You know those “what’s in my bag” peeks we all love? Same. I’m endlessly curious about how different photographers get similar results with totally different setups. And while I’m not a gearhead, I’ve learned what’s worth investing in for ease, speed, and consistency... without pretending you need every single shiny thing.

In this episode, I’m walking through my current brand-session kit, why I chose each piece, and how I keep lighting simple and flattering so my clients look like the best version of themselves. We’re diving into: what I actually bring to brand shoots in 2025, how I light (without drama), and the small add-ons that make big differences on set.

Episode highlights:

• My camera + lens combo and why I switched to mirrorless
• The zoom that replaced my prime-girl era and why it’s perfect for tight interiors
• Flash philosophy: natural-looking light with Profoto A10s
• Go-to modifiers and when I use each
• Headshot vs. lifestyle setups, tethering and on-site workflow tips
• Unsexy-but-essential extras
• What’s on my wishlist to level up on-location

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• 📸 Behind the Shot: Come behind the scenes of real brand sessions and see my gear + lighting in action
• ☑️ Grab the Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: maddiepeschong.com
• 📝 Blog: More tips and tools to grow your personal brand photography business
• 🛒 Amazon Storefront: Gear items linked here!
• 💬 Have a gear Q? DM me your question or your biggest lighting hurdle!

LET’S CONNECT:

• Website: maddiepeschong.com
• Instagram: @maddiepeschong

If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.

It’s busy season. Your camera is glued to your hand, your editing queue is packed, and marketing? Yeah, that’s probably collecting dust.

But here’s the thing—what you post today is what fills your calendar tomorrow. If you tend to see a slowdown in bookings come December or January, it’s probably because your marketing fell off the map in September and October. It happens every year. But this time? You’re going to do it differently.

In this episode, I’m diving deep into a strategy I swear by: documentation marketing. It’s the easiest way to stay consistent on Instagram without creating content from scratch. If batching 30 days of content sounds like your personal nightmare (hi, same), this method is for you.

We’re talking:

• The vicious visibility cycle (and how to break it)
• Why documenting is more effective than creating
• Simple, scroll-stopping content ideas you can capture in real time
• How to build a content rhythm that works for your real life

Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and it definitely doesn’t have to stop just because you’re booked and busy. This episode will help you stay top of mind, even when you don’t have a ton of time.

• 📱 Follow along with The Consistency Cure series on Instagram
• 📸 Grab the Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: maddiepeschong.com
• 📝 Blog: More tips and tools to grow your personal brand photography business
• 💬 Want more BTS tips like this? DM me your biggest struggle with Instagram right now.

• Website: maddiepeschong.com
• Instagram: @maddiepeschong

If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.

Doors to Rebrand close TONIGHT and I'm breaking down all the systems inside the program to make sure you don't slip through the cracks, plus the mindset shift you need to make to get results inside a new program every single time.

Join Rebrand: https://maddiepeschong.com/rebrand

So many brand photographers struggle with what to post on Instagram. Some go completely quiet because they feel stuck, while others show up daily but still aren’t booking clients. The truth? It’s not just about consistency. It’s about posting the right kind of content that actually converts.

In this episode of Take It Personally, I’m sharing the five types of content that booked-out brand photographers are using to stand out, build trust, and turn followers into paying clients. These strategies are simple, sustainable, and designed to help you show up with confidence and intention.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• The two biggest struggles photographers face with Instagram content
• Why “just showing up” isn’t enough to attract new clients
• Five categories of content that consistently book clients
• How to shift your Instagram from a stagnant portfolio to a client-generating tool
• A sneak peek into my Booked Out & In Demand masterclass

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS

Grab your free spot in my Booked Up and In-Demand Masterclass: September 23 at noon CST - learn the content system that fills your calendar with premium clients

Rebrand Group Coaching

Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List – Free Download

Full show notes

I will never stop sharing my love for social media. Why? Because it’s one of the most powerful tools we have as business owners. And yet, so many photographers I work with are afraid of it. They worry about being vulnerable, about what showing up online says about them, and as a result, they hold back.

But here’s the truth: these limiting beliefs are keeping you from booking clients on Instagram. It doesn’t matter how solid your strategy is or how many content ideas you have—if you can’t work through these beliefs, you’ll struggle to see results.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the most common beliefs I hear (and have struggled with myself!) and how to start talking back to those scary voices in your head so you can finally use social media to connect with the right people and book more clients.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why “nobody cares” and “I’m not that interesting” are lies you’re telling yourself
• How practicing is the only way to get better at showing up online
• Why your life doesn’t need to look perfectly aesthetic to attract clients
• How to share what feels comfortable while still making genuine connections
• Why “professionalism” doesn’t mean hiding who you are
• The power of recognizing your red flag thoughts and shifting them into possibility

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS

Grab your free spot in my Booked Up and In-Demand Masterclass: September 23 at noon CST - learn the content system that fills your calendar with premium clients

Rebrand Group Coaching

Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List – Free Download

Full show notes

You’ve been told you need to show up consistently on Instagram...so you do. But instead of clients rolling in, you’re left wondering if posting is even worth it. Maybe your consistency hasn’t paid off, or maybe you’ve been ghosting your account altogether. Either way, if Instagram isn’t bringing in new bookings, it’s not about the app. It’s about your content strategy.

In this episode of Take It Personally, I'm breaking down the three types of Instagram posts that actually get clients to book you. I'm sharing real examples, how to position yourself as the go-to brand photographer, and how storytelling can make your content more effective. If you’ve been frustrated with Instagram, this is the strategy shift you need.

01:08 – Why posting on Instagram isn’t working for many photographers

02:16 – The 3 types of Instagram posts to get booked

03:00 – Reputation-building content

05:56 – Rapport-building content

09:40 – Relationship-building content

19:54 – Focus on your content strategy, not just consistency

20:19 – 21 Day Instagram Challenge

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS

Join my 21-Day Instagram Challenge happening inside a private IG chat starting September 1st—simple, daily prompts that help you stay consistent and get visible so you can get more inquiries from IG. 👉 DM me “challenge” on Instagram @maddiepeschong to join us!

Rebrand Group Coaching

Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List – Free Download

Full show notes

As photographers, it can feel natural to use Instagram as a portfolio—posting your most recent work with simple captions like “Loved this session!” or “Isn’t she gorgeous?” But if you’ve been doing that consistently and wondering why you’re not booking clients, there’s a reason: Instagram isn’t meant to be your portfolio.

In this episode of Take It Personally, I'm sharing why using Instagram only to showcase your work keeps you from connecting with your ideal clients and booking sessions. I'm also showing how to shift from treating your feed like a gallery to creating an engaging brand experience—one that builds trust, answers client questions before they ever inquire, and ultimately gets you booked.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that posting pretty photos isn’t leading to results, this episode will give you a clear strategy to change that.

01:07 — The viral Threads post that sparked this conversation

02:16 — Why using Instagram like a portfolio keeps photographers stuck

03:22 — Common posting mistakes

03:56 — Building connection and brand experience

04:40 — Sharing work strategically

06:50 — Practical post examples and client concerns

09:42 — Building trust through personal stories

10:25 — Brand storytelling and standing out

11:07 — 21-day Instagram challenge invite

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS

Join my 21-Day Instagram Challenge happening inside a private IG chat starting September 1st—simple, daily prompts that help you stay consistent and get visible so you can get more inquiries from IG. 👉 DM me “challenge” on Instagram @maddiepeschong to join us!

Rebrand Group Coaching

Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List – Free Download

Full show notes

If your Instagram feed is filled with nothing but sneak peeks and “look how gorgeous this session was” captions, we need to talk. Instagram is not your portfolio; it’s the experience of your brand.

When you treat it like a dusty portfolio, you run out of content quickly and blend in with every other photographer. But when you start treating it like an experience, one great brand session can fuel your feed for 30 days (or more).

In this episode, I’m sharing how to stop overthinking, use your sessions more strategically, and turn a single shoot into a month’s worth of posts that build reputation, rapport, relationships, and true embodiment of your brand.

01:45 – The problem with using Instagram as a portfolio

03:29 – Creating content that works harder for you

07:08 – Building reputation: introducing yourself and your work

09:39 – Building rapport through storytelling

14:56 – Building relationships through social proof

22:19 – Embodying your brand authentically

24:10 – Repurposing content effectively

27:34 – Join the 21-day Instagram challenge

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS

Join my 21-Day Instagram Challenge happening inside a private IG chat starting September 1st—simple, daily prompts that help you stay consistent and get visible so you can get more inquiries from IG. 👉 DM me “challenge” on Instagram @maddiepeschong to join us!

Rebrand Group Coaching

Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List – Free Download

Full show notes

Ever found yourself slammed with client work and thinking, “I don’t need to post to Instagram right now—I’m booked!” …only to be staring at an empty inbox a few months later wondering where everyone went?

Yep. I’ve been there. This is what I call the vicious visibility cycle, and it’s time to break it.

In this episode, we’re diving into:

• Why your fully booked season now could mean crickets later
• The sneaky lag time between showing up and booking out
• Why marketing is a non-negotiable if you want long-term success
• How to stay visible without burning yourself out
• Shifting from “content creation” to documentation marketing

Plus, I’m sharing more about my brand new 21-Day Instagram Challenge happening inside a private IG chat starting September 1st—simple, daily prompts that help you stay consistent and get visible so you can get more inquiries from IG.

👉 DM me “challenge” on Instagram @maddiepeschong to join us!

Links & Resources:

• Join the 21-Day Instagram Challenge – DM “challenge”
• Rebrand Group Coaching
• Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List – Free Download

You want to charge four figures for brand photography, whether that’s $1,000 or $5,000. But deep down, if you’re still crossing your fingers that your clients are happy with their photos or treating every session like a guessing game, it’s going to be hard to raise your prices with confidence.

In this episode of Take It Personally, we’re talking about the one mistake that might be holding you back from charging what your work is worth: not having a strategic, repeatable process behind your sessions. I'm walking you through why your clients are looking for ROI, not just pretty photos, and how a thoughtful brand photography process creates results, for your clients and your business.

If you’re tired of feeling unsure about your pricing, nervous on shoot day, or unsure how to talk about the value you provide, this episode is a must-listen.

1:07 — The mistake that’s keeping you from charging four figures

1:40 — Why your photos need more than “just vibes” to be premium

2:57 — My client Roxanne: from unsure to confidently charging $3K+

3:53 — What clients really get from brand photography

6:27 — The importance of consistent client experience

9:04 — Repeatable strategy = premium pricing + better referrals

9:55 — Why strategic planning helps your clients (and your time!)

12:30 — How to build confidence and charge more

12:50 — Three things to focus on for strategic sessions

15:57 — What’s inside Behind the Shot

16:33 — Live call details in BTS + new pricing module

17:16 — How to join the course and get $150 off!

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS

Behind the Shot: the full system of planning, posing, shooting, and delivering, so you can stop feeling like an imposter and start showing up like the expert brand photographer you are. $150 off with code SUMMER25!

• The August summer sprint inside BTS includes live calls, a new pricing module, and the accountability you've been needing to actually finish the course

Roxanne's TIP podcast episode

Full show notes