Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.
Sue Westwood-Rutledge of Horse Photographer UK and Dog Photographer UK franchised her businesses in 2014 following a demand that saw her travelling all over the country and shooting more than 100 sessions per year. In this interview, learn what it takes from the business side, to build and market a successful dog and equine portrait photography business.
After starting her photography career in 2009 when she was photographing pretty much anything, Sue started to specialise and that's when business really started to take off. The phone started ringing and she was instantly in high demand after an experimental shoot with horse and model. After posting these images to social media, Sue knew she was onto something pretty special.
A few years on and it's clear from this interview, here is a photographer passionate about her photography and savvy with her marketing and business practices. What a pleasure to have someone like Sue on the show.
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 lots more content and 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 Sue, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
Personality is first and key – Sue Westwood-Rutledge
Plus, access to a members only Secret Facebook group where you'll 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 Sue 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 result of what you heard in todays episode.
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Sue or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them 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.
PLUS: if you let me know the key word or keyword phrase you'd like me to use to link to your page, post or site, let me know via email after leaving a review and I'll do what I can to make that work.
For example, If I were linking to my wedding photography page on my photography website ” Impact Images” and want to target the keyword phrase “Central Coast family photographer” and left an iTunes review, I'd add something like this:
Thanks for the iTunes review by Central Coast family photographer, Andrew Hellmich on September 20, 2016
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 is the most recent reviews for the PhotoBizX Podcast:
Thank you for helping my SEO
In iTunes by San Diego Portrait Photographer Marcy Browe who specialises in business portraits and family photos from California USA on September 29, 2016
Andrew, I've been a premium member for about a year. Been listening (and re-listening) to all the episodes and I've implemented several strategies into my business. Most specifically my SEO and blogging strategies have enabled me to rank #1 in several keyword areas for my desired keywords in my geographic location.
I met with a guy from a Google-certified SEO company and he ran a report of my website prior to our meeting. He told me “whoever is doing your SEO has been doing a good job for you” I said – I'm doing it myself. And he admitted most people don't do as well as I do. No better verification than straight from an SEO expert!!
More importantly, I've been consistently getting leads from online searches.
Thank you to you and your guests for all of this amazing content!! Marcy Browe Photography, San Diego, California (Specialising in business portraits and family photos)
Highly Highly Recommended
In iTunes by UK based destination wedding photographer Craig George on September 27, 2016 who was interviewed for PhotoBizX in episode 140 and shared how he's been able to build an incredibly successful wedding photography business after shooting for free the first 12 months of his career.
Andrew, i just wanted to drop by, i have two aspects i would like to commend you on if thats okay?
1st – what a superb job you do, honestly i have listened to approx. 10 back catalogue issues of the podcast during a recent trip to France with zero wifi, i have to be honest in saying if you offered me the capability to watch Netflix anytime after the first couple of hours in that hotel room i would have declined in a heart beat!
The way you interview guests is exceptional, it makes for such easy, informative, business and life changing nuggets of gold. I just wanted to say thank you.
Thank you for the professionalism and time you take put into to creating this podcast, i can hear in your voice that your interest and excitement never waivers. hats off sir, hats off.
2nd – Episode 137 kerry Fitzgibbon – Wowzers, I learnt more in that hour and a half than I have in years trying to research the subject myself. mind blown, simple as that.
Keep up the exceptional work. Craig x
Thanks Andrew
In iTunes by Edmonton wedding photographers, Sharyar Memon from Canada on September 26, 2016
Andrew is amazing! I have implemented a number of things from his podcast including Bernie Griffiths Facebook challenge, Matt & Katy website advice, Alex Vita's advice regarding my website all with positive results.
I couldn't be happier to have come across this podcast.
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 Bradley Hanson who didn't pull any punches when it comes to opinions on the state of the photography industry and in particular workshops with comments like:
Someone needs to be open and honest about the excess of workshops and that they are cash cows for those giving them, and borderline useless for the participants looking for easy answers – Bradley Hanson
Listen to the interview to hear more about this talented photographer and his views on photography, the wedding photography business and why shooting for yourself is one of the best business decisions you'll make as a photographer – Bradley Hanson Interview on The Photography Xperiment Podcast.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
The Horse Photographer UK Franchise
Sue Westwood Rutledge on Facebook
The Horse Photographer on Twitter
Dog Photographer UK on Twitter
Odd businesses that shouldn’t have succeeded, but did
Sue Westwood-Ruttledge: One Survivor's Story
Mumpreneur Profile: Sue of Horse Photographer UK
Equipment
Nikon D3 FX DSLR Camera (Body Only) (OLD MODEL)
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening to the show and thanks to Sue for coming on and sharing her thoughts, views and ideas for running a fantastic (and successful) wedding photography business.
I believe in doing the free shots because I think it builds up also your portfolio but also your network of potential customers – Sue Westwood-Rutledge
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
Just listened to your interview Sue, great stuff. I had a look at your website and love your work, I can see why you’re busy. I’ve done some work with horses and they can be fun, it’s not like a dog where you can pick them up and move them! Looking forward to my next horse portrait. Cheers from Canada.
Thanks Jerry and agree, Sue’s work is terrific!
You’ll have to link to your next shoot with horses – I’d love to see them.