Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Gina Milicia of www.ginamilicia.com and the So You Want To Be A Photographer Podcast was introduced in episode 56 of the PhotoBizX Podcast as a headshot and celebrity photographer… one of the very best in Australia. Since then, she's been doing more travel, more shoots, she's released new books and she has her very own podcast with co host Valerie Khoo.

Gina's photography clients have included high-profile personalities including Daniel Radcliffe, Justin Bieber, Jon Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin, Princess Mary and Liza Minnelli plus HEAPS more. There's every chance you’ve seen her work on billboards, posters, books, DVD and magazine covers not to mention editorial layouts and national publicity campaigns.

With prices up to $10,000 per day, she is as busy as ever with photography, travel, shooting, teaching and her super popular podcast… So You Want to Be a Photographer.

In this episode, the focus is on photography and how you can become a better shooter, how to find and develop your style and why Gina feels the only way to keep improving your business is to keep improving your photography and shooting skills.

Here’s some more of what we cover in the interview:

  • Changes and developments with Gina's photography business in the last four years
  • How to pick and choose the jobs that you want to shoot
  • The importance of learning and setting aside time to do it
  • How and why photographers lose their passion to learn and improve and how to avoid them
  • The most important thing to focus on in your photography business
  • The most effective way to learn new photography skills and practice them
  • Gina's tips for travelling to new countries and locations
  • Why hiring a local assistant can make your trip a total success
  • How to find local assistants and interpreters
  • Why photos critiques are crucial in advancing your photography skills
  • The importance of a photography support network
  • The first thing you need to work out as a photographer
  • How to improve your photographic style
  • How to separate yourself and your photography style from other photographers
  • Common things holding most photographers back from becoming better photographers
  • How photographers can learn to identify what's missing in their photography style
  • Finding a mentor and people to help you see in a different way
  • Thoughts on photography competitions

Gina Milicia Photography Podcast

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re a premium member, look out for a bonus, Premium Only Episode later in the week with a photographer booking more portrait sessions with quality clients than most I know. In the episodes, he reveals exactly how, he's doing it – the complete process.

I think when photography becomes a job, you lose that passion and you forget why you got into it in the first place. – Gina Milicia

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

You'll also receive access to the members only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group.

You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer.

And that's not all… you get a set of steak knives… I'm kidding!

Seriously though, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

Gina Milicia Photography Podcast

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Gina shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in todays episode.

Getting your photos critiqued is the secret sauce to advancing with your skills. – Gina Milicia

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Gina or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

Gina Milicia Photography Podcast

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.

If you have left a review in the past, thank you!

If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast  and email me your key words or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.

Here are the latest reviews:

My Favourite Podcast

In iTunes by Vancouver Family PhotographerRebecca Sehn in Canada on April 11, 2018

I listen to it every week! Great takeaways for both the beginner and experienced photography business owner.

Thank you Andrew!

Unparalled Photography Business Advice

In iTunes by East London newborn, baby and family portrait photographer, Sara Brown from the UK on April 18, 2018

Well, I would consider myself pretty business savvy but I've still joined lots of associations, forums etc and for the most part they are good, but with PhotoBizX I am blown away. Literally, each and every interview I have an “ah ha” moment; I learn something new, or see a new way of doing things.

Every Monday morning, I can't wait to wake up and listen to the podcast. (Being in London means the time diff works in my favour). Sometimes I listen to the same one twice, and I often find myself going through the back catalogue while I edit, or get ready for sleep etc. I LOVE IT.

Being exposed to such a variety of other photographers and hearing about not just how someone in my country does it, but how people in different geographies, with different ideal clients and different offerings make it work, is such an eye opener.

Plus as an added bonus, Andrew also gets interviews with associated businesses e.g. SEO, referrals etc.

To top it all off, I love Andrew's approachable manner and humility.

THANK YOU! 

Great information without the filler!

in iTunes by lilfatbaby from USA on April 17, 2018

I have listened to SO many photography podcasts and PhotoBizX is by far the best!

I had gotten so tired of podcasts that were essentially informercials for the podcast itself or the guests.

Andrew's interviews always have solid, actionable, information in them and I've made many tweaks to my business based on the episodes. His questions and follow-ups are fantastic; he always seems to ask the question I've just thought of because he's interviewing them from the perspective of a business-owner, rather than just an educator.

Highly recommend!

A great investment

In iTunes by Elle Goss who shoots newborn photography in Melbourne, Australia on April 15, 2018

Finding the PhotoBizX podcast was the best thing that has happened to my business!

This podcast has exposed me to so many photographers from different industries that has allowed me to grow my business in a way that is different to everyone else in my area.

My business has grown so much in only 4 months of subscribing and I know it's only going to continue to do so!

Andrew is an incredible host that has his guests explain things so that anyone can understand and has a great knack of asking exactly the right questions to get the best information out of the guests that will help his listeners to build their businesses.

You won't regret the time you invest in this podcast, it will only help.

Thank you so much Andrew!

Gina Milicia Photography Podcast

If you believe in yourself then you'll be prepared to do the work to take the next step to make your photography better. – Gina Milicia

The Photographers Missing “Link”edIn: Your Step by Step Guide on How to Make a Ton of Money on LinkedIn

I interviewed Jeff Brown for episode 261 and the big focus was on LinkedIn marketing.

The plan at the time was to offer Jeff's book for $1 through Amazon but he ran into all kinds of issues getting the promo available.

He's really delivered now and his book is available FREE for one week only and you can access it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0795YY1K1?tag=breakwindo-20

If you're interested in learning how to utilise LinkedIn for your photography marketing, this is the book.

If you have any follow up questions for Jeff after reading the book, you can reach him inside the members Facebook Group or via his website: https://www.focusonmarketing.co.uk/

Free Book Promotion dates:

Monday, April 23, 2018, 12:00 AM PDT
Friday, April 27, 2018, 11:59 PM PDT

Growth by referrals program – Premium Members ONLY offer

You may know Stacey’s Growth By Referrals program closed its doors last week.  Because I was away, I wasn’t able to let you guys know of this option Stacey and I created just for you… she has opened the program for PhotoBizX members for one day only and I have a completion bonus for you to take advantage of.

Deadline to Join: Wednesday, April 25th at 10:00 am EST / 3:00 pm BST (London local time) / Midnight AEST (Sydney local time)

For any members who join I am offering a COMPLETION BONUS!! 

If you join Stacey’s program, go through it and submit your Referral Generating Plan to her for confirmation…I will give you the commission I earn as being an affiliate partner.

Which means if you purchase the Independent Study level you will spend $522.74 instead of the $697.  And for the PRO level, you will spend $747.50 instead of $997.

The fine print for this bonus:

  • You need to go through the program and complete the homework for each module.
  • After the 5 weeks of Stacey live guided group support, you will send Stacey your Referral Generating Plan (module 3 – template included).
  • Unless you are a PRO level, Stacey will not provide feedback but let me know you passed the completion process.
  • Then I will send you your completion bonus check.
  • All completion bonus checks are paid out after the 30-day refund period and of course if you ask for a refund, this bonus becomes null and void.
  • BUT Stacey has a 0% refund request rate…meaning no one has ever requested a refund on her program!

In addition to the completion bonus and the online GBR program, you also receive 4 bonuses… 5 Weeks of Guided Group Support through the program, Masterclass on Increasing Your Referral Sources and the Private Student-Only Facebook group plus a secret bonus!

Check out the program details and the 4 bonuses here.  (Please note, you cannot purchase through this page, use one of the links below!)

If and when you are ready to join, use one of these two links:

Use this link to join the Independent Study Level

Use this link to join the PRO Level

Note – the first week of the 5 weeks of guided support kicked off this week but Stacey will catch you up.  Once you sign up, you will receive 3 emails – your log-in information, your welcome email and the week one email.  The weekly live group coaching sessions happen on Wednesdays (EST) and you can catch them live or recorded if the time does not work for you! Stacey will explain it all in her emails!

If you have questions, please email Stacey at stacey@staceybrandall.com.

Gina Milicia Photography Podcast

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Gina Milicia Website

Gina Milicia on Facebook

Gina Milicia on Twitter

Gina Milicia's Community

Gina Milicia's Podcast

Gina Milicia Books

So You Want to be a Photographer Podcast – How to transform your skills and build a profitable photography business by Gina Milicia on iTunes

Episode 56: Gina Milicia – Headshot and Celebrity Photography Success

Derek Sivers

Gina Milicia Photography Podcast

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Gina for coming on and sharing so much about her thoughts and ideas on developing a successful photography business based on improving photography skills, critiquing and travel.

Once you start trying to take on all styles that don't reflect who you are as a person, I think you know it's no longer your work. It has to be in a way that resonates with you and you tell the story and connect with that person. That's the most important thing. – Gina Milicia

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew