Success Beyond Podcast

Can you believe it? This was the MOST listened to episode of the podcast… EVER! Which is why we’re re-releasing it! Listen in and let me know what you think!

Hiring an expert to help you with any aspect of your business is great, but only if you too know what it is they’re doing. This is especially true when it comes to the systems and software you’re using in your business. Listen in to learn why your systems are only as good as the knowledge you have of them. 

I hear this complaint about various software all the time. So and so came in and set everything up but I have no idea how to use it. This is a problem! You should have an idea of how to use the software and use the system that’s been implemented. 

If you’re setting up your systems yourself, take the time to dig into the resource libraries provided by the platform you’re using. They all have them. Many of them even have weekly webinars and various other ongoing resources you can attend to get better acquainted. 

If you’re hiring an expert, be sure that they offer you the time to either sit down and show you how to use the platform and system OR that they provide you with videos walking you through various aspects. 

Hands down, when your system breaks down, it’s almost 99% because of user error. There is usually some small step missed, or button unclicked. If you’ve never spent any time using the platform, you’ll never know when those things are missed. 

Listen in to hear my tips for testing your systems, troubleshooting, and most importantly making sure you’re able to learn as much about your chosen platform from the expert you’ve chosen to hire. 

The goal of these systems is to save you time and make you money, and every single one of them will do that for you. IF you take the time to learn how they work and what to do if something goes wrong. 

Want to listen to the original episode? Here’s the link!

Consultation Connection Call

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Consultation Connection Call

This episode with Natalie was so amazing. It was one of our TOP episodes for 2022. Listen in or listen again, this information never goes stale!

If you haven’t already established your mission, vision and values for your business, you won’t want to skip this episode. Natalie Gingrich, CEO and founder of The Ops Authority, joins me to share why establishing these from the start of your business is so important and how to be sure you reflect on them both professionally and personally.

Natalie spent over 15 years working at a fortune 150 company and while she loved her job, she needed time freedom and flexibility to spend more time with her family. Rather than continue on in the status quo, she took the leap and hasn’t often looked back. 

One of the things propelling her into entrepreneurship was her intrinsic value based around her family. Her children were moving into some pretty exciting times in their lives and she didn’t want to miss it. 

What came a little later for her was the mission behind her business and the vision to enact it. Natalie makes a great point that when you’re just starting your business, it’s important to dabble. Figure out what you like, what you don’t, and how you want to make an impact in the world. 

Once you’ve found the clients or work that truly make working in and on your business a joy, then it’s time to start delving in and solidifying some of these key pieces. When done right, your mission, vision and values will act as guardrails for your business, keeping you in the lane you need to travel to reach your goals.

Natalie is brilliant. Success Beyond the Lens was born through one of her masterminds and it was her pointing out my love for working with and for photographers that got me thinking about how to shift into working exclusively in this niche. 

Listen in to see how you can start putting together your mission, vision and values, when you should review them, and why it’s important to simply get something down.

Want to listen to the original episode? Here’s the link!

Consultation Connection Call

The Ops Authority

The Ops Authority Podcast

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Ready to start making more money in your photography business? Listen or re-listen to this episode with Karinda K! She has all the tips and advice you need. 

One thing that can make or break your photography business is your money mindset. That’s right. The stories you picked up from your parents and that you tell yourself about money absolutely impact how you operate your business. Listen as Karinda K shares all!

Karinda is an amazing photographer who is now selling multi-4 and 5 figure photography packages, but she admits, she wasn’t always comfortable with it. In fact, for a long time she wouldn’t even accept credit cards because she was so fearful that her work was putting someone in debt. 

That wasn’t her story. It was a story she’d heard from her parents since she was little and she took it on as her reality. 

When she started digging into her stories she realized that money is a tool. It is not evil, it has no emotion. It is there to be used to create impact in the world, the industry, and the family. No more. No less. 

Listen as Karinda delves into her own story and why this money piece is so important. She shares tips and strategies for re-writing your own money story as well as the first steps she has her clients take as they begin digging into their own money beliefs. 

Have you ever struggled with certain money issues in your business and you just can’t seem to figure out why? It could be you have your own money blocks. 

Want to listen to the original episode? Here’s the link!

Consultation Connection Call

Master Your Mind & Money

Pinterest | Instagram |Facebook | LinkedIn

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Ez provided some fantastic tips and advice! That’s why we’re re-releasing their episode. Listen in to learn how you can attract more diverse clients to your photography business. 

Are you ready to create a safe space within your business for the LGBTQIA people in your life and community, but unsure of the best way to share it? Listens as Ez Powers shares their thoughts and advice about photographing these amazing communities. 

Ez has had a love of photography since they were 8 and their grandfather put a camera in their hand. They traveled together all over the country photographing state parks and beautiful landmarks. Ever since then a love and passion for photography has simmered in Ez’s heart. 

When they were 15 they even went to Kenya and helped bring awareness and help to people who were without water. They have known for years that photographs and representation means something very important. 

As they grew in their craft, they realized what about photography really drew them in. They have now created an unapologetically representative business. Beyond that, they also give back with every full service package. 

Here’s the deal. You have to go beyond advocating for the LGBTQIA community. You have to understand them deeply and without any bias or subjectivity. Ez shares the power of using the right words and moving past acceptance and into understanding. 

Keep reading for some amazing resources if you are not ready to go deeper with this community but know other photographers who are! You’ll definitely want to take notes during this one!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HSvbAQ5W5ghY9um76g-6E8_gb65KT5fU_qVzGoA7Y9Q/edit#

Want to listen to the original episode? Here’s the link!

Consultation Connection Call

Jeffrey Marsh - TikTok

Evey Winters

Transnormativity

Suggested Google Searches on YouTube:

Intro to Trans 101

Trans 101

Non-binary explained

Non-offensive phrases you can use if you don’t feel ready to work with transgender clients but want to refer them out:

“I am someone who is not super fluent in working with transgender people and I am actively working on that right now but I do not feel like I am qualified to give you the best experience you could possibly have with a photographer. I think that this person who I know has been working on themselves for a very long time and/or this person happens to be queer or trans might be a 100% full proof photographer for you.”

“I’m happy to work with you if you are aware of those things that I am learning and going through but if you want a space that is all around ready for all aspects and doesn’t remind you of microaggressions then I would go to this person.”

Ez Powers Photo

Facebook | Instagram

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

It’s that time again. Time to recap the year as we head into… WHAT?! End of year recap in September? I promise there’s a reason for it and I’m sharing it all. Listen in to this very last Success Beyond the Lens episode for 2022 and learn what to expect for the business and podcast going forward!

As you know, moving into the fall and winter seasons, the photography world goes bananas. For many photographers, this is the busiest time of year, which means it’s also my busiest time of year. 

What I have found is that trying to juggle it all while still providing the best level of service and attention to our clients is not productive. So this year, we’re pausing new episodes of the podcast before we hit the busy season and we’ll be back in January. 

But that’s not what this episode is all about. No! You’re here to learn all about the ins and outs and ups and downs that we’ve faced so far in 2022. 

To say that this year has been a year of growth would be an understatement. Not just a year of growth in revenue, but also a year of growth both personally and professionally for me. 

This year I’ve truly gone from being in my business and doing the client work, to running my business, building a team, and helping to support them in providing fantastic service to our clients. If you’ve ever hired any team members ever, you know what a huge shift that is. 

Listen as I share how this shift has impacted my work days as well as my personal life and why it’s amazing but also unsettling at the same time. If you’re experiencing growth in your business, know that discomfort is normal and it really is a catalyst for great things to come. 

See you in 2023!

[01:04] I know it’s crazy to talk about doing a 2022 wrap up at the end of September.

[01:47] Listen as I share why I’m doing it now instead of later.

[02:43] Let’s chat about everything that’s happened in 2022.

[06:16] I realized that I needed to make some changes to free up some space to run my business.

[08:36] Now I have more time in my days than I’ve ever had in my business and it feels weird.

[11:47] I’ve also made time to do things I like to do.

[13:13] The hardest thing has been figuring out how to manage the new dynamics of my business.

[17:24] “Make sure you are not making your business your life.”

[19:00] I’ll see you in January.

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram 

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Consultation Connection Call

In the last episode, Jodie Brim shared the story behind her business and how she got to where she is today. We’re continuing the conversation with all the things she’s done to build in balance while growing. There will be seasons of hustle but you should not be hustling 100% of the time. 

One of the very first things Jodie did when she was able was to outsource her household stuff. Everything from cleaning to laundry to cooking is done by others because she hasn’t had the time to run her business, be with her family and take care of the day to day drudgery. 

I’ve talked about it before myself. Before I outsourced a single thing in my business, I outsourced my house cleaning. Sometimes taking care of your responsibilities at home is just the ticket for opening up the time and space you need during your day to make huge leaps in business. 

Once she got her home situated, she began outsourcing her editing. Editing is so time consuming and for Jodie, while that part is necessary, spending time with her clients and preparing for shoots is more valuable than doing the nitty gritty of editing. 

There are so many little steps that you can take while building your business to set yourself up for success, but Jodie's biggest tip, beyond even outsourcing, is to always know your numbers. If you don’t know your numbers you really have no clue what your business can and cannot afford. 

Then when your numbers are straight, “always be marketing!” 

Need more amazing tips? Listen to the second part of “The Incredible Story of Jodie Brim” and hear them all. You won’t be disappointed. 

[00:52] Jodie shares some of the pivotal changes she’s implemented in her business. 

[03:26] Outsource. Outsource. Outsource.

[06:06] But not just in your business. Outsource things in your personal life too.

[09:24] Which task should be outsourced first.

[11:46] New things she is working on for the future.

[17:14] How to recognize burnout and what to do to keep from getting to that point.

[22:07] Her actionable tips for you.

[24:45] Why her favorite bible verse is Psalms 37:4.

[25:20] Her favorite business tool is Dubsado.

[26:04] She says she would take me to Eastern Standard for a drink if I came to Winston-Salem.

How To Move From Corporate to Entrepreneurship with Jodie Brim

Jodie Brim Creative

Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Consultation Connection Call

There are very few people in my life that I admire and respect in the way that I do the Incredible Jodie Brim. She has built a rock solid business after leaving a very lucrative corporate career while also dealing with unbelievable hardship in her life. Listen in to hear all about how she’s done it and why her faith has been pivotal in surviving the hard times. 

Jodie didn’t set out to be a photographer. She always loved photography however. In fact, she was one of those kids who walked around with her disposable camera documenting life and the world around her. But photography as a business? 

Instead she went to school and got her Masters in Public Service. She originally wanted to work in government for a non-profit changing the world that way. Instead she went into corporate and she and her husband socked away the majority of their sizable income. 

To say that they lived below their means would be an understatement as they were able to pay over $100,000 in debt in just one year. But they did it all for a reason. The goal was to create a foundation for the life they wanted to live together. 

Now that life includes a wildly successful photography business for Jodie. But to say that it was easy would be utterly wrong. In 2015 her husband was diagnosed with an extremely rare auto-immune disorder that left him completely immobile. 

They kept their faith strong and their spirits high however and now their lives have taken a much deserved turn. Listen to this first part of our conversation all about Jodie’s story, the birth of her business, and its evolution over the years. 

Tune in to the next episode to learn all of Jodie’s advice for new photographers who are looking to build photography businesses of their own.

[03:01] Welcome back to the show, Jodie!

[04:44] She talks about starting her business and feeling confused and lost.

[09:41] Why photography was the business for her.

[12:20] Listen as she discusses what happened in 2015 that changed her life completely.

[17:24] How she got a handle on her life two years after everything changed. 

[19:15] Her faith pulled her through.

[20:43] What a day in her life looked like when she was raising her daughter and going to the hospital everyday to be with her husband.

[26:41] “Life can be hard at times but we can do hard things.”

How To Move From Corporate to Entrepreneurship with Jodie Brim

Jodie Brim Creative

Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Consultation Connection Call

For so many people, becoming an entrepreneur seems like a big, scary leap. For Johanna Hribal, it was the key to defeating anxiety and regaining her focus, confidence, and sanity. Listen as she shares why she left behind a career in teaching to start, grow, and scale her very own photography business. 

Johanna wasn’t just teaching. She holds a Masters in Education and felt called to do the work. But when Covid struck her niggling nudges of anxiety turned into a full blown problem. At first she didn’t even realize her feelings of dread were anxiety related, but when she ended her contract, it was like a huge boulder being lifted from her shoulders. 

She didn’t leave on a whim though. Johanna had been slowly but effectively building her photography business on the side of her teaching career. Now she’s able to do it full time, her way. 

Her work weeks look very different from the way they did as a teacher. She schedules in time for herself and to get out into the world. Plus she has been able to truly live her life each and every day. 

How has she done it? Through elevating her skills, working on her systems, and setting clear and attainable boundaries for herself and her clients. 

Listen as Johanna shares her story and her advice for anyone nervous about stepping out on the entrepreneurial limb. It’s not easy. To this day she still feels guilt for leaving behind a profession that’s in need of amazing people. But she did what she had to do for herself, her life, and her family.

[01:46] Welcome to the show, Johanna!

[02:18] She shares her background and why she decided to start her own business.

[06:20] Listen as Johanna talks about her favorite travel moments.

[13:06] What she’s done to help alleviate her mental health issues.

[19:12] Techniques she uses to help manage her anxiety.

[22:17] Listen as Johanna discusses her boundaries and how she enforces them with clients.

[28:53] One actionable tip for anyone who is contemplating making their hobby a career.

[31:31] Dubsado and Calendly are her two favorite business tools.

[31:55] “You can never have too much sky.” is her favorite quote.

[32:41] She shares where she would take me for a drink if I were to visit Louisville.

[33:48] Connect with Johanna.

Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job by John Acuff

Frames + Letters Photography

Instagram

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Consultation Connection Call

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “It’s too late for me to do that” or “I’m too old” then you’re going to want to listen in. Evie Richards-Cashmanis has started out in her fourth career and it may just be the best one yet. Listen in to hear all about her story and why she’s beating back the negative self-talk to pursue her passion. 

Evie has been a hobby photographer since she was a young girl, but life and financial needs took her in a different direction. She’s never been afraid of a challenge though. 

At the age of 50 she decided to go to school to become a pharmacist. She not only completed her degree but she also worked in the field for many years. During that time her love of photography intersected with a growing demand for her work. 

She decided then to start studying her craft. After several years of doing any and all photography work, she began specializing. 

At the age of 70 she stepped fully into building her photography business and has no intention of looking back. Does she have that little voice in her head telling her she can’t do this? Of course! But she’s surrounding herself with teachers and mentors that help to beat the demons back. 

Evie is a true inspiration to keep pursuing your passions. Listen in to hear her tell it all.

[01:33] Welcome to the show, Evie!

[02:04] Evie shares how long she has been doing photography.

[04:05] Learn what type of photography she specializes in and what it took to launch her business.

[10:30] Her previous position allowed her to network and get side jobs for photography.

[12:10] Evie discusses what frustrated her when starting her business.

[14:57] Why she hired a business coach.

[19:02] Evie talks about a job she was hired to do that ended up being much bigger than planned.

[22:13] She shares some advice for the listeners.

[24:50] Evie’s favorite business tools are her camera and HoneyBook.

[25:18] If I was meeting Evie for a drink we would go to the beach and get frozen drinks.

[26:02] Connect with Evie.

ERC Photography

Instagram | Facebook

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Consultation Connection Call

Not many people know this, but I have multiple personalities…

Just kidding! What I have is a propensity to name the different sides of myself. For instance, when I’m super productive, Productive Polly comes out. For the longest time, my default mode of being has been mired in anxiety and a lack of confidence. 

But it’s all changing!

That fact, the fact that it’s all changing, was one of the reasons why I was so excited to get to chat with Cristin Goss. Cristin is the owner and founder of Goss Boss and she’s made it her mission to help women find their confidence and feel more comfortable in their skin. 

Even when she hasn’t always been able to do the same. 

For Cristin, the struggle to find confidence and self-acceptance all started when she was a child. She never looked like the other girls and she never felt as if she belonged. Just as she was finding herself and her place in the world, her entire life changed. 

Those deeply profound life changes, along with the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic, started Cristin on the path of not only finding herself, but also loving herself. 

Listen as Cristin shares her story and how her personal journey has so irrevocably impacted her business and growth. Cristin is so much fun to talk to and we’re both baring it all for this one, so get ready to have a lot of laughs and many moments of personal introspection. 

[01:42] Welcome to the show, Cristin!

[04:55] We chat about how much our businesses have grown and changed since we met.

[06:51] Learning how to create confidence as a business owner has been a key in my business.

[08:17] Cristin shares her journey of becoming a confident person in her business and personal life.

[16:31] What happened when she made the decision to stop leaning into the negative thoughts in her head?

[20:56] I share what I did to change the dialogue in my head.

[24:30] Cristin discusses Katie Sturino and the practices she implemented.

[27:11] Three key areas where her clients struggle in life and relationships, business and career and body image.

[33:07] Things to get you back on track when you have a bad head day.

[39:39] Connecting with others on a same or similar journey is extremely important.

[43:24] Cristin shares some affirmations that are very meaningful to her.

[45:12] She talks about where we would go in Pittsburgh for a drink.

Katie Sturino

Cristin Goss

Instagram

Success Beyond The Lens

@successbeyondthelens

Instagram

@successbeyondthelenspodcast

Facebook | Picbabun

Grab your Boundaries Resources

Editable Welcome Packet Template

Pinterest Freebies

Consultation Connection Call