On this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast I have a conversation with Heidi Thompson of Evolve Your Wedding Business about improving your leads by learning the process of cloning your best clients-- how to take the guesswork out of your marketing and attract more clients.

Heidi Thompson is the best-selling author of Clone Your Best Clients and the founder of Evolve Your Wedding Business where she specializes in business and marketing strategy for wedding professionals. She helps wedding professionals grow their businesses and reach their goals without going crazy in the process. Her business & marketing expertise has been featured on several wedding and business outlets including The Huffington Post, Social Media Examiner, Wedding Business Magazine, Sprouting Photographer, Photo Biz Xposed, Honeybook, WeddingWire World & she’s an advisory board member for the UK Academy Of Wedding & Event Planning.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

Links/Products In This Episode:

Evolve Your Wedding Business Webinar

Clone Your Best Clients - Book

Where To Find Heidi Thompson:

On The Web: Evolve Your Wedding Business

Instagram: Evolve Your Wedding Business

Facebook: Wedding Business Community

On this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast I have a conversation with Ariel Dilworth of Ariel Dilworth Co about how to keep your photography mini sessions booked-- every time. We also discussed some great smart marketing tips that every photography should be implementing.

Ariel Dilworth is a wife, mom, photographer and educator who is passionate about challenging others to live lives of purpose on purpose. She started out in 2013 as a ‘mom-with-a-camera’ and managed to turn her hobby into a six-figure business while moving to a different state and adding 3 kids to her family.

Ariel has worked with over 1,500+ clients and been featured in many publications. Through growing her own photography business, Ariel has found a passion for authentic marketing & communication. She has since created multiple online courses to help other photographers market their own businesses in a way that is effective but still true to them!

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

Links/Products In This Episode:

Acuity Scheduling

Honeybook

RegFox

Ariel's Freebies For Photographers:

Corona Virus Toolkit

The Photographer's Guide To Overcoming Self-Doubt

30 Social Media & Live Video Posts For Photographers

More Than Marketing Course

Where To Find Ariel Dilworth:

On The Web: Ariel Dilworth Co.

Instagram: Ariel Dilworth Co.

On Facebook: Ariel Dilworth Co.

On Pinterest: Ariel Dilworth Co.

On Youtube: Ariel Dilworth Co.

On this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast I have a conversation with Sarah Blodgett of Digital Grace Design about comprehensive SEO tactics for photographers.

Sarah founded Digital Grace Design in 2017 to help creatives (like you!) design beautiful, refined, and strategic websites that attract the right people and allow them to better serve their clients. Sarah is Showit's 2019 Designer of the Year, honored to be StoryBrand Certified Guide, and is the creator of the Simple Showit SEO Course. Sarah is based out of New York City, and serves creatives worldwide.

Wow. This episode has a lot of important information. It rates a "10" on the Knowledge-O-Meter. Sarah is really an ace at her craft and this episode covers topics and information that you just don't typically hear in a podcast. Prepare a pencil and paper, and get your finger ready on the back button... you're going to need to take notes here, but it's all for a good cause-- your business.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

Links/Products In This Episode:

Google Analytics - https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web/

Google Search Console - https://search.google.com/search-console/about

Showit Websites - https://showit.co/

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/

Sarah's Youtube Linktree video - https://youtu.be/451P2gtqQKc

Sarah's SEO Course:

Simple Showit SEO Course

Where to Find Sarah Blodgett:

Web: - Digital Grace Design

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

This week on The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast I speak to Julia Bocchese of Julia Renee Consulting about Pinterest strategies for your photography business.

Julia is an SEO Consultant and Pinterest Strategist for creative small businesses. Her goal is to make SEO and Pinterest strategies approachable and easy to implement for all small businesses so they can reach their ideal clients organically. 

She lives in Philadelphia with her Siberian Husky sidekick and her new husband, and on the side, she runs a travel photography site and goes to grad school for history to study Vikings.

Julia and I had a great talk-- and I quickly implemented some new ideas I learned from her.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

Links/Products In This Episode:

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/

Tailwind - https://www.tailwindapp.com/i/JuliaDentphoto

Julia's May 26th Workshop:

Sign up at Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grow-your-business-with-easy-strategies-for-pinterest-how-set-your-business-up-on-pinterest-to-get-tickets-104547781228

Where To Find Julia Bocchese:

Julia Renee Consulting - https://juliareneeconsulting.com/

Julia's Pinterest - https://www.instagram.com/juliareneeconsulting/

Julia's Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bocchese/

My guest on this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast is model photographer and retouching educator Nino Batista. Nino has been involved in professional photography for over a decade, and the Photoshop world for even longer.

You know Nino! His work has been seen in lifestyle and men's publications the world over, including international editions of Playboy Magazine and FHM. He is also regarded as one of the premier model photography and retouching educators in the U.S.

Nino writes for several online publications, including Fstoppers, and he has taught photography and retouching in countless cities and events such as ShutterFest and CreativeLive... and many others.

Nino and I had a great conversation over a range of topics centered around model photography and retouching-- including Nino's key to success in model photography... which isn't a piece of gear or software-- so listen for the details!

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

Links/Products In This Episode:

Photography Fads, Marketing, Technology, and Why You Might Be Getting Old - https://fstoppers.com/originals/photography-fads-marketing-technology-and-why-you-might-be-getting-old-350921

Luminar - https://skylum.com/luminar

Nino's Photoshop Actions - https://ninobatista.zenfolio.com/plugins

Where To Find Nino Batista:

Nino Batista Website - https://www.ninobatista.com

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

My guest on this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast is Gina Ritacco of Gina Ritacco Professional Makeup Artistry from New Jersey. Gina has been a professional makeup artist for over six years. She is a veteran of dozens and dozens of weddings, and has received raves from her brides for her unique skill.

Gina also manages an ever growing social media presence on both Instagram and Youtube where thousands of followers enjoy her content.

In addition to the wedding universe, professional makeup is also an important part of photography-- Especially in the glamour and boudoir fields. Boudoir photography is more than just taking a bunch of pretty photos.  Pampering and a makeover are also part of the total boudoir experience.

Makeup artists need to be technically proficient, but there is also an equally important unseen role, and that is one of a calming presence to the often anxious client. The makeup artist is often on the front lines, and is important for setting the tone for the entire session.

I talk to Gina about how this unseen role comes into play in both her job working with brides, as well as nervous boudoir clients.  During our talk Gina discusses her tips on bringing a calming mindset to both clients and brides.

Nailing down your location on Instagram so clients can find you. Makeup is a big business on Instagram. Being an Instagram makeup influencer. Doing Instagram product reviews. Getting started as a makeup artist. There are no shortcuts getting to the top in makeup artistry. How makeup artists can work with photographers. Finding a mentor in makeup can smooth your start. Bridal makeup workflow. The larger role makeup artists play in boudoir sessions. What percentage of women are nervous going in to a boudoir session. Is there a "no makeup" option for boudoir photography? "I'm not really a makeup person..." Why professional makeup is so necessary in glamour photography. Crazy bride stories? Are high priced makeup artists better? Are wedding sites still worth it?

Makeup Artistry By Denise - https://www.makeupbydenise.com/

Gina Ritacco on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginaritacco/

Velvet Pout Co. - https://www.velvetpout.com/

Stay safe, and keep a positive attitude.  My guest on this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast is Oksana Pali of Oksana Pali Photography from Long Island, NY. Oksana has been a professional photographer for over ten years, and is an accomplished branding, portrait & food photographer.

In Oksana's own words her mission is to "... help entrepreneurs and small business owners elevate their brand presence to the next level by telling their brand story in a cohesive and visual way."  

Can you connect different genres of photography to gain more opportunity from your clients?  Yes, you can!  Listen to see how Oksana has moved her food photography clients through branding and portrait opportunities-- and in the process created recurring business.  

This episode also contains details of what started Oksana on the pursuit of (scrumptious) food photography, and the steps needed to create photographs of the perfect veggie burger!  Yumm... 😀  Visit the episode post on the podcast website to see images we discuss during the photo, and see why Oksana's work has food brands jumping for her to make their products look amazing.

Healthy With Nedi - https://healthywithnedi.com/

Flashpoint eVOLV 200- https://www.adorama.com/fplfev200z.html  (my light that I couldn't remember the name during the episode 😀.)

Instagram - @oksana.pali - https://www.instagram.com/oksana.pali/

This episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast is another "Mini" discussing the current state of Instagram, and whether it is still a useful tool for photographers, or is it dead?    

The Instagram of today is quite a different landscape than the Instagram of 2012. Can you still grow your boudoir photography account? Or are these obstacle just too difficult to overcome?

Links Mentioned:

Read more about this episode here:  Is Instagram For Boudoir Photographers Dead?

Stay safe, and keep a positive attitude.  My guest on this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast is Trevor Sherwin of Provocateur Images in Toronto, Canada. Trevor has been a professional boudoir photographer for eight years, and been involved in the business of photography for even longer.

Trevor and I put this episode together sort of last minute-- to talk a bit about the current corona virus pandemic, and it's effect on photography.  There wasn't a solid plan for this episode, and at first I thought there was going to be a talk about how everyone is in quarantine-- but it turned out to be quite different.

It's hard to keep two people from talking about what they enjoy doing, so the conversation quickly turned into an all out assault on how to keep busy and improve during this down time.  We covered a lot of ground in depth-- from getting a fresh perspective on your work, to details in tweaking your website.  Grab a paper and pencil and get ready to take notes!  It's chock-full.

WPPI - https://wppiexpo.com/

Do More Photographers - https://domorephotographers.com/

Boosted App - https://www.boostedproductivity.com/ 

Simple Steps To Blogging - https://www.mikecassidyphotography.com/post/simple-steps-to-building-a-boudoir-photography-blog-and-why-its-so-important-for-your-business

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

In this episode of The Mike Cassidy Photography Podcast we meet long time boudoir photographer Dana Laymon of Dana Laymon Photography.

In her own words...

From as early as I can remember, I had a camera in my hands. My first one was a simple point and shoot 35mm from Disney World with a Mickey Mouse face on it. From that day on, I was hooked! I would always take my camera to school with me, photograph every moment with my friends, and constantly ask my sister to model for me. As I got older I went off to business school and afterwards got a job in corporate America. But I just couldn’t shake the desire for photography and to be my own boss. I took some photography classes at Parsons School of Design during the summers and then got an internship with a wedding videographer my senior year in college. It was my first time seeing someone make a living doing something so creative and fun.

Since I got married right out of school and wanted to be secure financially, I took a job in corporate America. But after 6 years working for “the man”, I took a leap of faith, quit my job, and I haven’t looked back since! I started out shooting weddings but always knew boudoir was my first love. I’ve been shooting boudoir for over 10 years now and I absolutely love it! I have a studio at my home and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I love getting go create such an amazing experience for my clients and help them leave feeling more positive about themselves.

I just had a daughter in April of 2019 so I’m learning how to balance work and motherhood. It’s a challenge but I’m slowly learning! If nothing else, I appreciate the female body more and all that it can do!

Her message:

I love encouraging people to just take the leap and do that they love to do. What’s the worst that could happen? You make a mistake, learn from it, and get up again and move forward. I have had multiple jobs while doing photography and wished I had had the courage to only do boudoir like I always wanted from the beginning. But pivoting from being in the wedding industry helped tremendously so it was the path I was meant to take!

I work mostly with brides but also love working with moms who need a bit of encouragement in their life and to feel beautiful again. I have a very romantic and soft style while I know others around me are more risque. I think being different from your competition is good and helps you stand out! I also don’t like to post a lot of my photos. I’m super conservative in a conservative part of the country so it makes my job very interesting! I like to take it as a challenge ;) In order to build trust I just have to post more about me and details about what it’s like working me with!

 Topics discussed in this episode:

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/

On the Web:  http://danalaymonphotography.com/

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