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Jean-Laurent Gaudy of www.jeanlaurentgaudy.com and www.jeanlaurentgaudy.co is a French photographer now based in the USA. After building a successful wedding photography business in France, JL was offered the chance to move anywhere in the USA. To do so, would mean leaving everything behind and starting over… from scratch.
In this interview, learn exactly what JL did before leaving France and since arriving in New York to build the kind of photography business I know any listener would be proud to call theirs. JL relied heavily on networking and social media and we dive deep into how he built the relationships he did, how he utilises Instagram for so many bookings and what he'd change if starting over again.
JL describes himself as a destination, elopement and intimate wedding photographer – you can see examples of all these on his website plus intimate portrait studies that will leave you feeling like you know his subject as well as he does. His work has a definite documentary style and an earthy feel with subdued colour tones and contrasty black and whites.
And the real beauty behind JL's photography is it all comes straight from his heart. He's openly willing to sacrifice bookings and ultimately money even while in such a fragile position as the new photographer on the street to shoot the way he wants. He says, that's the reason he does photography and he won't change that for anyone… ever.
Here’s some of what we cover in this interview:
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this episode where you can hear more of the interview where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed for and include:
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview with Cole, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
I will not change the way I shoot for anyone. I’m trying to shoot the way I like it – Jean-Laurent Gaudy
Plus, access to a members only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take what you hear in each episode and put it into action. You will not find more friendly, more motivated and caring photographers online.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Jean-Laurent 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.
I’m not going to change my editing process and the way I see things for you guys – Jean-Laurent Gaudy
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Jean-Laurent or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
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.
The NEW Photography Xperiment Podcast is live and available
Following the success and support shown by listeners after the experimental format of the recent interviews, the new Photo Xperiment Podcast has been launched and is available on this site and in iTunes now.
Interviews are underway and I'll be looking for new guests, not restricted to wedding and portrait photographers. If you have someone you think would be a good fit, let me know in the comment area below or email me, andrew@photobizx.com.
The idea behind these interviews is to get into the headspace of the photographer and find what makes them tick, what drives them, their thought process, philosophy on shooting and how they achieve what they do with their photography. So yeah, a little technique type content too.
These interviews will not focus on the business of photography – that'll be preserved solely for the weekly and unchanging format of the PhotoBizX podcast.
To hear these interviews in your podcast app, you will need to subscribe to the podcast – these interviews will not be delivered automatically if you're subscribed to PhotoBizX. Open your favourite podcast app and search “Photography Xperiment Podcast” or enter the feed URL, https://photobizx.com/feed/xperiment/ into the search field of your podcast app.
The last episode featured Franck Boutonnet who has built a portfolio worth dying for… all in the name of photography competitions and ultimately marketing.
Franck is as passionate about his long term personal photography projects as he is about any client work and this, he feels, is the reason for his success and longevity in the business.
I am 100% sure that one day, wedding photography is going to be considered as fashion photography, as portrait photography, as war photography. It’s going to be considered as an art in itself – Franck Boutonnet
Check out the interview and learn more about a photographer who is working toward a legacy any photographer would be proud to leave behind.
The interview is available here: Frank Boutennet Interview
Adelaide meet up for PBX'ers
Adelaide, Australia listeners, I'll be in your neck of the woods in a couple weeks time and am keen to meet up if you are. I've been chatting with local photographer and listener, Debbie Smith and the plan is to meet at:
Cafe Amore on Pulteney St Adelaide
Thursday 19th january at 3pm
Hope you can make it!
You can reach me on 0413 852 222 if you're having any troubles finding us on the day.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Jean-Laurent Gaudy on Instagram
Jean-Laurent Gaudy Wedding Photography Website
Jean-Laurent Gaudy on Facebook
Jean-Laurent Gaudy on Pinterest
Jean-Laurent Gaudy on Style Me Pretty
Jean-Laurent Gaudy on June Bug Weddings
Jean-Laurent Gaudy on June Bug Wedding Feature
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and thanks to Jean-Laurent for coming on and sharing his thoughts and ideas.
You work for people but you work also for yourself. Try to photograph things that make you proud and happy – Jean-Laurent Gaudy
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
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