In this episode of the Photo Business Success Podcast, hosts Morgan and Megan share their top three business book recommendations for photographers. Without knowing each other's picks, they dive into discussions and friendly debates over their choices. The books highlighted include 'The Seven Levels of Communication' by Michael Maher, 'E Myth' by Michael Gerber, 'Be Your Future Self Now' by Dr. Benjamin Hardy, 'Fanatical Prospecting' by Jeb Blount, 'Storyworthy' by Matthew Dicks, and 'Giftology' by John Ruhlin. They also discuss bonus recommendations such as 'Never Split the Difference' by Chris Voss and 'How to Persuade and Get Paid' by Phil M. Jones. The episode is filled with useful insights for photographers looking to improve their business mindset, sales skills, and client relationships.

00:00 Welcome to the Photo Business Success Podcast

00:07 Top Business Book Picks for Photographers

01:11 Megan's First Book Recommendation: 7L

02:59 Morgan's First Book Recommendation: E Myth

04:08 Megan's Second Book Recommendation: Be Your Future Self Now

06:13 Morgan's Second Book Recommendation: Fanatical Prospecting

07:34 Megan's Third Book Recommendation: Storyworthy

09:56 Morgan's Third Book Recommendation: Giftology

12:20 Bonus Book Recommendations

17:14 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Book recommendations:

7L: The Seven Levels of Commuinication: https://a.co/d/7L13L7n

The E-Myth Revisited: https://a.co/d/67rkw1b

Be Your Future Self Now: https://a.co/d/25946fS

Fanatical Prospecting: https://a.co/d/44zldZL

Storyworthy: https://a.co/d/4kMG0SI

Giftology: https://a.co/d/c68YJjz

Never Split the Difference: https://a.co/d/1hwKyRK

How to Persuade and Get Paid: https://a.co/d/aVjtkkA

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In this episode of the Photo Business Success podcast, Morgan and Megan discuss effective goal-setting techniques to prepare for 2025. They emphasize the importance of making goals trackable, realistic, and tied to a greater purpose. The hosts provide actionable advice on breaking down goals into manageable steps, understanding lead and lag indicators, and setting action-oriented targets. They also highlight the significance of focusing on a few critical goals rather than spreading efforts too thin. Morgan shares her own goal for the year, aiming to get on five new preferred vendor lists, while Megan underscores the need for linking goals to deeper motivations. This episode is packed with practical tips to help photographers and wedding vendors plan and achieve their business objectives for the new year.

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:29 The Importance of Goal Setting

02:46 Making Goals Trackable

05:08 Purpose-Driven Goals

08:02 Lead and Lag Indicators

11:33 Breaking Down the Numbers

17:32 Focusing on Key Goals

21:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Episode 11 // Critical Investments for Photographers: What to Avoid and What to Embrace

In this episode of the Photo Business Success Podcast, hosts Morgan and Megan discuss controversial topics on investments for photography businesses. They highlight items and services photographers should avoid spending their money on, such as excessive gear, unnecessary websites, and creative workshops, while emphasizing the importance of investing in coaching, marketing, education, useful tools, and outsourcing. They elaborate on their personal experiences and provide practical advice to help photographers make better financial decisions for their business growth.

00:00 Introduction and Controversial Topic Overview

00:30 Stop Investing in Gear

04:57 Website and Branding Investments

05:54 Styled Shoots and Creative Workshops

07:47 Styling Kits and Emergency Kits

09:18 Software and Gadgets

11:01 The Value of Coaching

15:02 Effective Marketing Strategies

17:57 Education and Resources

20:53 Outsourcing for Success

24:41 Conclusion and Community Engagement

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When to Leave Your Photography Business: Real Talk and Hard Truths

In this episode of the Photo Business Success Podcast, Morgan and co-host Megan explore the controversial topic of quitting a photography business. They share personal experiences and discuss the emotional and financial challenges that can push photographers to consider leaving the industry. Megan emphasizes that it's okay to transition out of photography if it's no longer fulfilling, stressing the importance of making logical, unemotional decisions. They also introduce the Wedding Multiplier Toolkit— a resource they've created to assist photographers in marketing and growing their businesses, which allows avoiding common business mistakes.

00:00 Introduction and Controversial Topic

00:29 Personal Experiences and Struggles

03:32 The Reality of Running a Photography Business

06:35 Reasons to Quit Your Photography Business

12:49 Financial Struggles and Solutions

22:13 The Wedding Multiplier Toolkit

25:15 Resources and Wrap-Up

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Stop Ghosting in Its Tracks // Episode 9

In this episode of the Photo Business Success Podcast, hosts Morgan and Megan discuss effective strategies to prevent ghosting from potential clients in the photo business. They explore the cultural changes contributing to ghosting, the importance of making personal connections, and tactile tips for follow-up. They share personal stories and practical advice on responding to inquiries, maintaining human touches while setting professional boundaries, and the significance of consistent follow-up. The episode also highlights the importance of being a good steward of leads and offers insights and resources, including the Wedding Multiplier Toolkit, to help photographers thrive. Additionally, proceeds from sales in October and November will be directed toward disaster relief in the Appalachia region.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:29 The Evolution of Ghosting in Business

03:38 Strategies to Humanize Your Business

08:23 Maintaining Professional Boundaries

21:07 The Importance of Follow-Up

31:13 Concluding Thoughts and Announcements

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Maximizing Off-Season Success for Photographers // Episode 8

In this episode of the Photo Business Success Podcast, hosts Morgan and Megan discuss strategies for photographers to stay productive and set up their businesses for success during the off-season. They emphasize focusing on revenue-generating activities such as taking sales calls and following up with leads. The hosts also highlight the importance of project management, using tools like Asana or ClickUp, and investing in education to improve business operations. Additionally, they encourage photographers to take time for rest and creative inspiration through retreats and other non-screen activities.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:41 Revenue Generating Activities During Off Season

02:27 Balancing Revenue Activities and Other Tasks

08:41 Prioritizing and Planning Improvements

11:07 Effective Project Management Tips

14:28 Investing in Education and Personal Growth

18:52 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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Preparing for Wedding Photography Off-Season // Episode 7

In this episode of the Photo Business Success Podcast, hosts Morgan and Megan dive into how photographers can prepare for the off-season. They emphasize the importance of giving oneself permission to rest while setting parameters to avoid burnout. Morgan shares her experience with 'editing retreats' as a way to transition from a hectic schedule to downtime. They also discuss the significance of planning and connecting with fellow photographers during the off-season. List-making for future improvements and maintaining proactive steps in business planning are highlighted as key strategies. Tune in for essential tips on making the most out of your off-season to set up for future success.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:37 Giving Yourself Permission to Rest

02:14 Editing Retreats: A Creative Getaway

05:54 Connecting with Fellow Photographers

08:39 Planning for Off-Season Improvements

10:44 Setting Up for a Successful Year

13:50 Conclusion and Next Steps

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How to Thrive During Busy Wedding Season // Episode 6

In this episode of the Photo Business Success podcast, Morgan and Megan share essential tips and advice for wedding photographers on how to not just survive but thrive during the busy season. Recorded in October, they cover practical strategies such as maintaining self-care routines, proper nutrition, planning, and outsourcing tasks. They emphasize the importance of foundational health habits, scheduling, and utilizing modern tools like ChatGPT for meal planning to ensure a balanced professional and personal life. They also tease their upcoming episodes focused on prepping for and optimizing the off-season.

00:00 Introduction and Current Busy Season Challenges 02:39 Self-Care Strategies for Thriving in Busy Season 04:49 Nutritional Tips for Maintaining Energy 08:19 The Importance of Physical Activity 11:33 Scheduling and Planning for Success 15:01 Outsourcing and Getting Help 19:47 Conclusion and Teaser for Next Episode

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Episode 5 // The Power of Necessity in Your Photography Business

In this episode of the Photo Business Success podcast, hosts Morgan and Megan dive into the concept of necessity, discussing its importance in business and personal growth. They acknowledge the discomfort this topic may bring, clarify that necessity is not about greed, and share personal stories illustrating how creating necessity can drive success and positive impacts. They emphasize the strategic use of necessity to advance one's business and support personal goals, and conclude with practical advice for photographers on the verge of going full-time. Join them as they explore how necessity can be a powerful tool for both achieving financial goals and making meaningful contributions to the world.

00:00 Welcome to the Photo Business Success Podcast 02:41 Defining Necessity in Business 04:31 Real-Life Examples of Necessity 08:35 The Power of Necessity in Personal Growth 18:47 Forced Necessity: When Life Chooses for You 19:55 Creating Your Own Necessity

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Curating Your Environment for Business and Personal Growth // Episode 4

In this episode of the Photo Business Success Podcast, hosts Morgan and Megan delve into how your environment can profoundly influence both personal and professional growth. They explore various aspects of environment, including your physical workspace, the people you associate with, and the media you consume. Emphasizing the importance of a supportive and motivating environment, they provide practical tips on organizing your space and choosing the right relationships to foster productivity. The discussion also highlights personal anecdotes on the benefits of mastermind groups, networking, and making intentional investments in personal development— all geared towards enhancing business success.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:17 Defining Your Environment

00:58 The Importance of Surroundings

02:08 Influence of People in Your Life

03:50 Balancing Personal and Professional Relationships

05:43 Creating a Productive Workspace

12:09 Professional Relationships and Growth

17:10 The Importance of Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

18:33 Choosing the Right Social Circles

20:17 Navigating Friendships During COVID

21:18 The Impact of Masterminds on Business Growth

26:21 Understanding Business Principles

27:31 Engineering Your Environment for Success

29:14 Final Thoughts and Advice

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