Shine and Thrive Photography Podcast

In this episode of Shine + Thrive podcast, I’m being vulnerable and sharing five screw-ups I’ve had in my business over the past nine years and how I’ve dealt with them. Mistakes in business can sometimes end up costing more than just money. Sometimes a mistake can lead to an unhappy client and as business owners, none of us want that, am I right? This episode is all about showing how you too can go from making mistakes to making sure that your clients are really happy in the end.
If you get value out of this episode, please make sure to take a screenshot, share it on Instagram and tag me @saramonikaphoto and I would love to share your comments and takeaways on my Instagram Story as well!

You can find the Show Notes for this episode HERE.

My Online Photography Courses for You

Outsourcing Made Easy: Learn how you can have more time freedom AND financial freedom as a portrait/wedding photographer. Sign up for the waitlist here now! (doors reopen once a year)

Crystal Clear Marketing: Learn how you can attract and book your dream photography clients - Sign up here!

Intuitive Storytelling for Wedding Photographers: Learn how you can storytell like a pro on wedding days - Sign up here!

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Subscribe

If you're not subscribed to my podcast yet + you don't want to miss an episode make sure to do so right now before life gets in the way. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Review in iTunes

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Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

With love + gratitude,

Sara

At the start of the year, you get all excited to finally start shooting again, and for the opportunity to get creative. You really believe that this year will be different than the last. Meaning, you won't get overworked and burnt out because you feel like you are more organized than you were last year and you made a promise to yourself that your health and life is a priority and that burnout is no longer welcome in your life.

Then, you somehow find yourself in the final 2 or 3 months of the season, backlogged with editing work, culling, and emails flooding in that make you feel more overwhelmed and even sometimes resentful of your clients. You can't seem to catch up even though you are working every single day for 12-15 hours. Sound familiar? Tune into this episode right now to learn how YOU can avoid burnout all year round to have the quality of life you desire!
You can find the Show Notes for this episode HERE.
LINKS:
- The 4 Secrets to Having More Time + Financial Freedom While Avoiding Burnout as a Photographer
My Online Photography Courses for You

Outsourcing Made Easy: Learn how you can have more time freedom AND financial freedom as a portrait/wedding photographer. Sign up for the waitlist here now! (doors reopen once a year)

Crystal Clear Marketing: Learn how you can attract and book your dream photography clients - Sign up here!

Intuitive Storytelling for Wedding Photographers: Learn how you can storytell like a pro on wedding days - Sign up here!

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Subscribe

If you're not subscribed to my podcast yet + you don't want to miss an episode make sure to do so right now before life gets in the way. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Click here to leave a review!

With love + gratitude,

Sara

Outsourcing has been a game-changer for my business and my personal life which is why I am so passionate about it. And I want YOU to be able to fall in love with outsourcing, too. It is the number one tool that will help you earn more money by working less and allowing you to spend more time on things you enjoy doing most. I have put together real-life examples + real numbers from my own business to encourage you to give outsourcing a go.

Resources:

• What Should You Outsource First as a Wedding Photographer Quiz
• Waitlist for my Outsourcing Made Easy for Wedding Photographers Online Course
• The Image Salon. Use code SARAMONIKA40 for 40% off your order at The Image Salon

Timestamps:

[02:40] It is a common fear to think that you will end up spending more if you outsource. In fact, it is one of the top reasons that keep photographers from outsourcing. With real-life examples + NUMBERS from my own business, I am showing you that it is actually the opposite.

[06:05] Photographers, you know that shooting only takes up about 5-10% of your business, right? And often when we’re trying to wear all the hats, we end up focusing more on things that we don’t enjoy doing so much than the things we LOVE doing. Outsourcing is a tool that will allow you to actually focus on the things that you LOVE doing the most.

[10:20] Feel like you’re running on a never-ending hamster wheel? Like you’re stressed out all the time and feeling burnt out during and after the wedding season? I know what it’s like but I also know that it doesn’t have to be that way. Outsourcing is a game-changer to allow you to never feel burnt out again.

My Online Photography Courses for You

Outsourcing Made Easy: Learn how you can have more time freedom AND financial freedom as a portrait/wedding photographer. Sign up for the waitlist here now! (doors reopen once a year)

Crystal Clear Marketing: Learn how you can attract and book your dream photography clients - Sign up here!

Intuitive Storytelling for Wedding Photographers: Learn how you can storytell like a pro on wedding days - Sign up here!

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Subscribe

If you're not subscribed to my podcast yet + you don't want to miss an episode make sure to do so right now before life gets in the way. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Click here to leave a review!

With love + gratitude,

Sara

Every photographer comes to a point in their career where they have to face ONE important question - should I generalize or specialize? If you have ever wondered whether you should be photographing everything that comes your way or focus on shooting a particular niche, this episode is for you! By sharing my own experience from both ends of the spectrum, I want to make it easier for YOU to be able to figure out what your passion is and what’s right for your business. In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of both generalizing and specializing, and how to figure out your WHY.

Resources:

• Storey Wilkins https://www.storeywilkins.com
• Jeff Jochum http://jeffjochum.com

Timestamps:

[01:41] Figuring out whether to generalize or specialize can help propel your business to where you want it to go. It has been a HUGE catalyst in my life and business. Even though I prefer specializing, there is no one right way, it’s about what sets YOUR soul on fire and what is right for YOU.

[03:05] Sharing my experience from 9 years ago and how it lead me to figuring out what was right for my business.

[05:10] Outlining the PROS and CONS of generalizing vs. specializing. This can help you decide which path is right for you.

[09:01] A common fear when it comes to specializing - won’t it mean that you miss out on more bookings? No! I share my experience with this to reassure you that the riches are in the niches.

[11:15] Figuring out your WHY and what drives your decision.
My Online Photography Courses for You

Outsourcing Made Easy: Learn how you can have more time freedom AND financial freedom as a portrait/wedding photographer. Sign up for the waitlist here now! (doors reopen once a year)

Crystal Clear Marketing: Learn how you can attract and book your dream photography clients - Sign up here!

Intuitive Storytelling for Wedding Photographers: Learn how you can storytell like a pro on wedding days - Sign up here!

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Subscribe

If you're not subscribed to my podcast yet + you don't want to miss an episode make sure to do so right now before life gets in the way. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Click here to leave a review!

With love + gratitude,

Sara

Are you wondering, how to authentically document people on wedding days? In this episode, I’m sharing with you my BIGGEST kept secret YET that will transform the way you’re able to connect not only with the bride + groom on wedding days, but also the family and friends. It’s a simple strategy and a real game changer that you can also implement in your workflow to create an even better experience for your couples (and everyone in the wedding) and to document moments more authentically than ever before on wedding days.

Timestamp

[02:08] A game-changing strategy to documenting people authentically on wedding days and what it all starts with. Getting to know the family and friends of the couple prior to the wedding.

[03:30] Creating a template that allows you to easily organise and memorise people in the wedding. Being a 100% organised at this point will make things so much easier on the wedding day and allow you to create authentic connection with everyone.

[05:18] Why doing your homework matters. There is a way you can instantly create a lasting connection with the most important people in the wedding from the moment you arrive.

[07:47] An easy two-step technique you can use to memorise everything from the template you created.

[10:25] Examples of how this technique works on a wedding day + how it literally BLOWS people's minds and creates connection.

[14:27] Implement and experiment. How to make this happen for yourself + how you can implement this on your wedding days. Key things to remember!
Resources:

• Family + Friends Questionnaire to Send to the Couples

My Online Photography Courses for You

Outsourcing Made Easy: Learn how you can have more time freedom AND financial freedom as a portrait/wedding photographer. Sign up for the waitlist here now! (doors reopen once a year)

Crystal Clear Marketing: Learn how you can attract and book your dream photography clients - Sign up here!

Intuitive Storytelling for Wedding Photographers: Learn how you can storytell like a pro on wedding days - Sign up here!

Say hi to me on social! I would love to hear which episode helped you!

Instagram: @saramonikaphoto

Subscribe

If you're not subscribed to my podcast yet + you don't want to miss an episode make sure to do so right now before life gets in the way. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Click here to leave a review!

With love + gratitude,

Sara