Creative Chaos Podcast

Ever post some of your best work on social media only to be met with crickets, all while a random picture of your shoes gets more likes than anything you've posted in months? It's not a coincidence. In this episode, I talk about some big changes to the social media algorithms, why it's leaving artists more frustrated than ever and what we can do in response.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

Narrow down your niche, they say. Be specific, they say. Well what if we don't want to be? If you have a million different passions, a million different mediums you love working in, different causes you care about, worry not: this is the episode for you. We're talking all about building an artistic career without defining a specific niche.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

I'm back! And welcome to a new series I'm calling "Mindset Rehab" where we examine a damaging mindset within the creative community and talk about ways to dismantle it. This week, let's discuss what exactly is so wrong about "Fake It Till You Make It."  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

The more we can automate in our business the better, right? Well...sometimes. In this episode I break down a few ways to automate your business tasks while also sharing a few mistakes I've made along the way.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

Like every other creative business owner, 2020 has been rough, wreaking particular havoc on my ability to be creative. Between new stresses and constant distractions, I've struggled.  But a few weeks ago I had an epiphany, one that opened the floodgates and allowed me the ability to move forward in projects that have previously been stalled. If you're in a similar situation, hopefully this will help! Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio  

Let's talk shipping! Depending on the kind of work you do, there are a million different things to keep in mind when sending it off to a buyer. In this episode I cover some of the more technical aspects as well as additional items to include for expanded marketing of your work.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

There's nothing wrong with hard work, wanting to better yourself or having specific, career goals and working toward them every day. There is something wrong with glorifying our lack of self-care in order to prove we're worthy of the very goals we're striving for. In this episode, I'm talking Hustle Culture, how to recognize it in ourselves and how to detach from it.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

Photo books aren't just for photographers! Whether you're a painter, a dancer, a sculpture or any other kind of artists, photo books are a great way to showcase your work and tell your unique story. In this episode I break down 10 tips for curating and self-publishing your first photo book.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

Not every day is going to be a creative day. Sometimes you just can't write, can't paint, can't shoot. On those days, it's best to work on something else. In this episode I list 6 options to keep your business from staying at a complete standstill on the days you simply cannot find the mental capacity to create.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio List of Artist Grants: https://bit.ly/32cJwIW 

Sometimes you just need to make a quick buck, and a flash sale is a great way to do just that. In this episode I dish out a few tips to make it run as smoothly as possible.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

In an ideal world, we'd be paid on time, every time. But more often than not, we'll have to deal with clients who either try to add more to our plate without paying or will try to bounce on the final payment altogether. Here are a few ways to make sure neither of those things happen.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

It can be intimidating putting all of your work into a single, cohesive portfolio, but I try to tackle it today. In this episode, I break down the process in (what I hope are) 5 easy steps.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

In this episode I cover 6 different places each of us should be exploring to expand our creative influences. Because the larger and more diverse pool we have to pull from, the more interesting, unique and meaningful our creations.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

Finding focus is all about finding clarity. It's about narrowing down exactly what you need to pay attention to and cutting out all other distractions. How do you cut out the noise and decide what is worthy of your time and energy? In this episode we discuss exactly how to do just that. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

*I have limited space to describe each episode and am using most of it for links this time so I'll just say this episode is about figuring out the best possible way to use your art for good.* No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear, by Toni Morrison: https://bit.ly/3e3XmEm  Educational Justice, by Sharif El-Mekki: https://bit.ly/3d1xZSh  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

I wanted to quit Facebook a long time ago, but like many artists I figured it was nearly impossible to run a successful business without it. Then 2 years ago I finally walked away. In this episode I talk about why I left, how I left, the resulting effect on my income and what my business looks like now. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

Marketing our art is a little more complicated than creating something, posting a photo of it on Instagram and then sitting back and waiting for the buyers to roll in. In this episode I cover 5 of the most common marketing mistakes and how to fix them.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

I love big goals that turn into long-term projects. It’s kind of what my entire business is based on. Sometimes though, I get so carried away and so wrapped up in a goal that I don’t see when it’s time to give it up. In this episode I talk about 3 ways to spot if the goal you’ve been chasing is one better left behind. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is often clouded with so much complexity it’s easier to either pay someone else to do it or ignore it altogether. In this episode, I’m clearing out the confusion. I talk about choosing the right keyphrases, how to optimize your pages and additional tips to improve your page rank. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

To say the last few weeks have been a intense is a bit of an understatement, and there are many artists out there just barely keeping it together. If that sounds like you, than this episode is right up your alley! I’ve gathered 3 key coping techniques used by some of the best creative minds around. Hope it helps! Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

As a follow-up to last week’s episode, Part 2 of the Teaching Online series goes a little more in-depth into class structure and technical tips. Don’t worry, you likely already own every piece of technical equipment you need to get started right away. I also include some bonus tips from personal experience.   Teaching Resources: https://bit.ly/2XdrvLX Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

If lately you’ve found yourself stuck inside while watching your business drop off a proverbial ledge, putting your expertise into online classes may be a viable option to keep up some sort of income. In this episode I go over essential class preparation and the pros and cons of various online teaching platforms. Teaching Resources: https://bit.ly/2XdrvLX Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio

Deciding the right price point for your work is an incredibly complicated and subjective task. Where to even begin? Sometimes it’s easier to start with what not to do. In this episode I cover 5 of the most common pricing mistakes I’ve both seen and personally made over the years. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

Let’s be honest: working from your living room isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Between the television and the kitchen and the neighbors and the kids, there are about a million things working against you. In this episode, I cover 8 ways to tune it all out and get the most out of your work days at home. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

With everything going on in the world, most of us are over-stressed and over-worked and the last thing we need is more pressure to step up our side-hustle. So instead of an episode dedicated to making every second of quarantine time as productive as possible, here are 10 ways to do the complete opposite. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

It’s The Great Portfolio Paradox: how do you build a portfolio when your standard for the work that needs to go into it is higher than what you’re currently producing? In this episode I address an artist curse old as time, and along the way give 6 tips to develop your portfolio even with a perfectionist mindset. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio  Create Photography Retreat: https://bit.ly/320jfiw 

Sometimes, you just need a change. Maybe you’re burnt out or bored or maybe you’ve evolved from who you were 5 years ago. Whatever the reason, if you want to take your business in a different direction and don’t quite know where to start, this is the episode for you. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio  Create Photography Retreat: https://bit.ly/320jfiw 

Your media kit is how you represent yourself when pitching to a big potential client or requesting funding for a dream project. In this episode I discuss what to include and how to format it, plus a few tips from personal experience, such as whether or not to include your rate sheet along with your media kit. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio  Create Photography Retreat: https://bit.ly/320jfiw  Book Me For Your Event: https://bit.ly/2tbuAzk 

Not everyone (myself included) is cut out for the constant interaction and availability of social media, and if you have a business to run it can feel like you’re trapped. Thankfully, that’s not the case. In this episode, I list 5 ways to grow your business without the use of social media. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio  Create Photography Retreat: https://bit.ly/320jfiw  Book Me For Your Event: https://bit.ly/2tbuAzk 

Copy refers to any written words about your business or artwork. Think email campaigns, instagram captions, subscriber sign-up pages and artist bios. As you can imagine, it’s pretty important! In this episode I break down 7 types of copy and share 8 tips for making yours the best it can be. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio  Email Marketing Spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/2r7kw9f  Book Me For Your Event: https://bit.ly/2tbuAzk 

For many artists, corporate clients provide both the freedom of artistic expression and the security of a consistent paycheck. In this episode, I’ll break down what you need to do beforehand, how to craft your pitch into the perfect email, how to follow up after you send it and what to do after you’ve been hired. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio  Find That Lead: https://findthatlead.com/en/ Book Me For Your Event: https://bit.ly/2tbuAzk 

The term “self care” gets thrown around a lot, usually hashtagged under a photo of an over-the-top dessert. But self care is so much more than short term indulgences. In this episode, I share 8 methods of effective, long term self care.  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

If you’ve ever explored the idea of pursuing an artistic career, you might be familiar with a few of these. Maybe they’ve held you back at or even convinced you that your dream just isn’t a realistic option. In this episode, I’m breaking down some of the most damaging myths surrounding creative careers. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

We all know finding your own creative style involves thousands of hours of practice, but where do we start? In this episode I go through five of the most tried and true steps to discovering the unique voice that sets you apart from the crowd and makes your work distinctly “you.” Ira Glass, The Gap: https://bit.ly/2ReNxci  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

One of my favorite aspects of business as a fine art photographer is licensing images for book covers. In this episode, I answer some of the most common questions I receive regarding this area of work, and give advice as to how you too can get started licensing your own images in the same way. Understand Photography Interview: https://apple.co/2QIU6n9  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

And just like that, another decade down! Looking back, I’ve changed and learned so much, both in business and as a person, I’m not even sure I’d recognize myself 10 years ago (which is a good thing). In this episode I share 10 things I’d say if given the chance to sit down and talk with 2009 Jenna. 2020 Promotional Calendar & Workbook: https://bit.ly/2X1JrXG Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

It’s no secret: I love resolutions. Every year I look forward to sitting down and mapping out everything I’d like to work toward in the following year, and this year is no different! For this episode I put together a very special list of 8 resolutions just for artists. Let me know if any of these make it on your list! Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   2020 Promotional Calendar & Workbook: https://bit.ly/2X1JrXG  Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

A good workspace is more important than we often realize: it increases creativity, focus and output, all while giving us a sense of responsibility and ownership of our work. In this episode I’m sharing 8 tips to turn your workspace into the functional, productive sanctuary you deserve it to be. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   2020 Promotional Calendar & Workbook: https://bit.ly/2X1JrXG  Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

While I definitely wouldn’t describe maternity leave as a vacation, it’s still a planned leave of absence from my business. In this episode I discuss some of the systems I’ve set in place that allow me to step away for some much needed personal time without worrying about my business collapsing in my absence. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with social media, but this year has been different. I put some new rules into place and they’ve worked wonders! In this episode I’m sharing the changes I’ve made and how each of them have helped me have a happier and healthier creative relationship with social media. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

Self-sabotage occurs when we participate in behaviors or thoughts that keep us from moving forward in life. In this episode I discuss 10 of the most common self-sabotage behaviors, even using examples from my own life. Settle in and grab some tea, because this one is gonna get real! Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

In the final installment of the Artist Income Series, I’m explaining how to lay out your dream year into a workable promotional calendar, including how to schedule product launches, creative projects and holiday promotions. Whatever you’re planning for next year, here are the steps to set it up! 2020 Promotional Calendar & Workbook: https://bit.ly/2X1JrXG View the Email Marketing Spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/2r7kw9f  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty   Become a Patron: https://bit.ly/2D3FUio 

In Part 2 of the Artist Income Series, I’m giving away my step-by-step method for planning your dream year in business (new projects, revenue goals, it’s all here!). Be sure to download the free Workbook and 2020 Promotional Calendar below! 2020 Promotional Calendar & Workbook: https://bit.ly/2X1JrXG View the Email Marketing Spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/2r7kw9f  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty  

Welcome to the Artist Income Series! In Part 1 I’m breaking down all the potential ways artists can make money into 14 categories, then exploring the individual aspects of each. Find a quite spot, grab a pen and notepad and settle in, because this one covers A LOT of information. View the Email Marketing Spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/2r7kw9f  List of Artist Grants: https://bit.ly/32cJwIW  Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty 

If you’ve ever worked on a long term project before, you know the feeling: is it done, or is there still more I can do? In this episode I share 6 steps to help you decide if you’ve got more work to do or if your project is officially complete and it’s finally time to move on to your next big thing. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty 

It was my birthday last week (35! Woohoo!) and that meant thinking back on some of the hardest lessons I’ve learned over the years. In this episode, I discuss the 5 shifts in my thinking that have drastically changed my life and business far more than I ever could’ve imagined. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty 

No matter how beautiful your work or how great your marketing plan, your website has the ability to make or break your business. In this episode, I cover 7 of the most common mistakes artists make when designing their website. I discuss why they happen, how they hurt your business and how to fix them. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty 

Do you want to begin a new creative venture but feel like you’re just too old? Like you’ve missed your big chance and if you start now, you’ll be miles behind everyone else? In this episode, I talk all about that exact same feeling, and why you’re probably not at as much of a disadvantage as you think you are. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty 

I love long term projects; they’re what my entire business is based on. But while these projects often start off with a bang, that excitement can fade, and eventually turn into a massive burden. In this episode, I cover 8 tips for rediscovering that original excitement and maintaining forward creative progress. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty 

Sales used to be my least favorite part of my business, but I sucked it up and did what the pros said to do. And it worked. I made money. But something was still off. In this episode, I’m sharing the exact sales template every marketing guru brags about, why it works, why I stopped using it, and what I do now. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty 

Let’s just admit it: price is a touchy subject. We all want to charge the most we can for what we offer, but how do we get started? How do you know when to charge more? In this episode, I’ve put together a list of five steps to help with setting your initial prices and raising them when the time comes. Join the Creative Chaos community at https://bit.ly/2BXWZty