PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

He’s booking up to 50 weddings a year… and says most photographers are focusing on the wrong kind of marketing. This one might change how you think about where your next booking is coming from. The post 662: Martin Cheung – He Shoots 50 Weddings a Year… But Not How You Think appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

AI is already changing how couples find and choose wedding photographers — and most photographers don’t realise it yet. Instead of browsing directories and comparing dozens of options, couples are starting to rely on AI to narrow their choices down to just a few trusted recommendations. In this interview, Emma Wise explains what’s happening behind the scenes — and why your biggest challenge moving forward won’t be getting found… but getting chosen. The post 661: Emma Wise – How AI Is Changing How Couples Choose Wedding Photographers appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

What does it really take to move from smaller portrait jobs to high-profile commercial clients? In this interview, Drew Forsyth shares the mindset shifts, pricing lessons, and relationship skills that helped him make that transition — plus why he believes his biggest competition isn’t other photographers, but being forgotten. The post 660: Drew Forsyth – From Small Portrait Jobs to High-Profile Commercial Photography Clients appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Rebecca Schmidt runs a boudoir photography studio that photographs 70–85 clients every month and generated $3 million in revenue last year. Just three years earlier, she was a wedding and family photographer earning around $34,000 a year. In this episode, Rebecca shares how she pivoted into boudoir, built a team of 14, filled her calendar with paid advertising, and stepped away from shooting to focus on running the business. If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible when photography is run like a real company — not just a creative pursuit — this interview will open your eyes. The post 659: Rebecca Schmidt – From $34k to a $3M Boudoir Photography Business in Just 3 Years appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

What if you didn’t need a high-volume photography business to make great money? In this interview, Jo Lyons shares how she’s built a pet photography business around lifestyle, creativity and connection — while still averaging around $2,500 per client and landing sales as high as $6,500. Based on a beautiful rural property in NSW, Jo has created a destination-style experience for dog lovers, using studio sessions, countryside portraits, book projects, Dog of the Year campaigns and clever local marketing to attract the right clients. There’s a lot to love in this one. The post 658: Jo Lyons – $2,500 Average Sales from a Rural Pet Photography Studio appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Seven years ago, Jo Menneer was running a busy studio shooting both family and boudoir sessions — averaging around £800 per client. Today, she’s working Monday to Friday only, shooting fewer sessions, and averaging £2,250 per client… with some spending five figures. What changed? Not her location. Not the size of her studio. Not even the number of sessions she shoots. In this episode, Jo breaks down how refining her client journey, raising prices (despite a clenched stomach), implementing structured pre-shoot calls, and focusing on confidence over photography transformed her boudoir business into a calmer, more profitable and more impactful studio. If you’ve ever thought “my market won’t pay that” or “I can’t raise my prices here,” this conversation might just shift your thinking. The post 657: Jo Menneer – From $800 to $2,250 Average Sale in Her Photography Business (Without Working Weekends) appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Everyone says, “Deliver a great experience.” Almost no one explains what that actually means. In this episode, I sit down with Julie Comfort — a former destination wedding photographer turned experience designer — to unpack what it really looks like to intentionally design how your clients feel from first enquiry to long after delivery. We talk about why most weddings (and client journeys) start to feel the same… how overwhelming first emails quietly lose bookings… why follow-up often wins the job… and how small, thoughtful touches can create more impact than expensive gifts. If you want easier sales, stronger referrals, and clients who rave about you — not just your photos — this conversation will shift how you think about your business. The post 656: Julie Comfort – Design a Client Experience People Can’t Stop Talking About appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Richie Schwartz has photographed close to 100,000 pets over a 40+ year career — and he’s done it with a business model that’s simple, structured and unapologetically commercial. In this episode, Richie explains how partnering with pet businesses allows him to book 10–20 sessions in a single day, run a tight 30-minute shoot → show → sell workflow, and keep pricing clear enough that buying feels easy. It’s not about trends, styling or social media growth. It’s about building a repeatable system that works in the real world. If you’re curious what a true high-volume pet photography model looks like — and whether parts of it could apply to your own business — this conversation will give you plenty to think about. The post 655: Richie Schwartz – Partner With Pet Businesses to Book 10–20 Sessions a Day appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

In this episode, Gary Williams returns to the podcast to share what he’s learned from photographing 100 weddings in just two years. We talk about short weddings, simple pricing, Google-driven enquiries, outsourcing, and how designing a business around ease and sustainability has helped Gary build steady momentum without unnecessary stress. The post 654: Gary Williams – How 100 Short Weddings Became a Calm, Profitable Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

In this interview, Jamie shares what really happened behind the scenes as his business quietly started to unravel — the warning signs he ignored, the decisions he delayed, and the moment panic forced him to take action. He opens up about the systems that failed him, the personal factors that made things harder than they needed to be, and the practical changes that helped him stabilise cash flow, rebuild momentum, and fall back in love with his business again. If you’ve ever looked at another photographer’s work and thought, they must be doing great, this conversation is a powerful reminder that appearances rarely tell the full story — and that a turnaround is often closer than it feels. The post 653: Jamie Booth – From Panic to a Booked-Out Photography Business in 90 Days appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Dating photography might not be the first niche that comes to mind when photographers think about growth — but in this interview, Emily Cummings explains why it’s become one of her most consistent, high-value revenue streams. We unpack how Emily identified a specific emotional problem clients were already motivated to solve, why a dedicated dating photography offer pre-qualifies serious enquiries, and how experience design — from consults to styling to same-day image selection — makes premium pricing far easier to hold. This conversation also explores the role Emily’s studio plays in credibility and efficiency, how Google Ads and strategic partnerships attract clients from well beyond her local area, and why simplifying pricing and systems across genres has helped her scale without burnout. If you’re curious about building steadier income, attracting more decisive clients, or creating offers that work year-round — this episode will give you plenty to think about. The post 652: Emily Cummings – How Dating Photography Became a High-Value, Year-Round Revenue Stream appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Stephanie Hill of www.totalcapture.com.au is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to photography business and life! She founded her Adelaide photography business, Total Capture Photography, at the age of 19! She says she was originally driven by “a fascination with light [...] The post 651: Stephanie Hill – Building a $200k Photography Studio On Two Days a Week appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

What actually matters for photography businesses heading into 2026? Instead of vague trend predictions or recycled advice, this New Year Special brings together a group of experienced photography business coaches — each answering a specific question within their area of expertise. The result is a wide-angle look at what’s genuinely shifting right now: how clients are finding photographers, how buying decisions are changing, where AI fits (and where it doesn’t), and what photographers need to rethink if they want their businesses to feel more stable, profitable, and sustainable this year. You’ll hear perspectives on marketing, sales psychology, branding, visibility, client experience, and mindset — not as isolated tactics, but as connected pieces of how successful photography businesses are being built moving forward. If you’re heading into 2026 wondering what to double down on, what to let go of, and where to focus your energy next, this episode will help you see the bigger picture — and avoid playing last year’s game in a changing market. The post 650: 2026 Photography Business Predictions — What’s About to Change appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Vincent Peters of www.vincentpetersstudio.com doesn’t just capture moments — he reveals something deeper about the people we think we already know. He's a German-born photographer, artist, and visual storyteller whose images have graced the pages of Vogue, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar, [...] The post 649: Vincent Peters – The Courage to Stop Imitating and Start Seeing with Your Photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Raphaëlle Granger didn’t grow her photography business by doing more weddings, chasing trends, or copying what looked successful online. With a background in photojournalism and fashion, she learned early that beautiful work alone doesn’t guarantee a sustainable business — especially when the work itself isn’t aligned with how you want to show up creatively or personally. In this conversation, Raphaëlle shares how undercharging actually held her back, why her first rebrand failed, and how getting clear on values — not visuals — changed everything from pricing to the clients she attracts. We talk about building trust with planners, using Instagram for positioning rather than bookings, and the confidence that comes from saying no to work that isn’t the right fit. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the middle market, drained by work that looks good on the surface, or unsure how to move your business forward without burning out or pretending to be someone you’re not, this episode will give you plenty to think about. The post 648: Raphaëlle Granger – Building a $200K Wedding Photography Business with Fewer Weddings appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Ben Potter from BP Portrait Art in Melbourne — a photographer who has quietly built one of the most profitable and systemised portrait studios I’ve seen. Ben shares how he moved away from Facebook ads, why community fundraising became his most reliable lead source, and how trusting the numbers — not emotions — transformed both his sales and his confidence. We dig into pricing psychology, strong offers, automation, and why messy action beats waiting for the perfect plan every time. If you’re serious about building a photography business that’s profitable, repeatable and far less stressful to run, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth — and what actually drives it. The post 647: Ben Potter – How Fundraising Replaced Facebook Ads in His Portrait Studio appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

If you’ve ever felt stuck doing everything yourself in your photography business — constantly emailing, reminding, scheduling, following up — this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. In Episode 646, I’m joined by Brittni Schroeder, a former high-end photographer who built one of the most in-demand senior portrait brands in her area… before discovering her true strength: helping business owners streamline, systemise and scale through smarter automation. Brittni breaks down the exact systems and small, strategic changes that free up your time, improve your client experience, and increase profitability — without adding more work to your plate. We dig into: • The three funnels every photographer needs to grow • What to automate (and what should always stay personal) • The surprising signs you’re ready to scale • Why email lists outperform social media every single time • How SOPs, scheduling tools and simple workflows can transform your studio overnight Whether you're shooting solo, running a busy studio, or bringing on associates… this episode will show you how to build a photography business that finally feels sustainable, profitable and in control. The post 646: Brittni Schroeder – How to Streamline, Systemise and Scale Your Photography Studio appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Referrals are one of the most powerful growth levers in a photography business — yet most photographers treat them like something mysterious or magical that “just happens” when the work is good enough. In this conversation, Stacey Brown Randall dismantles that myth completely. She explains why great photos and happy clients don’t automatically lead to consistent referrals… and why the missing link is almost always the client experience itself. Not the workflow, not the quality of the images — but how clients feel at every stage of working with you. Stacey shares the simple shifts photographers can make to turn happy clients into referring clients — without scripts, awkward asks, discounts, or gimmicks. From identifying “referral hot zones” to planting subtle referral seeds, to using handwritten notes and thoughtful touch points that genuinely make clients feel seen… she lays out a new way to think about referrals that’s grounded in connection, not tactics. If you’ve ever wondered why your clients say they love you but rarely send people your way — or if you want to build a business that grows through trust, reputation, and genuine word-of-mouth — this episode will change how you approach your client experience. The post 645: Stacey Brown Randall – The Referral System Every Photography Business Needs appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.