Photobizx The Ultimate Portrait And Wedding Photography Business Podcast

Ben McCoy is the founder of Good Life Portraits, a Perth-based portrait studio that has grown from Ben working out of the back of his car to a seven-person team, around 80 portrait sessions a month and a business tracking towards $2 million in annual revenue. In this interview, Ben breaks down the systems behind that growth, including how he generates leads, why getting prospects onto the phone is still critical, and the numbers he watches closely — around $17 per lead, roughly $105 to acquire a client and an average sale of about $2,400. We also get into his use of AI and Go High Level to nurture leads, answer client questions, book calls and reduce the workload on his team, plus why he believes the real challenge for photographers isn’t taking better photos — it’s building a business that can keep running and growing without the owner doing everything. It’s a particularly useful conversation for photographers who feel capped by their own time, are considering hiring, or want to understand what a genuinely s

Lucas Z is the founder of The Big Split and has spent more than a decade running a photography business in Aspen, Colorado. Despite having a successful business and good money coming in, Lucas found himself $25,000 in credit card debt, behind on taxes, with no real savings or assets — and at one point calculated he was spending 99.5% of everything he made. That experience led him to develop The Big Split, a simple way of handling irregular income by dividing money into clear buckets for business, tax, lifestyle and paying yourself first. In this interview, we talk about why photographers can be making good money and still feel broke, how irregular income creates the feast-or-famine cycle, the financial leaks that quietly drain a business, and the difference between simply earning more and actually keeping more. Lucas also shares how he cleared $25,000 in debt within five months, built more than $60,000 in savings in his first year using the system, and why the real problem for some photographers isn’t pricing

Gabi Kline Leon is a pet and equine photographer who built her business around a very different idea — she doesn’t see herself as simply a photographer, but as a commissioned photo artist. That mindset has helped her build a low-volume, high-value business where clients regularly spend thousands, her average sale is around $6,000, and one client spent $50,000 across multiple sessions and finished artwork. In this interview, Gabi shares how she moved from Israel to the US after seeing another photographer make $62,000 in a month, landed a $5,000 first client, struggled through the early COVID years, and eventually built a business around premium pricing, in-home consultations, multiple sessions, printed products and simple pricing. We also get into the marketing side — including the magazine partnership that generated more than $100,000, the mini-session days that brought in over $10,000 a month, her views on SEO versus Google Business Profile, and why getting in front of real people still matters. There’s ple

Myriam Ménard has built a 17-year wedding photography business around something many photographers are moving away from — real relationships, intentional curation and knowing exactly who she wants to work with. Based in Montreal and photographing weddings across Canada and Europe, Myriam charges up to $22,000 CAD for local weddings and starts at €12,000 for European destination weddings. Yet her approach to attracting those clients isn’t built around funnels, algorithms or constant posting. In this interview, Myriam shares why she’s investing more heavily in offline networking, how carefully curating your portfolio can shape the clients you attract, why she believes other people talking about your work will become increasingly important, and how clarity around who you are can influence everything from your pricing to the weddings you book. It’s a thoughtful conversation about premium positioning, creative identity, relationships and building a photography business that actually feels like you. The post 682: M

Richard I’Anson has spent 40 years building a photography career that has taken him to more than 100 countries and all seven continents. In this interview, Richard shares how he went from shooting weddings and portraits to becoming one of Australia’s best-known travel photographers, why those early years were crucial to his success, how the stock photography market has changed, and why photography tours have become such an important part of his business today. We also talk about print sales, licensing, building a body of work, making money from travel photography, and what it really takes to stay in business for four decades while still loving the work. The post 681: Richard I’Anson – From Wedding Photographer to a 40-Year Travel Photography Career appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

AI-generated video has moved well beyond the strange hands, extra fingers and obviously fake imagery most photographers remember. In this interview, filmmaker and Warthog AI founder Brian Levin explains how businesses are now creating photorealistic video content without cameras, actors, large crews or traditional production budgets. Brian shares how AI is turning still photographs into convincing motion, why experienced photographers and filmmakers may have an advantage over people relying on prompts alone, and how these tools could open up entirely new products for portrait, family and commercial photographers. He also discusses the fear and resistance surrounding AI, the importance of keeping real artists involved in the creative process, and why photographers should understand what the technology can do before deciding whether to embrace or reject it. This is a fascinating look at how quickly video production is changing—and what that could mean for photographers who are prepared to experiment. The post 6

Before becoming a full-time photographer, Melody Macdonald spent more than 20 years working as a 911 dispatcher, where staying calm, listening carefully and communicating clearly were essential. In this interview, Melody shares what photographers can learn from high-pressure emergency communication, especially when dealing with upset, disappointed or demanding clients. She explains why telling someone to “calm down” rarely works, how to pause before reacting, when it is better to pick up the phone, and why many client complaints are not really about the photography at all. You’ll also hear how clearer expectations, stronger boundaries and more direct communication can prevent difficult situations before they start. The post 679: Melody MacDonald – How to Handle Difficult Photography Clients Without Losing Your Cool appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Most photographers are using AI for culling, editing or the occasional social post. Marcin Rafalowicz believes they’re barely scratching the surface. In this interview, he explains how to build a custom ChatGPT trained on your voice, your business, your pricing, your clients and the work you want to be known for. The result is less generic content, faster marketing and an AI tool that becomes more useful the more you refine it. Marcin also shares how custom GPTs, website chatbots and voice-powered AI could change the way photographers create content, answer enquiries and run their businesses. The post 678: Marcin Rafalowicz – How to Build a Custom ChatGPT for Your Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

If you've ever wondered what it would take to build a photography business that keeps growing without you photographing every session, this episode is for you. Mycah Bain has spent the past 15 years building a studio that's now generating around $340,000 a year across weddings, branding and portrait photography, supported by a team of photographers and virtual assistants. In this interview, Mycah shares how she made the transition from solo photographer to business owner, the systems she's put in place to keep clients happy while her team does the shooting, how she hires and manages photographers and VAs, and why letting go of control has been the key to creating more freedom. We also dive into money mindset, leadership, outsourcing, client experience, building a premium brand, and the practical lessons she's learned while growing a business that's on track for the million-dollar mark. The post 677: Mycah Bain – Building a Team, Buying Back Your Time and Growing to $340K appeared first on Photography Bu

Joanna Kilgore of Jolee Art & Photography has rebuilt her portrait photography business from scratch in multiple new locations — and managed to become known fast each time. In this interview, Joanna shares how she adapted when organic social media stopped working, why networking became her biggest marketing advantage, and how everyday conversations in shops, cafés and local businesses have led to real photography bookings. She also shares how she thinks about showing the work she wants to sell, creating luxury portrait experiences, booking a French castle for destination sessions, balancing digital files with products, and managing business, family and creativity while living with ADHD. For photographers wondering how to stand out in a crowded market, rebuild after a move, or think bigger about what a portrait business can become, this is a conversation full of practical insight and bold ideas. The post 676: Joanna Kilgore – How to Build a Photography Business Anywhere appeared first on Photography

Kim Jongen of Mother Puppers Studio is back on the podcast two years after first sharing how she became one of the most recognisable dog photographers in the Netherlands. In this follow-up interview, Kim shares what has changed since the early days of viral attention, media coverage and being booked out. She talks about reducing the number of clients she photographs each week, raising her prices, selling more wall art, outsourcing editing, moving into a professional studio and creating new income streams through stock image sales and coaching. What stands out is how Kim has shifted from simply being busy to building a photography business that feels more sustainable, profitable and enjoyable to run. The post 675: Kim Jongen – Turning Viral Dog Photos Into Wall Art, Stock Sales and Coaching appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Su Kaye of [www.sukaye.com](http://www.sukaye.com) is a UK-based family and dog photographer with decades of experience, a reputation for creating unexpected pet portraits, and a business built on client care, confidence and constant evolution. In this interview, Su shares how she moved from family portraiture into dog photography, grew her business from £61k to £132k, lifted her average sale, and why she believes photographers need to stop undervaluing what they create. She also talks about payment plans, in-person sales, dog shows, Facebook ads, client experience, pricing confidence, and the simple business change that made one of the biggest differences to her revenue: getting someone else to handle her phone calls. The post 674: Su Kaye – From $81k to $175k by Believing in the Photography Experience You Sell appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

North Sullivan of www.thephotostudio.com.au has spent over 40 years behind the camera, shooting some of Australia’s largest advertising campaigns. These days, his focus is portrait photography — but what he’s built is far from a typical portrait business. We’re talking about a studio business with close to 80 staff, reported turnover upward of $10 million, and — at the time of recording — more than 150 Meta ads running. There are three incredible-looking studios built inside retro warehouses, based in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. I’m excited to learn more about this impressive business, the man behind it, and how North made the shift from high-end advertising photography to building one of Australia’s most recognisable fashion portrait studio brands. In this interview, North shares how he reinvented his photography career, the business model behind The Photo Studio, why experience and ethics matter in high-ticket portrait sales, what it takes to manage a large creative team, and why imagination, passion an

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Alex Vita of www.foregroundweb.com helps photographers turn their websites into enquiry machines. He’s worked on hundreds of photography websites across more than 25 countries — building them, auditing them, and showing exactly what’s working… and what’s costing photographers enquiries. I first interviewed [...] The post 672: Alex Vita – Why Photographers Need to Be Picked by AI, Not Just Ranked by Google appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Vincent Pugliese built a successful wedding photography business with his wife, Elizabeth, and in under four years used it to pay off all their debt — including their home. But the more interesting part is what happened next. They walked away from the business. Not because it failed, but because it had done what they needed it to do. In this interview, Vincent shares why more bookings and more revenue don’t automatically create more freedom, how photographers can use their businesses to build long-term options, and why relationships may be one of the most valuable assets you can develop. This is a conversation about money, freedom, content, connection and building a photography business that supports your life — instead of quietly taking it over. The post 671: Vincent Pugliese – Build a Photography Business That Creates Freedom, Not Just Income appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Ryan Erickson is back on the podcast after first appearing in episode 587, and a lot has changed. His mobile pet photography business in Colorado grew by 50% last year, hitting $315K in revenue — with much of that growth coming from 42 in-person market events, Instagram ads, and same-day in-person sales from inside his custom-built photography trailer. But this conversation isn’t just about growth. Ryan opens up about what it really takes to keep pushing a business forward, where burnout started to creep in, why he’s looking at outsourcing more of the event work, and how he’s thinking differently now about freedom, sustainability, savings, and what the next phase of the business should look like. For photographers chasing more leads, better clients, higher sales, or a business that doesn’t wear them down in the process, this is a really honest and practical conversation. The post 670: Ryan Erickson – $315K from Mobile Pet Photography, Instagram Ads and Market Events appeared first on Photography Busines

Most photographers are chasing leads. Posting, boosting, tweaking captions… hoping something sticks. Stacey Rolfe built a business doing the opposite. Instead of chasing new clients, she built a system that brings people back—year after year. Last year: 75–80% of bookings were returning clients 25–30% came from referrals And the rest? Mostly warm leads No ads. No pushy sales. No complicated funnels. Just systems, clarity, and an experience that makes rebooking the obvious next step. In this interview, Stacey breaks down exactly how it works—and why most photographers are making things harder than they need to. The post 669: Stacey Rolfe – 80% Returning Clients… Without Discounts or Sales Calls appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Shawn Black built one of the most successful boudoir studios in the US — photographing over 125 clients a year and generating close to $450K in revenue at its peak. But when bookings dropped by nearly 50%, it forced a shift in how he approached marketing, sales, and client experience. In this interview, Shawn shares what’s changed, what’s no longer working, and how he’s adapting to keep his business profitable — while increasing his average sale. The post 668: Shawn Black – Boudoir Photography Business, Pricing & IPS Strategy 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 Johl Dunn of www.johldunn.com will be familiar if you’ve been listening for a while. He’s been on the show before… and so have many of his clients. He’s featured in our predictions episodes and delivered training on pricing, lead generation, and [...] The post 667: Johl Dunn – Marketing Isn’t the Problem With Your Photography Business 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 Tracy Goodwin of www.captivatetheroom.com is a voice expert, coach, author, and podcaster who’s spent nearly 30 years studying how we use our voice… and what really happens when the pressure is on. She believes your voice is the most powerful — [...] The post 666: Tracy Goodwin – Why Your Voice Is Costing You Clients (And You Don’t Even Know It) appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.