After an unplanned break from the mic, I’m back on The Brand Photographer’s Lounge, and I’m keeping it real about why I pressed pause. In this episode, I open up about what pulled me away, the mindset hurdles that crept in, and the small but powerful shifts I’m making to bring more structure (and joy) back into my business.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the busy cycle of client work, or caught yourself making excuses that keep you from doing the things you actually love, this one will resonate. Join me as I share the lessons I’ve learned, what’s changing behind the scenes, and how I’m re-finding my rhythm.

 

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome back to the podcast 00:36 – Why I stopped recording episodes 01:15 – Getting stuck in my own head 02:01 – Calling out my own excuses 02:45 – Returning with new energy and focus 03:53 – Lessons from a busy season 05:00 – Clearing my inbox and rediscovering time blocking 06:32 – The relief of structure and productivity 07:40 – Advice for photographers in busy season 09:00 – Protecting time and managing deadlines 10:42 – Avoiding burnout and finding breathing space 12:38 – Exciting milestone: going limited 13:43 – Looking ahead to future podcast plans 14:30 – Wrapping up and what’s next

 

In this episode of The Brand Photographer’s Lounge, Amanda shares the unexpected, middle-of-the-night idea that turned into one of her most successful offers to date. From shifting the way she approaches mini shoots to launching an annual pass that sold out in just two weeks, Amanda dives into the data-driven thinking, client behaviour insights, and timing strategy that made it all work. Whether you offer mini shoots or are just looking for smarter ways to package your services, this episode is packed with practical takeaways - and a big dose of inspiration for trusting your gut.

 

Join the free facebook group - The Brand Photographers Lounge

 

Timestamps

01:15 My approach: a mini version of a full shoot 02:24 Who actually books mini shoots—and it’s not just newbies 03:38 What the data told me after a decade of minis 04:44 The 3am idea that changed everything 06:00 How I launched the Mini Shoot Annual Pass 07:37 The surprising results (and no objections!) 09:00 Pricing, structure, and what’s included 10:15 Why timing your offer matters 11:16 Planning, clarity, and what clients really need 13:05 Not capping images—and why that works for brand shoots 14:30 Solving real problems with simple offers 15:50 Launch timing tips for your niche 16:50 Final thoughts on trusting your gut and giving it a go

Thinking about adding video to your photography services - but feeling overwhelmed by the tech, the editing, or just where to start? In this episode, Amanda chats with Vikki from Featured, an award-winning videographer and course creator, about breaking into video as a photographer.

They explore what’s really holding people back, how the industry is evolving, and why now might be the perfect time to expand your skillset. If you’ve ever wondered whether video is worth the investment (spoiler: it just might be!), this conversation will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to take the next step.

 

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro and Tech Woes

01:45 – Why Amanda Added Video to Her Services

04:00 – Meet Vikki: Background and Journey into Videography

07:30 – The Gender Gap in Videography

10:00 – The Shift in Client Video Needs

13:10 – AI, Video Trends, and Staying Current

15:00 – Why Amanda Took the Pro Video Course

17:00 – Inside the Pro Video Course

20:40 – Real-Life Results from the Course

23:30 – The Importance of Community and Support

25:00 – Final Thoughts: Confidence, Competence & What Photographers Need to Know

27:00 – Course Details and What’s Next

 

About Vikki Hutton

Vikki is the founder of Featured - an all-female video team based in London, creating content for national women's brands and female founders. Her clients include Dune, ghd, Women's Health and the British Beauty Council. When she's not on set, Vikki is a regular speaker at industry events and runs the Pro Video Course for photographers who are excited to expand their businesses with videography. 

Website: www.featuredstudio.co.uk Socials: www.instagram.com/videobyvictoria    To get all the details of the next Pro Video Course in your inbox, register your interest here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1w9LBDORVGlM1Qn0HaqQCKUlQGrUh0JTUmauqyf9sml0/edit

In this episode of The Brand Photographer’s Lounge, Amanda is joined by her long-time friend, copywriter, client and fellow storytelling enthusiast, Chantelle Davison. From rabbit holes about wax seals to the power of vulnerability in content, this conversation unpacks why storytelling matters more than ever—for your copy, your photos, and your connection with clients.

Chantelle shares her journey into copywriting, the fears business owners face when outsourcing their words, and why the most “mundane” stories are often the most powerful. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have a story worth telling or struggled to sound like you in your marketing, this chat is the warm hug and gentle nudge you didn’t know you needed.

They also dive into Chantelle’s membership, Copy College, and why mindset plays such a huge role in showing up confidently online.

 

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome back and introducing Chantel Davison 01:10 – From corporate sales to becoming a copywriter 02:40 – Why outsourcing copy can feel scary 03:35 – The magic of sounding like “you” in your copy 04:55 – Why storytelling is so powerful in marketing 06:10 – “I’m not interesting” – busting the biggest storytelling myth 08:00 – Beauty in the mundane: relatable stories connect 09:25 – Vulnerability, visibility, and letting people in 11:10 – How images and copy work hand-in-hand 12:40 – When being too honest actually converts 14:30 – Turning rants into valuable, shareable content 16:00 – What is Copy College? Inside Chantel’s membership 18:00 – The difference between content and copy 19:25 – How mindset support supercharges your visibility 21:10 – Creating a safe space for neurodiverse business owners 22:45 – Advice for photographers: start where you are 24:20 – Everyone has a story – even in the small moments 25:30 – The power of “sonder” and inviting others in 26:40 – Wrapping up with love (and maybe pigeons next time)

 

Where to find Chantelle

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

Website: https://www.choicewordsbychantelle.com/ 

Copy College: https://www.choicewordsbychantelle.com/copycollege 

In this episode of The Brand Photographer’s Lounge, Amanda is joined by Arif from AI Beauty Consulting, a master of romantic storytelling in sales. They dive deep into how emotional storytelling transforms the way we connect with clients, craft our marketing, and ultimately grow our businesses. From luxury perfume tales to heartfelt brand journeys, Arif shares how vulnerability, connection, and intentional storytelling can elevate your brand and lead to greater client loyalty and conversions. Plus, discover how photographers can draw out stories from clients and themselves to create meaningful visual narratives—and hear all about Arif’s collaboration with PR expert Nicola Rowley on their storytelling-meets-sales program, StorySeller.

 

You can find Arif on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/aibeautyconsultancy/

 

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro

03:00 – Arif’s Background in Luxury Retail

06:00 – The Story of Shalimar

09:00 – Storytelling vs. Marketing

11:30 – Why It’s Hard to Sell Yourself

14:00 – Vulnerability as a Strength

17:30 – Helping Clients Share Their Story

20:30 – The Photographer’s Superpower

24:00 – Arif’s Journey with Social Media

27:00 – Behind the Scenes of StorySeller

29:00 – Storytelling That Converts

31:00 – Where to Find Arif & Final Thoughts

What if the key to getting noticed by the media wasn’t just about having great visuals, but about telling the right story? In this episode, I sit down with PR expert (and former photographer!) Nicola Rowley to dive into how photographers and business owners can use storytelling to land features, build credibility, and get seen in all the right places.

We discuss the essential elements that make an image media-friendly, why some branding photos never make the cut, and how photographers can position themselves (and their clients) for press success. Plus, Nicola shares her own unexpected career journey—from journalism to PR to photography and back again—offering insights you won’t want to miss.

If you’ve ever wondered why some brands seem to be everywhere while others struggle for visibility, this episode is for you. Tune in now and start thinking about your PR strategy in a whole new way!

 

Where to find Nicola

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nicolajrowleypr/ 

Her book - https://amzn.to/3FB0Q3H 

Her podcast - https://thepowerofstorytelling.podbean.com/ 

 

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and meeting Nicola 08:00 – Nicola’s Journey from Journalism to PR 09:50 – How Photography Led to PR 16:00 – The Role of Storytelling in PR 19:30 – What Makes an Image Media-Friendly? 23:45 – Why Light and Bright Images Work Best 26:40 – Encouraging Clients to Celebrate Their PR 30:10 – The Power of Personal Stories in PR 33:30 – Overcoming Visibility Fears 35:40 – Why Photographers Need PR Too 37:00 – How to Get Started with PR

What if you could make more money while working fewer hours? In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Lisa Johnson—business strategist and the "Queen of Passive Income"—to talk about the game-changing power of recurring revenue. Lisa shares her journey from wedding planner to building a multi-million-pound business, the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to create passive income, and why every photographer (yes, even you!) should be thinking beyond trading time for money.

We also get real about the mindset blocks that hold creatives back from scaling, the unexpected ways photographers can diversify their income, and what it really takes to build a sustainable revenue stream that works for you—even while you sleep.

Whether you're new to the idea of passive income or ready to take your next big step, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights.

Tune in now and start rethinking how you earn!

 

Where to find Lisa:

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

Website: https://lisajohnson.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisajohnsonstrategist 

One To Many (course is open until the 10th March): https://otm.lisajohnson.com/ 

 

Timestamps:

00:00 | Intro & Guest Introduction 01:11 | Lisa’s Journey: From Wedding Planner to Passive Income Strategist 04:21 | The Reality of Passive Income & Why Photographers Struggle With It 07:51 | How Photographers Can Create Recurring Revenue Streams 12:06 | Biggest Mistakes People Make with Passive Income 15:31 | Scaling Without Burnout & Mindset Shifts Around Pricing 18:46 | Why Passive Income Takes Work—But Is Worth It 20:31 | Wrap-Up & Where to Find Lisa

In this vulnerable solo episode, I share an experience I never expected to have—letting a client down. As a brand photographer, my priority is always to deliver the best service possible, but sometimes life throws unexpected challenges our way. I open up about a situation that rocked me, how I handled it, and the lessons I learned about communication, contingency planning, and emotional resilience. Whether you're a photographer or any other service-based business owner, this episode will help you think about your own backup plans and how to navigate setbacks with professionalism and integrity.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Why this episode feels a little different 01:30 – The Morning Everything Went Wrong: What happened and why I couldn’t make it to the shoot 02:45 – First Lesson Learned: Why I should have picked up the phone 04:10 – Making Things Right: How I handled compensation and client expectations 05:30 – Gaps in My Contingency Plan: The hard truth about crisis management in my business 07:15 – What This Taught Me: Key takeaways for solo business owners 08:45 – Final Thoughts: How setbacks help us grow and what to do next

If you've ever had to navigate a difficult situation with a client, I'd love to hear how you handled it. Let’s continue the conversation—DM me or join the Facebook group. And if this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to share it with a fellow business owner who might need to hear this!

Your portfolio isn’t just a collection of pretty pictures—it’s your most powerful marketing tool. In this episode of The Brand Photographer’s Lounge, I dive into the strategy behind building a portfolio that not only showcases your skills but actively attracts and converts your ideal clients.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refresh your existing portfolio, I’ll share insights on how to curate with intention, avoid common mistakes, and ensure your work resonates with the right audience. Plus, I reveal a simple yet game-changing approach to portfolio building—without working for free.

Tune in to learn how to make your portfolio work for you and set yourself apart in the world of brand photography.

 

Timestamps

[00:00] - Introduction [01:30] - The Purpose of Your Portfolio [04:00] - Key Elements of a High-Impact Portfolio [07:00] - Common Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid [10:30] - Building a Portfolio Without Working for Free [14:00] - Updating & Maintaining Your Portfolio [17:30] - The Role of Video in Portfolio Building [19:00] - Final Takeaways & Next Steps [20:00] - Outro

 

Join us in the Brand Photographers Lounge Free Facebook Group to continue the discussion

In this episode of The Brand Photographer’s Lounge, Amanda dives into the art of collaboration and why it’s the secret ingredient to a successful brand shoot. From understanding your client’s vision to balancing their ideas with your expertise, Amanda shares insights on creating a seamless, collaborative process that builds trust, reduces client nerves, and delivers impactful results.

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical tips to elevate your client relationships and take your shoots to the next level. Tune in to learn how collaboration can transform your work—and your client’s confidence in front of the camera!

 

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to the episode and the importance of collaboration in photography shoots.

00:15 - Why collaboration leads to better results for both photographers and clients.

02:30 - How brainstorming and combining experiences can create unique and impactful visuals.

04:00 - Addressing client fears and building a safe, comfortable space for shoots.

06:15 - The importance of creating a team effort and fostering long-term client relationships.

07:30 - Practical tips for building collaboration during the planning process.

10:00 - Encouraging authenticity and guiding clients to showcase their true selves.

12:00 - Problem-solving during shoots and keeping clients engaged in the process.

14:30 - The role of client preparation in the success of a collaborative shoot.

17:00 - Clear communication and setting expectations to improve the shoot experience.

20:00 - Addressing common challenges like unclear visions, nervousness, and lack of preparation.

23:30 - Final takeaways: the importance of preparation, trust, and communication.

24:30 - Call to action: join the Facebook group, share experiences, and leave a review.

 

You can join the facebook group here - The Brand Photographers Lounge