Wedding Safari Podcast

Wedding Safari Podcast

By Milton LawrenceBusinessCareers
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Wedding Safari Podcast episodes

  • WS 006: How To Become A Real Celebrity Wedding Photographer

    On episode 006 of the Wedding Safari Podcast, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Winston and Suzanne Delawar, the dynamic father-daughter duo that are captivating the hearts of brides and grooms everywhere. With over twelve amazing years in the industry, they have set the bar and are constantly exceeding expectations in the wedding photography and cinematography space. Catapulting Suzanne Delewar Studios to work with A-list celebrities like Kevin Hart and Eniko Parrish, Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade to Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose, they are a true force to be reckoned with. Their work has been featured on TV, in magazines and on websites such as ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, TMZ, BET, Martha Stewart Weddings, People Magazine, Harpers Bizarr, Brides Magazine, The Knot, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style and many more. If you are novice to the industry and want to hear from professionals that have set the precedent, you do not want to miss this transformational interview.

    01:58 Getting Started 12 Years Ago

    03:14 Teaching the Basics
    05:09 5 Figure Weddings
    07:45 Transitioning Beyond the Point of the Money
    11:16 How important is Social Media
    14:45 Impact on Inquiries
    17:12 Unhappy Brides
    18:55 Networking and Collaboration
    21:00 Interns
    27:00 Jewish MArketplace - Know How
    29:07 What Inspires Suzanne
    31:20 What’s Working, What’s Not
    34:16 Where is Suzanne Delewar Studio Going in the Future
    36:20 Industry Mistakes
    41:10 Working with Celebrities
    43:45 Knowing What you Know Now, What Would you Tell Yourself

    Wedding Safari-

    Website- https://www.weddingsafaripodcast.com/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeddingSafari/

    Winston & Suzanne Delawar-

    Website- https://www.suzannedelawar.com
    Twitter- https://twitter.com/SuzanneDelawar
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/suzannedelawar/
    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/suzannedelawarstudios

    Credits  Audio Editing- done by Willis Aybar
    Music By- John Deley

    48 min
  • WS 005: How To Quit Your Job And Become A Full Time Wedding Professional w/ Cierra Johnson-Hicks

    On episode 005 of the Wedding Safari Podcast, New Orleans’ own full time professional wedding photographer Cierra Johnson Hicks is captivating with her vulnerability. This isn’t just a feel good episode, it's a real journey into the intricacies of true professional business ownership. If you have a family and have been teeter-tottering on whether to take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship, you don't want to miss this interview. 

    Time Stamp:

    02:10 Getting Started

    11:28 Holistic Approach to the Logistics, Photography and Weddings
    16:36 Next Steps after Mentorship
    18:30 Pricing
    21:00 Social Media Takeoff
    22:36 What Led to Making the Leap to Transition from Full Time Corporate Position
    24:00 Transitioning
    27:20 Real Life - Major Blows to My Leap of Faith
    38:50 Lessons Learned
    45:27 Is it Possible to Pursue Your Dreams and Provide Balance
    48:00 Chasing your Dreams
    55:24 Piece of Advice
    56:48 To Jump or Not to Jump

    Wedding Safari-

    Website- https://www.weddingsafaripodcast.com/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeddingSafari/

    Cierra Johnson-Hicks-

    Website- southernamore.com
    Facebook- Cierra Johnson-Hicks
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/southernamore/
    Pinterest https://za.pinterest.com/southernamoreLA/

    Host: Milton Lawrence Jr

    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/miltonlawrencejr/ Website- http://www.miltonlawrencephotography.com/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/miltonlawrencejr/

    Credits  Audio Editing- done by Willis Aybar
    Music By- John Deley

    1 hr 2 min
  • WS 004: How To Attract Your Perfect Bride with Lauren Atwaters

    On episode 004 of the Wedding Safari Podcast, Lauren Atwaters is the “Icing on the Cake”. You've seen her work and didn't even know it was her craftsmanship. In this episode, between jazz hands and full-on transparency, Lauren’s candid conversation covers topics from the value of a branding and how to uniquely position yourself in the specialty design wedding marketplace, to pet peeves and identifying your “ideal client”.

    With a passion for creativity from adolescents, when it was time for Lauren to get married,  she  took on several creative DIY projects, blogging tutorials along the way detailing the intricate details from table and floor runners, signage and more to make her wedding decor truly unique. Little did she know that simultaneously her Blog and tutorials were influencing others. As her following continued to grow,  she began receiving requests to create and design items for other brides. She soon decided to open her first online shop (Etsy). Although this started as a hobby in the beginning years, she reached a point when she realized her potential and Ten23 Designs was born.

    Time Stamp:

    2:30 About Lauren Atwaters /Introduction

    3:24 Getting Started
    6:30 Value in a Blog
    7:43 How to uniquely position yourself in the design marketplace.
    12:12 Pet Peeves
    13:45 Know your Avatar ( Imaginary Person)
    16:09 Attracting Clients
    16:45 Transitioning from and Attracting High-End Brides and Clients
    19:53 Defining your Target Audience
    24:43 Marketing/ Branding Strategy
    28:30 Branding v. Marketing vs. Advertising
    31:00 Put it Down on Paper
    35:00 Handling difficult Clients
    39:17 Importance of Collaboration
    43:39 Fondest Memories and Greatest Rewards
    47:05 Work-Life Balance

    Wedding Safari-
    Website- https://www.weddingsafaripodcast.com/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeddingSafari/

    Lauren Atwaters 

    Website- http://www.ten23designs.com/about-us
    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ten23designs/
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ten23designs/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/ten23designs
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/ten23/

    Host: Milton Lawrence Jr
    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/miltonlawrencejr/ Website- http://www.miltonlawrencephotography.com/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/miltonlawrencejr/

    Credits  Audio Editing- done by Willis Aybar

    Music By- John Deley

    1 hr 15 min
  • WS 003: Custom Cakes and Increased Cash Flow Through An Exceptional Client Experience with LaMeeka Edwards

    On episode 003 of the Wedding Safari Podcast, HOT-lanta native and celebrity custom cake designer LaMeeka Edwards discusses fopas, fondant and fortune while working in the cake design space. Starting as just a hobby and snowballing into designing for the likes of Neyo, Phaedra Parks and Kandi Burress, Cakes by Lameeka is a true love affair.

    A technician by trade for the State of Georgia Telecommunications Division, LaMeeka started out by taking a few decorating classes here in there. At the request of fellow co-workers and friends to make “party” and  wedding cakes, the transition was imminent. Shortly thereafter, budget cuts and layoffs affected the state government. While her love for cake decorating and design continued to grow, she was afforded the opportunity to pursue her passion full time.  

    Wedding Safari-

    Website- https://www.weddingsafaripodcast.com/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeddingSafari/

    LaMeeka Edwards-

    Website- http://www.cakesbylameeka.com/
    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/CakesByLaMeeka/
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/cakesbylameeka/

    Host: Milton Lawrence Jr

    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/miltonlawrencejr/ Website- http://www.miltonlawrencephotography.com/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/miltonlawrencejr/

    Credits  Audio Editing- done by Willis Aybar
    Music By- John Deley
     

    Music By- John Deley

    47 min
  • WS 002: How To Enter The Destination Wedding Market with Ophellia McKnight

    On episode 002 of the Wedding Safari Podcast, Jamaican wedding planner and president of the Jamaica Wedding Professionals Association Ophelia Mcknight discuss ways wedding professionals can dive into one of the fastest growing segments of the wedding industry.

    Jamaican born and bred with almost two decades of Toronto living, Ophellia McKnight has 20 years of wedding industry knowledge and experience.  She is Jamaica wedding planning royalty, being the first formally registered wedding planner on the island.  Her first company, then called The Bridal Affaire, has grown into an international destination wedding planning and design firm and rebranded to Bridal Affair Destinations ten years ago to support and refine her development in the industry.  

    Discussion Time Summary 

    2:46 What are you seeing presently in the destination space?

    4:00 How to penetrate the destination wedding market?
    4:44 Just getting started, how do you attract customers to build business?
    5:01 Trial and Error
    6:36 What to do when you want to get into the destination wedding space?
    8:30 How to Branding within the Destination Wedding Market Place
    12:00 Managing client expectation
    14:14 How to position yourself to attract destination brides?
    17:15 Importance of Collaboration
    23:25 The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
    24:02 What is one of the most rewarding aspects of being in the industry
    30:00 Leveraging Mistakes
    30:56 Working with Vendors who can’t support your brand.
    35:07 Niche Market: Should or Shouldn’t you?
    40:23 Work-Life Balance
    53:40 Wat would you do differently?

    Wedding Safari-
    Website- https://www.weddingsafaripodcast.com/
    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeddingSafari/

    Guest: Ophellia McKnight
    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ophellia.mcknight
    Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheDestinationCollective/
    Website- http://www.thedestinationcollective.com/
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/destinationcollective/

    Host: Milton Lawrence Jr
    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/miltonlawrencejr/
    Website- http://www.miltonlawrencephotography.com/
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/miltonlawrencejr/

    Mentions
    Munaluchi Bride Magazine- http://munaluchibridal.com/
    The Coterie- https://vendors.munaluchibridal.com

    Credits 

    Audio Editing- done by Willis Aybar
    Music By- John Deley
    Merrick Cousley of Merrick Cousley Photography
    Dwayne Watkins of TeamDWP Studios

    1 hr 6 min
  • WS 001: The Current State of The Wedding Industry With Candice Coppola

    Setting the stage for the Wedding Safari Podcast, Milton Lawrence Jr. interviews Candice Coppola, business coach and lead planner at Jubilee Events. The discussion included but not limited to the current state of the Wedding industry, changes and adaptation, how to increase sales and the core fundamentals of getting started in todays wedding industry. 

    Facebook- www.facebook.com/groups/WeddingSafari/

    Candice Coppola Bio

    Twitter- https://twitter.com/candice_coppola

    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/eventjubilee/
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ajubileeevent/
    Website- http://eventjubilee.com/

    The Signature CEO Conference- https://thesignatureceo.com/

    Milton Lawrence Jr-


    Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/miltonlawrencejr/
    Website- http://www.miltonlawrencephotography.com/
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/miltonlawrencejr/
    Twitter- https://twitter.com/miltonlawrence

    Editing was done by Willis Aybar- https://www.instagram.com/willisaybar/

    Cover Photo Credit: Carla Ten Eyck
    Music By- John Deley

    40 min

About Wedding Safari Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Inside business and growth secrets from some of the top wedding industry professionals that are crushing the wedding industry.