This week Brad and Jen sit down with Perry Vaile, a destination and editorial wedding photographer, historian, educator, and creative whose life stretches far beyond the wedding industry.

What begins as a conversation about Perry’s mountain home in North Carolina quickly turns into something much bigger: ambition, success, identity, community, social media, and what it means to build a life that doesn’t depend on your work to fulfill you.

Perry shares the story of building a 15-year photography career, the moments she felt like she had finally “made it,” and how her relationship to success has evolved over time. From photographing a Victoria’s Secret supermodel’s wedding to intentionally removing social media from her phone, she offers a refreshing perspective on staying connected to what matters while working in an industry built on visibility and comparison.

Together, we explore boundaries, hobbies, community, family, creativity, and the challenge of building a successful career without sacrificing the life around it.

We also explore:

• Living a “split life” between the mountains and the city, and why each pace feeds the other

• Buying land on instinct and building a home designed to last generations

• The two moments Perry felt like she had “made it”

• Finding the confidence to stand up for her work on a make-or-break deadline

• Entering a world of wealth without attaching her worth to it

• Why real memories matter more than staged perfection

• Removing social media from her phone and creating healthier boundaries

• Archery, needlepoint, gardening, reading, and building a life outside the industry

• Creating local community on purpose

• Holding success open-handedly and defining it on your own terms

• Working smarter, protecting rest, and avoiding burnout

• Why “going quiet” may be the biggest risk for photographers today

Connect with Perry

Website: https://perryvaile.com/
Instagram: @perryvaile

Connect with Us

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings

Apply for the Mastermind Program - High level 1:1 creative coaching & community.

Chapters

(00:00) Welcome and the seven-weekend stretch ahead

(01:00) A split life between the mountains and Raleigh

(03:30) Buying the land and building a forever home

(08:45) The long view: who do you want to be at 70?

(14:00) Fifteen years in and the moments she “made it”

(22:00) Chutzpah, film deadlines, and confidence

(24:00) Wealth, worth, and belonging in luxury spaces

(27:00) The historian’s approach to photography

(32:00) Redefining success and holding it loosely

(40:00) Protecting the craft from the industry

(42:00) Social media boundaries and bricking the phone

(48:00) Hobbies, books, and building community

(56:00) Perspective, gratitude, and figure-out-able problems

(59:00) Working smarter and protecting rest

(01:13:00) What matters now and why going quiet is risky

(01:20:00) Books, recommendations, and what’s next

Keywords: wedding photography, destination wedding photographer, boundaries, work-life balance, redefining success, building community, photographer mindset, burnout, rest and margin, intentional living, historic preservation, film photography, photographer education

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by photographer and artist Sophie Lin Berard.

Known for blending documentary honesty with editorial sophistication, Sophie’s work draws from a wide range of influences including street photography, fashion, commercial work, architecture, and fine art. In this conversation, we explore what it actually takes to become a versatile photographer and why some of the most important skills are developed far away from a wedding day.

Sophie shares her unconventional path into photography, from photographing sneakers for a local retailer to working in editorial fashion, commercial photography, and eventually weddings. We talk about building confidence through repetition, why preparation creates freedom, and how learning multiple disciplines has shaped her ability to adapt and create in real time.

Beyond photography, we also dive into burnout, ambition, boundaries, and what it means to define success on your own terms. From technical mastery to creative curiosity, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for photographers looking to grow their craft and build a sustainable creative life.

What We Cover:

• Why great photographers develop skills outside of weddings
• How commercial, fashion, and street photography shaped Sophie’s voice
• The case for becoming a “jack of all trades”
• Why preparation creates confidence and creative freedom
• How Sophie approaches documentary and editorial photography
• The role of personal projects in developing your eye
• What burnout taught her about boundaries and success
• Defining your “enough number” and creating a more sustainable career

Connect with Sophie:

Website: https://sberard.com/

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

Connect with Us:

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings:

Instagram: @bradandjeneducation

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Sophie Lin Berard

(03:00) From sneaker photography to commercial work

(08:00) Why being a jack of all trades matters

(13:00) How different creative disciplines shape your photography

(19:00) Preparation, timelines, and creative freedom

(25:00) Building confidence through technical mastery

(33:00) Developing your eye outside of weddings

(38:00) Documentary versus editorial photography

(45:00) High-profile weddings, planners, and staying true to your voice

(48:00) Burnout, boundaries, and redefining success

(57:00) Gratitude, social media, and protecting your creativity

(01:10:00) What success looks like now

Keywords:

wedding photography, documentary photography, editorial photography, creative growth, photography education, artistic voice, commercial photography, film photography, wedding photographer, photography business, creativity, confidence, personal projects, photography workflow, burnout, creative process

AI is changing the way we work, create, and communicate, but what if the most important response isn’t learning how to use AI better? What if it’s becoming more human?

In this episode, Jen shares 3 simple skills she’s intentionally investing in during an AI era. Skills she believes they’reare becoming increasingly rare, and therefore increasingly valuable.

• Theo of Golden - Allen Levi
• Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott

When everyone else is relying on automation, your ability to think deeply, communicate clearly, and connect genuinely may become your greatest advantage. The future may belong to those who remain unapologetically human.

(00:00) Why this conversation matters
(02:00) How Brad & Jen use AI in their business
(03:10) Skill #1
(06:45) Skill #2
(08:45) Skill #3
(10:15) Why Skill #3 matter more than ever
(13:00) Building your human superpowers

Purpose & Profit: https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course

AI and creativity, photography business, storytelling, discovery calls, writing, reading fiction, human connection, creative growth, wedding photography, communication skills, entrepreneurship, artist development, purpose and profit.

This week Brad is sitting down with Kate Thompson for a conversation about creativity, parenthood, burnout, ambition, and the discipline of protecting the parts of yourself that make meaningful work possible in the first place.

Over the last several years, we’ve watched Kate intentionally refine her work and her business, but what surprised us most in this conversation wasn’t hearing about “leveling up” or entering the "luxury market"... it was hearing what happened underneath all of it.

Kate shares openly about navigating postpartum depression during the pandemic, learning to detach her self-worth from success, and the tiny daily habits that slowly helped her rebuild her creativity, confidence, and joy.

We also explore:

• her background in speech pathology and linguistics
• working alongside her sister at Palindrome Creative Co.
• creating personal work in seasons of limitation
• simplifying her business and refining her editing process
• why curation matters
• and how learning to quiet outside noise helped her trust her own artistic voice again
  

This episode was so special and is a refreshing and honest look at what it takes to sustain a creative life over the long haul.

In This Episode

• Protecting your creativity in a noisy industry
• Tiny habits, self-care, and rebuilding after burnout
• Motherhood, surrender, and creative ambition
• Detaching self-worth from success
• The role of personal work and bookmaking
• Learning to trust your artistic intuition
• Simplifying your business and editing process
• Working in both weddings and commercial photography
• Creating meaningful work in real-life seasons
  

Quote Worth Remembering

“I had to create this fortress to protect my internal fire of inspiration. I had to redefine what success looked like for me. And for a while, success just meant staying inspired.”  

Books Mentioned

• North Woods — Daniel Mason
• I Cheerfully Refuse — Leif Enger
  

Connect with Kate

Kate Thompson Weddings
Palindrome Creative Co.

Connect with Brad & Jen

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings
Apply for the Mastermind Program

Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Previews. Sneak peeks. Whatever you call them… this conversation keeps coming back around.

In this episode, we unpack why so many photographers feel stuck in the tension between artistry and expectation and why the question “should I do previews or not?” might actually be the wrong place to start.

Instead of giving a formula, we invite you into a different way of thinking. One rooted in ownership, clarity, and building a business from your own philosophy...not just reacting to industry pressure. If you’ve ever felt torn between what’s expected and what feels aligned, this episode will help you rethink how you make decisions… not just about previews, but about everything.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

- Why the previews debate isn’t actually about previews

- The hidden pressure photographers feel (and how it shapes decisions)

- The difference between reacting vs. building from conviction

- What previews are really doing for your clients and your business

- How to think through tradeoffs without defaulting to industry norms

- The power of communicating your philosophy to your clients

- How to redefine previews in a way that feels aligned to you

Links & Ways to Connect

Apply for the Mastermind Program:

https://learn.bradandjen.com/mastermind-coaching

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings:

https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course

Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Episode Chapters

(00:00) The DM that sparked the conversation

(01:30) The pressure photographers feel around previews

(03:40) Why “should I do previews?” is the wrong question

(05:00) Building conviction vs. outsourcing decisions

(07:10) The parenting story (and decision-making framework)

(10:30) Why previews exist (and what they actually do)

(13:50) The tension: connection vs. artistic integrity

(15:30) Two different approaches that both work

(18:50) Questions to ask instead of defaulting to trends

(20:10) The tradeoffs of both paths

(22:10) Finding your own way (and redefining previews)

Quotes Worth Remembering:

“Don’t just ask what works. Ask what you believe—and build from there.”

“Neither option is wrong… but neither is free.”

Keywords:

wedding photography, sneak peeks, previews, photography business, client experience, artistic integrity, decision making, photography marketing, creative business, wedding photographers

Hey everyone! This week on the podcast we’re joined by photographer, educator, and artist Anni Graham for a conversation that goes far deeper than photography, pricing, or building a luxury brand.

What began as a conversation about growth, reinvention, and moving into a higher-end market quickly became something much more honest - about the inner life of being a creative, the private tensions many photographers carry, and what it takes to keep believing in yourself through seasons of doubt, ambition, motherhood, and change.

Anni speaks candidly about the emotional rollercoaster of creative work, the mindset work underneath business growth, why so many photographers try to build on a fractured foundation, and what it looked like for her to make bold shifts before she had evidence they would work.

We also talk about motherhood, moving to Costa Rica, redefining success, and the surprising freedom that comes when you begin building a career around the life you actually want.

This one is personal, practical, and deeply encouraging.

What We Cover:

• Why the hardest work in photography often has little to do with photography

• The mindset battles many creatives quietly carry

• Building a business from identity, not insecurity

• What Anni learned moving from elopements into the luxury market

• Why she doubled her prices before she had proof it would work

• Risk, reinvention, and trusting yourself before you have evidence

• How motherhood reshaped her definition of success

• Protecting creativity, nurturing energy, and tuning out the noise

• Why experimentation and personal taste matter more than most strategy

Connect with Anni:

Anni's New E-Book: https://anni-graham.myflodesk.com/free-e-book
Website: https://www.annigraham.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annigraham

Connect with Us:


Apply for the Mastermind Program: https://learn.bradandjen.com/mastermind-coaching

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings: https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course

Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Chapters:


(00:00) Why this conversation felt different


(04:10) Life in Costa Rica and redefining success


(11:45) The inner battle many creatives don’t talk about
(22:30) Mindset, insecurity, and building on a strong foundation


(36:10) Protecting creativity and trusting your artistic voice


(49:20) Motherhood, ambition, and what success can cost


(01:02:15) Making the leap into the high-end market


(01:16:30) Identity shifts, pricing, and finding aligned clients


(01:29:00) Risk, reinvention, and making bold moves before proof


(01:40:20) Final thoughts on courage, trust, and building a life

Keywords:
wedding photography, photographer mindset, creative growth, luxury wedding photography, artistic identity, entrepreneurship, self doubt, creativity, motherhood and business, pricing mindset, personal growth, photographer education, creative courage, reinvention

This week on the podcast we’re joined by Roma Vera , whose films have become some of the most recognizable and influential in the wedding world.

In this conversation, we talk about originality, creative discipline, and what it takes to build work that still feels fresh after 16 years. Roma and Vera share their journey from a small town in Siberia to Moscow to Spain, the surprising influences behind their style, and the creative “policies” they’ve developed to avoid copying, repeating themselves, or getting stuck.

We dig into how they create such expressive films, how they work with couples who aren’t naturally outgoing, and why they focus so much on the moments happening “behind the corner” instead of only the obvious highlights. We also talk about copycats, editing, burnout, building teams across the world, and the pressure of staying original when your work is being emulated everywhere.

What We Cover:

• How they built one of the most recognizable styles in wedding filmmaking
• Why they avoid looking at other filmmakers for inspiration
• The creative rules that keep them from repeating themselves
• How they get couples to loosen up without over-directing
• What they do when a couple isn’t naturally expressive
• The pressure of being copied and staying original
• Why editing is painful, uncertain, and essential to great work
• How they’ve built teams across Europe and the US
• What success, longevity, and reinvention look like after 16 years

Connect with Roma Vera:

Website: https://romavera.com/

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

Connect with Us:

NEW Inquiry Process Email Templates: https://learn.bradandjen.com/inquiry-process-email-templates-for-photographers

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings:

https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course

Apply for the Mastermind Program:

https://learn.bradandjen.com/mastermind-coaching

Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Chapters:

(00:00) Meeting Roma Vera

(04:00) From Siberia to Spain

(07:30) The early moments that shaped their style

(11:00) Inspiration beyond the wedding industry

(20:00) Finding humor and unexpected moments

(24:00) Why they don’t follow other filmmakers

(30:00) How they direct without over-directing

(35:00) Working with quieter couples

(39:00) Their dream wedding weekends

(43:00) Building teams across Europe and the US

(49:00) Why editing feels like suffering

(58:00) Burnout, inspiration, and staying creative

(01:01:00) Being copied and staying original

(01:09:00) What success looks like now

Keywords:

wedding filmmaking, wedding videography, creative discipline, originality, editing process, storytelling, destination weddings, wedding films, documentary filmmaking, artistic voice, creativity, burnout, wedding filmmakers, business growth

Hey everyone! This week on the podcast, Jen is walking through a handful of ideas that have been reshaping the way we think about goals, happiness, and what it actually looks like to move forward in life and business.

What We Cover:

• Why goal setting doesn’t need to revolve around a new calendar year
• The shift from “have, do, be” to “be, do, have”
• How happiness actually drives success (not the other way around)
• Five simple habits that can reshape your mindset and daily life
• The concept of a 12-week year and why it creates better momentum
• Why consistency matters more than breakthroughs
• The emotional cycle of change (and how to push through it)
• How to set goals you can actually measure and follow through on
  

Books Mentioned:

• The Slight Edge: https://amzn.to/3QbPbh4
• The 12 Week Year: https://amzn.to/3QcV6CA
• So Good They Can’t Ignore You: https://amzn.to/4tJuesh
• The Happiness Advantage: https://amzn.to/4swIEec

Connect with Us:

**NEW** Inquiry Process Email Templates - https://learn.bradandjen.com/inquiry-process-email-templates-for-photographers

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings: https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course

Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Chapters:

(00:00) Why goal setting shouldn’t be seasonal

(03:00) The connection between happiness and success

(07:30) Be → Do → Have: a mindset shift

(12:00) Five daily habits that create real change

(18:30) Why most people don’t follow through

(22:00) The 12-week year and building momentum

(27:00) Small actions vs. big breakthroughs

(31:00) The emotional cycle of change

(36:00) Setting goals you can actually achieve

(40:00) Final thoughts and a simpler way forward

Keywords:

goal setting, personal growth, habits, happiness, productivity, 12 week year, mindset, consistency, entrepreneurship, creative business, motivation, follow through, self development

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by photographer Tejas, whose work has quietly become some of the most thoughtful and distinctive in the wedding and documentary space.

In this conversation, we talk about the long arc of becoming an artist, the discipline of creating before sharing, and how to build a body of work that actually means something.
Tejas shares how he discovered photography in high school, the years he spent studying the craft, and the personal projects that continue shaping the way he sees the world.

We dig into the tension between service and artistry, why personal work matters for creative growth, and how reflection, curiosity, and relationships have shaped his approach to both photography and life. From documenting a deeply personal project between India and Pakistan to developing systems for archiving and revisiting his work, Tejas reminds us that meaningful work takes time.

What We Cover:

• Why many artists need years of creating before they’re ready to share
• How studying film and darkroom work shaped his approach to craft
• Why revisiting old work is key to developing your voice
• The role of personal projects in stronger client work
• The story behind his India–Pakistan documentary project

Connect with Tejas:

Website: https://weddingsbytejas.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tejasphotos/

Connect with Us:

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings:
https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course
Apply for the Mastermind Program:
https://learn.bradandjen.com/mastermind-coaching

Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Tejas
(04:00) Discovering photography and early training
(10:00) Learning the craft and artistic foundations
(15:00) Finding your voice through reflection
(23:00) Service vs. artistry in weddings
(33:00) Systems, film, and workflow
(42:00) India–Pakistan documentary project
(55:00) The purpose of meaningful art
(01:01:00) Mentorship and lifelong learning

Keywords:

wedding photography, documentary photography, creative process, artistic voice, personal projects, photography education, film photography, creative growth, storytelling, intentional creativity

Hey everyone! This week Brad is diving into a conversation that many photographers wrestle with but rarely talk about.

Why is it that so many talented photographers eventually plateau? Why does momentum slow down even when the work keeps getting better?

In this episode, we explore a hidden tension that lives inside many creative careers: the discomfort artists feel when effort becomes visible. In many artistic circles, success is expected to look effortless, as if great work simply attracts recognition on its own. But the reality of building a long, sustainable career often requires something different.

We talk about the moment when early momentum slows down and photographers enter a new stage of growth. A season that asks for patience, relationships, curiosity, and intentional action.

Through the metaphor of tending a garden, Brad unpacks why growth changes over time, how ego and identity can quietly hold us back, and what it looks like to step back into our businesses with renewed purpose and clarity.

If you’ve ever felt tension between being an artist and promoting your work, this conversation will likely feel very familiar.

And if you’re currently in a season where things feel slower or more uncertain, this episode might help you see that moment through a completely different lens.

• Why many talented photographers plateau (and why it has nothing to do with talent)
• The unspoken rule in creative industries that effort should stay invisible
• How artist identity and ego can quietly limit business growth
• Why early momentum eventually slows down for most photographers
• The garden metaphor for understanding creative careers
• How patience, relationships, and service create long-term momentum
• Why defining your “why” changes how you approach marketing and visibility
  

Apply for the Mastermind Program:
https://learn.bradandjen.com/mastermind-coaching

Join Purpose & Profit - A Roadmap to 10k Weddings:
https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course

Instagram:
@bradandjeneducation
@bradandjen

Pricing Guide Template - Built to Convert:
https://learn.bradandjen.com/brad-and-jen-pricing-guide

5 Mistakes Costing You Bookings:
http://learn.bradandjen.com/freebie-5-reasons-you-re-not-booking

Keywords:

wedding photography business, creative career growth, photography mindset, photography business strategy, artist identity, creative plateau, photography marketing mindset, wedding photographer education, photography career sustainability, creative entrepreneurship