Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Stephanie Hill of www.totalcapture.com.au is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to photography business and life! She founded her Adelaide photography business, Total Capture Photography, at the age of 19! She says she was originally driven by “a fascination with light and a passion for capturing people’s stories.” Today, she has a team of photographers to service a wide range of clients and genres, including: family [...]

What actually matters for photography businesses heading into 2026? Instead of vague trend predictions or recycled advice, this New Year Special brings together a group of experienced photography business coaches — each answering a specific question within their area of expertise. The result is a wide-angle look at what’s genuinely shifting right now: how clients are finding photographers, how buying decisions are changing, where AI fits (and where it doesn’t), and what photographers need to rethink if they want their businesses to feel more stable, profitable, and sustainable this year. You’ll hear perspectives on marketing, sales psychology, branding, visibility, client experience, and mindset — not as isolated tactics, but as connected pieces of how successful photography businesses are being built moving forward. If you’re heading into 2026 wondering what to double down on, what to let go of, and where to focus your energy next, this episode will help you see the bigger picture — and avoid playing last year’s game in a changing market.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area Vincent Peters of www.vincentpetersstudio.com doesn’t just capture moments — he reveals something deeper about the people we think we already know. He's a German-born photographer, artist, and visual storyteller whose images have graced the pages of Vogue, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar, and whose work for fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, and Nike has helped shape modern photography. What sets Vincent apart isn’t just [...]

Raphaëlle Granger didn’t grow her photography business by doing more weddings, chasing trends, or copying what looked successful online. With a background in photojournalism and fashion, she learned early that beautiful work alone doesn’t guarantee a sustainable business — especially when the work itself isn’t aligned with how you want to show up creatively or personally. In this conversation, Raphaëlle shares how undercharging actually held her back, why her first rebrand failed, and how getting clear on values — not visuals — changed everything from pricing to the clients she attracts. We talk about building trust with planners, using Instagram for positioning rather than bookings, and the confidence that comes from saying no to work that isn’t the right fit. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the middle market, drained by work that looks good on the surface, or unsure how to move your business forward without burning out or pretending to be someone you’re not, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Ben Potter from BP Portrait Art in Melbourne — a photographer who has quietly built one of the most profitable and systemised portrait studios I’ve seen. Ben shares how he moved away from Facebook ads, why community fundraising became his most reliable lead source, and how trusting the numbers — not emotions — transformed both his sales and his confidence. We dig into pricing psychology, strong offers, automation, and why messy action beats waiting for the perfect plan every time. If you’re serious about building a photography business that’s profitable, repeatable and far less stressful to run, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth — and what actually drives it.

If you’ve ever felt stuck doing everything yourself in your photography business — constantly emailing, reminding, scheduling, following up — this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. In Episode 646, I’m joined by Brittni Schroeder, a former high-end photographer who built one of the most in-demand senior portrait brands in her area… before discovering her true strength: helping business owners streamline, systemise and scale through smarter automation. Brittni breaks down the exact systems and small, strategic changes that free up your time, improve your client experience, and increase profitability — without adding more work to your plate. We dig into: • The three funnels every photographer needs to grow • What to automate (and what should always stay personal) • The surprising signs you’re ready to scale • Why email lists outperform social media every single time • How SOPs, scheduling tools and simple workflows can transform your studio overnight Whether you're shooting solo, running a busy studio, or bringing on associates… this episode will show you how to build a photography business that finally feels sustainable, profitable and in control.

Referrals are one of the most powerful growth levers in a photography business — yet most photographers treat them like something mysterious or magical that “just happens” when the work is good enough. In this conversation, Stacey Brown Randall dismantles that myth completely. She explains why great photos and happy clients don’t automatically lead to consistent referrals… and why the missing link is almost always the client experience itself. Not the workflow, not the quality of the images — but how clients feel at every stage of working with you. Stacey shares the simple shifts photographers can make to turn happy clients into referring clients — without scripts, awkward asks, discounts, or gimmicks. From identifying “referral hot zones” to planting subtle referral seeds, to using handwritten notes and thoughtful touch points that genuinely make clients feel seen… she lays out a new way to think about referrals that’s grounded in connection, not tactics. If you’ve ever wondered why your clients say they love you but rarely send people your way — or if you want to build a business that grows through trust, reputation, and genuine word-of-mouth — this episode will change how you approach your client experience.

Luxury hotel photography isn’t a niche most portrait or wedding photographers ever think about — but after hearing Bruce Vincentiis’ story, you might see it differently. Bruce went from teaching himself photography through YouTube tutorials in Asian internet cafés to becoming an approved photographer for brands like Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt. In this episode, he opens a window into a world most photographers never get to see — the relationships, expectations, and opportunities behind photographing some of the world’s most beautiful hotels. You can explore his work at https://bdv.photography

Nik Buttigieg’s business has transformed dramatically since the last time he was on the podcast. Back then, he was running sessions out of a tiny room in a caravan in regional WA. Today, he’s built a thriving portrait studio in Albury, with staff, systems, a full shooting and sales setup, and revenue pushing the $600K mark — with his eyes firmly on seven figures. What’s most interesting isn’t just the growth, but the shift in how Nik thinks about marketing, client experience, and his role as a business owner. You can hear it in everything he says. He’s simplified, doubled down on what matters, opened up his offer, and stopped trying to pre-qualify his way to better clients. Instead, he’s engineered a studio experience that gets people through the door — and lets the work do the heavy lifting. In this episode, Nik shares what’s been behind that shift, the mindset changes that unlocked his momentum, and how he’s built a studio that feels both profitable and sustainable — even with a newborn at home and a calendar packed with sessions, sales, and phone calls. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when all the pieces finally click, this is a must-listen.

From €50 weddings in Serbia to a million-euro photography business in Italy — Danilo and Sharon Vasic’s story is as inspiring as it is practical. What started as two teenagers shooting for friends turned into one of the most in-demand luxury wedding brands in the world. Today, they’re photographing multimillion-euro celebrations across Lake Como, the South of France, and beyond — blending their fashion background with cinematic storytelling and meticulous preparation. In this interview, the Vasics share how they built a business that’s booked out a year in advance, why mindset matters more than money when moving into the luxury market, and the systems, preparation, and client experience that set them apart. If you’ve ever wondered how photographers make the leap from local jobs to high-end international clients — this conversation will change how you think about what’s possible.