Celebrating 20 episodes! We reflect on our favorite moments from our launch season spring 2025. As wedding season approaches (is fully here), we're taking a break until fall but leaving you with practical survival tips for busy wedding pros.

• Our favorite episode was "Don't Charge Your Worth" and systems-focused strategy discussions
• Wedding season grocery hack: prep your snacks like you would for a toddler
• We'll be back in the fall with more business insights and strategies

Enjoy your summer! See you in the fall.

Alex and Ren discuss the critical transition from hobbyist to professional photographer and the three key elements needed to make this shift successfully. We break down specific strategies for getting consistently booked without feeling lost or unsure of your direction.

Ready to transform your photography hobby into a thriving business? DM Alex with your questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes!

Photography websites need one clear purpose: getting potential clients to email you. A simple, effective site can be built for under $50 a year and will convert better than an overly aesthetic portfolio with buried information.

• Location should be the first thing visitors see – people decide within 30 seconds whether to contact you
• Testimonials from past clients sell your services better than self-promotion
• Your "About Me" section should focus on how you help clients, not your photography origin story
• Include only 5-10 of your absolute best portfolio images that represent your specific style
• Add FAQ section with starting rates to filter out budget mismatches
• Always include a contact form directly on your home page
• Design for mobile first – 80-90% of visitors view on phones, not desktops
• Consider platforms like CARD for beginners, rather than time-intensive WordPress

If website-building makes you angry, hire it out. You can be anything, but you can't be everything. When you're starting out, your time is your currency – focus on learning the things that directly impact your client experience.

What if I told you that today’s episode is basically a paid SEO course (without the price tag)?

I’m pulling back the curtain on everything I do to be visible and get hired by clients who are actively searching and ready to book.

This episode is a strategy masterclass for wedding photographers who are truly ready to go to the next level with SEO, built from experience, testing, and wins.

Listen now before I change my mind and start charging for it. ;) 

The essentials of a comprehensive wedding day emergency kit beyond standard photography equipment, sharing our list of items that help us  handle unexpected situations with grace and professionalism.

Send us a message on Instagram to share what's in your wedding day emergency kit - we'd love to hear what items you consider essential!

Have you ever felt that gut-wrenching sensation of letting someone down by not being immediately available? You're not alone.

Perhaps most surprisingly, we discover that clients typically don't want or expect 24/7 access to you. They understand work-life balance, often better than we give them credit for. 

You're not alone if you find yourself discounting when nobody asks, pricing at break-even points, feeling resentful after client work, or identifying as the "affordable option" in your market. These are classic signs of fear-based pricing that ultimately leads to burnout and resentment. 

Ready to stop letting fear set your prices? Listen now to transform your relationship with charging what you're worth and build a business that supports rather than drains your life.

Download the pricing toolkit: http://alexstead.ca/pricingtoolkit/

We dive deep into the five crucial things Alex would change if she could restart her wedding photography business, sharing hard-won wisdom from 15 years of experience shooting over 500 weddings.

If you're waiting to feel like you've figured it all out before starting your photography business, this is your permission slip to begin today! 

Does it feel like you're doing everything right on social media, but it's not moving the needle?

On today's episode, we break down step by step why the things that you're doing aren't working, and what to do instead. 

- Setting clear, measurable goals for social media beyond just followers and likes
- Creating a curated portfolio that only features work you want to attract more of
- Writing strategic captions that include FAQs or help clients imagine themselves working with you
- Using Instagram as a starting point in your marketing ecosystem, not the endpoint
- Adding clear calls to action that invite engagement rather than just broadcasting
- Building a complete marketing ecosystem including website, SEO, and targeted advertising

Social media strategy for wedding photographers