Take It Personally

So often I hear from other photographers that their mini sessions were a failure. When asking them about it, they share they only promoted it a few times but because no one was booking, they stopped sharing about it. This mistake of essentially quitting before starting is something I commonly see with mini sessions. The only way to fill your mini sessions though is to talk about them! Many photographers get really in their head about marketing their mini sessions, but their mindset around it is so important, which is the topic of this episode. Any time you are struggling to market your mini sessions, it feels like a failure, or it feels like you're being annoying - come back to this episode! Here are the highlights: 00:44 The Power of Persistence in Marketing 02:23 Switching to a Launch Mindset for Mini Sessions 03:40 Understanding Audience Engagement and Frequency 05:08 Pricing Strategies for Mini Sessions 07:24 Handling Unsubscribes and Unfollows Positively 11:17 Adopting a Business Mindset for Success   CONNECT WITH MADDIE: Instagram Website   LINKS: Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now! The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images   FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

In this episode of Take It Personally, Sean, owner of Unique Unicorn Photography, shares his transformative experience with the Make Four Figures with Mini Sessions training. Initially struggling to attract clients after deciding to fully commit to their photography business, Sean and his wife discovered mini sessions as a strategic entry point for client acquisition. The episode delves into how this approach not only built their portfolio rapidly but also significantly increased their client base by booking 30 families during a single weekend. Sean discusses the importance of marketing, branding consistency, and the value of community building. He reflects on how mini sessions became a key component for business growth, client satisfaction, and a means to efficiently showcase their work and get referrals. This story is a testament to the power of mini sessions in kickstarting and expanding a photography business. 00:12 The Journey to Unique Unicorn Photography 00:37 Discovering Mini Sessions: A Game Changer 04:01 The Impact of Training on Business Strategy 10:43 The Success Story: Booking 30 Families 18:12 Marketing Strategies and Building a Client Base 19:44 The Future of Mini Sessions 21:58 Wrapping Up: The Power of Mini Sessions   CONNECT WITH SEAN Instagram | Website   CONNECT WITH MADDIE: Instagram | Website   LINKS: Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Training on April 25, 2024 at 12pm CST: Sign up now! Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images   FULL SHOW NOTES here

In this episode, I share my successful strategy for conducting high-4-figure mini session days! Since starting mini sessions in 2020, I have seen significant revenue growth and average $7,000 on these mini session days. I'll be sharing an overview of the simple strategy I have in my business that allows me to accomplish this. Here are the main highlights from this episode: 00:52 My Mini Session Journey: From Start to Success 01:58 Strategic Insights: Transforming Mini Sessions into Brand Builders 03:29 Yearly Growth: A Deep Dive into My Mini Session Evolution 05:55 Maximizing Profits with Smart Mini Session Strategies 10:59 The Power of Limitations: Crafting the Perfect Mini Session Offer 15:24 Marketing Mastery: How to Promote Your Mini Sessions Effectively 16:14 Next Steps & Free Training   CONNECT WITH MADDIE: Instagram Website   LINKS: Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now! The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images   FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

The topic of email marketing seems to be coming up more and more both inside of Rebrand, my group coaching program, and just in general. When I am talking to other creatives, it's always things like, "Do I really need an email list? Should I start using email as opposed to social media?" I've utilized email marketing in my business and am a huge believer in it. But I personally have a few issues with how email is being sold to a lot of creative entrepreneurs, specifically local service providers, like photographers who serve a local market. If that is you and you've had related questions about email before, this episode focuses on the power and nuances of email marketing. Here are highlights from this episode: 01:00 The Rising Importance of Email Marketing in Creative Industries 03:25 The Misconceptions and Realities of Email Marketing for Local Service Providers 06:43 Navigating the Challenges of Email List Building and Marketing Strategies 11:20 Determining if Email Marketing is the Right Strategy for You 16:49 Lazy Email List Growth: A Game-Changer for Local Service Providers 26:40 Maximizing Your Business with Effective Email Marketing Techniques and Waitlists 27:40 Exclusive Training Opportunity: Elevate Your Mini Session Game   CONNECT WITH MADDIE: Instagram Website   LINKS: Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now! Flodesk Email Marketing (50% off your first year with this link)   FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Dawn is a former software engineer, turned wedding photographer, who pivoted back to technology to assist creatives in overcoming their intimidation with tech. Dawn is currently juggling roles as a Product Marketing Manager at Flodesk and running Tech Savvy Creative. In this episode, she shares her journey and the importance of integrating technology into creative professions. Topics we discuss in this episode are the transformative power of AI in photography, tools like ChatGPT for content creation, highlighting how AI tools can significantly save time and enhance productivity, and tools for improving business efficiency. Through her expertise, Dawn emphasizes the potential of AI to handle mundane tasks, enabling creatives to focus on their passions and excel in their craft. Here are highlights from this episode: 01:31 Dawn's Journey into Tech and Product Marketing 02:42 The Power of AI in Photography and Business 04:47 Exploring AI Tools for Content Creation 08:24 The Revolution of AI in Photo Editing 16:50 Maximizing Efficiency with AI in Meetings and Video Content 23:02 The Future of AI and Its Impact on Creativity 24:31 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Dawn   CONNECT WITH DAWN: Instagram | Website | YouTube   CONNECT WITH MADDIE: Instagram | Website   LINKS: Flodesk Email Marketing - get 50% off your first year Dawn's AI Toolkit for Creatives Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images   FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

One of my goals at the beginning of 2024 was to act like a grown up when it comes to my finances, and I have to say, I'm killing it so far–and that is in huge part to the program 6 Figure Saver. I'm thrilled to have Gina Knox, the financial coach behind 6 Figure Saver, on the podcast today. Gina is known in her circle as Money's Mom, and helps entrepreneurs with variable income save six figures in their businesses. In under three months, I've saved just shy of $40,000 in this program without cutting expenses or strict budgeting. Instead, Gina emphasizes the significance of spending on the right things, and paying yourself as part of your operating expenses–not an afterthought. The episode delves into what Gina (and I) would do differently if starting our businesses again, with a strong focus on financial strategies including setting realistic income goals, focusing on current problems rather than future ones, avoiding unnecessary spending, and the importance of paying oneself as a business owner. Here are some highlights: 01:10 The Impact of Gina's Program: Six Figure Saver 05:07 Gina's Advice on Organizing Business Finances 06:22 Introduction to the Cashflow Waterfall Strategy 10:09 The Importance of Strategic Spending in Business 10:52 Creating an Annual Investment Plan 11:58 The Dangers of Future Problem Spending 18:59 Setting Realistic Goals for Business Growth 20:59 Overcoming Money Blocking Thoughts 23:31 The Value of Focusing on One Service 25:19 The Importance of Paying Yourself as a Business Owner You can follow Gina on Instagram, and find more information about 6 Figure Saver here. The program is now enrolling.

Kate has been on the podcast before talking about Rebrand, and I love what Kate is doing with her business. Her photography business sort of started “accidentally” and after working together in Rebrand, she was able to drop down to part-time in her 9-5 to be able to spend more time on her photography business. Alongside taking brand photos, Kate also helps clients with copywriting! She took her PR skills to be able to grow another arm in her business where she offers blogging services to creatives. Visuals are a huge part of personal branding, but messaging is so important too. Kate is sharing tips for how blogging can be a huge part of growing your business, connect with clients, and help you stand out. Here are the main things talked about in this episode: Why blogging isn’t dead SEO and Google searches Providing value to clients Repurposing content How to utilize frequently asked questions to direct people to your blog Being seen as a thought leader Consistency tips for blogging Kate’s 5 favorite blog topics for photographer Connecting with clients Use blogs to cover client questions Connect with Kate: Instagram | Website Connect with Maddie: Instagram | Website Links mentioned: Rebrand Coaching Program for Brand Photographers Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images See the full show notes here

I did my annual mini session day in January, and I had multiple photographers be a part of it. They admitted to me they felt uncomfortable on the other side of the camera. It essentially allowed them to have more empathy for their clients because they can understand how it feels being in front of the camera during a branding session. I think this is a crucial part of building a personal brand and specifically as a brand photographer. You can tell your clients everything about how branding photos are important and how people will connect with photos of themselves more and they can help them update their website, etc., but it’s not going to mean anything to them until you start practicing what you preach. This is a show-don’t tell scenario. Your clients aren’t taking the action because they are scared, and you need to go first! Lead the way, and show them what’s possible. Become a credible source for them. This episode is sharing more on this and how this can help you build trust with your clients. Personal branding is crucial as a photographer, and this episode is covering why. Why I get my own brand photos done Why brand photography can help showcase YOU and help you stand out Increasing trust Why my strategy and process is better because I have done personal brand sessions myself Speaking from experience and reassuring your client What are your client's goals and how that can direct the session Being able to empathize and connect on the common ground Expediting the photo delivery because this is what the client really wants Personal branding as a brand photographer is a crucial part of the strategy Building my own personal brand has helped my business grow and succeed and this concept is exactly what we cover in my group coaching program, Rebrand, which is enrolling now! When you join, you get immediate access to the curriculum, and live coaching calls start on March 6. If you want to be THE brand photographer in your area, become more confident in your business, and charge four figures for brand sessions, I would love for you to join Rebrand. Learn more about the program here. The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here

In the last episode of Take It Personally, we talked about attracting your dream clients and treating social media like a giant networking event. A second part to this is related to a question I get asked frequently in various ways: “What should I be posting?” If you’ve wondered what you should post if you want to book more clients, grow your business, stand out as a brand photographer, etc., this episode will be covering it all. Here are the main topics discussed: Getting back into a place of service and figuring out how you can help Using frequently asked questions for content Addressing questions that haven’t been asked yet Getting into your client’s shoes Showing what photography provides (more than just photos) Highlighting past clients Incorporating content about yourself The importance of messaging We discuss this even more in my group coaching program, Rebrand! Enrollment opens February 16. Rebrand is both a curriculum and coaching. We are following these same steps talked about in this episode to help you build a successful brand photography business (that makes six figures and charges four figures for a brand session). Learn more here! The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here

Social media can be an incredible tool for business. This episode explores how you can use social media to attract dream clients, and use it in a way that feels strategic and not draining.   Join the Brand Photography Jumpstart here: https://www.maddiepeschong.com/brandphotographer

A 100k year is a huge milestone for entrepreneurs, and there seems to be chatter in the online business community that's split into two camps: 1) there's nothing magical about 100k, and 2) it's absolutely everything to get to 100k. No surprise, I fall somewhere in the middle. My business coach refers to 100k as a sustainability point for business and I totally agree. We all know we're not taking home all of the money we make, so at 100k that typically gives you room to pay for expenses, pay yourself, pay your taxes, maybe start outsourcing a little bit, maybe have some profit leftover if you're lucky. While it's not EVERYTHING to hit 100k, I do think it's a big deal because it gets you to a point where you can really sustain and start to look at growth and scaling.  I talked in a previous episode about multiple streams of income and how I didn't start pursuing that until after I hit 6 figures, and this got me thinking about what I would do if I were starting my business over and striving for that 6 figure mark from scratch. In this episode, I am talking about every step I would take if I were starting over and trying to make six figures with my photography business. Here are the main things discussed in this episode: Picking a service to focus on Being seen as an expert when you have a specialty Doing a few free or low priced sessions to build your portfolio How to create an awesome experience that creates chatter Taking your images from your free/low priced sessions and using them  to market yourself, grow your social media, and build your personal brand My thoughts on taking on most clients that inquire if trying to reach 100k and being aware of your capacity Slowly raising prices as your calendar fills up How hiring an editor can help you book more sessions (yes, it’s okay to give up some of this control!) Get more specific about the work you take as you become busier After 6 figures, looking where you can trade money for TIME and outsource   This is also the process I walk you through in my mini course, The Brand Photography Jumpstart: learn how to make your first $500 with brand photography. This free course runs February 12-16, 2024. Join me for about 30 minutes a day for 5 days over the lunch hour to learn AND be coached. Claim your spot here! That mini course tees up my group coaching program, Rebrand, as enrollment will be opening February 16. Rebrand is both a curriculum and coaching. We follow these same steps talked about in this episode to help you build a successful brand photography business that makes six figures and charges four figures for a brand session. Learn more about Rebrand here! The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here  

One of the reasons I love brand photography is the potential for repeat clients. When it comes to brand photography, you are working with clients who regularly need updated images. This allows for repeat clients often, if we treat our clients well. This episode I’m sharing the top things we can be doing as photographers to keep our clients coming back (and referring more amazing clients our way). Here are the main things discussed in this episode: How to create a really easy experience from top to bottom Setting up email autoresponders Always making sure your client knows what's happening next Making a smooth onboarding experience Helping clients with their overwhelm (in preparing for shoot or after with how to use their photos) Automations and workflows (a huge piece of what we cover in my group coaching program, Rebrand) Managing client gallery delivery times The two things clients share when talking about us to friends and family Adding value to the experience by utilizing community Surprise and delight strategy Asking for reviews/referrals and staying in touch Designing a brand session with strategy (sign up for the free training on this here!) There is so much potential for booking return clients, and a lot of it comes from strategy! On January 23, 2023, you can join me for a free workshop where I will show you how to plan a strategic brand session. This includes from when people inquire with you to when they are leaving you a glowing review. Sign up for the training here! The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in! Full show notes here

KP and Jessie (both she/her) are the design duo behind Inkpot Creative®️, a queer-led design studio building unconventional, impactful brand and website experiences for photographers who are leading their industry by creating something different. In addition to building brands and websites, the studio also focuses on creating ways for photographers to get leads in more sustainable ways through SEO and blogging. When they're not working in their studio, they can usually be found hiking in a national park or working on their travel blog, Volumes & Voyages. How KP & Jessie got started in business and website design Who KP & Jessica typically work with What is SEO and what do photographers need to know about it What keywords to focus on using on your website Where and how to infuse keywords on to your website Alt text tips Doing keyword research for blog posts Making blog posts more quality and informative What type of posts rank well Check out resources from Inkpot Creative here: blog post idea freebie, membership club, and template shop. The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!  

I’m so excited to share an annual recap in this episode! I'm sharing the wins, the struggles, and the changes that 2023 brought for me and my businesses. I also am touching on what’s coming for 2024. Here are the main things discussed in episode 108: Record setting mini session day Events, big projects, and work trips Focusing on my own personal style for my personal brand Managing my screen limits Taylor Swift live!! Hiring in my business Our new White Space studio Rebrand launch Hitting my revenue goal Tough client situations Managing finances better Intentional podcast topics Different summer schedule More automation 2024 goals 2023 was great, and I’m excited for 2024. Take a little recap of your wins and goals, and come and share them with me on Instagram @maddiepeschong! The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

I’m a little nervous for this episode, but it’s been on my to-record list for quite a while. The reason I am nervous is that we are diving head first into why you shouldn’t have multiple streams of income in your business. I’ve been avoiding recording this episode because I personally have multiple streams of income in my own business. BUT I believe I could actually be making a lot more money if I didn’t have so many different streams. This episode is discussing that and how having more income streams isn’t always better. Here are the main topics in this episode: More businesses, more problems Getting to six figures before adding another income stream Adding income streams can split your attention Why being impatient can lead to the wrong business move Refining your core service Doing the hard and thoughtful work rather than busy work Passive income is not truly passive Don’t start a business/income stream from panic, worry, or fear Those opportunities aren’t going anywhere; you can make any time good timing You owe it to yourself to wait I thought the only way to scale my income was to add more streams I’m so curious to hear your thoughts on this episode and not having multiple streams of income! Share in the Facebook group or DM on Instagram @maddiepeschong. The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, to create a diverse gallery that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!  

Melissa owns Branch Creative Co., where she offers brand and design services. Melissa is a great friend, and we have worked together on projects in the past. Melissa has great insight on launching as she assists her clients with this and is preparing for a launch of her own soon. After last week’s episode about my Rebrand launch (episode #105), I thought it would be great to have Melissa come on and share important things to keep in mind when you are preparing to launch something in your business. Here are the main things we discussed: How a launch plan often gets forgotten about Ways to start sharing about your upcoming launch Sharing some behind the scenes throughout the different phases of the process (i.e. first proofs of your new logo design) Working backwards to form your launch plan Building your email list and audience in between launches Showing up where your audience is hanging out Thinking about your customer’s pain points and how your service/product helps solve those challenges Melissa’s new project she is launching soon Check out Melissa’s Be Magnetic program, and use the code maddiepeschong for a discount when enrolling! The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

I recently launched my group program, Rebrand, for the third time, and I have been going over the launch - what went well, what I want to do differently next time, etc. This podcast episode will be recapping my Rebrand launch! I’m sharing what goes on behind the scenes, what I focused on during the launch, numbers, mindset, and more. Here are the main things I discussed in this episode: My free mini course that kicked off the launch My goal for the number of people in the jumpstart free mini course and goal for enrollment in Rebrand Why I sent 68 emails over the course of 30 days Repurposing content from past launches Why a strong mindset is SO important and how I prioritized my mindset during this launch Why you need to be talking about your offer so much more than you are Being clear on your messaging and using client feedback to help Wins I experienced throughout the launch Protecting my calendar more during launches Pre-launch strategies Instagram and email list growth through launching The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!  

Girija is a mom, a wife, lawyer, podcaster, strategist, educator, and a business owner in Houston, Texas. Her law practice, GBP Law, specifically focuses on helping entrepreneurs and on-line business owners build their business’ legal fundamentals and integrate legal as a part of their strategy so they can move forward confidently and do what they love! Her goal is to help make legal a line item and not a panic attack! In 2020, Girija launched Your Contract Buddy (www.yourcontractbuddy.com), an online contract template shop, and also then founded her podcast, Law Chat with Girija. From her days of being a prosecutor to managing her own law practice and to being lead legal strategist for your business, Girija’s core value to serve her community remains at the center of all her endeavors. Girija Patel is another friend of mine from the Reset Conference. Girija and I got to chat about using AI in your business. AI is a great tool to be utilizing, but there are many things to consider, which we cover in this episode. Here are the main things we discussed: Why we all need to create to market and keep up on social media, even if we aren’t an influencer What were Girija’s initial thoughts on AI, as a legal professional Fear of losing jobs to AI The biggest opportunities for creatives and photographers when it comes to AI software Girija’s caution for ownership and claiming AI work; how copyright law works with it The importance of reading the terms and conditions of a shared platform Content creation and ChatGPT Not relying on AI to create everything for you Having transparency with your work   Connect with Girija @gbplaw on social media. She aims to make law accessible and digestible, and you can learn about her services on her website here. The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot LIst: 10 must-have images, plus a bonus concept, that will get clients singing your praises! Download here. Full show notes here Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

I’m so excited to have my friend Kate Wark on the episode. Kate was a member of my group coaching program, Rebrand, and she had a such a transformation during our time together. I loved being able to coach Kate as she was ready to go and make big things happen in her business. We are talking about her story and how her business changed during and after Rebrand. Here are the main things discussed in this episode: Being able to work ‘regular’ business hours as a photographer How Kate’s day job experience and skills are reflected in brand photography Why Kate joined Rebrand Kate’s desire to learn how to elevate her client’s experience How Rebrand helped Kate become confident in her (increased) pricing How Rebrand has helped Kate show up more confidently in her business (so she can help other business owners do the same!) The value of having a coach to rely on How investing in yourself and in your business calls you to show up differently Rebrand enrollment is open! A 16-week group coaching experience for photographers who want to offer brand photography so they can scale their income, work better hours, and run a business that feels like them. Learn more at maddiepeschong.com/rebrand. We start October 11th! Full show notes here Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

Rebrand, my sixteen-week group coaching experience for photographers, is now enrolling. This program is for photographers who desire to offer brand photography so they can scale their income, work betters hours, and run a business that feels like them. Visit https://www.maddiepeschong.com/rebrand to learn more and join.