As a baby brand photographer, I would sometimes get frustrated after delivering photos to clients and having them not use their photos. It wasn't because they didn't like the photos. They sent positive reviews and sent referrals even. But they wouldn't post their photos.

The consensus was often that they were overwhelmed, didn't know where to start, or were busy with the next step in their business by the time they got their images back. I even implemented additional steps like offering post-session strategy calls, Loom videos, and an after session guide, but it still wasn't working.

It wasn't until I switched around my approach that I was able to not only better plan for my client's brand sessions but also help them have a plan for when they got their images back. This episode is talking about what I changed. Here are the highlights:

00:36 Enhancing Brand Sessions with Post-Session Support

02:25 A Lightbulb Moment for a New Approach

02:58 The Power of the Discovery Call

05:09 Designing Sessions with Strategy and Purpose

06:09 The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

10:51 The Impact of Strategic Planning on Brand Photography

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Sign up for the free training: Plan a Strategic Brand Session on May 21st at 12pm CST

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

Cassie Beech, owner of Made with Grace and Grit, is a brand photography client of mine and joined me for a conversation about the significance of brand photography in business.

Cassie shares her initial struggles with DIY brand content and the transformation after adopting a strategic approach to brand photography, which includes collaboration and planning, professional hair and makeup, and selecting optimal locations. We delve into how strategic, professional brand photos can boost business image, attract the ideal clients, and provide a bank of quality content for various marketing needs. Here are the highlights from this episode:

00:32 The Power of Interior Design and Personal Connections

01:18 Interior Design vs. Interior Decorating: Cassie's Expertise

02:36 Strategic Brand Photography and Interior Design Synergy

03:52 Elevating Business with Strategic Brand Photography

15:50 Maximizing Brand Potential with Professional Photography

23:11 The Strategic Edge in Brand Photography

CONNECT WITH CASSIE:

Instagram

Website

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Sign up for the free training: Plan a Strategic Brand Session on May 21st at 12pm CST

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

Rachel, of Rhody Ray, shares her journey from having a scattered approach to photography to niching down and strategizing her brand photography business. Through the Build a Strategic Brand Session training and Rebrand coaching, Rachel was able to have a plan to transition from wedding photography to brand photography, while keeping her clients top of mind.

Rachel discusses the challenges of shifting her brand's focus, the importance of strategic planning and client questionnaires, and how pitching to potential clients has enhanced her business and confidence. Her experience with returning clients since her strategic pivot showcases the long-term benefits and growth opportunities in brand photography. Here are the episode highlights:

00:34 Rachel's Journey Before and After Rebrand

04:03 Transitioning from Wedding to Brand Photography

06:25 The Power of Pitching and Embracing Rejection

11:27 Gaining Confidence and Strategy Through Training

19:47 Evolving Brand Photography with Strategy

25:46 Attracting and Retaining Dream Clients

CONNECT WITH RACHAEL:

Instagram

Website

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Sign up for the free training: Plan a Strategic Brand Session on May 21st at 12pm CST

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

So often I hear from other photographers that their mini sessions were a failure. When asking them about it, they share they only promoted it a few times but because no one was booking, they stopped sharing about it. This mistake of essentially quitting before starting is something I commonly see with mini sessions.

The only way to fill your mini sessions though is to talk about them! Many photographers get really in their head about marketing their mini sessions, but their mindset around it is so important, which is the topic of this episode. Any time you are struggling to market your mini sessions, it feels like a failure, or it feels like you're being annoying - come back to this episode! Here are the highlights:

00:44 The Power of Persistence in Marketing

02:23 Switching to a Launch Mindset for Mini Sessions

03:40 Understanding Audience Engagement and Frequency

05:08 Pricing Strategies for Mini Sessions

07:24 Handling Unsubscribes and Unfollows Positively

11:17 Adopting a Business Mindset for Success

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

In this episode of Take It Personally, Sean, owner of Unique Unicorn Photography, shares his transformative experience with the Make Four Figures with Mini Sessions training. Initially struggling to attract clients after deciding to fully commit to their photography business, Sean and his wife discovered mini sessions as a strategic entry point for client acquisition. The episode delves into how this approach not only built their portfolio rapidly but also significantly increased their client base by booking 30 families during a single weekend.

Sean discusses the importance of marketing, branding consistency, and the value of community building. He reflects on how mini sessions became a key component for business growth, client satisfaction, and a means to efficiently showcase their work and get referrals. This story is a testament to the power of mini sessions in kickstarting and expanding a photography business.

00:12 The Journey to Unique Unicorn Photography

00:37 Discovering Mini Sessions: A Game Changer

04:01 The Impact of Training on Business Strategy

10:43 The Success Story: Booking 30 Families

18:12 Marketing Strategies and Building a Client Base

19:44 The Future of Mini Sessions

21:58 Wrapping Up: The Power of Mini Sessions

CONNECT WITH SEAN

Instagram | Website

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram | Website

LINKS:

Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Training on April 25, 2024 at 12pm CST: Sign up now!

Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

FULL SHOW NOTES here

In this episode, I share my successful strategy for conducting high-4-figure mini session days! Since starting mini sessions in 2020, I have seen significant revenue growth and average $7,000 on these mini session days. I'll be sharing an overview of the simple strategy I have in my business that allows me to accomplish this. Here are the main highlights from this episode:

00:52 My Mini Session Journey: From Start to Success

01:58 Strategic Insights: Transforming Mini Sessions into Brand Builders

03:29 Yearly Growth: A Deep Dive into My Mini Session Evolution

05:55 Maximizing Profits with Smart Mini Session Strategies

10:59 The Power of Limitations: Crafting the Perfect Mini Session Offer

15:24 Marketing Mastery: How to Promote Your Mini Sessions Effectively

16:14 Next Steps & Free Training

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

The topic of email marketing seems to be coming up more and more both inside of Rebrand, my group coaching program, and just in general. When I am talking to other creatives, it's always things like, "Do I really need an email list? Should I start using email as opposed to social media?"

I've utilized email marketing in my business and am a huge believer in it. But I personally have a few issues with how email is being sold to a lot of creative entrepreneurs, specifically local service providers, like photographers who serve a local market.

If that is you and you've had related questions about email before, this episode focuses on the power and nuances of email marketing. Here are highlights from this episode:

01:00 The Rising Importance of Email Marketing in Creative Industries 03:25 The Misconceptions and Realities of Email Marketing for Local Service Providers 06:43 Navigating the Challenges of Email List Building and Marketing Strategies 11:20 Determining if Email Marketing is the Right Strategy for You 16:49 Lazy Email List Growth: A Game-Changer for Local Service Providers 26:40 Maximizing Your Business with Effective Email Marketing Techniques and Waitlists 27:40 Exclusive Training Opportunity: Elevate Your Mini Session Game

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now!

Flodesk Email Marketing (50% off your first year with this link)

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Dawn is a former software engineer, turned wedding photographer, who pivoted back to technology to assist creatives in overcoming their intimidation with tech. Dawn is currently juggling roles as a Product Marketing Manager at Flodesk and running Tech Savvy Creative.

In this episode, she shares her journey and the importance of integrating technology into creative professions. Topics we discuss in this episode are the transformative power of AI in photography, tools like ChatGPT for content creation, highlighting how AI tools can significantly save time and enhance productivity, and tools for improving business efficiency. Through her expertise, Dawn emphasizes the potential of AI to handle mundane tasks, enabling creatives to focus on their passions and excel in their craft. Here are highlights from this episode:

01:31 Dawn's Journey into Tech and Product Marketing

02:42 The Power of AI in Photography and Business

04:47 Exploring AI Tools for Content Creation

08:24 The Revolution of AI in Photo Editing

16:50 Maximizing Efficiency with AI in Meetings and Video Content

23:02 The Future of AI and Its Impact on Creativity

24:31 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Dawn

CONNECT WITH DAWN:

Instagram | Website | YouTube

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram | Website

LINKS:

Flodesk Email Marketing - get 50% off your first year

Dawn's AI Toolkit for Creatives

Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

One of my goals at the beginning of 2024 was to act like a grown up when it comes to my finances, and I have to say, I'm killing it so far–and that is in huge part to the program 6 Figure Saver. I'm thrilled to have Gina Knox, the financial coach behind 6 Figure Saver, on the podcast today.

Gina is known in her circle as Money's Mom, and helps entrepreneurs with variable income save six figures in their businesses. In under three months, I've saved just shy of $40,000 in this program without cutting expenses or strict budgeting. Instead, Gina emphasizes the significance of spending on the right things, and paying yourself as part of your operating expenses–not an afterthought.

The episode delves into what Gina (and I) would do differently if starting our businesses again, with a strong focus on financial strategies including setting realistic income goals, focusing on current problems rather than future ones, avoiding unnecessary spending, and the importance of paying oneself as a business owner. Here are some highlights:

01:10 The Impact of Gina's Program: Six Figure Saver 05:07 Gina's Advice on Organizing Business Finances 06:22 Introduction to the Cashflow Waterfall Strategy 10:09 The Importance of Strategic Spending in Business 10:52 Creating an Annual Investment Plan 11:58 The Dangers of Future Problem Spending 18:59 Setting Realistic Goals for Business Growth 20:59 Overcoming Money Blocking Thoughts 23:31 The Value of Focusing on One Service 25:19 The Importance of Paying Yourself as a Business Owner

You can follow Gina on Instagram, and find more information about 6 Figure Saver here. The program is now enrolling.

Kate has been on the podcast before talking about Rebrand, and I love what Kate is doing with her business. Her photography business sort of started “accidentally” and after working together in Rebrand, she was able to drop down to part-time in her 9-5 to be able to spend more time on her photography business.

Alongside taking brand photos, Kate also helps clients with copywriting! She took her PR skills to be able to grow another arm in her business where she offers blogging services to creatives.

Visuals are a huge part of personal branding, but messaging is so important too. Kate is sharing tips for how blogging can be a huge part of growing your business, connect with clients, and help you stand out. Here are the main things talked about in this episode:

• Why blogging isn’t dead
• SEO and Google searches
• Providing value to clients
• Repurposing content
• How to utilize frequently asked questions to direct people to your blog
• Being seen as a thought leader
• Consistency tips for blogging
• Kate’s 5 favorite blog topics for photographer
• Connecting with clients
• Use blogs to cover client questions

Connect with Kate:

Instagram | Website

Connect with Maddie:

Instagram | Website

Links mentioned:

Rebrand Coaching Program for Brand Photographers

Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

See the full show notes here