“Everyone tells you to charge more. No one tells you what happens when you actually do.”

Photographers love success stories. The ones where raising your rates brings dream clients, bigger sales, and overnight growth. But what about the other side? The side no one talks about online. The side where you raise your prices and the inquiries slow to a halt, your confidence cracks, and you wonder if you just broke your business.

In this episode, I share what really happened when I raised my rates before I was ready. You’ll hear the emotional rollercoaster that followed, the pressure of industry expectations, and the mindset spiral that so many photographers silently go through.

More importantly, we’ll talk about why pricing is personal, why your math will never look like anyone else’s, and how to build a definition of success that actually fits your life, energy, and goals.

What’s in this episode:

[01:40] The shame and pressure photographers feel around pricing
[02:20] Photographer emotional math and why it wrecks confidence
[03:30] Why pricing is not one size fits all
[04:40] Understanding the real cost of your life and business
[06:20] How your definition of success evolves over time
[07:25] What it really means when inquiries slow after raising rates
[08:00] The four reminders you need before changing your prices

You’re allowed to define success in a way that fits your life, your energy, and the clients you want to serve. Your pricing doesn’t have to match anyone else’s to be valid.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/