The Studio Takeover Podcast

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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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ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

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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

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

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

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

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

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

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/

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

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

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

Having lost everything on more than one occasion, Keri innovated her life and how she was showing up for her family, her business, and herself.
At times it felt like she was creating something from nothing; her photography business, she wrote a book, stepping forward to teach manifestation online during the pandemic, and then in 2022 she created a 40 Over 40 campaign and she discovered her impact on a larger scale.
"I didnt want models. I didnt want influencers. I wanted real people! And these women who hadn't been photographed in 15 years or more were showing up and shining!"


Find Keri Here:

• Socials @hekerijohnson
• Website kerijohnsonphotography.com
• Course for Photographers https://www.kerijohnsonphotography.com/makemoneywithphotography

Find out more about The KNOW Women here: theknowwomen.com

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

Get OBSESSED. Like so obsessed within your creative process that you grow, evolve, and become more as an Artist. Jerry shares how if you're only considerate of the outcome; the final shot, the revenue, then the joy experienced from achievement is only from the result. It lasts for a fraction of a second, and it is in his obsession with the process of creating that he stays IN the joy of being a professional Artist. That's the key.
There are seasons, & one of those seasons is in building the workflows and systems required to maintain and grow a business BUT, we chose to create the business because we love creating. Photography is the vehicle in which we create for ourselves, and our clients. Without our connection to the creativity, we cannot grow. The season of creative exploration should never sideline for long. Arguably, it should be a priority in every season.
There are multiple ways in which we can grow creatively; workshops, conferences, studying under a mentor, but one of the ways in which this photographer has found to be effective in that exploration is through awards submissions and accreditation. Can we play and grow in that exploration without it? Sure. Of course you can, but something shifts a bit in your mindset when you're submitting for review in these spaces: you obsess over details, you push yourself and hold yourself accountable TO every step of the process of creating. You're competing with yourself.
Having entered into the photo space in the 90's, Jerry discovered how he loved being in the room with the Olympians of photography. And so many can feel intimidated in competition spaces because of those "heavyweights" however Jerry took it from a different approach, he was inspired by them.
He took that inspiration and dove into unearthing his obsession with the creative process to deepen his love and connection with his work and those he was creating with and for.
Jerry became immersed in the awards space that he connected to his client work with the mindset that "Today will be the album of the year!" because he was in competition with himself at every step, and has since elevated that connection to the photo industry in carrying the torch for WPPI and The Portrait Masters with the ICON Awards, led by he and his wife Melissa.
Buy yourself some creative freedom. In the beginning stages of our businesses, our work doesn't always fit the vision we have in our heads and hearts. But in the business, we HAVE to serve, we have to connect, we have to get clients - but it is in that work that we are able to buy ourselves a bit of freedom to yes, sustain the business, but also to create on our terms as we grow as Artists too.

Join us for this year's ICON Award submissions
Early Bird deadline is August 31

• Submissons here: https://www.iconawards.com/
• Instagram: @myiconawards

Find more about Jerry Ghionis here:

• Education website: https://www.ghionis.com/
• Photography website: https://www.jerryghionisphotography.com/
• Instagram: @jerryghionis

Full conversation on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/y8kTZqgiaPM

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

In business now for ten years, Kimberly has found her stride as a boudoir photographer based out of Raleigh, NC. She has this enthusiasm for her work and what she does for her clients that is magnetic and her studio is finding new heights.
She's spent the past ten years loving on her community and clients and finding that is paying off in more than just referrals but in authority. Just this summer Kimberly was recognized as one of The KNOW Women's "Women to KNOW in North Carolina" and celebrated at their annual gala in Charlotte.
She has also come so far as to diversify her offerings outside of photo in having her own lingerie store to serve women as well.
Hearing her discuss how she would advise herself ten years ago, starting her business in having faith, and trusting in herself was so very true for anyone beginning on this journey. Entrepreneurship isn't for the faint of heart but as Kimberly says around what is meant for you will find you, even when it doesn't happen on your timeline. And when it doesn't go your way, or the way you expected, there is value in the lessons you will learn.

Find Kimberly Here:

• Website: https://nine19photography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nine19_photog/

Find out more about The KNOW Women here:

• Website: https://theknowwomen.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theknowwomen/

Full conversation on YouTube Here:

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/kZM3VbY9Dw8

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.

Send us Fan Mail

Once Darina started seeing the aha moments and transformations her clients were experiencing in their portrait sessions with her, she dove deeper into WHY. 
As photographers we sort of know on a subconscious level that we are also mindset coaches, therapists, and more in addition to being photographers. Darina has taken that role beyond the subconscious level and developed her expertise also in the neuroplasticity space. She has done this to be able to provide the most impactful experience in her portrait sessions for her clients.

With a rich history in yoga and her own transformational experiences through travel and previous careers she digs deeper with her clients with homework in a journaling practice just to simply begin so they can choose to change.

We all carry our lives with us in the body; the body knows the proverbial score. And as photographers we have a very keen ability to help people change their lives and the byproduct of that is changing the WORLD. As Darina says "One healed woman is POWERFUL..." and that can be true in your portrait business too.

Find Darina Here:

• Website: https://darinaphoto.com/
• Instagram: @darina_neyret_portrait
• Facebook: Darina Neyret Photography
• Get on the list FOR HER COURSE for Photographers here
• Get IN the room for Darina's Facebook group "The Reframe Method"

Support the show

ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.