Guest: None (Solo Episode with Jill C. Smith)

We Discuss:

• Why every photographer has a sales funnel — even if it wasn’t intentionally built

• How to recognize when your funnel has kinks (complete blockages) or leaks (quiet revenue loss)

• Common “kinks” that stop inquiries entirely, like broken links, missing calls to action, or poor mobile formatting

• The “leaks” that quietly drain your income, like misaligned branding, weak follow-up, or lack of client nurturing

• How to audit your funnel before Black Friday to make sure you’re ready for new bookings

• The importance of fast response times, current testimonials, and staying visible locally

• Why repeat clients are your most valuable asset — and how to retain them

• How to balance new client attraction with retention in a changing market

TLDR:
Whether or not you built one intentionally, your business has a sales funnel — and if your inquiries or bookings have slowed, something in it isn’t working the way it should. In this episode, Jill breaks down how to identify and fix the two most common problems: kinks, which completely block your flow of leads, and leaks, which quietly cost you revenue over time. You’ll learn how to audit your website, follow-up process, client experience, and visibility before Black Friday so your systems are ready to receive new bookings and keep past clients coming back.

Resources:

• Google Business Profile: https://www.google.com/business/

• SEO Checker (Free Tool): https://neilpatel.com/seo-analyzer/

Episode Title: Selling Is Service

Guest: Rhea Whitney, Rhea Whitney Photography & The Photo Bomb Academy

We Discuss:

• Why photographers often fear “selling” — and how to reframe it as service, not pressure

• The real difference between sales and marketing (and why confusing them stalls growth)

• How to handle rejection, overcome fear, and stop projecting your own money story onto clients

• Why aligned clients pay more, refer more, and make you love your job again

• Pricing systems that make sense for your lifestyle, whether you’re full-time or balancing a 9–5

• Building confidence through data: using your cost of doing business to back your prices

• The importance of vetting clients just as much as they vet you

• Setting boundaries, honoring energy, and letting “no” make space for better “yeses”

• The mindset shifts that turn selling from sleazy to soulful

• Rhea’s Elevate Accelerator program and how she helps photographers reach consistent five-figure months

TLDR:
Sales and marketing aren’t the same thing — marketing gets attention, selling creates transformation.
When done right, selling is serving. It’s how you guide clients toward something they already want.
Stop pricing from your own wallet and start using data to justify your rates.
Aligned clients are born from clear communication, confidence, and boundaries.
Your business isn’t just art — it’s energy exchange, and selling is how you keep that energy flowing.

Resources:

• Learn more about Elevate Accelerator and join the upcoming Six Figures & Beyond Webinar (Nov 18): comment “webinar” on Instagram

• Follow @rheawhitney on Instagram and TikTok

• Explore Rhea’s educational programs at rheawhitney.com

• Connect with The Photo Bomb Academy for more resources on pricing, mindset, and business strategy

Episode Title: Licensed Counselor, Working Photographer: Real ADHD Tools

Guest: Andrea Pittman, Andrea Michelle Photography & Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Arizona + Washington

We Discuss:

• How Andrea built a dual career as a wedding/lifestyle photographer and an ADHD-specialized therapist across two states

• Why photography’s variety and flexibility can be a great fit for ADHD brains

• The real sticking point for many solopreneurs with ADHD: business operations, bookkeeping, and “invisible” admin work

• Reframing procrastination as time perception and adrenaline seeking, not failure

• Practical tools: body doubling, pairing tasks, coffee-shop focus sessions, and using motivation windows instead of rigid schedules

• Scheduling rest on purpose and designing home systems that protect executive function on work days

• Client fit, momentum, and “ADHD inertia” in marketing and minis

• Weddings, overstimulation, and planning with neurodivergence in mind

• The “Solve-It Grid” from Your Brain’s Not Broken to pair high-stress tasks with low-stim, calming activities

TLDR:

• Build your business around when your brain actually works best. Motivation windows beat nine-to-five rules.

• Procrastination isn’t a moral failing. For many ADHDers it’s an adrenaline strategy that still gets the job done.

• Pair the hard stuff with something calming or enjoyable. Think taxes + podcast, or bookkeeping + body double.

• Stimulate focus on low-dopamine tasks. Coffee shops, light background noise, or a “work buddy” can help.

• Protect your executive function by systemizing home life on heavy work weeks. Meal help and laundry routines are productivity tools.

• Schedule rest like a deliverable. Capacity is finite, and recovery keeps your business sustainable.

• Use consultations to vibe-check client fit. When the energy is aligned, booking and follow-through get easier.

• Weddings can be overstimulating. Plan workflows that honor sensory needs for you and your clients.

Resources:

• Book: Your Brain’s Not Broken by Tamara Rosier

• Follow Andrea: TikTok, Instagram, Threads — @andreamichellephoto

• Andrea’s Podcast: Brilliant Minds? by Brilliant Minds Wellness (Spotify and YouTube)

• Coming Soon from Andrea: Downloadable guides — ADHD for Wedding Photographers and a companion guide for neurodivergent wedding clients

Episode Title: Five Tools That Keep Me From Quitting

Guest: Solo episode with Jill C. Smith

We Discuss:

• Why photography is a great fit for creatives with ADHD — and where it can still get overwhelming

• Jill’s top 5 business tools that support her ADHD brain

• How a missed session became the wake-up call to use a scheduler

• Why she’s switching CRMs again — and what finally convinced her

• How ChatGPT functions like a thought organizer and assistant

• The way AfterShoot removes the dread of task initiation during busy season

• Permission to outsource things like laundry, meal prep, or bookkeeping if they’re draining your energy

TLDR:
This solo episode is part of Jill’s ADHD Awareness Month series, and it’s all about the tools that have helped her keep her business afloat despite her executive dysfunction. From schedulers and CRMs to AI assistants and editing software, Jill shares the five tools she leans on the most — not because they’ve “fixed” her ADHD, but because they’ve allowed her to keep showing up in her business when things get hard. If you’ve ever missed a session, avoided your inbox, or stared at a Lightroom folder for hours, you’re not alone — and these tools might just be the thing that help you keep going.

Resources:

• HoneyBook: https://www.honeybook.com

• AfterShoot: https://www.aftershoot.com

• ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com

• Pixieset Studio Manager: https://www.pixieset.com/studio-manager

Episode Title: Coaching Creatives with ADHD with Christi Johnson

Guest: Christi Johnson, co-owner of Stephanie & Christi Photography (Greenville, SC) and founder of The Dream Biz® Lab

• Christi’s coaching lens for ADHD creatives: designing businesses that work with your brain

• The “Joy Menu” framework (appetizers, entrees, desserts) to spark motivation on hard days

• Flexible structure vs rigid systems and why freedom, novelty, and side quests matter

• Energy management and flow: noticing rhythms, nervous system cues, and choosing energizing starter tasks

• Getting unfun work done: deadlines as a tool, body doubling and co-working, spacing deliverables

• When to outsource and when to simplify instead of scaling

• The Dream Biz® Lab: how the membership runs, what happens in calls, and who it is for

This episode centers on how Christi coaches neurodivergent creatives. We dig into practical, compassionate tools for ADHD brains: flexible structure that honors energy ebbs and flows, the Joy Menu to create momentum, and supportive tactics like deadlines and body doubling. Christi walks through how she helps clients build operations, marketing, and vision that feel joyful and sustainable, and she shares what members can expect inside The Dream Biz® Lab.

• Learn more about The Dream Biz® Lab and join the waitlist: christijohnsoncreative.com/lab

  • Meets every other week, rotating focus on Vision, Operations, and Marketing

  • Includes a private podcast and the upcoming DreamBiz Playground for flexible, dopamine-friendly action plans

  • Next enrollment opens in January; moving to open enrollment in 2026

• Connect with Christi: @christijohnsoncreative on Instagram

• Christi’s site: christijohnsoncreative.com

Episode Title: The ADHD Brain & Running a Photography Business

Guest: Elena S Blair, Elena S Blair Photography, Seattle, WA

We Discuss:

• How ADHD traits like hyperfocus, empathy, and intuition can become superpowers in creative entrepreneurship

• Why traditional work environments often stifle ADHD brains — and how self-employment offers freedom and flexibility

• The art of building systems that fit your brain instead of fighting it

• Using dopamine-driven motivation to fuel creativity and productivity

• The emotional side of ADHD: reframing inconsistency and distraction as strengths

• How Elena and Jill each structure their businesses to work with their natural energy cycles

TLDR:
Elena and Jill share an honest, encouraging conversation about why photographers and other creatives with ADHD often thrive in entrepreneurship. They unpack the unique strengths ADHD brings to the table — from deep empathy and creative intuition to lightning-fast problem-solving — and explore how to design systems and businesses that work with your brain, not against it. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or just recognizing ADHD tendencies in yourself, this episode offers validation, laughter, and practical tools for building a business that actually feels good to run.

Resources:

• Learn more about Elena’s education for photographers: https://elenasblair.com/freebies

• Follow Elena on Instagram: @elenasblair_photography

• Get on the wait list for the next round of Elena's Mastermind here: https://elenasblair.com/mastermind-waitlist (I took both levels of her Mastermind - the mindset work alone is worth the investment!)

  
  

Episode Title: Systems That Stick for Neuro-Spicy Photographers

Guest: Emily Gbadamosi, Woodall Creative Co, Bay Area, CA

We Discuss:

• Emily’s path from counselor and vice principal to photographer and systems educator

• Why so many photographers struggle with the backend of business

• How to pick a CRM that actually fits your brain (not a “one size fits all”)

• Building a smoother path from inquiry to booking

• HoneyBook 2.0 automations and conditional logic in action

• Follow-ups that feel supportive and book more clients

• Where to automate and where to keep the human touch

• Post-session workflows that extend the client experience

• Timing a CRM switch so it doesn’t wreck busy season

TLDR:
October is ADHD Awareness Month, and this episode is part of a special series highlighting tools and strategies that support neurodiverse photographers. My guest, Emily Gbadamosi of Woodall Creative Co, shares how she helps photographers create workflows and systems that cut overwhelm, reduce friction, and keep clients happy. Whether you’re neuro-spicy yourself or just tired of feeling scattered, you’ll walk away with practical ideas for making your business more sustainable.

Resources:

• Emily’s site: woodallcreative.co

• Instagram: @woodallcreativeco

• Free Workflow Wellness Checklist: woodallcreative.co/podcast

• Tools mentioned: HoneyBook, ShootProof, Pixieset, Picktime, Calendly, Flodesk, QuickBooks, Zapier, Unscripted

Episode Title: Upselling Video Without Burnout

Guest: Shayna Lloyd, Traveling Photographer & Videographer, Montana

We Discuss:

Shayna’s unexpected start as a “failed YouTube influencer” and how it shaped her story-driven approachThe difference between shooting photo-first vs. video-first and how that changes perspective

Why video upsells don’t have to mean more stress or tech overloadShayna’s five-step framework for successfully adding and selling video

How to talk about video with clients in a way that feels natural and excitingPricing, objections, and why upsells are about vision, not pressure

Where video creates the most value across niches: weddings, families, and brands

TLDR:Montana-based photographer and videographer Shayna Lloyd shares how she built a thriving hybrid business by keeping things simple and client-centered. In this episode, Shayna breaks down her five keys to upselling video without adding extra stress to your workflow. Whether you’re a wedding, family, or brand photographer, you’ll learn how to market video authentically, incorporate it into your process, and make it a sustainable, profitable part of your business.

Resources:

Grab Shayna’s Video Upsell Starter Kit: https://devinandshay.com/starter-kitListen to The Devin and Shay Show podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jMbKfORQ5TdDcGPxbRFaR?si=ac7e714371ff4215Connect with Shayna: Instagram – @shayna_lloyd

Connect with Devin + Shay: Instagram – @devin_and_shay

Episode Title: The Business of Real Estate Photography

Guest: Clay Banks, Real Estate & Interiors Photographer, Catskills/Hudson Valley, NY

We Discuss:

• Clay’s path from software developer and urbex hobbyist to in-demand property photographer

• Why COVID-era demand in the Catskills/Hudson Valley accelerated the niche

• Gear and approach: Sony a7 IV, 16–35mm + 50mm, DJI Air 2S, natural light only, Lightroom Denoise, subtle compositing

• Composition rules Clay lives by: tighter crops, fewer walls, mobile-first storytelling

• On-site workflow: staging, prop choices, what he moves and why, ideal client presence (or not)

• Editing priorities: color cast fixes, distraction removal, polishing stainless, mirrors, windows, decks

• Pricing evolution: valuing time, three-tier packages, travel, and smart add-ons

• Trends and opportunities: lifestyle-driven branding for brokerages, reels, and leveling up with video

• Client relations: referrals over ads, B2B ease, handling difficult collaborations with grace

• Practical prep tips for homeowners and realtors

TLDR:

• Clay built a thriving, referral-only property photography business by telling the story of a space, not just documenting it.

• Natural light, thoughtful staging, and tight compositions are his signature.

• Pricing rose with demand and clarity on value; add-ons like short drone clips close easily.

• Brokerages want lifestyle branding, not just wide, bright rooms—video is the next lever.

• Quick win for clients: clean the house, especially mirrors, before the shoot.

Resources:

• Learn more about Clay’s work: www.claybanks.info

• Follow Clay on Instagram: @clay.banks

• Check out Clay’s Presets: www.claybanks.info/presets

Episode Title: IPS for Introverts

Guest: Katie Doherty, LaRousse Photo, Los Angeles, CA

We Discuss:

• Katie’s path from elementary teacher to weddings to a focused boudoir and maternity studio

• What introversion really looks like in a client-facing business and why IPS can fit introverts

• Working fewer clients at higher price points to protect energy and creativity

• A day-in-the-life: editing and reveals on non-shoot days vs. hair/makeup + 90-minute sessions on shoot days

• The client journey: ads → inquiry form → Zapier to Google Sheets → automated text via Haymarket → Calendly consult

• Setting expectations: session fee of $299, package starters at $995, and how transparent pricing reduces friction

• Running virtual reveals on Zoom (or in-studio) and guiding selections in Lightroom without pressure

• What clients actually buy: strong demand for digital packages, Vision Art matted print boxes for maternity, albums for boudoir

• Simple, profitable ops: outsourcing retouching, partnering with H/MUAs, and keeping the studio setup streamlined

• Style and specialization as real marketing: developing a cohesive editorial look so you’re not a commodity

TLDR:

• IPS doesn’t require being “salesy.” It rewards listening, guidance, and clear structure.

• Fewer, higher-value bookings can prevent burnout. Katie’s averages: ~$2,000 for maternity and ~$2,500 for boudoir.

• Keep it simple: one light, a few sets, clean workflow, and a single great sample product to start.

• Lower the barrier to entry with a reasonable session fee, then help clients curate in a reveal.

• Use systems to save your social battery: Zapier, Google Sheets, 17hats, Haymarket, Calendly, and Loom when a call won’t fit.

Resources:

• Freebies: https://www.introvertedphotographers.com

• Katie’s podcast: Introverted Photographers Club 

• Katie on Instagram: @laroussephoto