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Heather Wanninger of www.sweetlemonadephotography.com is today's guest. I was a little trepidatious when she told me about life being flipped upside down when her narcissistic husband had an affair, left her, and dragged her through the court system for ten years.
I asked a few more questions to learn…
She now has a multi-six-figure photography business focusing on seniors and corporate clients — headshot and branding photography.
Interestingly, she lays a lot of her background on her about page, attracting clients, instead of what I thought may push them away — including becoming a single mom with three young boys and being lost, confused, and depressed with no idea what to do next.
Here's what else heather shared before we recorded this interview…
I've got a path in photography that started ten years ago when life gave me lemons. I've been told it gives people hope and empowers them to keep dreaming and chase their dreams. I'd love to begin sharing with more people how I went from not believing I was smart enough or worthy enough to do ‘anything' to running a successful business where I have created all the freedom I want regarding my time and resources.
Revenue last year was $200k for the portrait side of things. The average senior session investment is $4,000. So thankfully, I can work part-time and have a nice income.
Coaching is relatively new; however, empowering others to believe in their worth and raise their prices is inspiring. I've done two rounds of small group coaching, bringing in about $50k this year in addition to my portrait revenue. I want to expand further into coaching; however, my goal is to inspire others who don't think they are good enough or intelligent enough to be possible. They need to keep showing up.
In this interview, learn how down, out and demanding life can be before coming out the other side as a successful photography business owner.
Here's some more of what we covered in the 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 interview – the full-length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.
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Life is a whole big tall glass of lemonade and I make it that way. – Heather Wanninger
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, and special live interviews in the group. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.
Being a business owner is not for everybody. – John Glaser
Seriously, that's not all.
In addition to everything above, you'll get access 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.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Heather 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, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business due to what you heard in today's episode.
I love to be able to photograph and to capture those moments for those that are in love and it's still very precious. Just because it didn't work out for me round 1, it's not any less celebrating. – Heather Wanninger
If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Heather or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
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iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several 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 and Google are the biggest search engine for podcasts, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean 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 or https://photobizx.com/google, 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 keywords or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.
If I could go back, if I could give people a piece of advise and encouragement, it's to even if you have the time, outsource the things you don't love. Get rid of the things off of your plate that you do not love so you can spend more time doing the things that light you on fire, doing the things that fill you up. – Heather Wanninger
Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.
Here is the latest review…
★★★★★ Simply the absolute best photography business podcast
Via Apple Podcasts by C&C's Mom from the United States on February 23, 2023.
“Why aren't you curled in a ball in a dark room somewhere?” Andrew Hellmich asked this question of an incredibly successful photographer on his show this past week, and it might just be my favorite line of his to date. But wait another week or two, and Andrew will say something equally hilarious, insightful, and EXACTLY what you, the listener, are thinking to yourself. Please understand that Andrew said this with humor, love, and empathy, and the guest took it as such – this was a question asked after hearing about a catastrophic Facebook account issue that would have terrified many photographers. But you'll have to listen to the interview yourself, and then you'll be hooked.
Andrew does a phenomenal job with his interviews: asking just what you'd like to know, anticipating what you'd need to know, and asking that question, too. He is fun and funny and engaging and a joy to listen to – the incredibly valuable business insights sometimes seem like the second-best thing about each week's podcast.
I have been listening to Andrew for years now, and it is not one bit of an overstatement to say I would not have my business without him. I look forward to his encouragement and energy each week. If we as photographers want to be our client's “friend with a camera,” Andrew Hellmich is our “friend with an incredibly valuable podcast.”
Don't wait; just “have a listen” as Andrew would say, and you can say thank you later.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening, and thanks to Heather for sharing her thoughts, ideas and advice on going all in on creating a successful photography business, no matter the struggles you may have faces in the past.
Instagram stories are a great way to connect and have people feel like they know you before they get to know you. – Heather Wanninger
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; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew
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