Bokeh - The Photography Podcast

Do you feel stuck with your work? Do you browse social media and wish you or your business were as "successful" as other photographers?Twyla Jones is here to tell you how to stop playing the comparison game, be brave, and do your thing! Listen in to episode 527 of The Bokeh Podcast to hear the hard truths about the behaviors you may be exhibiting that are causing you to feel stuck, and strategies that you can put into play that can help you to break out of that rut in order to grow your business!The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Brand Position (4:22)Creating a great customer experience (8:09)Technique for time management (13:25)Outsourcing/Delegation (17:05))Book Recommendation (23:04)Show Your Work by Austin KleonHow can photographers think outside the box to be more creative in their work? (28:06)What are some behaviors that get in the way of growing a business? (37:50)1. Playing it safe to avoid failure and for the sake of consistency2. Comparison - ask yourself "why" 3 times if you're finding yourself wanting something you don't have3. Imposter syndromeHow can photographers better balance the importance they place on their work as it relates to their identity? (52:11)Links:https://www.charitywater.orghttps://www.emotionalstorytelling.comhttps://www.instagram.com/somethingrad

"Referrals are the foundation of the marketing pyramid." - Daniel Moyer, episode 526.In ep 526, Daniel Moyer shares his technique for building relationships with his clients that go beyond the traditional client/photographer interaction and engagement. Listen in to hear how his deep relationships have not only built connections with his current clients, but have also been the main source of his future referrals.Brand Position (8:07)Creating a great customer experience (14:11)Technique for time management (17:22)Book Recommendations (22:35)Profit First by Mike MichalowiczA Simple Path to Wealth by J. L. CollinsManage Your Day to Day by 99UAsk Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that Matter by Will WiseWhat were the pain points that led to the change in Dan's business? (27:40)5 Steps forTransforming Your Photo Business (33:28)1. Knowledge is Power - Don't just learn facts to learn about your clients, KNOW them2. Differentiate yourself by flipping the wedding photography script3. Be along for the journey, not just the booking and the wedding day4. Seek positive emotion to anchor decision-making to - sell good feelings, not fear5.Referrals are the most valuable form of marketing currencyLinks:https://www.focusedphotographers.comhttps://www.danielmoyerphotography.com/https://www.instagram.com/danielmoyerphotohttps://www.instagram.com/getfocusedphotographers

Managing a photography business is an art, but managing a high-volume wedding photography business takes that to a different level. How can one person manage all of the moving parts necessary to keep one moving forward?In episode 525 of The Bokeh Podcast, Rick Liston shares the processes he has developed for his high-volume wedding photography business that have allowed him to manage 100 weddings per year - and keep his sanity. Listen in to hear the pre-and post-wedding workflow strategies for delegating and streamlining the time-consuming tasks that bog down photographers.The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Brand Position (3:58)Creating a great customer experience (10:40)Technique for time management (12:30)Outsourcing/Delegation (15:20)Book Recommendation (19:58)Never Lose a Customer Again by Joey ColemanDescription and background of Rick's business model(24:40)Principles that drive efficient workflows (33:50)Most important pre-wedding workflow steps (37:35)1. Share ideas and tips with couples prior to the wedding day2. Collect vendor data prior to the wedding for post-wedding sharing3. Gather information about your couples prior to the wedding for points of connection on the dayPost-wedding workflow (43:00)1. Outsource editing, but share a sample slideshow the day after the wedding2. Automate the sales process - set up a gift registry!3. Utilize a Virtual Assistant for tasks such as album design and blog postsKey steps for communication when outsourcing editing (45:18)Links:https://www.charitywater.orghttps://www.rickliston.comhttps://www.weddingworkflows.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rick_listonhttps://www.instagram.com/weddingworkflowshttps://www.studioninja.co/https://www.shootproof.com/tavehttps://www.dubsado.com/https://www.loom.com/https://www.pic-time.com/?locale=en

The dreaded word - taxes. Few of us truly understand them, all of us have to pay them. Can we be proactive in avoiding the most common tax mistakes in order to have a simpler, less stressful tax paying experience?Pay close attention to episode 524 of The Bokeh Podcast as Braden Drake, Tax Attorney and Accounting Consultant for creatives, breaks down the top 5 tax mistakes that most creatives tend to make, and provides simple explanations and solutions for how to avoid them!Listen in as he shares resources and tips for how to break the cycle of poor management and decision-making when it comes to your financial and tax habits!The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Brand Position (5:22)Creating a great customer experience (9:12)Technique for time management (13:00)Outsourcing/Delegation (18:30)Book Recommendation (22:00)Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino WickmanAtomic Habits by James ClearUnf*ck Your Biz Book by Braden DrakeTop 5 Tax Mistakes (25:25)1. Failing to pay quarterly taxes (or saving for quarterly taxes)2. Not understanding the basics of taxes3. Overspending to "save" in taxes4. Poor record-keeping5. Forming an S Corporation at the wrong timeMistake #1 - Information about paying quarterly taxes (26:18)Mistake #2 - A breakdown of the basics (28:48)Mistake #3 -How photographers tend to overspend (30:25)Mistake #4 -Tips for best record-keeping habits (33:25)Mistake #5 -Explanation of S-Corps and the benefits/drawbacks to creating one (40:05)Links:https://www.charitywater.orghttps://www.bradendrake.comhttps://www.bradendrake.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/bradenadamdrake

What do you offer to your clients that sets you apart from your competition?But the bigger question is - how do you share that message with potential clients?In episode 523 of The Bokeh Podcast, Jess Fernandez of Maui Family Photo dives into what is unique about her photography business, and how she can state those features simply and concisely in order to draw in her ideal clients.Listen in to hear the ideas and potential brand position statements that may help Jess stand apart from the competition in her market.The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Background and focus of Jess'sphotography business (3:20)Definition of a Brand Position Statement: (9:17)A unique value proposition (UVP) that sets your business apart from the competition in your market.Benefits of a Clear and Distinct Brand Positioning: (10:00)A. Enables Potential Clients to Immediately Know Your UVPB. Filters Irrelevant Potential ClientsC. Simplifies/Focuses Marketing EffortsD. Encourages Better Time ManagementFocus of Jess's photography business (12:50)What sets Jess apart from her competition (24:30)Pain points of Jess's client base (32:11)Analysis of Jess's competition (40:50)Potential Brand Position Statements (1:01:02)Maui's Most Fun Family PhotographerLinks:charitywater.comhttps://www.mauifamily.photography/https://www.instagram.com/mauifamilyphoto

Potential clients see your amazing work posted on social media.They also see a similar style of images from your competition.What unique strategies can you use to set yourself apart in order to book those clients?Send your clients on a virtual journey of what it is like to work with you! Sean Brown joins us for episode 522 of The Bokeh Podcast to explain how to convey the client journey in your marketing efforts. Listen in to hear strategies for not only building out the steps for your client journey but also sharing it in a strategic way that will sell them before they even speak with you!The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Brand Position (3:41)Biggest lesson learned since Sean's first episode (14:30)Why photographers need to do more than just "show up" on social media (20:23)How is "client journey" defined by Sean? (23:50)Phases in a client journey (36:09)1. Before the session2. During the session3. After the session4. Educational/MarketingWhat are the keys to the educational/marketing phase? (40:35)1. Explain the "why" behind the services you offer (features and benefits)2. Differentiate your SM content to best fit the different platforms and phases of the client journeyAdvice for photographers to begin thinking like a CEO (48:00)How to build the "during the session" phase of your client's journey (50:49)How to multi-task during a session in order to capture content for Social Media (56:05)Links:https://www.charitywater.orgSean's first Bokeh episode - Episode390instagram.com/seanbrownproductionshttps://www.seanbrownproductions.comhttps://www.seanbrownproductions.com/photographersSean's vlog of the client journey

What are you doing to stand out amongst the throngs of photographers in your market? A strong, distinct brand positioning is a great place to start.In episode 521 of the Bokeh Podcast, Kirsten Ogden of Kirsten J. Photography joins us to dig into how she can set herself apart in her market as a wedding and couple's photographer focusing on adventurous couples. Listen in to hear the recommendations and ideas that will help her stand out from her competition!The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Definition of a Brand Position Statement: (2:55)A unique value proposition (UVP) that sets your business apart from the competition in your market. Benefits of a Clear and Distinct Brand Positioning: (3:50)A. Enables Potential Clients to Immediately Know Your UVPB. Filters Irrelevant Potential ClientsC. Simplifies/Focuses Marketing EffortsD. Encourages Better Time ManagementFocus and location of Kirsten's photography business (6:08)What sets Kirsten apart from her competition? (13:25)Pain points of client base (19:15)Kirsten's motivation for starting her photography business (26:10)Analysis of competition (39:35)Potential Brand Position Statements (1:01:27)Christchurch's Premier Photographic Experience for CouplesChristchurch's Premier Photographer for CouplesThe South Island's Premier Photographic ExperienceLinks:https://www.charitywater.org/https://www.kirstenjphoto.com/http://instagram.com/kirstenjphotoReady to begin working on Brand Positioning for your business? Check out our free downloadable worksheet today, and learn more about how to position yourself in your market!

The "hustle life" of putting your head down and knocking out tasks can drain you of your creativity. How can you ensure that you are finding ways to mix creativity into your productive work life?In episode 520 of The Bokeh Podcast, Kalla Ramberg shares her strategies for finding ways to infuse creativity into daily tasks, and for making intentional decisions for her business that allow creativity to shine through. Listen in to hear tips for finding the flow that will allow you to avoid the burnout that comes from focusing on productivity and neglecting your creative drive.The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Brand Position (3:13)Creating a great customer experience (13:09)Technique for time management (18:35)Book Recommendation (23:20)The Power of Now by Eckhart TolleDelegation/Outsourcing (29:26)How productivity gives Kalla "flow" to be more creative (43:50)Tips for how to be both productive and creative (49:28)1. Be intentional with what you're doing2. Be self-aware to evaluate whether or not what you're doing is killing creativity3. Infuse creativity into daily work4. Make time to do "fun" work (even if it is unpaid)Links:charitywater.orgkallarambergphotography.cainstagram.com/kallarambergphotographybokehbookshelf.com

You have the creative aspects of your business down, and you enjoy them immensely. But what about the systems and processes that actually drive your business to be profitable? How structured are you in implementing those to maximize profit?In episode 519 of The Bokeh Podcast, Olie Moss of Equine Photo School shares how he grew his business to a 6-figure business, several times over! Listen in as he shares the key areas where processes and workflows are crucial, and the tools and tricks that he uses to implement those workflows in order to drive sales, and ultimately maximum profit, for his business.The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you byPhotographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Professional Photographer andMiilu: The Simplest Way to Create and Manage Timelines and Shot Lists for the Events You’re Photographing.You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on theApple podcast app, follow onSpotify, add to your playlist onStitcher,or listen onOvercast.Brand Position (2:55)Creating a great customer experience (5:04)Technique for time management (8:08)Outsourcing/Delegation (10:22)Book Recommendation (12:55)The One Thing by Gary KellerTools of Titans by Tim FerrisRise of the Youpreneur by Chris DuckerImportant principles for leading a team (20:41)The development and growth of Olie's business (26:17)Why photographers tend to focus on art over systems (30:18)What are the most important systems that photographers should implement in their businesses? (41:40)1. Customer acquisition and retention2. In-person experience3. Sales processHow Olie provides the best in-person experience possible for his clients (51:00)Olie's photographic process (53:55)The sales process (58:13)Links:charitywater.orginstagram.com/oliesimagesequinephotoschool.com/www.oliesimages.com/homezenfolio.com/