Certified Madness Podcast

Running a business (or two businesses) is tough– and this is especially true in 2021. Not only are we dealing with all of the normal tasks and responsibilities, when you throw in restriction obstacles and uncertainty– it only makes the process even harder. In times like these, finding inspiration is vital. Inspiration can come in so many different ways– and what can trigger it will be unique to you. Whether that's stepping away and taking a break, purchasing new gear, traveling to new places, investing in education or simply picking up your camera and getting out there to shoot for yourself. Whatever fuels your soul, embrace that and nourish it to your heart's content.  Another topic we cover in this episode are the growing pains we all face throughout the course of running a business. Of course, growth is always amazing– but it doesn't come without it's challenges. When you're dealing with it, it really sucks and it can be so stressfully draining. But, in the end, it's worth the pain you endure because it ultimately means that great things are happening. We've been there and we've survived– you will, too!

Now that Spring is here (finally... again?), we're really feeling it in our mind, body and soul! The need to get out of our houses to simply be outside– or finally travel– is palpable. The past twelve months have been the craziest days of our lives and surviving quarantine feels like a major feat. Things are starting to feel a little more normal, activities and sports are finally picking back up (for most of us, anyway) and the light at the end of the tunnel is officially in sight. We couldn't be more excited or eager for the coming weeks. Fingers crossed that we can all put quarantine behind us for good! In this episode, we also chat about Spring Cleaning– remodeling and making things fresh and new– which also took us down the rabbit hole of having selective ADD with a side of sentimental hoarding. You know us, we love our little tangents!

Specializing your photography business doesn’t always mean choosing a single demographic to focus on. You can narrow your focus to specific demographics and still consider yourself a specialist. The key is to identify WHO you’re targeting your business to and cater your offerings to them. For Stephanie, she has built a thriving company by doing exactly that. She isn’t saying yes to every genre of photography, she has niched her business down to very targeted demographics that speak to her brand, style and passion. In addition, we also tackle the topic of burnout. It’s a real thing and it sucks. As a business owner, have you ever felt so submerged in your business that you’ve become lost in it? If you’ve ever felt the weight of endless tasks and can’t seem to meet all of the demands of your business– you’re not alone. We’ve been there. We’re chatting all about it– and our hope is that we can help YOU get through the process, too.

We all have a different approach to creative shoots– and we love that about each other! There simply isn’t only one way to do anything in business or with photography. Inspiration moves through all of us in unique ways, and what we do with that inspiration yields completely different results. That’s a beautiful thing! In this episode of the Certified Madness Podcast, we’re chatting all about how we approach creative shoots, why we do personal work and all the different levels of how to bring those ideas into fruition.

A reoccurring topic we’ve tackled on our podcast is what photography education will look like in 2021– so, we invited our good friend, Sean Brown, to join us for an incredible episode all about Education & Mindset. He has his finger on the pulse of senior photography education with his Mastermind Group, which makes him the perfect industry-insider on these hot topics. We cover everything from learning, growing, and evolving– and also veer into how your mindset is key to your success and why you should stay true to who you are. Trust us, friends, this episode is loaded with good stuff!

One of the hardest things to work through in business and in life is being uncomfortable. Obviously, the word "uncomfortable" says it all. However, we are firm believers that in order to get comfortable, you have to embrace beinguncomfortable. The beauty of the process is that you will grow in ways you never imagined– and more than likely, you'll learn so much about yourself, your abilities, and what you are capable of overcoming. As always, our Certified Madness Crew is candidly and honestly talking about the challenges and changes we're dealing with in our own businesses. We're chatting about being restlessly bored and needing to shake things up, welcoming Assistants into our companies, editing woes and finally letting go of some of the control by outsourcing. Tune-in to our latest episode to hear all about how we're working through everything, no matter how uncomfortable and chaotic it might be!

Love it or loathe it, as business owners, social media is just something we all HAVE to do. In this episode of Certified Madness, we're digging into tips and ideas on how to embrace and integrate Instagram and TikTok into your business life. In addition, we're also talking about Ambassador Programs and Model Teams– and what they look like in 2021. As we all know, Covid has thrown a wrench into EVERYTHING! We're all still learning how we can operate our businesses and lives in the time of Corona. Tune-in for some fun and exciting new ideas on how you can celebrate your teams in a very 2021 way!

We're back, serving-up our weekly dose of madness with a side of humor– and even a little business. You know us, we love nothing more than wild tangents and a good laugh. In this episode of randomness, we're chatting all about in-camera trickery (using prisms, specialty lenses and magnifying sheets), studio lighting (and the bizarre equipment that Jolene recently purchased) and surviving the long work hours that Covid has cursed us with.

In this episode of the Certified Madness Podcast, we're covering a multitude of topics ranging from Covid Fatigue to the Super Bowl and Favorite Apps and Traveling in the time of Corona... Join us for lots of laughter and candid stories of how we're getting through this strange time in the world. As Brittney would say, "We're surviving and thriving!"

We posted our last episode right around the time that Covid-19 was causing shutdowns all around the US– and the rest of the world. As we all know, that was 9 months ago. Back then, we had no idea that we would still be facing a global pandemic all these months later. In this episode, you'll meet the newest member of our Certified Madness Crew and hear all about what we've been doing through quarantine!

Blogging definitely is not a popular task among most photographers. However, the pros of doing so far outweigh the cons of opting not to. In a nutshell, blogs are absolutely perfect for sharing your work, getting personal and vulnerable, marketing your business and driving more traffic to your website. There are so many benefits and reasons why you should be blogging and in this week's episode of the Certified Madness Podcast, we're talking all about it! When this episode is over, we hope to make bloggers out of each and every single one of you!

In this episode of Certified Madness, we're having a conversation about schedules and home life during Covid-19. If you are working from home, implementing structure and creating a set schedule is absolutely vital. This will allow you to achieve a balance of work hours and necessary rest hours. Of course, it goes without saying, if you aren't working at this time, that's okay, too. You do you! Whatever it takes to survive these crazy days and get through, do that. We're also talking about how we're getting through the chaos, ways to plan for life after Coronavirus and adapting to things that are out of our control. We're all in this together!

Covid-19 (aka Coronavirus). It has stopped us all in our tracks. Literally. For most of us, it happened overnight. When we filmed our previous episode, it was on Monday, March 16th, 2020. There were a few cases reported in the US at that point, but we were all hard at work, living life, going strong. Two days later, things went south. Schools started being shutdown, stay at home orders started being issued, workplaces started closing their doors and grocery store shelves were wiped clean. We were all told to prepare- but not really understanding what exactly we were preparing for- because every state is in a different situation. Panic set in. Covid-19 cases continued to soar, people cancelled events- weddings, parties, conferences... Within days, Covid-19 changed everything. In this episode of Certified Madness, we're having a conversation about how we're coping, adjusting and getting through the Coronavirus Pandemic. No one really knows how long we will be going through this horrific situation, but one thing is for certain: we have all been affected- and we will most likely be feeling the affects for a long time coming. Of course, we always try to find the humor in every predicament because laughter is how the three of us cope. We are all in the same boat at this scary time, find comfort in knowing that you're not alone in your fear or uncertainty- we are all in this together.

Fear. It's a four-letter bitch. It can stifle and derail you, stop you in your tracks and complete takeover your life. It's seriously the worst. With that said, it's also an essential element to life and business because overcoming fear will be what leads to empowerment, success and truly learning all that you are capable of accomplishing. Don't ignore your fears, embrace them and find a way to work past them. You've got this! In this episode of Certified Madness, we're chatting all about fear. We're discussing business, fear of failure, pricing, starting out, knowing when to leap, branding and everything in-between.

Yeah, so, we disappeared again. It was unintentional, but hey, life happened. We're three crazy photographers/business owners/mothers/wives/creatives... The crap literally hit the fan and we all fell into survival mode, which forced us to take another step back from recording. In this silly episode, we're talking through everything we've been dealing with the past four months, which is pretty entertaining! We're also chatting all about the amazing Deconstructed Shootout that went down in the desert last week! So much good stuff! Tune in and join the conversation!

After countless messages and comments with requests for us to have an episode on sales, we finally did it! In-Person Sales, to be exact. Aren't you guys all so proud of us? Two of the three of us implement IPS with our photography clients. Which one of us doesn't? Well, you'll just have to listen and find out- and the reason why. Get ready to learn all about In-Person Sales, why it's great for your business and how to avoid leaving money on the table. 

In this week's episode of the Certified Madness Podcast, we're chatting all about The Client Experience. We're digging into what makes our client experiences unique and whether or not we consider what we do "boutique". As always, we veer off into a few tangents, including the CARE personality test and how it relates to being a photographer/business owner. 

Mistakes. We all make them. What matters most is how we learn, grow and move on from them. It's safe to say that mistakes are inevitable and absolutely necessary- especially when it comes to business. While they can be grueling, unforgiving and downright awful to overcome, they're usually a blessing in disguise. In this episode of the Certified Madness Podcast, we're chatting all about "Learning From Our Mistakes", struggles we've faced and how we learned to pivot and move on.

Guilt is a terrible feeling. And more often than not, no matter how hard we try to avoid it, most of us battle with it. Mom Guilt. Dad Guilt. Money Guilt. Business Guilt. Time Guilt. Guilt, Guilt, GUILT! Unfortunately, most of the time, it's self-inflicted. We put unnecessary pressure and expectations on ourselves, ridicule our own actions and berate ourselves into believing that we are a terrible mom/dad/business owner/human...  The truth is, we're NOT terrible. Guilt is terrible. And it's time that we all take a stand against it and remind ourselves and others that we're doing a good job. Stop feeling guilty and start patting yourself on the back for all that you've done to get you where you are today. 

Now that summer is over, we’re back at it! We’ve made some changes, have some incredible guests lined up and some very exciting opportunities in store for all of you! We hope you’re as excited as we are to get Certified Madness back on the airwaves! Tune-in to our first episode for Season Two and hear all about what we’ve been up to, where we went and how we survived our madness!

In this episode of Certified Madness, "Why Your Brand Matters", we're talking all about branding, coming full circle and owning who you are with special guest, Michelle Moore. Building a brand isn't an overnight miracle, it takes time, patience and a lot of self-reflection and discovery. Tune-in this week's episodes and learn, laugh and get inspired with us!

In this episode of Certified Madness, "Why Your Brand Matters", we're talking all about branding, coming full circle and owning who you are with special guest, Michelle Moore. Building a brand isn't an overnight miracle, it takes time, patience and a lot of self-reflection and discovery. Tune-in this week's episodes and learn, laugh and get inspired with us!

This is Part Two of You Might be a Photographer if... As you all know, we are four photographers who are trying to juggle the highs and lows and chaos of being business owners. Things can get crazy, but we always try to find the humor in every situation, no matter how hectic, random, stressful or messy it gets. In this this week's episodes of Certified Madness, we're chatting all about the funny scenarios that prove you might be a photographer if... 

You might be a photographer if... you're tuning-in to this podcast! Are we right? As you all know, we are four photographers who are trying to juggle the highs and lows and chaos of being business owners. Things can get crazy, but we always try to find the humor in every situation, no matter how hectic, random, stressful or messy it gets. In this this week's episodes of Certified Madness, we're chatting all about the funny scenarios that prove you might be a photographer if... 

When it comes to booking photography clients, it’s a long process! So. Many. Steps. From the first inquiry to the last point of contact, there is a huge list of tasks to complete. In this week’s episodes of the Certified Madness Podcast, we’re talking all about the anatomy of booking a client. We’re each sharing our start-to-finish workflow, explaining how and why we do what we do when booking our clients. No matter what stage of your business you’re at, this two-part series is sure to be resourceful, beneficial and informative!

When it comes to booking photography clients, it's a long process with so many steps! In this week's episodes of the Certified Madness Podcast, we're talking all about the anatomy of booking a client. We're each sharing our start-to-finish workflow, explaining how and why we do what we do when booking our clients. 

We’re sharing all of the biggest risks we've taken in our businesses in this week’s episodes of Certified Madness! As Brittney states, “Everything is a risk,” which is just so true. From leaving the safety net of our corporate gigs and building out businesses from the ground-up, all the way to raising our prices and stepping back and shooting less… As always, we’re keeping it real, owning our truth and sharing our hearts! So, what are the biggest risks YOU’VE taken in your business?

What are the biggest risks we've taken in our photography businesses? We're sharing all of them in this week's episodes of Certified Madness! As Brittney states, "Everything is a risk," which is just so true. From leaving the safety net of our corporate gigs and building out businesses from the ground-up, all the way to raising our prices and stepping back and shooting less.

Whether you opt not to have a studio space or if you are currently running a successful studio, this episode explores a variety of options, based on our own experiences. Owning a portrait studio is totally a personal preference. While some photographers thrive on having a brick-and-mortar space to operate their business from, others prefer to work-from-home and/or on-location only. The beautiful thing about being a photographer, the possibilities and options are endless.

Owning a portrait studio is totally a personal preference. While some photographers thrive on having a brick-and-mortar space to operate their business from, others prefer to work-from-home and/or on-location only. The beautiful thing about being a photographer, the possibilities and options are endless. Whether you opt not to have a studio or if you are currently running a successful studio, this episode explores a variety of options. 

We have been flirting with this episode since the beginning and it’s FINALLY here! We love and value all of our faithful listeners so much! To celebrate all of you, we knew we really wanted to record a Listener Q+A episode, where we could tackle the questions you’ve all been sending in. Of course, due to time constraints, we weren’t able to answer every single question that you sent in. However, we fully plan to record more Q+A episodes in the future, so please keep sending them in!

We have been flirting with this episode since the beginning and it's FINALLY here! We love and value all of our faithful listeners so much! To celebrate all of you, we knew we really wanted to record a Listener Q+A episode, where we could tackle the questions you've all been sending in. We cover a mix of topics, including our favorites lenses, prom mini sessions, submitting your senior work to contests and senior photography magazines and more! Trust us, this episode is loaded with helpful content! You're going to love it! Be sure to give us a listen and let us know what you think of Certified Madness!

What happens after the photo shoot is finished? For most of us, this is when the real work truly begins. Uploading, culling, editing, posting, sharing, sneak peeks, sales, product design/ordering/delivery... the list goes on and on. With all of these steps to complete after the shoot, there are tons of post-session pitfalls to avoid. And we're talking all about it on this week's episodes of the Certified Madness Podcast!

There are so many steps involved when it comes to marketing, booking and photographing a client. But what happens afterthe photo shoot? For most of us, this when the realwork begins. With so many steps to complete after the shoot, this also means there are tons of post-session pitfalls to avoid. And we're talking all about it on this week's episodes of the Certified Madness Podcast!

Photographer Idols… We all have them! Who has influenced and inspired you? In this week’s episode of Certified Madness, we’re talking all about ours! You may or may not recognize some of the names we mention, but one thing is for certain, you should definitely check out the amazing work of each of the photographers that have inspired us! This episode was a lot of fun for us to record and it was pretty awesome to learn who each of us looked up to.

Photographer Idols... We all have them! Who has influenced and inspired you? In this week's episode of Certified Madness, we're talking all about ours! You may or may not recognize some of the names we mention, but one thing is for certain, you should definitely check out the amazing work of each of the photographers! 

We’re sharing what our versions of success looks like and the pitfalls we’ve fallen into over the years. As you grow your business and your goals change, how you define your success will likely change- and that’s okay. If you are happy and feel good about where you’re at and where your business is, that issuccess- be proud of that! The key is to maintain focus on YOU and don’t listen to all of the outside influence that can knock you off track. That’s just added noise that you don’t need to hear.

What does success mean to you? That's the question we're tackling on this week's episode of the Certified Madness Podcast. Success means different things to different people, so there really isn't one answer. Only YOU can define what success means to you, your family and your business. This is a great thing because it ultimately means you can build a business that is perfect and just for you.

You need to listen to this episode of Certified Madness! In this two-part series, we're talking all about Setting Boundaries. As creatives, this is something we could all be better about doing! For most of us, we're flying solo, wearing every hat in our business and working more hours than we're willing or able to count. In the beginning, we usually don't set boundaries because we're so hungry and eager to get our businesses off the ground. Over time, the endless hours, constant busy work and never taking time off to simply get away from your business is a recipe for resentment and burnout. This is dangerous territory, beware!

This is the Certified Madness episode you don't know you need to hear! In this two-part series, we're talking all about Setting Boundaries. As creatives, this is something we could all be better about! For most of us, we're flying solo, wearing every hat in our business and working more hours than we're willing to count. In the beginning, there usually aren't boundaries because we're so hungry and eager to get our businesses off the ground. But, over time, endless hours, constant busy work and never taking time off to simply get away from your business is a recipe for resentment and burnout.

If you haven't already heard, our Certified Madness Crew recently met up in Las Vegas for an amazing Photography Shootout we hosted for a group of photographers from all over the US! Of course, as luck would have it, things didn't go as planned! We had to overcome crazy obstacles at every turn- from the Black Plague to desert snow, delayed flights, a sick model and so much more! This episode is pretty darn funny, so if you need a good laugh, you should definitely tune-in! 

For those of you who don't know, our Certified Madness Crew recently met up in Las Vegas for an amazing Photography Shootout we hosted for a group of photographers from all over the US! Of course, as luck would have it, things didn't go as planned. At all!! We had to overcome crazy obstacles at every turn- from the Black Plague to desert snow, delayed flights, a sick model and so much more! This episode is pretty darn funny, so if you need a good laugh, you should definitely tune-in! 

We're talking all about "Changing Your Business Name", on the Certified Madness Podcast. In reality, this episode covers SO MUCH MORE than title implies, in fact, we even considered changing the name of the episode! Trust us, friends, this episode is loaded with content you need to hear! Domains, branding, services, multiple businesses or genres of photography and so much more! Be sure to check out Part One before listening to this episode!

Some of you need to do this. Some of you have. A few of you might be in the process... We're talking all about "Changing Your Business Name", on the Certified Madness Podcast. We have two experts in our crew who are well versed on all of the highs and lows of going through a name change. In reality, this episode covers SO MUCH MORE than title implies, in fact, we even considered changing the name of the episode! Trust us, friends, this episode is loaded with content you need to hear! Be sure to check back on Thursday for Part Two!

There is nothing more overwhelming or rewarding than being a business owner, trust us, we're speaking from years of experience! We know that our listeners are at all stages of their business- from just starting to established for years- no matter where you're at, we know you'll love being a part of this conversation! We're tackling a HUGE topic on the Certified Madness Podcast, "Starting a Business", a two-part series loaded with advice and tips!

There is nothing more overwhelming or rewarding than being a business owner, trust us, we're speaking from years of experience! We know that our listeners are at all stages of their business- from just starting to established for years. This week on Certified Madness, we're bringing you a two-part series called, "Starting a Business." We hope you love everything we have to share!

The four of us all agree that when it comes to products, keep it simple! Yes, there are a ton of options out there to choose from, but that doesn't mean you have to offer them all. Take the time to choose the right products that your clients will love and want to purchase. We also added a little bonus on yearbook images and submitting them to high schools.

When we asked for topic suggestions from our listeners, Products was one we received TONS of requests for! So, we knew we had to tackle it! The four of us all agree that when it comes to products, keep it simple! Yes, there are a ton of options out there to choose from, but that doesn't mean you have to offer them all. Take the time to choose the right products that your clients will love and want to purchase.

For whatever reason, many photographers feel insecure and uncomfortable when it comes down to pricing and knowing their value. Why is that? More often than not, it's personal. In this week's two-part series, "Know Your Worth", we're diving into this topic with our special guest, Dahli Durley. If you're out there and you struggle with your worth, this episode is for you! Our hope is that by the end of these two episodes, you'll be holding your chin high, owning your worth! You've got this!! 

At one time or another, we’ve all struggled with knowing our worth. For whatever reason, many photographers feel insecure and uncomfortable when it comes down to pricing and knowing their value. Why is that? In this week’s two-part series, “Know Your Worth”, we’re diving into this topic with our special guest, Dahli Durley. If you’re out there and you struggle with your worth, this episode is for you! Our hope is that by the end of these two episodes, you’ll be holding your chin high, owning your worth!

As photographers, we all have those little ah-ha moments that completely alter our photography and businesses for the better. Some of these things are very small, some monumental, but all around, they're awesome! In this episode of Certified Madness, we're talking all about our photography Game Changers and what they've done for our business and workflow. If you're looking for little nuggets of information and in-the-field tips, get ready to have your mind blown, friends! Okay, maybe that's stretching it a bit! At the very least, you'll be entertained by our madness!