tag-a-longs with an existing attendant until they get a feel of what a solo event would feel like.
4. Based on how the training went, they’ll be hired for solo events.
How to Incorporate a Photo Booth into your Business:
1. Begin with a plan and goals for the business.
2. Research and find the photo booth that works for you.
3. Learn everything about the gear you purchase so you can teach attendants how to fix things if they mess up.
4. Start putting feelers out there for an attendant before you book your first wedding.
5. Package it really nicely from the price packages to the booth itself.
Links:
Website: m2-photography.net
Instagram: @therealm2 @m2_michael &
Is your side hustle starting to show promise as a full-time career?
In episode 101 of the Bokeh Podcast, Ryan Dugger of Creative Revolver shares his transition from part-time to full-time. Listen in as he provides three tips to preparing for full-time entrepreneurship.
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.
About Ryan: Ryan is a Nashville native currently living in Chattanooga, TN as a photographer, videographer, and designer. He loves spending time with his wife and two sons.
Ryan’s Aha Moment: After working in a corporate job that he hated, Ryan soon realized that the typical “American Dream” was not what he wanted out of life. He decided to make the move to entrepreneurship to support his family on his own terms.
Technique for Time: Scheduling time off and shutting business off when you’re not working.
The Gear Bag:
Canon 16-35mm for Real Estate
70-200mm for Creative.
Three Tips to Go Full Time
1. Learn to live on less.
2. Invest in yourself.
3. Set up a support system.
Photographers Mentioned in this Episode
Links:
Instagram: @creativerevolver
Facebook: Creative Revolver
Jon Acuff - Start: Punch Fear in the Face
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Is your marketing voice truly telling a story to your audience?
In episode 100 of the Bokeh Podcast, photographer and storytelling Megan Kuethen shares how she took her background in storytelling and created a unique brand position in her market. Listen as she shares two big ideas to telling your story!
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.
Megan’s Aha Moment: You have to treat yourself like a business if you want your clients to treat you like a business.
Megan’s Brand Postion: The Storyteller
The Gear Bag: Nikon D750 with 50 mm f1.4
Photographers Mentioned in the Episode:
Two Storytelling Principles:
1. Stories are personal, so it only works when it is authentic.
2. Start now, because you already have a story that your audience is waiting to hear.
Links
Instagram: @megankuethen // @megankuethenphoto
Facebook: Megan Kuethen
Brand Positioning - the place that a brand occupies in the mind of the customer and how it is distinguished from products from competitors.
Jab Jab Jab, Right Hook - Gary Vaynerchuk
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Do you feel stuck in your current market, but desperately want to raise your prices?
In episode 99 of the Bokeh Podcast, Katie Bradshaw of KB Digital Designs shares how year after year, she raises her prices while growing her business. Listen in for three tips to raising your prices while keeping not only your confidence, but your loyal clients as well.
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.
Katie’s Aha Moment: Don’t overbook or overwork yourself, otherwise you’ll get burnt out.
Technique for Time: Katie tries to travel as often as she can, so in order to do this, she finds openings in her schedule and plans a trip.
The Gear Bag: 85 mm f1.2
Fun Fact: Around 80% of weddings photographed in the US are $2,000 and below. (Source: The Wedding Report)
3 Big Ideas to Raise Your Prices:
1. Make one annual price increase a year, but no more than that.
2. Grandfather in some of your past clients to provide them with your older prices.
3. Always remember that you will lose clients, but you’ll gain clients that believe in you and your work.
Links
Instagram: @kbdigitaldesigns
Facebook: KB Digital Designs
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Are you nervous to start your own photography business? Maybe the thought of entrepreneurship scares you.
In episode 98 of the Bokeh Podcast, Hope Taylor shares how, at 16-years-old, she began building her successful photography business. From personalizing your branding to creating a solid support system, Hope shares the advice she would give to young entrepreneurs who are building their businesses.
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.
Hope’s Aha Moment: When Hope was starting her business at the age of 16, she faced a number of obstacles in convincing those around her that she should pursue this dream. When she realized that she could stand her ground, it was enough to get her to where she is today.
How Parent’s Can Support Their Child’s Dream: Read Supporting & Parenting a Young Entrepreneur
Technique for Time:
1. Batch similar tasks into the same day/timeframe.
2. Set up a full-time autoresponder that has information for everyone that could possibly email you.
Hope’s Weekly Schedule:
Mondays: Blog Posts & Social Media Scheduling
Tuesday: Editing in the Morning & Shooting in the Afternoon
Wednesday: Margin Day
Thursday: Editing in the Morning & Shooting in the Afternoon
Friday: Margin Day
Hope’s Brand Position: Hope began her business by marketing as an individual, not a business. While she shares about her services, she is primarily sharing about her and her life.
The Gear Bag
Favorite Camera Body: Canon 5d Mark III
Favorite Lens: Sigma 50mm f/1.4
Favorite Camera Bag: Kelly Moore Backpack
Favorite Accessory: Black Rapid Crossbody Camera Strap
Two Biggest Challenges of Starting a Business at 16:
1. Having to overcome the criticism of pursuing a non-traditional career at a young age.
2. Earning the trust of your clients when you’re so young, but also knowing your place in the industry.
Two Biggest Rewards:
1. Dealing with the criticism at such a young age prepared her fo
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