In today’s Outsourcing Made Easy student success story I’ll be speaking with Nichole, who’s already saved 120 hours with the support of her VA in just 6 months, and 24 hours in just 4 weeks with the support of her editor thanks to outsourcing.

Tune in to discover…

• Nichole’s background as a brand + portrait photographer and what drew her to Outsourcing Made Easy
• Nichole’s experience hiring a VA on her own vs. her experience hiring a VA after going through OME [1.38]
• How Nichole saved 120 hours thanks to her VA over the past 6 months! [4.58]
• How much Nichole invested to get this support from her VA and how you can (ethically) find the right support for your budget overseas [7.32]
• Nichole’s experience outsourcing her editing and how she found the perfect person to support her close to home [14.24]
• How many hours Nichole has already saved outsourcing her editing (even though she only started this a few weeks ago!) [16.32]
• A snapshot of the stress Nichole was under before she began outsourcing and the toll it was taking on her body [20.03]
• What Nichole’s life looks like now and her final advice for anyone considering joining Outsourcing Made Easy [22.23], [28.11]

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Click here to sign up for Outsourcing Made Easy (doors close for an entire year on Thursday 26 October at 11.59 PM ET!) 

Connect with Nichole at  https://www.nicholemchphotography.com/ / https://www.instagram.com/nicholemchphotography/ 

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Today, I’ll be diving into the compound effect of the choices you make in your photography business and the money you’re leaving on the table if you choose NOT to outsource (prepare to have your mind blown!)

Tune in to discover…

• Why it’s so important to listen to your desires and to reverse engineer your success [1.13]
• My teaching philosophy and what you can expect from me if you join OME [2.51]
• The *official* manifesto of the OME community (don’t miss this!) [4.32]
• The compound interest you’ll experience through outsourcing, plus two metaphors that will totally shift your mindset around getting started [8.07]
• The illusion of control: what you NEED to hear if you feel like you have to do everything yourself or if you’ve ever considered throwing in the towel altogether [12.44]
• Questions to ask yourself when you feel like giving up and my personal journey out of burnout [18.31]
• My average full time take-home income now (while working part-time hours) [20.59]
• Three different paths you could take with outsourcing to inspire and show you what’s possible (this will blow your mind!) [22.05]
• Your next steps if you’re ready to make a change, stop capping your bookings and create your dream lifestyle (and why it’s 100% okay to do it scared!) [33.20] 

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Click here to sign up for Outsourcing Made Easy (doors close for an entire year on Thursday 26 October at 11.59 PM ET!)

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

She’s baaack! Join me and my Outsourcing Made Easy student, Katie, as we catch up a year after our last podcast episode together. We’ll be diving into how her business has evolved since we last spoke, the support she gets in her business now, and her advice for photographers looking to leave burnout behind. Plus, she’ll be giving us a *very* special behind-the-scenes tour of the second (!) studio she’s been able to open up in her business thanks to the power of outsourcing! 

Tune in to discover…

• Where Katie is now in her business, a full year since our last podcast episode together
• Watch/ listen to Katie spontaneously teach me bachata dancing and rap a busta rhymes song word-for-word – just because she can! [0.54], [4.08]
• Why Katie decided to transition out of wedding photography to full-time boudoir photography [6.07]
• How letting go of perfectionism allowed Katie to grow her business faster and open up a second (!) studio [10.51], [14.54]
• Why protecting your energy and avoiding burnout is the KEY to being able to market your photography business effectively [18.10]
• Katie’s journey to hiring virtual AND in-person assistants, plus the tasks they support her with [19.30], [20.53]
• Katie’s journey to hiring an associate photographer and a house organizer [21.38], [25.40], [31.35]
• How to get OUT of survival mode and into possibility thanks to your brain’s reticular activating system [34.37]
• The limiting beliefs Katie struggled with before getting support in her business vs. the expansion that she’s been able to experience now [36.35]
• Katie’s final advice for photographers who are looking to start outsourcing, but are afraid to take action [41.15]
• A behind-the-scenes tour of Katie’s studio to inspire you to know what’s possible for you (hint: if she can have it, so can you!) [45.05]

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Check out my first podcast episode with Katie here

Join my upcoming FREE live masterclass: The Four Secrets To Having More Time and Financial Freedom While Avoiding Burnout as a Photographer 

Get on the waitlist for the return of my signature, once-yearly program: Outsourcing Made Easy (doors re-open on Monday, October 23, 2023!)

Connect with Katie at @boudoirbykatiemarie , @katiemariephotography_ and katiemariephotography.ca 

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Who doesn’t love a good mashup episode? ;)

Today I’m interviewing 3 of my Outsourcing Made Easy students who are in the work right NOW getting support in their businesses. Some have only just started, some are a little further down the track. My hope is that by sharing a wide range of stories, you’ll be able to see all the amazing possibilities that open up to you once you start outsourcing (and spoiler: just how quickly you can start seeing results!)

Tune in to discover…

• How Amy saved 393 (!) hours during her last wedding season outsourcing her culling, blogging, slideshow creation, editing, and more to her VA [6.31]
• How much Amy paid her VA for this support [11.29]
• How Amy’s quality of life has changed since outsourcing [15.49]
• What you *need* to hear if you feel guilty posting on social media while your clients are waiting for their galleries [23.05]
• Meet Marie: discover what she’s currently getting support with and how she’s been able to save 604 (!) hours in just 4 months since starting her outsourcing journey [27.22]
• How much Marie paid her VA for this support [31.28]
• The unlearning Marie had to do about getting support overseas (and what you need to know if you may be feeling the same way) [33.08]
• Marie’s advice for anyone on the fence about starting their outsourcing journey [40.29]
• Meet Crystal: discover how she went from deep burnout to saving 30-50 (!) hours a week thanks to outsourcing [44.15], [50.37]
• How much Crystal paid her VA for this support [51.07]
• Crystal’s hesitations before signing up for the course (listen closely to this if you’re a family / portrait / or any other kind of photographer that doesn’t shoot weddings!)  [56.48]
• Crystal’s quality of life now [59.16]
• Crystal’s advice for anyone on the fence about starting their outsourcing journey [1.00.56]

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Discover the 4 secrets to having more time + financial freedom while avoiding burnout as a photographer! Join my upcoming FREE live masterclass at: https://courses.saramonika.com/4-secrets-to-freedom 

Outsourcing Made Easy returns soon, but only for a limited time! Get on the waitlist so you don’t miss this year’s enrollment at:

https://courses.saramonika.com/omewaitlist 

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

I’m so excited to welcome my OME student AND past-wedding client, Nicole, to the podcast this week to talk about her journey into photography and how she was able to save 660 (!) hours during the 2023 wedding season thanks to outsourcing. 

Tune in to discover…

• Nicole’s journey to becoming a photographer and how she was able to quit her 9-5 and go full time after just 3 months [1.45]
• What Nicole *really* thought about the fact that I outsource when she first met me and how it impacted her experience having me as her wedding photographer [7.42]
• Why it’s important to take responsibility for your process as a photographer and to make your clients feel taken care of every step of the way (+ the ONE thing that makes this 10 times easier) [9.36]
• Why Nicole joined Outsourcing Made Easy and her journey to getting support in her business [16.28]
• How Nicole saved 660 (!) hours through outsourcing during the 2023 wedding season [23.49]
• How much Nicole spends on support in her business and where she found her editor [28.20]
• Why hiring overseas is not only ethical, but a positive, impactful and fulfilling experience for everyone involved [31.45]
• What Nicole’s quality of life looks like now (hint: it’s dreamy!) [37.00]
• Nicole’s advice for anyone on the fence about starting their outsourcing journey and why you shouldn’t wait until you’re burnt out and in the thick of it to take action [40.20], [46.15]

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Connect with Nicole at @nicolejohnsonphoto and download her free resources at https://nicolejohnsonphoto.com/ 

Ready to learn the 4 secrets to having more tIme + financial freedom while avoiding burnout as a photographer? Join my upcoming FREE live masterclass at: https://courses.saramonika.com/4-secrets-to-freedom 

Outsourcing Made Easy returns soon, but only for a limited time! Get on the waitlist so you don’t miss this year’s enrollment at: https://courses.saramonika.com/omewaitlist

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

It’s official – AI is here to stay! So I thought it’s about time I dive in and test out some of the tools available to us as photographers…, to help YOU figure out if they can help you get back your time in an effective way, without compromising the quality of your work. Tune in to this week’s episode to get my honest, unfiltered thoughts!

You’ll discover…

• What’s working for me and what’s not working for me when it comes to using AI
• Whether I think we can trust the output that AI is currently capable of [4.35]
• How I found culling with AI [6.29]
• How I found editing with AI [7.33]
• What you should know about using these tools if you use a lot of dodging and burning brushwork in your editing [8.07]
• Why I’m still using a human editor and how you can experiment with using AI in tandem WITH your editor [9.03]
• The question I encourage you to ask yourself before deciding to go down the AI rabbit hole + the importance of maintaining a long-term mindset (don’t skip this quick calculation!) [12.03]
• Why it’s important to make decisions according to your values and my decision to hire an editor from Ukraine [14.32]
• Why you don’t have to choose between cost-effective support and having a human editor support you (ethically!) [16.32]
• The endless possibilities that open up to you in your life and business when you learn the SKILL of outsourcing, rather than just relying on ONE tool (such as AI) [19.32]
• A quick overview of a FREE masterclass I’m hosting very soon to help you with all of this and more! (Don’t miss this!) [23.58]

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Click the link below to sign up for my FREE masterclass: The 4 Secrets to Having more TIme + Financial Freedom While Avoiding Burnout as a Photographer

saramonika.com/masterclass

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Ever toyed with the idea of getting an in-person assistant? Then this week’s episode is for you! Join me as I share how I found my first home assistant locally here in Canada, plus how you can apply these same principles to get fast and effective support in YOUR business (whether virtually or in-person). 

Tune in to discover…

• Why I decided to look for an in-person home assistant and the tasks I wanted support with
• Where I found our PERFECT-fit assistant and why you should never listen to the nay-sayers or assume you won’t be able to find your dream person [6.00]
• How we’re finding our assistant 3 weeks into working together and how she’s already saved us 54 (!) hours in housework so far [10.45]
• Exactly how much we’re paying our assistant and how many hours she gives us each week [12.06]
• Bonus: how you can write off your assistant as a business expense [12.59]
• Why it’s important for your assistant to know your “why” and the impact they’re creating in your life [13.54]
• What you *need* to hear if you think getting a personal assistant is still a long-way off for you (hint: you’re closer than you think!) [17.33]
• The ONE question you need to ask yourself when deciding whether to bring in support in your business [18.39]
• The energetic shift that happens when you commit to “buying back your time” [21.21]
• Inspiring stories from my past Outsourcing Made Easy Students about how they found their perfect-fit virtual assistants (and how you can too!) [25.17]
• The return of Outsourcing Made Easy! What you need to know (+why doors will ONLY be open for 4 days this year) [28.19]

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Get on the waitlist for Outsourcing Made Easy HERE

Get my 3-Hour Post Wedding Workflow Checklist for FREE here

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Today, I want to bust one of the most damaging and persistent myths I see holding so many talented photographers back from achieving the growth and freedom they deserve in their lives and businesses – the idea that outsourcing makes you any less of an artist.

For years I also struggled with this belief, until a series of events and experiences shifted my perspective entirely. It’s my hope that this episode inspires these same mindset shifts in you, too!

Tune in to discover…

• Why getting support in your business is the ultimate competitive advantage in your photography business [4.24]
• The advice you *need* to hear if you’re in constant “push” mode in your business right now or you’re regularly working 12-15 hour days [8.20]
• My “f*ck the fear” moment that totally changed my outlook on getting support with my editing (plus the exact 3 words that will put your clients’ minds at ease should they ever ask about your outsourcing process) [9.54]
• Discover what one of my past wedding clients *really* thought about the fact that I outsource and how it impacted her wedding experience with me [15.04]
• How I was able to get rid of 70% of my working time from behind a computer thanks to outsourcing (+a free resource where you can see how I did this for yourself) [16.01]
• The biggest benefits outsourcing can bring to your clients (and to you!) [16.35]
• The average timeframe my students are able to turn around their weddings to their clients, thanks to outsourcing [17.12]
• Why outsourcing allows you to become MORE of an artist in your business, not less [22.49]
• An important announcement you won’t want to miss! [25.29]
  
  

RESOURCES + LINKS:

Get on the waitlist for Outsourcing Made Easy HERE

Get my 3-Hour Post Wedding Workflow Checklist for FREE here

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Worried about the dip in inquiries/bookings right now and the impact of the recession on your photography business? Then this week’s episode is for you.

I’m going to be diving into some mindset shifts and strategies you can use to weather this time of uncertainty, plus how you can unblock and rewire your subconscious mind for positive action through the power of RRT.

Tune in to discover…

• The current mood among the photography community and whether I think you should be concerned about the dip in inquiries + bookings
• A metaphor that will totally shift how you think about the ups and downs in your photography business [3.11]
• An introduction to RRT and how it can help you shift your beliefs in times of uncertainty [7.03]
• An overview of the conscious and subconscious mind, why we feel fear, and it’s impact on our creativity (if we let it get the best of us) [10.57]
• The conversation to have in your mind with fear when you want to kick it to the curb [21.15]
• A powerful LIVE guided RRT exercise to help you unblock your subconscious mind (don’t miss this!) [25.22]
• 3 game-changing questions to ask yourself to generate more money in your photography business ASAP [32.55]

Hope this episode helps put your mind at ease, my friend! As ever, my DMs over on IG are always open at @saramonikaphoto.

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Ever feel overwhelmed by the pressure to create beautiful images in a time crunch on wedding days? Struggle to perform when you feel stressed out or when things don’t go according to plan? Not sure how to respond when your couple, family members, or wedding guests rush you along? Then this week’s episode is for you, my friend! 

In this quick but powerful mini episode, I’ll be sharing some actionable tips and mindset shifts that helped me create images I’m proud of at a recent wedding (despite moments of pressure that came up along the way) – and how YOU can too.

Tune in to discover…

• How to create photos under pressure: the “aha” moment I experienced during a  recent wedding day shoot
• The close call I had with a time-conscious groom and how I navigated the situation calmly (plus the one thing you should *never* say if the same thing happens to you!) [3.00]
• The mindset shift that allowed me to shift into an energy of “challenge accepted”, rather than feel stressed or overwhelmed – and how I was able to create some of my most creative, experimental work as a result [6.31]
• Some examples of shots I was able to get which were outside of my comfort zone, plus the strategy I used to know when to play it safe vs. when to take a risk (if you take any tip away from this episode, let it be THIS!) [7.54], [11.01]
• The importance of leaning into pleasure instead of pressure in your life and business [12.36]
• How to switch your mindset to pleasure in moments of pressure [14.05]

RESOURCES + LINKS

Check out the photos I mention in this episode over on my Instagram right here! 

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto