In this episode, I sit down with Joel Pilger, former agency founder and now global advisor to creative studios, to uncover the root causes that hold many photographers and creative agencies back from sustainable growth. Joel brings real-world lessons from his two-decade journey running Impossible Pictures, through its rise, sale, and his transition into consulting for hundreds of studios.

We dig into:

• Common growth traps creative agencies fall into (feast-or-famine cycles, underpriced services, lack of systems)

• How creative companies can evolve from “order-taker” to strategic, high-impact partners

• Business development & positioning strategies that differentiate your brand

• Pricing, operations, and mindset shifts needed to scale

• How to future-proof your agency with long-term value and resilience

If you’re building or leading a creative agency, this episode is a masterclass in combining artistry and business discipline.

Connect with Joel Pilger at https://www.joelpilger.com/ or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelpilger/ 

Connect with James Patrick at https://jamespatrick.com/