I recently asked inside the PhotoBizX members Facebook group for suggestions of creative photographers to interview for the podcast.

Past interview guest, Tanya Goodall Smith suggested I talk to Pye Jirsa saying that his new course and all the fun he's been having on Tik Tok would make him the perfect guest.

Trusting Tanya's judgement, I invited Pye for an interview.

Since setting up this recording, I did some investigating to learn more and WOW… my head is spinning!

I checked out Pye's photography website to see THE most incredible studio space! Trust me when I say you will be blown away when you see it.

A team of over 30 staff!

Fantastic photography.

Plus, I learned Pye is not only the founder and partner of Lin and Jirsa Photography, a boutique Southern California photography studio with an incredible team that shoots over 300 weddings each year, with nearly 1,000 yearly client commissions.

He's also the founder and partner of SLR Lounge and the creator of every workshop and every resource inside of our SLR Lounge library with nearly a million monthly readers.

In this interview, Pye shares his views and ideas on creativity, business, TikTok and education while surviving and prospering during a crazy year of COVID.

Pye Jirsa Photography Podcast

Here’s some of what we cover:

  • How the pandemic has affected Pye's different businesses
  • Pye's multiple revenue streams
  • Why SLR Lounge was created
  • Pye's reasons for putting up free photography education online
  • What works best for Pye's studio
  • Having the right attitude towards learning
  • The downside of hiring people and training them to be perfect second shooters
  • A brief look at how Pye runs his business
  • Pye's business model and could it work for you
  • Why Pye doesn't use the traditional IPS model in his business
  • How Pye attracts photography clients
  • How Pye's referral system works
  • How to effectively network and build vendor relationships
  • Interesting photographs are vital when creating education and content
  • Can anyone learn to be creative
  • How does a photographer become creative
  • Why Pye feels he is not creative enough
  • What it means to feel creative
  • Is it okay to copy other photographer's style and bring it into your business
  • Shooting to sell vs taking risks
  • Doing test shoots to stretch your creative boundaries
  • The difference between running full studio vs shooting for yourself
  • Is it worthwhile for photographers to invest time and effort into TikTok
  • Pye's TikTok strategy
  • Dabble on TikTok or stay with Instagram
  • The importance of understanding who your target market is before building social media content

Pye Jirsa Photography Podcast

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Pye had to share?

If someone's going to be successful as a photographer, they would be successful with our without my help. So, it really doesn't matter. If I can help them along that journey through our freemium content, then great. – Pye Jirsa

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

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

Pye Jirsa Photography Podcast

I think the Instagram and Tiktok blend is a really good one. I think you can pull off both of those without putting that much more time into it. – Pye Jirsa

Pye Jirsa Photography Podcast

Anybody of average intelligence, I can train to be creative. – Pye Jirsa

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

SLR Lounge Workshops Website

Pye Jirsa on Instagram

Pye Jirsa on TikTok

Lin & Jirsa Photograpy Website

Lin & Jirsa Photograpy on Instagram

Lin & Jirsa Photograpy on YouTube

SLR Lounge on Instagram

SLR Lounge on YouTube

Episode 087: Sue Bryce – How to Make Real Money From Your Photography Business Right Now

USB Memory Direct – save 15% off your first order with the code FLASH15

Tony Hoffer's very USB Designs

Pye Jirsa Photography Podcast

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Pye for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing his thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.

Also, big thanks to USB Memory Direct for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for the most unique and custom USB drives for your clients, complete with your branding, check out USB Memory Direct and use the code FLASH15 to save 15% off your first purchase.

And make sure you check out the designs – they truly are amazing and only limited by your imagination.

People mismatch goals and purposes when it comes to the content that they are creating to the actual clients that are buying something. – Pye Jirsa

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, hope everything is going well for you in life and photography!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew

Tony Hoffer of Hoffer Photography used USB Memory Direct to create this “H” designed USB drive for his photography clients who always comment on the unique flash drive and LOVE it.