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

I did my annual mini session day in January, and I had multiple photographers be a part of it. They admitted to me they felt uncomfortable on the other side of the camera. It essentially allowed them to have more empathy for their clients because they can understand how it feels being in front of the camera during a branding session.

I think this is a crucial part of building a personal brand and specifically as a brand photographer. You can tell your clients everything about how branding photos are important and how people will connect with photos of themselves more and they can help them update their website, etc., but it’s not going to mean anything to them until you start practicing what you preach. This is a show-don’t tell scenario. Your clients aren’t taking the action because they are scared, and you need to go first! Lead the way, and show them what’s possible. Become a credible source for them.

This episode is sharing more on this and how this can help you build trust with your clients. Personal branding is crucial as a photographer, and this episode is covering why.

• Why I get my own brand photos done
• Why brand photography can help showcase YOU and help you stand out
• Increasing trust
• Why my strategy and process is better because I have done personal brand sessions myself
• Speaking from experience and reassuring your client
• What are your client's goals and how that can direct the session
• Being able to empathize and connect on the common ground
• Expediting the photo delivery because this is what the client really wants
• Personal branding as a brand photographer is a crucial part of the strategy

Building my own personal brand has helped my business grow and succeed and this concept is exactly what we cover in my group coaching program, Rebrand, which is enrolling now! When you join, you get immediate access to the curriculum, and live coaching calls start on March 6. If you want to be THE brand photographer in your area, become more confident in your business, and charge four figures for brand sessions, I would love for you to join Rebrand. Learn more about the program here.

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.

Full show notes here

In the last episode of Take It Personally, we talked about attracting your dream clients and treating social media like a giant networking event. A second part to this is related to a question I get asked frequently in various ways: “What should I be posting?”

If you’ve wondered what you should post if you want to book more clients, grow your business, stand out as a brand photographer, etc., this episode will be covering it all. Here are the main topics discussed:

• Getting back into a place of service and figuring out how you can help
• Using frequently asked questions for content
• Addressing questions that haven’t been asked yet
• Getting into your client’s shoes
• Showing what photography provides (more than just photos)
• Highlighting past clients
• Incorporating content about yourself
• The importance of messaging

We discuss this even more in my group coaching program, Rebrand! Enrollment opens February 16. Rebrand is both a curriculum and coaching. We are following these same steps talked about in this episode to help you build a successful brand photography business (that makes six figures and charges four figures for a brand session). Learn more here!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.

Full show notes here

Social media can be an incredible tool for business. This episode explores how you can use social media to attract dream clients, and use it in a way that feels strategic and not draining.   Join the Brand Photography Jumpstart here: https://www.maddiepeschong.com/brandphotographer

A 100k year is a huge milestone for entrepreneurs, and there seems to be chatter in the online business community that's split into two camps: 1) there's nothing magical about 100k, and 2) it's absolutely everything to get to 100k. No surprise, I fall somewhere in the middle. My business coach refers to 100k as a sustainability point for business and I totally agree. We all know we're not taking home all of the money we make, so at 100k that typically gives you room to pay for expenses, pay yourself, pay your taxes, maybe start outsourcing a little bit, maybe have some profit leftover if you're lucky. While it's not EVERYTHING to hit 100k, I do think it's a big deal because it gets you to a point where you can really sustain and start to look at growth and scaling. 

I talked in a previous episode about multiple streams of income and how I didn't start pursuing that until after I hit 6 figures, and this got me thinking about what I would do if I were starting my business over and striving for that 6 figure mark from scratch. In this episode, I am talking about every step I would take if I were starting over and trying to make six figures with my photography business. Here are the main things discussed in this episode:

• Picking a service to focus on
• Being seen as an expert when you have a specialty
• Doing a few free or low priced sessions to build your portfolio
• How to create an awesome experience that creates chatter
• Taking your images from your free/low priced sessions and using them  to market yourself, grow your social media, and build your personal brand
• My thoughts on taking on most clients that inquire if trying to reach 100k and being aware of your capacity
• Slowly raising prices as your calendar fills up
• How hiring an editor can help you book more sessions (yes, it’s okay to give up some of this control!)
• Get more specific about the work you take as you become busier
• After 6 figures, looking where you can trade money for TIME and outsource

 

This is also the process I walk you through in my mini course, The Brand Photography Jumpstart: learn how to make your first $500 with brand photography. This free course runs February 12-16, 2024. Join me for about 30 minutes a day for 5 days over the lunch hour to learn AND be coached. Claim your spot here!

That mini course tees up my group coaching program, Rebrand, as enrollment will be opening February 16. Rebrand is both a curriculum and coaching. We follow these same steps talked about in this episode to help you build a successful brand photography business that makes six figures and charges four figures for a brand session. Learn more about Rebrand here!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.

Full show notes here

 

One of the reasons I love brand photography is the potential for repeat clients. When it comes to brand photography, you are working with clients who regularly need updated images. This allows for repeat clients often, if we treat our clients well.

This episode I’m sharing the top things we can be doing as photographers to keep our clients coming back (and referring more amazing clients our way). Here are the main things discussed in this episode:

• How to create a really easy experience from top to bottom
• Setting up email autoresponders
• Always making sure your client knows what's happening next
• Making a smooth onboarding experience
• Helping clients with their overwhelm (in preparing for shoot or after with how to use their photos)
• Automations and workflows (a huge piece of what we cover in my group coaching program, Rebrand)
• Managing client gallery delivery times
• The two things clients share when talking about us to friends and family
• Adding value to the experience by utilizing community
• Surprise and delight strategy
• Asking for reviews/referrals and staying in touch
• Designing a brand session with strategy (sign up for the free training on this here!)

There is so much potential for booking return clients, and a lot of it comes from strategy! On January 23, 2023, you can join me for a free workshop where I will show you how to plan a strategic brand session. This includes from when people inquire with you to when they are leaving you a glowing review. Sign up for the training here!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

Full show notes here

KP and Jessie (both she/her) are the design duo behind Inkpot Creative®️, a queer-led design studio building unconventional, impactful brand and website experiences for photographers who are leading their industry by creating something different. In addition to building brands and websites, the studio also focuses on creating ways for photographers to get leads in more sustainable ways through SEO and blogging. When they're not working in their studio, they can usually be found hiking in a national park or working on their travel blog, Volumes & Voyages.

• How KP & Jessie got started in business and website design
• Who KP & Jessica typically work with
• What is SEO and what do photographers need to know about it
• What keywords to focus on using on your website
• Where and how to infuse keywords on to your website
• Alt text tips
• Doing keyword research for blog posts
• Making blog posts more quality and informative
• What type of posts rank well

Check out resources from Inkpot Creative here: blog post idea freebie, membership club, and template shop.

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.

Full show notes here

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

 

I’m so excited to share an annual recap in this episode! I'm sharing the wins, the struggles, and the changes that 2023 brought for me and my businesses. I also am touching on what’s coming for 2024. Here are the main things discussed in episode 108:

• Record setting mini session day
• Events, big projects, and work trips
• Focusing on my own personal style for my personal brand
• Managing my screen limits
• Taylor Swift live!!
• Hiring in my business
• Our new White Space studio
• Rebrand launch
• Hitting my revenue goal
• Tough client situations
• Managing finances better
• Intentional podcast topics
• Different summer schedule
• More automation
• 2024 goals

2023 was great, and I’m excited for 2024. Take a little recap of your wins and goals, and come and share them with me on Instagram @maddiepeschong!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.

Full show notes here

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

I’m a little nervous for this episode, but it’s been on my to-record list for quite a while. The reason I am nervous is that we are diving head first into why you shouldn’t have multiple streams of income in your business.

I’ve been avoiding recording this episode because I personally have multiple streams of income in my own business. BUT I believe I could actually be making a lot more money if I didn’t have so many different streams.

This episode is discussing that and how having more income streams isn’t always better. Here are the main topics in this episode:

• More businesses, more problems
• Getting to six figures before adding another income stream
• Adding income streams can split your attention
• Why being impatient can lead to the wrong business move
• Refining your core service
• Doing the hard and thoughtful work rather than busy work
• Passive income is not truly passive
• Don’t start a business/income stream from panic, worry, or fear
• Those opportunities aren’t going anywhere; you can make any time good timing
• You owe it to yourself to wait
• I thought the only way to scale my income was to add more streams

I’m so curious to hear your thoughts on this episode and not having multiple streams of income! Share in the Facebook group or DM on Instagram @maddiepeschong.

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here.

Full show notes here

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!