What's Your Secret? Conversations with Real Photographers, Designers, & Entrepreneurs

Emily Merrell is a fantastic New Yorker who quit her corporate job to pursue her dreams and run her own networking company. She is queen of connecting people and has a big, big heart. If you ever meet Emily and tell her what you are into, she will be sure to immediately make an email introduction for you to someone else important in your area of interest. Listen on and hear how Emily did it all, and what her big dreams are next.

On today's show we have Brooke Borough, a Southern California wedding photographer. Brooke receives about 50% of her wedding inquiries from...believe it or not...Instagram! We discuss how she's built up her following, her take on hashtags, and what her first interactions with clients look like. Brooke is maxed out on the number of weddings she books in a year, and has reduced her numbers from 2015 because she felt overbooked! Listen in to see how she does it.

DJ Brian B resides in New York, NY and is being booked and performing for every event imaginable all over the United States. He continues to keep his finger on the pulse of the latest musical trends – creating his own custom mixes, DJ’ing both private and public events, and now offering production services. With an infectious laugh and a zest for life (and not a lot of sleep while jet-setting around the country), DJ Brian B is a favorite with everyone from party goers to event planners to club owners.

Aaron Janx is a entrepreneur, mentor, investor, author, speaker, and host of the podcast The Aaron Janx Show. In this episode, we discuss what to say when you get a client on the phone and four specific steps for turning a lead into a paid customer - this was great advice for someone like me who is definitely more comfortable with email! Aaron and I even delve a little bit into earning passive income through real estate.

Boris is an exceptional partner when you are looking to buy or sell property, and is highly passionate about his work. Client after client praises his "unbelievable knowledge," "first-class negotiating skills," and expertise as an "inside man" in a market that can often be quite challenging. Whether you are a seller, buyer, lessee or lessor, he seeks to build strong, lasting relationships with every client he represents, to set their mind at ease and ensure the results they deserve. 

Diane Villadsen is a fashion and portrait photographer based out of the Bay Area. But she is oh so much more than that! In this episode, we talk about curating her Instagram feed to fit her "nature, eco-friendly" style, how she turned an idea for an iPhone app into reality, and her master plan for earning passive income through youtube tutorials and sharing her knowledge with other photographers.

Jessica Rea helps women entrepreneurs build their brand and business online. She's got a kickass boxer dog named Sampson. You can find her at jessicarea.me (go here for a must have tools guide) and ladypreneurcommunity.com (a fantastic community of boss ladies who are paving their own entrepreneurial way). 

Kate Noelle is a lifestyle and wedding photographer based out of Southern California. She has been shooting weddings for 8 years, but got into photography through an organization called Youth With A Mission. In this episode, we talk about Kate's website rebranding experience with Go Live HQ, and her special gift to mothers of the bride or groom. 

Ann Abel has been a travel writer and editor for 14 years, including several as a senior editor at ForbesLife. She has written about more than 450 luxury destinations and hotels in 77 countries. She has been published in Forbes, Departures, Conde Nast Traveller, Robb Report, Afar, National Geographic Traveler, Islands, Hemispheres, Modern Bride, and many other print and online publications.

Claudia Moriel of Style at Work brings professional salon services such as manicures, brow shaping, and hair blowouts to workplaces around Boston. She's been in the beauty industry for over 20 years! Learn how her struggles with work life balance helped shaped her idea for Style at Work and her plans for expansion. (Think beauty trucks and lots of them).