As photographers, it can feel natural to use Instagram as a portfolio—posting your most recent work with simple captions like “Loved this session!” or “Isn’t she gorgeous?” But if you’ve been doing that consistently and wondering why you’re not booking clients, there’s a reason: Instagram isn’t meant to be your portfolio.

In this episode of Take It Personally, I'm sharing why using Instagram only to showcase your work keeps you from connecting with your ideal clients and booking sessions. I'm also showing how to shift from treating your feed like a gallery to creating an engaging brand experience—one that builds trust, answers client questions before they ever inquire, and ultimately gets you booked.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that posting pretty photos isn’t leading to results, this episode will give you a clear strategy to change that.

01:07 — The viral Threads post that sparked this conversation

02:16 — Why using Instagram like a portfolio keeps photographers stuck

03:22 — Common posting mistakes

03:56 — Building connection and brand experience

04:40 — Sharing work strategically

06:50 — Practical post examples and client concerns

09:42 — Building trust through personal stories

10:25 — Brand storytelling and standing out

11:07 — 21-day Instagram challenge invite

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

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Join my 21-Day Instagram Challenge happening inside a private IG chat starting September 1st—simple, daily prompts that help you stay consistent and get visible so you can get more inquiries from IG. 👉 DM me “challenge” on Instagram @maddiepeschong to join us!

Rebrand Group Coaching

Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List – Free Download

Full show notes