I’m not as good as the others. Why would a client work with me?

I still don’t know my style. I’m so behind. 

Should I quote lower so I don’t lose the client? 

I post regularly on Instagram but no one engages with my content anymore.

I feel so lonely on this journey. Who do I speak to?

These are a few of the thoughts that keep us awake at night. Worst is, sometimes these thoughts get so loud in our heads that they amplify our doubt in ourselves, leading us to believe that we are not cut out for running a business. 

If you’ve any doubts about running or creating a business that trouble you, this week’s podcast episode is exactly what you need right now. 

Imagine hanging out with your favourite photographer or blogger and asking them the questions that make you doubt your future as a business owner. 

This episode is exactly that. 

It is a conversation with successful creatives about their biggest challenge while building a business and how they overcame it. 

Here’s a lineup of your favourites from Joanie Simon and Jordan Hughes to Suze Morrison and Anja Burgar etc. sharing how they overcame these hurdles in their journey. 

It’s the beginning of the year and a good time to cut our ties with self-doubt, pricing problems, confidence issues, tough money talks, and social media frustrations. 

This episode has answers for all of those. 

Challenges in business do not spare anyone. But the comforting part is that we all go through almost the same challenges, hiccups, and doubts. Which means, the answer to our question already exists. Someone already went through it and found a way to answer, tackle, and overcome it. 

Hear what our experts have to say. You’ll walk away feeling empowered & reassured of your value.

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/109-pricing-photography-instagram-the-answers-you-need-to-grow-your-business

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Mini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography business

Download free resources:
The 10-step photoshoot
The 5 steps to visual storytelling

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing 3 questions you should be asking yourself this year if you want to grow your business. 

We all have a long wishlist or goals for the year but I’m giving you just 3 simple things to think about that will help you get laser-focused, give you direction, and make it easier for you to get started. 

It will simplify your decision-making process and help you take action with clarity …  because we all know how difficult it is to take the right action when the options are endless.

Even if you don’t have goals for this year, just hearing out these 3 questions will give you new ideas and the inspiration to progress forward with enthusiasm.

Here are 3 essential questions to ask yourself this year to help you grow your business, increase your revenue, build confidence, and become a skilled Creative.

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/108-3-questions-you-should-be-asking-this-year-to-grow-your-business

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Mini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography business

Download free resources:
The 10-step photoshoot
The 5 steps to visual storytelling

In this week’s podcast, grab a box of tissues and join me for an emotional yet powerful episode where I share how to turn your low point in life into a high point, How to have a breakthrough when you’re at your lowest & How to grow your business when you're going through a rough phase.

I spent days thinking about how I had met big goals that had been sitting on my list for years during a time when I was at my weakest, most vulnerable, and had no drive or passion for anything.

Despite being buried in grief, I had made thousands of dollars, grew my email subscriber list, diversified my business & established a higher credibility. 

There’s not one person I know who has not gone through a low point in their life - financial crisis, personal loss, burnout, depression..etc.

This episode will guide you on what to do during those rough phases of life.

Allow me to show you how to : 

Find strength when you’re weak.

Stay creative when you’re exhausted. 

Guide yourself when you feel lost.

Trust your decisions when you’re vulnerable.

Make money in your business when you’re slow.

Move forward even when you’re stuck.

These are skills we all need so that every time life pulls us down, we bend a bit but can stand right back up because we know better. 

We know how to turn our low point in life into a high point. 

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/107-how-to-have-a-business-breakthrough-when-you-re-at-your-lowest

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast, Jessie Sierra Ross, Food blogger, TV personality, and cookbook author shares everything about writing your cookbook without overwhelm. 

In this part, she discusses writing,  photographing,  pitching, working with a publisher, the role of an editor, negotiating contracts, sequence of marketing activities, and ways to promote & monetize the book. 

It’s all about taking one step at a time & Jessie tells us how to do it without running out of steam. 

Writing a book can be a massive leap in your creative journey. It can establish credibility but also boost your business.

A cookbook expands your reach, helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level, and creates a ripple effect of opportunities for your business. 

Yes, it’s not an overnight task. It takes a bit of time but the results are equally proportionate. The results are for life because once you write your cookbook, you become an author for the rest of your life. Imagine!

Thinking of this alone, made me realize why even shark tank judges, who know so much about business, emphasize writing a book. Because they know that writing a book is more than a project; it’s a launchpad for your brand and career.

Here’s the process of writing, photographing and monetizing your cook in the simplest way. It might seem like a lot of work but with the right mindset and approach, you can easily make it happen.

Remember, a cookbook is a bridge to new opportunities and a game-changer for your business.

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/106-how-to-create-pitch-monetize-a-cookbook-without-overwhelm-with-jessie-sierra-part-2

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

What if creating our cookbook was the breakthrough we need in our business? What if Writing our cookbook is actually a gateway to bigger opportunities?
What if it is actually the missing piece of the puzzle that can set us up for the success we are looking for? 

Truth is, that creating your own cookbook is one of the most powerful ways to build credibility. No one ever takes a cookbook author lightly. There is so much weight in those words, whether you’re introducing yourself or pitching to a brand.  It instantly sends the message that you’re a pro. 
Creating a cookbook can also be the most joyful, soulful, and creatively fulfilling experience in your journey. 

It can seem daunting but the benefits of creating your cookbook overshadows that overwhelm.

In this 2-part series,  Jessie Sierra Ross, Food blogger, TV personality and cookbook author shares everything about writing your cookbook. 

She breaks down the entire process of creating a cookbook. From writing,  photographing,  pitching, working with an editor, marketing, promoting and monetizing the book - she shares it all.
From concept creation to digital applications to visual design and food styling, Jessie opens up about every step involved in writing a cookbook.

This episode will leave you inspired and motivated. 

A cookbook has the potential to bring results for years to come. It works as a long game but the impact is absolutely life-changing.

If you have been considering writing a cookbook, this episode will give you all the information you need to get started.

And if you haven’t thought about it yet, this episode will open a new way of thinking, introducing you to an idea that can be the pivotal point of your creative career. 

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/105-how-to-create-pitch-monetize-a-cookbook-without-overwhelm-with-jessie-sierra-ross-part-1

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Food photographers are called visual storytellers for a reason. We are known to create photos that tell a story, and transport a viewer into the frame.

The best part is that we can tell if our photos have a strong storytelling element in them or not because it shows. It shows in the results that they bring. They either attract more clients, bring more traffic to our blog, captivate a viewer, garner beautiful comments on Instagram or win awards.

Photos with powerful storytelling make an impact and bring results.

But creating an impactful visual story every time isn’t always easy. We can run into an idea shortage or a creative block. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the technology side of photography that we miss the storytelling part. And other times, we underestimate the power of a strong story and don’t give it enough time and attention. Oh, and sometimes, we do create stories, but they don’t bring results, indicating a weak storyline.

As simple, and fun as it sounds, storytelling can be our superpower but only when we know how to create it and it brings us some sort of results. 

In this week’s podcast, I’m sharing my guest appearance on the popular Eat Blog Talk podcast, where we dove deep into how to build a compelling visual story in food photography. 

Whether you're shooting recipes for brands or looking to improve your food photos, this episode is packed with practical tips, fresh perspectives, and ways to avoid common storytelling mistakes. 

I share how to craft compelling visual stories, even with the trickiest food subjects, why your photos might lack impact, how to create a "hook" in your images, break free from creative blocks, and easy ways to tap into viewers’ emotions and imagination and use it to attract clients. 

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/104-how-to-elevate-your-visual-storytelling-skills-to-hook-your-audience-attract-clients

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Being laser-focused about where we want to take our business and working on the right aspects that will bring results.

Creating a portfolio and marketing it, is a huge part of building a photography business. 

In fact, it is the key step in starting right because if the client does not like what they see, there’s no 2nd conversation from there.

But when our portfolio is created the right way and shared the right way, it helps us work with better clients, negotiate better rates, and in fact, raise our rates. 

The secret lies not just in creating beautiful work but also in being smart and strategic about how we create, share, and update it. 

In this week’s podcast episode, we continue our conversation with Lucia Marecak, food photographer, food photography teacher, coach, and creative online business consultant based in Italy. Lucia shares everything about creating a powerful portfolio that brings clients, helps you raise your rates, and differentiates you from the competition.

Lucia shares everything from creating separate portfolios, the different ways to market your portfolio, use it to attract clients, tips to present your portfolio in pitches, how to use it to raise your rates, and the importance of feedback to improve and upgrade your portfolio.

We are always creating new content, new photos, new recipes, new videos. It’s so easy to start being strategic about our content creation anytime.

We can start today.

And if we already have a robust, well thought-out portfolio, then we can start sharing it in ways that all that hardwork can make the impact it truly deserves. And we start anytime, wherever we are in our journey. Basically, we can start today!

The beauty of it is that it’s never too late. The train hasn’t left the station. As soon as we learn the power of creating and marketing it a portfolio, we can start right away.

Here’s how to create a photography portfolio that brings results. 

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/103-how-to-create-a-professional-photography-portfolio-to-grow-your-business-part-2

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing 3 powerful ways to bounce back when you’re not loving your work. 

I share ways to shift your focus, your energy and your photography efforts when you’re feeling stuck or blocked. Some of the ways might feel counterintuitive but are highly effective.

I share how to look at your work when you’re not loving it, what action to take with creations that are not up to your expectations, how to work smarter to actually start seeing improvements in your photography skills, how to get clarity and keep your creative energy flowing. 

Look at photographers who’ve been in the industry for over a decade and are still going strong. What do you think is their secret? 

Truth is, there is no Creative who is spared from low phases, from feeling discouraged, having self-doubt, and not liking what they create. Even the photographers who’ve been in the game long enough have experienced these phases. The only difference is that when they begin to feel the low point, they know how to address it. 

We can’t run away but we can definitely empower and prepare ourselves to deal with such phases to limit that spiral feeling, and come out of it stronger. And with time such blocks, or phases become easier to navigate through.

Always remember that our mindset and actions can block creativity and growth. Creativity thrives in a light, nimble space, not one filled with self-criticism or pressure. 

Tune in to learn three ways to bounce back & continue creating beautiful work without sabotaging your creativity or self-esteem. 



Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available athttps://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/102-3-powerful-ways-to-bounce-back-from-a-creative-block-without-sabotaging-your-self-esteem


Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Our portfolio is a reflection of our skill, style, and aspiration as a photographer. So, the portfolio must be built with intention and strategy. The work in our portfolio must be cherry-picked and chosen strategically.  

It is the intention and strategy that brings results. 

Knowing how to create photos for a portfolio efficiently and effectively is essential for reaching more clients and increasing your chance of success with every outreach. If you haven't seen much success in your client outreach or closing deals with brands, it might be time to look at your portfolio, how you’re sharing it, what you’re sharing, and what your website represents. 

In this week’s podcast episode, Lucia Marecak, food photographer, food photography teacher, coach, and creative online business consultant based in Italy, tells us everything about creating a powerful portfolio that brings clients, helps you raise your rates, and establishes you as a professional in the market.

Lucia shares everything from the kind of photos to include in a portfolio, the style of photography to follow, how to organize photos that work well for clients, how to create an SEO searchable online portfolio, the different ways to share your portfolio with clients, how to leverage social media to showcase your work, negotiate better rates, etc. 

Whether you already have a photography portfolio or are creating one, this conversation with Lucia is absolute gold.




Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/101-how-to-create-a-photography-portfolio-that-grows-your-business-with-lucia-marecak-part-1

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Now, did you know that about 20% of all small businesses fail within the first year, half of the remaining fail within the first five years, and only about one in three get to the 10-year mark?

In this week’s milestone episode, as we celebrate the 100th episode,  I want to share the top 3 lessons that made this possible and kept me in business. I was on the verge of quitting at the 3-year mark but I didn’t and one of the lessons here came from that experience. 

In this episode, I share the conversation that shook me and changed my status to business owner. I also talk about the surprising investment I made to not quit food photography, and my biggest learning so far. 

Let my mistakes save you from tears, financial setbacks, and from giving up on your dreams.

I’ve seen more businesses shut down than take off. 

I've seen food photographers give up their dreams and return to desk jobs they hate. 

I have friends who did not have the courage to follow their passion to run a business.

I have seen the most talented photographers get crippled by the fear of failure and quit forever.

Running a business or following a Creative career is not for the faint-hearted. We all know that. But there are small shifts in our thinking, professional practices and lifestyle that can make this path easier with a higher chance of success.

Let’s be the one in three businesses that make it past the 10-year mark by learning from the surprising situations that our creative journey throws at us. 

Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/surpising lessons every photographer needs for a successful business

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/