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The intricate relationship between self-worth and business success is a path every business owner travels. Cat and Lisa explore how confidence in one's value impacts pricing strategies, the importance of building a business that can operate independently of personal emotions, and the necessity of continuous learning and feedback. 
The discussion also touches on the evolving role of AI in creative industries, the significance of client education, and the need for accountability in overcoming challenges. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of authenticity and connection in business, advocating for a mindset that prioritizes growth and resilience over ego.


Lisa Zahiya is a nationally known business strategist and life coach who helps:

Business owners cultivate lives on their own terms;
Mission-driven entrepreneurs make more and give more;
Small business owners scale quickly through effective digital marketing and products.

After receiving a BS and a MBA from the University of Maryland, Lisa served as a director of marketing at Sylvan Learning Centers. 

"I had always dreamed of being a professional dancer and left my corporate career to pursue my dreams of dance. I opened the award-winning Studio Zahiya and traveled as a professional belly dance teacher and performer.

I found that I enjoyed the community of body positivity, confidence, and success that Studio Zahiya created for my clients. I then furthered my goal of empowering others by training to be a life coach and opened a very successful coaching business. I

I have now personally grown several seven-figure businesses reaching revenues of over 5 million dollars. I leverage this experience to help others pursue their dreams and have had six clients grow their businesses to over 1 million dollars in revenue."

Lisa is based in New York, NY and El Gouna, Egypt, where she owns Lisa Zahiya Coaching.

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In this episode of the Studio Takeover Podcast, host Cat Ford-Coates delves into the significance of sponsorships and partnerships for business growth for photography business owners. She emphasizes the importance of building in-person relationships and how they can lead to substantial economic impact for both businesses and communities. The conversation covers effective strategies for creating sponsorship packages, identifying potential partners, and marketing events to maximize visibility and engagement. Cat encourages listeners to be bold in their outreach and to focus on creating win-win situations for all parties involved.

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Summary

In this episode of the Studio Takeover Podcast, Cat Ford-Coates discusses the importance of marketing for photographers, emphasizing the need for networking and hosting events to gain visibility and connect with potential clients. She shares insights on creating memorable events, engaging attendees, budgeting effectively, and leveraging sponsorships to enhance event experiences. The conversation highlights the significance of building relationships within the community and the impact of well-executed marketing strategies on business growth.

Topics:

• Marketing is essential for gaining attention in photography.
• Networking and personal connections are crucial for business growth.
• Events can be simple yet memorable to attract clients.
• Collaboration with other businesses can enhance event success.
• Understanding your target audience is key to event planning.
• Engagement strategies should keep attendees entertained and involved.
• Budgeting wisely can lead to impactful events.
• Sponsorships can alleviate financial burdens of hosting events.
• Future sales opportunities should be integrated into events.
• Celebrating your work through events can strengthen client relationships.

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In this conversation, Elle Yeon shares her journey of entrepreneurship over the past year, discussing the challenges and triumphs of starting her photography business. 

After having officially completed her first year as the business owner of a Portrait brand in the DC area she emphasizes the importance of community, the transformative power of photography for clients, and the need for confidence and courage in pursuing one's calling. Elle also reflects on her role as a mother and the impact of her business on her family life, while looking forward to future growth and opportunities, including a campaign celebrating women over 40.

Find Elle here:

• Website: https://elleyeonphotography.com/
• Instagram: @elleyeonphoto

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Welcome André Smith, a photographer transitioning from sports photography to beauty and branding photography. They discuss the importance of empowerment in photography, the emotional reactions clients have during their photo reveals, and the significance of self-portraits in building confidence. André shares his journey, the challenges of being seen as a sports photographer, and his desire to help others see their beauty through portraiture. The conversation emphasizes the value of legacy and the impact of branding on personal and professional identity. In this engaging conversation, Cat Ford-Coates and André Smith explore the profound impact of photography on self-care, legacy, and empowerment. They discuss the importance of capturing moments, particularly through senior portraits, and how these images can build confidence in youth. André shares his personal story of why legacy matters to him, emphasizing the emotional weight behind each photograph. The discussion also touches on exciting new projects like the 40 Over 40 initiative, the significance of community in photography, and the critical need for photographers to value their worth through proper pricing strategies.

Find Andre Here:

• Website - https://www.andreelphotography.com/
• Instagram - @dre.smith

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In this episode of the Studio Takeover Podcast, Cat Ford-Coates discusses the challenges faced by photographers in the unregulated creative industry, emphasizing the importance of a strong portfolio and effective marketing strategies. 

She highlights the need for photographers to curate their portfolios to attract their ideal clients and create emotional connections through their work. Cat also stresses the significance of consistency in style and messaging to foster client desire and engagement, ultimately guiding photographers to think like their clients and understand their emotional needs.

You can find Cat on Instagram at @catfordcoates

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Janice shares her journey into the world of portrait photography, starting her business after turning 60, emphasizing the importance of printed art over digital images, and the importance of intention in our work. 

She discusses the challenges and decisions involved in establishing her photography business, including the necessity of having a dedicated studio space. Janice also highlights the impact of community and systems in her work, leading to her current project focused on tattoo portraits, which aims to celebrate self-esteem and personal stories through photography. In this engaging conversation, Janice Smith and Cat Ford-Coates explore the profound impact of photography on personal growth, community connection, and the importance of intentionality in business. They discuss the significance of celebrating resilience and strength through visual storytelling, the value of printed memories, and the challenges of navigating a photography business with care and purpose. As they look ahead to 2025, they share insights on embracing growth, the power of connection, and the excitement of upcoming projects.

Find Janice here:

• Website: https://janicesmithphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janice_smithphotography

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Tanya Boggs shares her journey as a photographer, discussing her evolution from family portraits to personal branding. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity in photography, especially in showcasing who you are as the face OF your brand and how understanding clients' stories can build trust. Tanya also highlights her new project "As You Are" focuses on women's resilience, aiming to empower and connect through shared experiences. The discussion delves into the significance of community and the power of storytelling in fostering connection and healing.

Find Tanya here:

• Website: tanyaboggs.com
• Instagram: @tanyaboggsphoto

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Jenna shares how she started her photography business with her husband with weddings in the northwest US. As they worked together more and more, and she stepped farther into her role as the Creative Director with setting scenes and posing during wedding creatives and realized they could make far more of an impact if she were also shooting.
Diving deeper into learning the technical side of her camera work, she fell more and more in love with the craft and shares all about how they mad mistakes which taught them exactly the lessons they needed to learn in order to not only build a portrait business she adores, discovered her love of building personal brands with C-suite executives and professionals, and moved from Washington to Arizona to build her business in a new location.
Hers is an inspiring journey! 

Find Jenna Here:

• Website: https://jennakportrait.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JennaKarwoskiPortrait
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennakarwoski/

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Starting as a "momographer" in 2009 simply because she wanted real imagery of her four children and uncovered a LOVE in the medium which she turned into a business the way many of us do; at $100 per session.
After practicing and learning posing, lighting, post production she has grown her business into a source of confidence with her repeat customers year after year capturing moments and milestones for families.
Colleen also contributes to a charity known as Kids In Focus where she mentors children within her community in photography. As a mentor she's discovered how she gets to share the love of photography to instill confidence in the youth of Arizona.
Colleen got involved with The KNOW Women through her local photography connections in the Phoenix area and stepped into a network of ambitious and collaborative female business leaders and is excited to continue growing the relationships there for a deeper impact within her community.

Find Colleen Here:

• Philanthropy: Kidsinfocus.org
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/colleenkatzpicturesinpixels
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picturesinpixelsaz

Find The KNOW Women here: theknowwomen.com

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