Ever wonder how photographers are making six figures in less glamorous genres? In this episode, I chat with Dominic Wilkerson (@Domdoesmedia), who made an impressive $400,000 last year in the "boring" yet lucrative world of real estate photography. I first discovered Dom through the Build and Bloom Facebook group, where he consistently provided valuable insights and helped answer questions on this topic—a frequent point of interest in the community. He previously joined one of our community call episodes, and I couldn’t wait to have him back for a deep dive into real estate photography. In this episode, Dom shares a masterclass-level breakdown of not just photography, but also videography, 3D home scans, drones, and more—knowledge many would charge for. Get ready for an info-packed podcast that could transform your business.

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Hey, Photographer! In this episode of the Build and Bloom podcast, I am joined by Sarah Marie (@SarahMarieSpectrum). Sarah shares her journey from being inspired by pop-culture icons like Black Widow to becoming an international cosplay photographer. She'll discuss how cosplay photography is more than just capturing costumes—it's about telling personal stories, embracing creativity, and making dreams a reality. This episode will explore the intersection of fandom, art, and imagination.

Follow Sarah:

Sarah Marie Spectrum is a storyteller and dreamer, with glitter in her heart and adventure coursing through her veins. As an International Cosplay and Fantasy Fine Art Photographer, she brings people’s stories to life, helping them unleash their imagination and embrace their wildest dreams. Her photography captures moments of creativity and wonder, exploring the limitless boundaries of imagination.

Inspired by fierce women like Black Widow and the epic journeys of The Lord of the Rings, Sarah learned early on to fight for justice—not only for herself but for others. She believes in art’s ability to break barriers, build communities, and spark meaningful conversations. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Photography from Arizona State University, she deeply values storytelling, viewing it as the heartbeat of culture— preserving the past and fueling future dreams.

In addition to her fine art photography, Sarah is also a seasoned pop-culture event photojournalist, having spent years documenting the vibrant world of conventions, cosplay, and fandom culture. Through her work, she uplifts others, creating a world where creativity and self-expression know no bounds.

Hey Photographer! In this episode, I (@JessicaWhitaker) have the iconic Dawn Charles (@Dawn.Charles) on the show to discuss her iconic editing style, branding, and client experience tips.

Follow Dawn:

https://www.instagram.com/Dawn.Charles/

https://www.instagram.com/dcpresets/

https://www.instagram.com/risephotoacademy_/

Free Client Workflow Roadmap: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/603d7bfb824b5f37289cb9cd

Dawn Charles is a multi-passionate entrepreneur dedicated to sharing her expertise and creativity across multiple ventures. After a decade of shooting weddings full-time, she shifted her focus to helping other creatives grow their skills and build successful businesses as the founder of Dawn Charles Education, DC Presets, and Rise Photo Academy. In addition to her work in education, Dawn also manages an Airbnb and runs a photography rental studio in Oregon. Outside her entrepreneurial pursuits, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Tommy, and their three daughters.

Karen (@BlackVisualQueen) is an AMAZING leader in the photography space. She has hired photographers for clients like Wired, Masterclass, Square, and AARP. She is the decision-maker sitting in fancy rooms with top people debating which photographer to hire and why and has had a hand in visual stories for dozens of iconic brands. She is also a photography thought leader on LinkedIn, sharing industry knowledge. She is also the author of The Photo Hustle: Land Your First Client and Build a Thriving Career in Commercial Photography, to be published in 2025.

Find Karen:

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/blackvisualqueen/

Website: https://www.blackvisualqueen.com/

WHAT’S NEXT:

This podcast has been made possible by:

https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/virtual-assistant

Email marketing episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/SZVBZHRfjMb

Pinterest episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/QNlHvIRfjMb

Social media strategy & planning: https://www.instagram.com/juliabroome/

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This podcast has been made possible by:

https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/brand

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This podcast has been made possible by:

Photography grant fund: https://aftershoot.com/create-together-fund/ Applications are open until August 23rd.

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In this Build and Bloom photography podcast episode, you will learn from @HelanaMichelle about the Twitch streaming platform and how to use it in your photography business!

Find Helana:

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In this Build and Bloom photography podcast episode, join me (@JessicaWhitaker) and photography email marketing expert Kendra Swalls (@GirlMeansBusiness) as she shares WHY you need an email list, exactly HOW to get started, and tips for GROWING an email list so you can BOOK more clients.

Find Kendra:

Email Membership: www.girlmeansbusiness.com/insider

Instagram @girlmeansbusiness

Girl Means Business Website

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In this Build and Bloom photography podcast episode, join me (@JessicaWhitaker) for virtual coffee with four amazing photographers in episode 4 of the new podcast series! Every month, different photographers will join me on the podcast to discuss hot topics.

Photographers:

Mecca:

@meccaclarkephoto

Cecelia:

@ceceliapaigephotography

Dom:

@domdoesmedia

Helena:

@helanamichelle

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This podcast has been made possible by: