A Felt Experience

🎙️ Episode 153: “I Want Someone Who Understands My Industry”

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

Do I need to understand your industry through and through in order to create assets that help convert clients faster to your world?

No.

I've worked with biotech companies, interior designers, construction CEOs, coaches, therapists, paramedical tattoo artists, real estate agents, and entrepreneurs across completely different industries.

The work translates because marketing principles translate and human connection is universal.

📌 In this episode:

• You don't necessarily need someone who knows every detail of your industry — you need someone who can understand why people trust and choose you.
• Your client data already tells you a lot about your brand. Pay attention to what people consistently say they love about working with you.
• Your stories, personality, values, point of view, and vision can build just as much trust as technical or educational content.
• Looking outside of your own industry can help you develop a more definitive point of view instead of repeating what everyone around you is doing.
• Leadership is building enough self-trust to follow your own instincts, even when nobody else is validating what you're doing yet.

🎯 The Bigger Takeaway

The secret sauce is always the person.

People aren't only hiring you because you're technically good at your job. There is something about your point of view, how you carry yourself, your values, and your vision that makes someone think, I trust this person enough to hand them thousands of dollars.

Branding is: this is who I am.

Marketing is: this is how I meet you where you are.

And the relationship between those two is where some of your best work can come from.

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

Today I’m joined by my client and friend Brenda Lomeli for a conversation about nervous system regulation, business, ancestry, being Latina, and what it means to approach healing and entrepreneurship through a decolonized lens.

We talk about how decolonizing can be less about becoming a “new identity” and more about removing the shoulds and asking: Who am I underneath what the world taught me I needed to be?

📌 In this episode, we talk about:

• Removing the shoulds around success, your body, healing, business, and what you're “supposed” to do.
• Why context matters in nervous system regulation — sometimes your body is responding to very real financial, political, cultural, and systemic stressors.
• Brenda’s journey from weight-loss coaching into work centered around healing our relationships with our bodies, emotions, and internal authority.
• Making space for grief, anger, fear, and disappointment without making yourself wrong for experiencing them.
• What business can look like when you stop outsourcing your authority and trust your own voice, stories, medicine, art, and creations.

🎯 The Bigger Takeaway

Maybe the work isn't always about becoming someone new. Maybe some of it is remembering.

Brenda also shares how our Mexico City brand shoot happened before she knew exactly where her work was going. She trusted what she knew was the next step.

Sometimes that's what a brand shoot is: a demonstration of your self-trust.

✨ Connect with Brenda

Follow Brenda on Instagram

Listen to Reclaiming the Body on Spotify

Listen to Reclaiming the Body on Apple Podcasts

Join the Decolonized Somatic Certification Waitlist

See Brenda's Photoshoot

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

When I do a Brand Audit, I look at your website and Instagram and ask: Do you have a clear point of view? Is consuming your content a smooth experience? And is what you do — and the caliber in which you do it — obvious?

Because a powerful brand isn't just about looking professional. It's about making people feel something.

Today’s episode, though, is more of a pep talk.

I was having a whole moment after seeing low engagement on my content. I started comparing myself to other creators, questioning whether I was a good artist, questioning my strategy, and wanting to immediately fix everything.

And underneath all of it, I realized there was something much deeper: the wound of being who I am.

📌 In this episode, I talk about:

• The three things I look for when I audit a brand: a clear point of view, a smooth experience, and whether the caliber of your work is actually visible.
• Why low engagement can send me into a shame spiral — and my tendency to immediately want to delete everything, revamp the strategy, and fix it.
• Realizing that so much of the content people connect with from me is actually very simple: watching me do my work and relating to me and my story.
• The vulnerability of being emotional, sensitive, opinionated, particular, an artist, and someone with high standards — and learning not to make those parts of myself wrong.
• Why sometimes the answer isn't going into overdrive to prove the shame wrong. Sometimes it's slowing down, letting yourself feel it, regulating yourself, and then continuing to do the thing anyway.

🎯 The Bigger Takeaway

Let other people be wrong about you.

But you don't be wrong about you.

This work is vulnerable. Being seen is vulnerable. Investing in yourself and holding a bigger vision for what you're creating can be vulnerable.

And I simply don't want to build a business where I don't share my story or where I'm not allowed to be who I am.

You being rooted in who you are is so key to the work you're doing. Be there for yourself before you decide to burn the whole thing down.

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

I’ll look at your website and Instagram with you and we can talk about your positioning, visuals, personality, stories, colors, messaging, and the opportunities you have to better communicate the world your brand is here to create.

How do you actually measure the ROI of brand photography?

Sometimes it’s obvious. You launch something, people respond to the new visuals, your service is easier to understand, and sales go up.

But sometimes the ROI isn’t immediately tied to a sale.

It looks like people telling you, “I love your brand.” It looks like your audience coming alive again. It looks like wanting to market the crap out of yourself because you finally feel proud of how your business is being presented.

📌 In this episode, I talk about:

• Why photography ROI isn’t always immediately tied to sales — your offer, messaging, energy, identity, and other elements of your business matter too.
• How new brand images can create hype around an offer and show the evolution of who you’ve become, even when you’re selling the same offer.
• How my own Black Swan rebrand brought my audience back alive and made me feel more integrated, prolific, and excited to market myself.
• The feedback that tells you your branding is working: “You bloomed.” “I love your brand.” “I feel like I already know you.”
• How a strong brand can lead to opportunities beyond direct sales — podcasts, speaking, industry events, collaborations, referrals, and becoming the name people keep tossing around.

🎯 The Bigger Takeaway

Brand photography is doing its job when it helps people see and feel the evolution of who you’ve become — but also when it changes how you show up.

When you’re proud of the body of work you have to show, marketing gets easier. Pitching yourself gets easier. Charging high-ticket doesn’t feel so weird. You have a sturdy brand foundation that allows you to market the crap out of yourself.

That counts as ROI.

✨ Mentioned in This Episode

Courtney Kramer / Renaissance Healing — See Her Brand Project Courtney is a therapist who has built a distinctive brand that goes beyond simply posting educational content. Her branding has helped her stand out, become a name people talk about, and receive invitations into podcasts, events, and other industry opportunities.

Shenna — Make One Day Happen / Sound Advisor Shenna works with athletes using sound and visualization to increase performance. Her brand images help make her work easier to understand while giving her powerful visuals to use in presentations, workshops, and the rooms she’s stepping into.

🎙️ Episode 149: Learn to Play the Game

🔗 Book a Brand Audit With Me

If your online presence doesn't match how powerful your work feels in real life, let's look at it together.

During this 30-minute session, we can talk about your positioning, colors, stories, visuals, or what you can do right now to make your brand more congruent with who you actually are in real life.

👉 Book Your Free 30-Minute Brand Audit

I hate playing the algorithm game sometimes.

I hate feeling like I have to be curated. I understand why my clients don't always want to look too polished. And I understand the frustration of feeling like there are all these stupid rules we have to follow just to get a seat at the table.

But something I've been learning lately is:

You gotta learn to play the game.

In this episode, I tell you a story about spending four HOURS trying to get my dad a rental car—and the unexpected business lesson it gave me about branding, capitalism, algorithms, resistance, and our ability to adapt.

📌 In this episode, I talk about:

• Why adaptation is a massive business skill, especially when you don't like the rules of the game you're playing.
• The tension between wanting the results of a polished brand while also hating feeling curated or performative.
• Why beauty still sells, storytelling still creates connection, and a powerful online presence can still open massive doors for your business.
• Why sensitive and spiritual entrepreneurs can sometimes resist sharing their stories because they feel sacred—and how that can also keep people from connecting deeply with their work.
• How constantly resisting the algorithm, branding, money, capitalism, or the realities of running a business can keep us stuck in a spiral instead of learning how to work within the system.

🎯 The Bigger Takeaway

You don't have to pretend the game is fair.

You don't have to love every part of social media.

You don't have to suddenly love curated feeds, algorithms, capitalism, or any of the other systems you're operating inside of.

But you do have to learn how to adapt.

Learn the branding game.

Learn the algorithm game.

Learn how money and credit work.

Learn how to share your story in a way that creates connection.

Learn how to make the system work for you without losing yourself inside of it.

Because sometimes our resistance to playing the game becomes the very thing keeping us from getting where we want to go.

Learn to play the game before you say “screw everything” and give up.

Everywhere I look, I see people saying:

“People don’t want polished content anymore.”

And honestly? I get tripped up by it too.

Because when we're doom scrolling, of course we want to laugh, feel something, connect, and be entertained. We're not necessarily making level-five decisions about our businesses or our lives in that moment.

But that's only one part of your marketing.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference between creating content that gets attention and building a brand that makes people trust you when they're ready to make a bigger decision.

📌 In this episode, I talk about:

• Why “people don't want polished content” can be true for top-of-funnel content without making branding irrelevant.
• The difference between using images for content and using images to position yourself as the person people think of when they have a level-five problem.
• Why viral reels, funny content, and trending topics can grow your audience—but they're only one part of your marketing.
• How branding communicates things subconsciously: your values, your vision, the level you operate at, and whether someone feels safe putting their business in your hands.
• Why we want to bring people deeper into your world so they connect not only with your expertise, but with who you are and the way you carry yourself.

🎯 The Bigger Takeaway

Keep making the viral reels.

Keep making the relatable content.

Keep creating things that get people through the door.

But don't confuse getting someone's attention with becoming the person they trust when the stakes are higher.

When someone is choosing their next accountant, real estate agent, coach, strategist, photographer, or service provider, they're asking different questions:

Do you understand my vision?

Do our values align?

Do I trust you with my business?

Do you operate at the level I'm looking for?

That's where branding matters.

Your content can introduce people to you.

Your brand gives them an entire world to step into.

🔗 Ready to Look at Your Brand Differently?

If your online presence doesn't match the level you operate at in real life, let's look at where the gaps are.

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

We'll look at how you're currently showing up and where there are opportunities to communicate more of your vision, values, individuality, and the depth of your work.

🎙️ Episode 147: "I Don't Feel Like I'm That Person Yet"

Have you ever looked at your brand photos and thought...

"That doesn't even feel like me."

Or maybe you've wondered if you're really qualified enough to invest in your brand because you don't feel as confident as you once did.

In this episode, I share why your emotions don't determine your expertise, how grief and self-doubt can distort the way you see yourself, and why your identity often takes time to catch up to the evidence of who you've already become.

If you've ever felt like you're still "becoming" the person in your photos, this conversation is for you.

📌 In this episode, I talk about:

• Why it's normal to feel like you're not "that person" yet—even after creating meaningful results.
• How grief, rejection, heartbreak, and life's challenges can temporarily disconnect you from your confidence.
• The difference between your current emotional state and your actual skill set.
• Why you can still confidently help people in Chapter 1, even if you're personally navigating Chapter 6.
• How brand photography becomes a mirror for the person you're growing into—not someone you're pretending to be.

🎧 Mentioned in This Episode

Episode 142: 3 Things That Make Your Brand Look Expensive & Magnetic

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

🎧 Listen on Spotify

💭 Ask Yourself

• Am I letting my current emotions define what I'm capable of?
• What evidence do I already have that I create real results?
• Am I dismissing my experience because I'm currently going through a difficult season?
• What would change if I trusted the evidence instead of the doubt?

🎯 The Biggest Takeaway

You don't have to feel like the person in the photos every single day.

Your confidence will rise and fall.

Your emotions will change.

But your experience, your skill set, and the lives you've already impacted are still real.

Sometimes branding isn't about convincing yourself you're someone new.

It's about helping your identity catch up to the person you've already become.

🔗 Ready to Build a Brand That Reflects Who You're Becoming?

If your online presence no longer reflects the depth of your work—or the leader you're growing into—I'd love to help.

👉 Book Your Free 30-Minute Brand Audit

Together, we'll uncover the parts of your brand that are ready to be seen so your online presence feels as authentic and powerful as your work does in real life.

If this episode resonated with you, send it to another entrepreneur who needs the reminder that self-doubt doesn't erase the results they've already created.

When I launched my brand in 2023, I almost didn't go through with it.

Not because I didn't believe branding mattered.

Because I wasn't sure I believed in myself.

In this episode, I share the story of what was happening behind the scenes before I ever hit "publish"—the self-doubt, the resistance, the fear of being seen, and why I'm so grateful I launched anyway.

If you've ever thought, "Maybe I'll invest in my brand once I'm more experienced… more confident… more ready," this episode is for you.

📌 In this episode, I talk about:

• Why so many entrepreneurs don't have a branding problem—they have a belief problem.
• The three biggest fears I see that stop people from investing in their visibility.
• What launching my brand actually felt like behind the scenes (spoiler: I thought it was going to flop).
• Why resistance is a normal part of becoming more visible—and doesn't mean you should stop.
• How building a brand gave me opportunities I never could have planned for, from traveling the country for clients to creating partnerships I once only dreamed about.

💭 Ask Yourself

• Am I waiting until I'm "good enough" before I let myself be seen?
• Is my resistance trying to protect me—or is it keeping me small?
• What opportunities might I be missing because people can't fully experience my work?
• Am I following my vision… or my fear?

🎯 The Biggest Takeaway

Growth isn't about waiting until you feel confident.

It's about learning to trust your vision more than your fear.

Your brand isn't something you earn after you've made it.

It's one of the tools that helps you get there.

🔗 Ready to Build a Brand That Reflects the Quality of Your Work?

If your online presence doesn't match how powerful your work feels in real life, I'd love to help.

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

Together, we'll identify the gaps between where your brand is today and where you want it to take you.

If this episode resonated, send it to another entrepreneur who's waiting until they feel "ready." It might be exactly what they need to hear before taking the leap.

In this episode, I'm joined by my client, Cat Del Carmen—business coach, marketing strategist, and host of the Show Up Real Podcast.

Together, we talk about what it really looks like to stop performing who you think you're supposed to be, embrace your evolution, and build a brand that reflects who you actually are.

📌 In this episode, we talk about:

• Why authenticity is a practice, not a personality trait.
• Why showing up as your true self often feels uncomfortable before it feels aligned.
• How to stop building your brand around other people's expectations.
• Why your evolution should be reflected in your messaging, visuals, and leadership.
• How trusting yourself makes it easier to create content, make decisions, and lead your business.

✨ Featured Client Transformation

✨ See Cat Del Carmen's Brand Shoot — the visuals that supported her $80,000 launch.

Cat is not only a former business coach of mine—she's also one of my clients.

During her brand shoot, we intentionally created imagery that reflected the bold, authentic leader she had become, instead of the version of herself she thought a business coach was supposed to be.

Those images became the foundation for launching her next chapter, leading to an $80,000 launch.

You can also connect with Cat here:

🎙️ Show Up Real Podcast

📲 Instagram

💭 Ask Yourself

• Am I staying authentic to who I've always been… or to who I'm becoming?
• What part of myself am I still hiding because I'm worried how people will perceive me?
• Does my brand reflect the leader I am today?
• What would change if I gave myself permission to evolve?

🔗 Ready to Build a Brand That Feels Like You?

If your online presence no longer reflects the depth of your work—or the leader you've become—I'd love to help.

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

If this episode resonated, send it to another entrepreneur who's ready to stop performing and start building a brand people don't just understand—they genuinely feel.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see as a brand strategist is people thinking they have a content problem—when they actually have a branding problem.

The solution isn't always to post more.

Sometimes the real issue is that people still don't understand why they should choose you.

In this episode, I break down the difference between a content problem and a branding problem so you know where to invest your time, energy, and money as your business grows.

📌 In this episode, I talk about:

• The difference between content that gets you seen and branding that gets you chosen.
• How to know if your consistency is the problem—or if your positioning is.
• The signs you've outgrown content alone and are ready to build a brand people trust.
• Why getting shopped around, negotiating your prices, or only selling your lowest offer are often branding problems—not content problems.
• How becoming known for something specific changes the way people perceive your value.

💭 Ask Yourself

• Am I struggling because I'm not posting content enough… or because my brand isn't communicating my value?
• Do people know exactly what I want to be known for?
• Are people buying my premium offers—or only my lowest-priced services?
• Am I attracting the right opportunities, or just random projects?
• Do people see me as entertaining… or do they trust me?

🎯 The Big Takeaway

Content gets people through the door.

Branding gives them a reason to stay.

The goal isn't simply to get more eyes on your business.

It's to make it unmistakably clear why someone should choose you over everyone else.

🔗 Ready to Find the Gaps in Your Brand?

If you're wondering whether you have a content problem or a branding problem, I'd love to help.

👉 Book your free 30-minute Brand Audit

Together, we'll look at your website, Instagram, messaging, and positioning to identify what's keeping you from becoming the obvious choice for your dream clients.

If this episode resonated, send it to another entrepreneur who's wondering why they're getting attention—but not the opportunities they know they're capable of.