What does it actually look like to build a $500K+ photography business—step by step, phase by phase?

In this episode, I’m joined by Kylee Maughan, founder of Kylee Ann Studios, who breaks down the real evolution of her business over the past 15 years. From charging $35 sessions in college to building a multi-six-figure company with a team of photographers across multiple states, Kylee walks through the exact phases that got her there.

We talk about the messy beginnings, the rapid growth that comes from investing in education, the breaking point that forced her to rebuild her business with systems, and the pivotal moment she expanded beyond just herself by hiring associate photographers.

Kylee also shares how a major pivot during COVID—into product photography—became one of the most impactful decisions in her business, ultimately helping her scale past $500K while creating more freedom in her life.

If you’re in the early stages, feeling maxed out, or trying to figure out how to grow beyond just yourself, this episode will give you a clear picture of what each phase actually requires—and what it takes to move to the next level.

Key Takeaways:

Every phase of growth requires a different version of you. What works when you’re starting out won’t work when you’re scaling—and trying to hold onto old ways of operating is often what keeps photographers stuck.

Kylee’s story shows that sustainable growth doesn’t come from hustling harder. It comes from building systems, expanding your capacity through people, and being willing to pivot when the market changes.

The goal isn’t just to make more money—it’s to build a business that actually supports your life.

Connect with Kylee:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyleeann.maughan

Website: https://kyleeannphotography.com

Free Product Photography Class: https://kyleeannphotography.com/bp

Take Your Shot Resources:

Business Resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

Coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

Mentioned in this episode:

Wanderlust Videos - Get your time back and start working with a high-end, dedicated post-production team! use the code: TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit - https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke

In this episode of the Take Your Shot podcast, we’re joined by website copywriter and marketing consultant Andrea Shah to unpack the real role your words play in your business. From navigating today’s “trust recession” to helping your ideal clients actually understand and connect with your work, Andrea breaks down how strategic copy bridges the gap between beautiful visuals and booked clients. If your website looks good but isn’t converting, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up online.

Andrea brings over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and luxury brands, and now helps wedding professionals use psychology, storytelling, and market research to become the last tab standing in their clients’ browsers. This episode is packed with practical shifts you can make right now to build trust, reduce ghosting, and turn more inquiries into bookings.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why copy matters just as much as your visuals (especially in an AI-heavy world)
• How to build trust with potential clients before they ever inquire
• The concept of a “trust recession” and what it means for your business
• How to use your website to give clients language to understand and talk about your work
• The biggest mistakes creatives make on their inquiry forms (and how to fix them)
• Simple tweaks that can reduce ghosting and improve response rates
• Where to focus first on your website (About page, FAQs, testimonials, and more)
• How SEO and AI search are evolving—and what that means for your visibility
• Why treating your marketing like an experiment is key to growth

About Andrea Shah:

Andrea Shah is a website copywriter and marketing consultant for wedding creatives who want to better communicate their artistry and client experience. With a background in translation and brand voice strategy, she has worked with major brands before transitioning into the creative and wedding industries. Today, she helps photographers and service providers craft copy that builds trust, connects emotionally, and converts.

Connect with Andrea:

Website: https://www.andreashah.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreashahcopy

Take Your Shot Resources:

Free Community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

Business Resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

Coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Final thought:

If your website isn’t converting the way you want it to, it’s probably not a traffic problem—it’s a messaging problem. Start small. Make a few tweaks. And remember: the goal isn’t just to be seen… it’s to be understood.

Mentioned in this episode:

Wanderlust Videos - Get your time back and start working with a high-end, dedicated post-production team! use the code: TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit - https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke

Are you building a business that actually reflects who you are—or just one that “looks good” from the outside?

In this episode of the Take Your Shot podcast, I’m joined by Emily Woodall Gbadamosi, founder of Woodall Creative Co., photographer, and systems strategist for creative entrepreneurs. We’re diving into what it really looks like to run a values-driven business—and why this goes far beyond a few words on your “About” page.

Emily shares how her experience building a photography business while working full-time forced her to create systems that gave her time back—and how that eventually led her to helping other creatives do the same. But more importantly, we unpack how your values influence everything from your client experience to your marketing, your boundaries, and even the tools you choose to use.

This conversation gets honest about the fear so many business owners have: “What if I lose clients by speaking up?” Emily shares her real-life experience—and why showing up authentically has actually led to deeper connections, stronger inquiries, and more aligned clients.

We also talk about:

• The difference between stated values vs. lived values (and why people can tell the difference)
• How to share your beliefs online without feeling preachy or performative
• The balance between automation and maintaining real human connection
• Why authenticity is becoming more valuable in a world full of AI-generated content
• How your values can guide decisions behind the scenes—like who you work with, what tools you use, and how you run your business

If you’ve ever felt hesitant to fully show up as yourself in your business, this episode will challenge you to rethink that—and give you a more grounded way to move forward.

Website: https://woodallcreative.co

Instagram: https://instagram.com/woodallcreativeco

Free Resource:

Defining Your Business Values: A Framework for Small Business Owners

https://woodallcreative.co/values

If you’re ready to build a more intentional, profitable photography business, here are a few ways to go deeper:

1:1 Coaching

https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Business Resources

https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

Community

https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

• A clearer understanding of how values impact your business beyond just branding
• Practical ways to start sharing your beliefs authentically
• A new perspective on “losing followers” and why it can actually be a good thing
• Insight into building a business that feels aligned, sustainable, and human

Mentioned in this episode:

Wanderlust Videos - Get your time back and start working with a high-end, dedicated post-production team! use the code: TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit - https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke

Wedding season is here, and in this episode of the “Take Your Shot” podcast, Halle shares an honest behind-the-scenes look at how she manages a sustainable wedding photography business without sacrificing her mental health, personal life, or client experience.

From calendar management and batching engagement sessions to outsourcing culling and using AI editing tools like Aftershoot, this episode dives into the systems and workflow changes that have helped her stay ahead during one of her busiest seasons yet.

If you’re a wedding photographer feeling overwhelmed by editing queues, double-header weekends, or trying to balance work and life during peak season, this episode will help you rethink how you structure your business for long-term sustainability.

• How to plan your wedding season with a bird’s-eye view
• Why protecting your calendar matters more than booking every inquiry
• Using scheduling tools and automations to simplify your workflow
• Why editing becomes the biggest bottleneck for most photographers
• Outsourcing wedding photo editing vs. doing everything yourself
• Editing time-saving strategies using Aftershoot, Imagen, and Wilderness
• Why outsourcing helped me regain creative energy
• How sustainable systems create a better client experience

Whether you’re a wedding photographer, creative entrepreneur, or service provider heading into a busy season, this episode will encourage you to take a step back, evaluate your workload, and build systems that actually support the life you want.

Outsourcing Partners:

Wanderlust videos - if you're looking to outsource video editing to a team of highly skilled editors who learn your style and essentially function as an extension of your team, check out wanderlust videos. They are a high-end, dedicated post-production team and you can use the code TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke

Wildernis Lab - an affordable photo editing team that offers custom editing, AI editing, culling, and more! - https://www.wildernis.co/ (use the code HalleR to get a discount)

• Get 30% off your first year of Dubsado with the code TAKEYOURSHOT - dubsado.com/?c=takeyourshot
• Get 1000 free edits with Aftershoot - https://account.aftershoot.com/referral-signup?referrer=2SOC7GASK&utm_source=referral-page-app&utm_medium=copy-cta
• Try Wilderniss Editing - https://www.wildernis.co/ (use the code HalleR)
• Get $100 off your first video editing project with wanderlust videos using the code TAKEYOURSHOT100 - https://www.wanderlust-videos.com/

• Take Your Shot Collective Community
• Free Resources + Discounts
• Coaching with Halle

Mentioned in this episode:

Wanderlust Videos - Get your time back and start working with a high-end, dedicated post-production team! use the code: TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit - https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke

If email marketing has felt overwhelming or easy to put off, this episode will simplify it for you. Halle sits down with email marketing expert Kieryn Wang, founder of ALLMOST, to break down how to turn your email list into a consistent and reliable source of revenue. Instead of relying on social media algorithms, email gives you direct access to people who have chosen to hear from you, making it one of the most powerful tools for building trust and converting leads into clients.

In this conversation, Kieryn shares a more approachable way to think about email marketing. It does not need to be complex, perfectly designed, or time consuming to be effective. From growing your list with intentional lead magnets to building a welcome sequence that actually nurtures your audience, this episode focuses on what works and how to start without overthinking it. If you have been waiting for the right time to begin, this is it.

• Why email marketing gives you more control than social media
• Common misconceptions about email marketing and why they hold people back
• How to start or grow your email list by consistently talking about it
• How to build trust by focusing your emails on the reader, not just your business
• How often to send emails and how to choose a schedule you can stay consistent with
• Simple ways to encourage engagement and build community through your emails

To connect with Kieryn Wang and learn more about her work, visit https://www.itsallmost.com or follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/itsallmost.

Kieryn has also created a resource specifically for Take Your Shot listeners. Her Inbox to Revenue Toolkit includes an email analytics tracker and a content calendar to help you stay consistent and strategic. You can access it here https://www.itsallmost.com/takeyourshotpodcast and use the code TYSP.

If you are ready to build a business that is not dependent on social media and want to create a stronger connection with your audience, email marketing is one of the most effective places to start.

For more support and resources, you can join the Take Your Shot community at https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community, explore tools at https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources, or learn more about coaching at https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching.

Mentioned in this episode:

Wanderlust Videos - Get your time back and start working with a high-end, dedicated post-production team! use the code: TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit - https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke

If you’re a wedding photographer or creative business owner trying to stand out in a crowded market, your brand matters more than ever but not in the way you might think.

In this episode of the Take Your Shot podcast, I’m joined by branding expert Jen Dalton, founder of Brand Mirror, to break down what branding actually looks like in today’s market and how to create messaging that connects with your ideal clients and leads to more bookings.

We dive into why so many photographers struggle with their messaging, how to clearly communicate your value, and how to build a brand that reflects who you are while still resonating with the people you want to work with.

Whether you’re refining your website, updating your portfolio, or preparing your business for the next year, this episode will help you create a stronger, more aligned brand that converts.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The three levels of messaging that help you stand out and attract better clients
• How to identify your ideal client and create messaging that resonates
• The biggest branding mistakes photographers make and how to avoid them
• How to use client testimonials and reviews to strengthen your brand credibility
• Why deep work and intentional thinking are essential for long-term business growth
• How to create a business that aligns with your lifestyle and long-term goals

About Jen Dalton

Jen Dalton is a branding strategist and the founder of Brand Mirror, where she helps entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business owners clarify their message and build brands that reflect who they are and help them stand out.

With over 13 years of experience, Jen specializes in personal branding, messaging strategy, and helping clients create a clear and compelling value proposition.

Connect with Jen

• Website: https://brandmirror.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jendalton/

Jen offers one-on-one strategy sessions, brand consulting, and long-term support to help you build a brand that aligns with your purpose and attracts the right opportunities.

Take Your Shot Resources

• Wanderlust Videos - Get your time back and start working with a high-end, dedicated post-production team! use the code: TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke
• Free community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community
• Business resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources
• Coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/takeyourshotcollective

If you’re looking to improve your branding, attract better clients, and create a business that feels aligned and sustainable, this episode is a must-listen.

Mentioned in this episode:

Wanderlust Videos - Get your time back and start working with a high-end, dedicated post-production team! use the code: TAKEYOURSHOT100 for $100 off your first edit - https://dp.wanderlust-videos.com/sign_up?invitation_link=1637&tkn=Luke

If you’ve been feeling like inquiries are harder to convert, clients are slower to respond, or ghosting is more common, you’re not alone.

The market is shifting, and a big part of that comes down to changing client expectations—especially with Gen Z.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Gail Fraser, systems expert and founder of Work Simple. She helps creative business owners build backend systems and automation that support their business in a way that still feels personal and aligned.

This conversation breaks down what’s actually changing, what matters most right now, and how to simplify your business so you can focus on what truly moves the needle.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Gen Z expects faster communication and automation
• How price transparency impacts your ability to book the right clients
• The difference between automation and AI (and why that matters)
• What to automate first to save time and mental energy
• The biggest mistake people make when investing in tools like CRMs
• When to invest in systems versus hiring a virtual assistant
• How to use client offboarding to generate more referrals and reviews

The small tasks in your business are adding up more than you think. When you automate and systemize the repeatable parts of your workflow, you create more space to focus on the relationships and high-impact work that actually grows your business.

Action Steps You Can Take Today:

• Write out your full client workflow in simple bullet points
• Identify tasks you repeat for every client
• Turn one of those into a reusable template
• Start asking how you can make each step simpler or more efficient

Connect with Gail from worksimple IO

Website: https://worksimple.io

Instagram: https://instagram.com/worksimple.io

Free resource (ClickUp template + newsletter): https://worksimple.io/newsletter

Speaking: https://worksimple.io/speaking

Gail offers systems sprints, operations audits, and full custom builds to help you simplify and scale your business with better workflows.

Take Your Shot Resources

Free community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

Free resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

Coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Instagram: https://instagram.com/takeyourshotcollective

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a business owner who you think could also benefit from this! BONUS - share it on your Instagram story and tag @takeyourshotcollective

Rachel Traxler is back on the podcast and this time we are diving deep into lead generation — what is actually working right now, what has shifted in the industry, and why waiting around for inquiries to come to you is no longer a strategy. Rachel shares why she still believes Google and SEO are her biggest lead generators, how in-person networking continues to open doors she never expected, and why getting in front of other people's audiences through collaborations and guest blogging is one of the most underutilized tools photographers have available to them.

We also get into the nitty gritty of building social media funnels using ManyChat, why your call to action might not be converting the way you want, and how to think about guiding potential clients down the funnel rather than sending them backwards. Rachel breaks down how she has updated her own contact form and pricing guide process to better serve different types of buyers, and why being transparent and direct with your potential clients is not salesy — it is just good service.

Take Your Shot:

1. Business Resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources
2. Coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Rachel Traxler:

1. Website: racheltraxler.com
2. Instagram: instagram.com/racheltraxler
3. Shop (Digital Products + Done for You Funnels): https://racheltraxler.com/shop

In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Litchfield, founder of Litchfield Media Co. She is a seasoned ads strategist with nearly seven years of experience helping entrepreneurs and online coaches grow their businesses through paid advertising. Melissa breaks down one of the most misunderstood tools in the online business world — Meta ads — and why they're more important than ever in today's unpredictable social media landscape. From the rented land of Instagram to building an audience you actually own, Melissa walks us through what it really takes to run ads that work and how to know when you're truly ready.

Melissa also talks about the full picture of a lead magnet funnel — from attracting cold traffic to nurturing new leads with an email sequence — and unpack the biggest mistakes business owners make along the way. Whether you've never touched Ads Manager or you've tried ads before and walked away frustrated, this conversation meets you where you are. Melissa shares how to lay the right technical foundation, how to avoid the most common setup errors, and why working with an expert (even just for an hour) can save you thousands of dollars and months of wasted effort.

What you'll walk away with:

1. Why ads are a tool that amplifies what's already working — not a magic fix — and how to know when your foundation is ready
2. The three most common lead magnet mistakes and how to calculate whether yours is actually converting
3. What a simple, effective landing page and email nurture sequence should include (and how many emails to start with)
4. How to choose the right ad objective so Meta is actually sending you real leads — not just clicks
5. Practical first steps for getting your Meta Business Portfolio set up correctly before you ever spend a dollar on ads

Take Your Shot:

1. Business Resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources
2. Coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Melissa Litchfield – Litchfield Media:

1. Website: www.litchfieldmedia.org
2. Instagram: www.instagram.com/litchfieldmedia
3. Free Resource — Roadworthy in 48 Hours (Meta Business Portfolio Setup Guide): https://litchfieldmedia.org/roadworthy
4. Sign Up for the Test Drive Ad Sprint (Live Challenge – $97): https://takeyourshot--litchfieldmedia.thrivecart.com/test-drive-ad-sprint-live/

In this 100th episode (ahh that still doesn't even feel real!) we reflect on the journey behind the Take Your Shot Podcast as it reaches 100 episodes. From leaving a corporate career to building a photography business and eventually launching this platform, she shares the story of how it all started, the lessons learned along the way, and the values that continue to shape the community today. This episode is an honest look behind the scenes of building a creative business and a reminder that success rarely looks as polished as it appears online.

Thank you for being here! Be sure to check these out:

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