Creative Rising

Jennifer Ryals began her wedding photography business just a few years ago and it took off a lot faster than she hoped or expected. So like many photographers, she came into 2020 with big goals for her rapidly growing business.However, so much has happened in the years leading up to 2020, that the COVID pandemic has caused Jennifer to truly pause and reflect on what her future as a photographer looks like.In this episode, Jennifer opens up about her experiences with her mental and physical health as well as the racism she's experienced as a black female wedding photographer in the years leading up to 2020. We also talk about how she's been coping with the pandemic itself while serving her clients and navigating decisions about the future of her business. This raw and open conversation is a must listen as we close out this challenging year and all look ahead to the future of our businesses. VIEW JENNIFER'S WORK HEREhttps://jenniferryals.com/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

As a wedding or portrait photographer, its indisputable that selling physical products such as albums, wall art, and prints will not only serve your clients better but dramatically increase your revenue.But selling physical products can feel complicated, sleazy and just plain overwhelming. In fact, you might be thinking:What if I'm not good at sales?Can my clients afford beautiful albums & prints?I don't have a beautiful studio for sales sessions...My business is new - how do I even get started?Whatever objection or uneasiness you're experiencing with post-wedding sales and selling physical products, Makayla Jade of The Harris Company and The Printographers Society has felt it, too. She began her photography business as a brand new mom selling wall art out of her apartment living room (think: Cheerios in the couch cushions!), and has grown into a thriving, high-end photo + video studio generating multiple six figures in print sales alone - all by focusing their brand experience on albums and physical products.In this episode, Makayla shares her story of learning how to sell physical heirlooms like wedding albums, and walks through all of the objections photographers typically feel when it comes to selling products beyond just the digital files. If you're feeling nervous about selling albums, she'll answer:The key communication touchpoints that need to occur with your couples for successful salesHow to handle the digital files in order to make your clients happy but also sell beautiful heirloomsHow to educate your couples on the value of physical products so they'll always want what you have to offerThe exact steps to take to begin selling albums and physical products to your clientsIf post-wedding sales or selling albums feels overwhelming to you, this deep-dive episode is going to demystify the whole process!GET MAKAYLA'S FREE EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR BETTER SALES:https://www.printographerssociety.com/email-templatesCHECK OUT THE PRINTOGRAPHERS SOCIETYhttps://www.printographerssociety.com/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

With the majority of big weddings either postponing to next year or pivoting to smaller celebrations in 2020, wedding photographers have had to learn how to pivot their businesses to offer coverage for elopements and small intimate weddings - many for the first time ever.However, the number of couples that have been ditching the idea of a big wedding and choosing an intimate elopement has been on the rise for years - and Maddie Mae noticed this in 2015. After 5 years photographing big wedding days, Maddie found herself burnt out and jaded with the performance and production of big weddings, but that all changed when she photographed her first elopement. Immediately she knew that it was her greatest passion and she took the leap to go “all in” and created Adventure Instead, her high-end brand that specializes in adventure elopements only.Now, 5 years later, she runs a Forbes-featured and Rangefinder-award-winning, kickass team of 3 adventurous female photographers (herself, Amber, & Tori) who travel around the U.S. and world helping eloping couples bring their vision of their own intimate & meaningful wedding experiences to life.In this episode, Maddie shares:Why so many couples have been choosing to elope (even before 2020)The biggest myths & misconceptions about elopements and intimate weddingsHow to pivot your business to become an exclusive elopement photographerHow to offer intimate wedding coverage if you DON'T want to become an elopement photographer, but need to book business NOWJoin Maddie's Facebook Group Here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingsandwanderlustLearn About Adventure Instead Academy Here:https://adventureinstead.com/academy/Learn About Maddie's Leave No Trace Program Here:https://adventureinstead.com/academy/how-to-leave-no-trace/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

If you've hung around us Youngrens in 2020, then you've heard us talking about time management, specifically the block scheduling system that we've created and teach to all of our students in our Thrive Business Intensive.On today's show, I'm expanding on the block scheduling that we use to stay focused, eliminate distractions, and achieve our goals... even in a crazy year like 2020. As we near the end of this year and round the corner into a fresh new one, it's time to start the conversation about how you're going to level up your habits in 2021.If you have a lot of rescheduled weddings next year, it might be a much busier year than usual, which means you need to get a handle on your time so you can not just survive 2021, but THRIVE. Learn about the simple ways that this system will transform how you view your time and move your business forward. Wanna know how I run our three brands while being a part time mom?GET MY EXACT WEEKLY WORK SCHEDULE HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/overwhelm/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Our First Episode on Time Management: https://creativerising.com/301NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/GET ON THE WAITLIST FOR THE THRIVE BUSINESS INTENSIVE:https://theyoungrens.com/thrive/LEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

For many many years in our business, controlling my email inbox was a battle that I fought nonstop. A full inbox would cause so much stress in my life, that it’s the #1 thing that pulled me away from important work - things like updating my website, getting new clients, and building my brand. Work that truly affects the bottom line of my business. So if email is such a powerful force in your business, how do you keep it under control?In my fourteen years of business, the thing that has been the single most effective weapon in this epic battle against email overwhelm is using EMAIL TEMPLATES.In this episode, I'm sharing the six critical email templates that every wedding photographer should use and why.These six email templates are the ones that not only free up the most time in our business, but they also help us grow our business and make more money.Check out this episode to find out what they are!GET OUR THREE FREE EMAIL TEMPLATES HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/top-3-email-templates/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Get our Full Set of 42 Email Templates in our ShopCR107: Four Things We Do That Turn Our Inquiries into BookingsTAVENEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/GET ON THE WAITLIST FOR THE THRIVE BUSINESS INTENSIVE:https://theyoungrens.com/thrive/LEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

If you've spent hours curating on your Instagram feed and gotten little to no results for your business, you're not alone. Instagram easily sucks hours of valuable time from your days and bring very little in return, and Devin Robinson argues it's probably because you're doing it all backwards. Devin spends half the time on Instagram than most creatives, posts very little to his own feed, and yet generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in wedding bookings from Instagram alone. Want to know his secret? He flips the entire system on it's head to generate raving fans and book his entire team of associate photographers. He spills his entire strategy in this refreshing and honest episode and it's unlike any strategy I've ever heard from any other educator - period.You're not gonna want to miss this episode!Download Devin's IG Shortcuts & Join His Facebook Group Here:https://twpmasterclass.com/creativerisingCheck out Devin's podcast, Anchored Business, here:https://anchorandveilphotography.com/category/anchored-podcast/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

As a wedding photographer in 2020, how often do you get asked, "So how has COVID affected your business this year?"So often, there's the surface answer to that question (ie "everything's fine," "we'll get through it") and then there's the REAL answer (ie "my business has been devastated").Since the COVID pandemic hit the US in March of 2020, Jeff and I have lost over 70% of our revenue across our three brands and we've only shot four weddings, two of which have been last minute elopements.And we're not alone.If you're a wedding photographer, this year has probably decimated your business. So in true Creative Rising style, we pull back the curtain on what's really been going on with our studios over the past six months - no BS, just the honest truth about the struggles, challenges, and lessons we've learned as we've navigated this pandemic.Spoiler Alert: there's been a LOT more going on behind the scenes than we've let on over social media.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR THE THRIVE BUSINESS INTENSIVE HEREhttp://thrivebusinessintensive.com/GET OUR FREE COVID-19 EMAIL RESPONSE TEMPLATES HEREhttps://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/covid-19/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

During this time of quarantine, one of the best things for you to focus on as a wedding photographer is to make sure your website is looking amazing.But what exactly makes a website 'amazing'? How do you know if what you're showing is really converting?Knowing what you should put on your website (and where) can be extremely confusing, which is why I brought in the expert. Davey Jones and his wife, Krista, are incredible website designers that help brands create websites that book.In this episode, Davey unpacks the step-by-step process of how to create a website that creates clarity, spreads your message, and attracts your dream clients. From the 2-3 important items that MUST go on your homepage (including the ONE item that should be seen first) to how to create an about page that actually works, he helps us understand the two critical questions that every website needs to answer that stand in the way of you and booking clients.You're gonna love the concrete action steps in this episode that you can use to level up your website today. Learn more about Davey and Krista here:https://daveyandkrista.com/Check out Davey's podcast, Brands that Book, here:https://daveyandkrista.com/btb-show/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

As this episode goes live, we're deep into quarantine life because of COVID-19 and while most of the world has had to figure out how to work from home, wedding photographers are no strangers to it. However, as client work has come to a stop, this pandemic has dramatically highlighted our true working habits. And it's become painfully clear for a lot of you that there are loads of habits from your pre-COVID life that you brought into your current reality that are seriously holding you back right now.And you can either allow those habits to continue to produce bad results or you can exchange them for new habits that will finally produce the amazing results you long for.If you're ready to level up your habits to meet the demands of this new economy, in this episode I dig into the five essential habits every wedding photographer needs to win at working from home.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Indistractable by Nir EyalDeep Work by Cal NewportDigital Minimalism by Cal NewportThe Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark ComerCR301: Time ManagementNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Two weeks ago, Jeff and I were completely checked out on a two week vacation on Kauai. No phones, no media, no news. But when we landed back in San Diego, Coronavirus hit the U.S. And within a week, our revenue stopped, our state ordered shelter-in-place, and our business shut down.In a very short amount of time, the world has turned upside down for all of us. But for photographers, this time is not just scary, it's absolutely terrifying as we've watched our cash flows dry up and jobs get cancelled or postponed for months.So how do we survive this?Well for me, that's the wrong question to be asking.Instead, the better question is, "Who are we going to be IN this?"Jeff and I are reeling from the emotional and mental roller coaster of this pandemic, so I sat down (literally, I sat down on my bedroom floor), turned on a spare mic (all of my regular mics are at the studio) and shared my innermost thoughts about what this all means.I get honest, I cut the BS, and I definitely cry. Cuz that's just how things are right about now. Plus, I outline the three things that wedding photographers should be doing RIGHT NOW to make it through this crisis.GET OUR FREE COVID-19 EMAIL RESPONSE TEMPLATES HEREhttps://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/covid-19/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Traction (book)Tyler J. McCallKatelyn JamesBrene Brown on FFTs (podcast episode)Hannah Abad of Prime CollaborativeNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Asset management is something that can get very confusing very quickly, which is why most of us put this part of our business on the back burner for far too long.But every time we photograph a wedding or session, we need to know exactly how we're downloading and naming our files, how we're backing them up so they're secure, and where we're storing them long term once the job is finished. This part of our business isn't sexy or fun, which is why I'm taking the guesswork out of this workflow. In this episode, I tell you exactly how you should be backing up and storing your images, covering your entire asset management workflow from download to archive. Plus, I created a freebie that includes all of the shopping of products you need for this workflow (thankfully there's very few!) and I've outlined the entire workflow plan (which is very simple!). Listen to this episode and grab that freebie at the link below. It will feel so good to finally have a simple and clear backup system that actually works!GET OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT WORKFLOW + SHOPPING LIST HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/asset-management/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:CR301: Time ManagementCR304: Creating Healthy Social Media Habits with Abby GraceCR107: Four Things We Do That Turn Our Inquiries into BookingsEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Natalie Franke co-founded the Rising Tide Society in 2015 out of a deep personal need for community with other creative entrepreneurs. She felt desperately alone and knew that others must feel the same way, too. Since then, the Rising Tide Society has become a cornerstone for the creative community, but Natalie's journey transformed when she required surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and subsequently walked through a journey of infertility to have her son, Huey.In this intimate interview, Natalie shares how facing these struggles deeply transformed her identity in surprising ways, and how she came face to face with the true meaning of community in a way she never thought possible.Hearing Natalie's story will change the way you view competition, legacy, and community in powerful and transformative ways.FIND YOUR LOCAL TUESDAY TOGETHER MEETUP HEREAbout Natalie FrankeNatalie Franke Hayes is an entrepreneur, mobilization marketer, community builder, and neuroscience nerd.As one of the Founders of the Rising Tide Society and the Head of Community at HoneyBook, she leads tens of thousands of creatives and small business owners while fostering a spirit of community over competition around the world.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Rising Tide SocietyLearn more from Natalie FrankeNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Want to know the best advice we ever received in our business?It was to FIRE OURSELVES. As wedding photographers, we wear a lot of hats. We're bookkeepers, salespeople, accountants, and marketers just to name a few.But if you want to run a business that's efficient and sustainable, you need to fire yourself from being a photographer, and promote yourself to the most important role - that of CEO. In this episode, I walk you through exactly how to clearly organize the roles in your business so you can always be wearing the right hats (and letting go of the wrong ones).You'll learn:How to see your business from the view of a CEOWhich roles you should be spending all of your time on (and which ones you definitely shouldn't)The proper mindset you need to successfully outsource If organizing roles doesn't sound exciting to you, then I explain how getting organized and creating systems actually creates the most exciting - and profitable - brands.DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART HEREhttp://creativerising.com/307EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY:FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job edited entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) Exclusively for Creative Rising listeners!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

You take amazing photos, but when the words on your website don't match up to your gorgeous photographs, it will cost you. Big time.The copy on your website can either set you apart or blend you in with the crowd, so it's critical that you not only know what makes you different, but that you communicate it clearly on your site.Rachel Greiman of Green Chair Stories writes websites for photographers, and she'll walk you through the most important action steps for understanding your Unique Value Proposition (your UVP), the thing that sets you apart from everybody else.She clearly explains what a UVP is and (more importantly) what it's NOT, where you need to communicate your UVP on your site, and how to craft copy that connects with your Dreamies. If you struggle with copy and wish you could get your site to sound like you, then this episode will help you get the right words on your site - and the right clients in your door. Get 15% Off Rachel's Copywriting Guide HereUse Code: creativerising15About Rachel Greiman of Green Chair Stories:Rachel Greiman is a copywriter and documentary family photographer in Philadelphia, PA. She owns Green Chair Stories, a company committed to taking photographs and writing words that look and sound like real people. She also believes cookies are a perfectly acceptable breakfast food, as long as you eat some salad later. She lives with her giant dog (an 80-pound bernedoodle named Bernadette) and her giant husband (a 6'6" man named Travis), and her lil (but probably soon to be giant) baby in a townhouse in the city.EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY:KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank You!!)GET 50% OFF YOUR GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit!NEXT STEPS:WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

This week, we're taking you behind the scenes to experience what a typical work week looks like here at The Youngrens. In true entrepreneur fashion though, this week was anything by typical.We have a lot happening behind the scenes here at the studio, including hiring new team members, reworking our entire production workflow, and implementing a brand new childcare schedule to balance it all.At times, it got a little crazy and our to-do lists felt never ending. But we're so thankful that we've created a time management system that expands and contracts to withstand the demands of creative entrepreneurship. Listen to how our daily lives actually play out in real life, and enjoy your journey behind the scenes with us!Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Episode 301 | Time ManagementNeuYear Planning CalendarAsanaTraction by Gino WickmanNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

**Next Creative Rising Gathering --> Feb 12th in San Diego. RSVP HERE!**It's no secret that our businesses rely on social media to get in front of the brides and grooms we most want to photograph.But it's also no secret that many of us struggle with distraction, comparison, and insecurity when scrolling our feeds. Social media is becoming more addicting than ever, but also more effective than ever for our marketing. So as creative entrepreneurs, it's critical that we learn to untangle our hearts and create healthy boundaries with a digital world that is becoming increasingly distracting.In this episode, I have a conversation with Abby Grace, a film photographer in Washington D.C., about how she establishes healthy boundaries and balance in her relationship with social media.Abby shares the resources and practices she uses to keep social media in its proper place in her business, and how she keeps social media out of her personal hours. Hint: Hear how she deletes Instagram every day at 5pm!This is a life-giving conversation you definitely don't want to miss!Learn More About Abby Grace:https://abbygracephotography.com/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Digital Minimalism by Cal NewportDeep Work by Cal NewportIndistractable by Nir EyalFreedom AppPlanolyNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

**Next Creative Rising Gathering --> Feb 12th in San Diego. RSVP HERE!***Launching a wedding photography business is daunting, no matter when you do it.But in today's world, it can be overwhelming to know what exactly you should do to get your business off the ground.There's a lot of you out there just starting out, so Jeff and I sat down to talk about the ten things we would do if we were starting our wedding photography business right now in 2020. In this episode we share:The biggest thing we would do in our first year that most photographers don'tThe tools we would invest in right away and why (+ the tools we would wait to spend money on)How to know if you should invest in paid education or notJeff and I started our business 14 years ago in 2006, and it's quite the understatement to say that a lot has changed since then.When we started, the iPhone hadn't been released yet, Facebook and Twitter were brand new, and Instagram wouldn't exist for another four years. So the world we run our business in today is dramatically different than the world we launched our business in fourteen years ago.But here's the surprising thing we discovered in this episode... Even though the world has changed, the fundamentals of starting a business haven't. Many of the same rules that we followed over a decade ago, still ring very true for today.So while there's still some very specific things you should do to take advantage of today's opportunities, some things will (thankfully) always stay the same. GET OUR LIST OF TEN MUST READ BUSINESS BOOKS HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/free-resources/ten-books/EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY:KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank You!!)GET 50% OFF YOUR GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit!Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Flodeskhttps://flodesk.com/c/THEYOUNGRENSShootProofhttps://creativerising.com/shootproofCreative Rising Communityhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/Creative Rising Gatheringshttp://creativerising.com/gatheringsTuesdays Togetherhttps://www.honeybook.com/risingtide/the-detailsNEXT STEPS:WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

We all know that booking weddings is vital to running our business. But for most of us, sales is our least favorite part of the job. I get it. Client meetings were always a lot of fun for me... until pricing came up. Things would go from amazing to wanting to crawl under a table and hide!I've since learned that sales doesn't have to be a cringe-worthy experience. The first step is to stop seeing yourself as a salesperson and start acting as a GUIDE. In this episode, I'm sharing my five sales tips that help me eliminate the awkwardness and step into that role as a guide with each one of our meetings, including the KEY question I always ask that easily transitions the meeting into pricing!DOWNLOAD OUR 5 SALES TIPS (AND FREE SALES QUESTIONS) HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/free-resources/free-action-plan-our-top-5-sales-tools/EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Let's be real. Time management is hard. I have a lot I want to accomplish in the next twelve months, and I bet you do, too. But let's be honest. New Year's goals can fizzle out quickly.There's so many things that demand your attention - client needs, overflowing inboxes, social media posts - that it's easier than ever to feel overwhelmed, forget your goals, and leave important work undone. So it's more critical than ever to prioritize your time and be intentional about how you work. There were a lot of years in our business that I rarely got to the important things on my list, and it's because I didn't know how to step out of overwhelm and manage my time to put those big goals first. Something had to change. A few years ago, I started developing a time management system for myself that's helped tremendously in accomplishing my big priorities for my business, and I'm sharing it with you today for the first time ever! It's been the biggest game-changer for me, especially as I've become a parent and cut back to only working two days a week. With less than half the hours I used to work, I still move my business forward in big ways!In this episode I'm sharing:The single mindset shift that completely reshaped how I think about my timeThe three simple categories I use to block my time that will work for ANY wedding photographerThe key to how I get important work done, while living an intentional life free from overwhelmEven if you consider yourself a free spirit and you don't love routine, the way that I manage my time gives you the structure your business requires while also gifting you with the freedom you want.I'm so excited to share my time management practices with you to help you achieve big things in 2020 - while living a life free from stress and overwhelm!READ THE EPISODE BLOG POST HERE:http://creativerising.com/301EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank You!!)GET 50% OFF YOUR GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[NARRATIVE] Are you shooting weddings you don't love but still booking them only because they pay the bills? Do you want to completely change your style, but you're afraid that no one will book you if you do? For years, Duke Khodaverdian (of Duke Images) and Spencer Lum were both shooting traditional weddings in a style they didn't love - until they pivoted their brands and started shooting weddings in completely different styles, setting entirely new trends in the photography world and dominating their markets.This is the story of two polar opposite photographers that both found amazing success by defining and going after clients they love. But while they both created remarkable businesses, the journeys of how they got there will completely surprise you.WANT TO BREAK FREE AND FINALLY BOOK CLIENTS YOU LOVE? TAKE OUR FREE DREAMIE CLASS HERE:https://dreamieclass.comOR LEARN ABOUT OUR FULL DREAMIE COURSE HERE:https://discoveryourdreamies.comIn this Episode:Follow Duke's amazing work on Instagram: @dukeimagesLearn more from Spencer Lum at Ground Glasshttps://ground-glass.com/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/LEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[NARRATIVE] Mary Marantz has run a highly successful photography business for over a decade. In fact, it's the kind of thriving business that most wedding photographers dream of having.But she's decided to leave photography success behind and follow a calling she's had since she was five years old - write a book that will bring honor to where she's from.Betsy McCue ran a husband and wife wedding photography business for years, but when her husband suddenly passed away, she not only lost her life partner, she lost her business and her identity, too. In this very special episode, I'm telling two stories of two incredible women who are starting over - either by choice or not. One is a story of a writer with a calling, wrestling with her childhood while leaving a world of certainty behind for an entirely different world of being a newbie author. The other is a story of a photographer moving forward after a tragic loss, rediscovering her creative self, and building an entirely new business from scratch.Both are pictures of courage, strength, and wrestling with the hard parts of our stories. In this Episode:Check out Betsy McCue's lifestyle documentary work at:Betsy McCue Pictureshttps://www.betsymccuepictures.comFollow Mary Marantz's story on her podcast:The Mary Marantz Showhttps://marymarantz.com/themarymarantzshow(Her book "Dirt" is coming Fall 2020!)EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: THINK TANK PHOTOhttp://creativerising.com/THINKTANKWe've used Think Tank camera bags for over a decade because their bags are so well built we NEVER have to replace them! We LOVELOVELOVE our Airport Security V3.0 rolling bag - this bag goes with us all over the world! Plus, we use our Retrospective shoulder bags at every single wedding and couldn't shoot without them. Use the link above and get a special camera bag accessory with any purchase!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Jeff and I are incredibly open and honest on this show about the behind scenes struggles and challenges of running a photography business, but there are still a lot of things you don't know about me, Erin, as a person.In order for you to get to know the heart behind the mic, I'm opening up about ten things in my life that you probably don't know about me... but that make me nervous to share with you!Some of the things I share in this episode are all about mindset - the fears I struggle with in our business, the limiting beliefs that hold me back, and how I REALLY feel about social media - and some are about my personal faith and inner life.But most importantly, I'm getting real about the current challenges I'm facing and how I'm actively reframing my limiting beliefs to move forward and face those challenges. This is a really honest episode and I hope it helps you feel encouraged, empowered, and a little less alone!Favorite Books & Podcasts in My Faith Journey:Rob Bell - Love Wins, What is The Bible?Rachel Held Evans - Searching for Sunday, InspiredDonald Miller - Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows WhatThe LiturgistThe Bible for Normal PeopleGraham Cooke, "The Art of Brilliant Thinking"NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[TRAINING] This is the big question on every photographer's mind...How do I get MORE INQUIRIES??If it's booking season, and you're looking at an empty contact form with no leads coming in, it can make you feel anxious at best and downright terrified at worst.What if you don't book enough jobs? What if things get desperate?In this episode, I walk you through the action steps you need to take to build a marketing system that will bring in quality leads year after year. But be warned - this is not a show filled with short term tactics. There's certainly a few quick fixes I mention, but I'm going to tell you how to create a sustainable marketing strategy NOW that will build a rock solid business over the long term, so you'll never have a scary booking season again.GET THE EPISODE WORKSHEET HERE:http://creativerising.com/206Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Our Workflow Templateshttps://theyoungrens.com/shopTAVEhttps://tave.com/join/theyoungrensDay Onehttps://dayoneapp.com/Asanahttps://asana.comShootproofhttps://creativerising.com/shootproofEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank You!!)GET 50% OFF YOUR GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit! NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Are you a married photography team?Anyone that is married will tell you that marriage itself is already challenging enough, but then add on top of that running a photography business together and it feels like you're out in the wilderness. You're not alone.Jeff and I have been married for 13 years and we've been running our business together the entire time, and it's a whole different dynamic when you run a business with your spouse.Trust, resentment, and judgement are just a few of the daily battles we all face in nurturing a business while also nurturing a marriage.For this episode, I turned to three amazing individuals to help me unpack how to foster an amazing marriage while running a business together - Dan Tocchini (the guy who coaches OUR coach, so yeah he's legit) and Katelyn & Michael Alsop (of Katelyn James Photography).Not only will you hear honest stories of the intense struggles that both Dan and Katelyn & Michael have faced in their marriages, but you'll hear the authentic truth behind what it really takes to foster a thriving relationship. It's not the kind of easy advice you hear very often - but it's the real stuff that actually works. GET ALL EPISODE RESOURCES & FREEBIES HEREhttp://creativerising.com/205Dan Tocchini, Blood & EthosLearn More About A Healthy Marriage - 3 Video SeriesKatelyn & Michael Alsop, Katelyn James PhotographyGet One Month Free of KJ All AccessEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:http://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.Head over here, click on "Write a Review", give us a five star rating, and tell me what connected with you on this episode!

[TRAINING] Are you thinking about hiring an associate photographer to shoot under your brand? Or wondering if it's really the right move for your business... or a big mistake?We see photographers get caught up in this question all the time, and we want to make sure you know exactly what you're getting into when you add an associate to your business. We've been through the tumultuous process, and we've learned all of the critical dos and don'ts the hard way that we can help you avoid.In this episode, I'm outlining everything you need to know about how to run a successful associate program, including:How to find the best people that will actually deliver on your brand promiseThe exact contract agreements you need to keep your biz legalHow to structure your associate program so it doesn't damage your hard-earned brand Plus, I'll be walking you through the critical steps you need to take to know if an associate program is even the right move for your business. (Hint: There are some very specific requirements to be successful, otherwise it could do some serious damage to your brand. I'll tell you what they are.)Special Thanks to Weston Bennett!https://www.westonbennettphotography.com/Resources in this Episode:TAVEhttps://tave.com/join/theyoungrensIndependent Contractor Agreementhttps://theyoungrens.com/shopFreedom Editshttps://creativerising.com/freedomEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITSLEARN ABOUT THEIR CUSTOM ASSOCIATE WORKFLOWS!!https://creativerising.com/freedomDo you have associates in your business or are you considering them? Freedom Edits has a special Associates Service where they will customize a post-production workflow specifically for you! Want your associate to drop their images on the Freedom Edits server directly? You'll receive a Lightroom Catalog and a link to the image gallery - it can be that simple!This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners, so get your first job edited for free at the link above and ask about their Associate Service!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

Do you have a hard time with failure? Does the thought of failing hold you back from the things you most want to do?Jeff and I would say 'yes' to both of those questions. And we're tired of it. In this episode, we talk about the big area in our business that we feel is an utter failure right now - and we wrestle with giving it up or not. We want to reclaim our relationship with failing and stop it from holding us back, so we call our good friend and mentor, Dane Sanders, to help us reframe how we relate to the idea of failure. In this episode, we discover what failure really means, how a strong person handles failure well, and how failure might have less to do with failing and more to do with our capacity for risk.... and our addiction to success. In This Episode:Dane Sanders If you want to learn more about Dane Sanders, you can check out what he does with creatives in business at danesanders.com. If you run less of a solo operation and are more of an entrepreneurial team, you also might want to check out tellmeyourdreams.com - it’s where Dane and his mental health and performance coaches deliver Proactive Mental Health on the job. They have discovered some amazing innovations to unlock the best out of your team. It’s such a cool project.EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: WHITE HOUSE CUSTOM COLOURhttps://www.whcc.com/White House Custom Colour is the professional print lab we trust with all of our print orders. When a client orders a print from us, WHCC produces the print and ships it directly to our clients FAST. We love how easy they are to use and that means we make more money on print sales every year. Plus, we absolutely ADORE their Deep Matte paper - a classic, creamy paper that makes our prints look GORGEOUS, especially our film and fine art prints. NEXT STEPS:JOIN THE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:http://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.Head over here, click on "Write a Review", give us a five star rating, and tell me what connected with you on the show. I absolutely LOVE reading what you have to say!

[TRAINING] If you're frustrated with your wedding days always running late, which means you're not getting enough time for photos and your couple feels rushed all day long, then it's time to take control of the wedding day schedule. In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact wedding photography timeline that we use for all of our weddings that helped us turn late wedding days into blissful ones. We've built and perfected this schedule over the 13 years that we've been shooting, and I go into detail about why we've created it the way that we have. I share how we put together a schedule with and without a First Look, the list of family portraits that we use for all of our couples, and the most important line item that we have on the schedule - and it's not the ceremony time. DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF OUR TIMELINE HERE:https://creativerising.com/scheduleNext Steps:TAKE OUR DREAMIE CLASS:http://dreamieclass.comJOIN THE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/LEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.Head over here, click on "Write a Review", give us a five star rating, and tell me what connected with you on the show. I absolutely LOVE reading what you have to say!

Running a photography business is HARD.Running a photography business while raising little kids as a new parent is even HARDER.There's so many questions about how to handle it all:How do you carve out time to work?How do you handle childcare?How do you balance it all?Our world changed dramatically in April of 2018 with the birth of our son, James, so we've been in the tension of loving our family and loving our work ever since. So I called my best parentpreneur friends with little ones to share their honest stories here, and we openly talk about our struggles with identity, childcare, balance, post-partum depression, and asking the biggest question we're all afraid to ask... (listen to find out what it is.)Looking for some practical entrepreneurial advice? Like how in the world should you structure childcare?? I also have my friends share what's worked (and what hasn't) when it comes to working during naps, hiring in-home nannies, and sharing childcare amongst family members. Plus, learn all about the idea of the Family Kingdom and how it can help you thrive inside your home - instead of drive you crazy. In this episode:Sarah Bradshaw, Sarah Bradshaw PhotographyGinny Corbett, Ginny Corbett PhotographyTaylor Abeel, Taylor Abeel PhotographyJane Johnson, Writer & Scripture DiggerEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. Head over here, click on "Write a Review", give us a five star rating, and tell me what connected with you on the show. I absolutely LOVE reading what you have to say!

We've just wrapped up Season One of Creative Rising and we're taking a short break to get ahead on production for Season Two! We'll be launching new episodes soon!In the meantime, subscribe to Creative Rising in your podcast player so you don't miss out on new episodes and please leave a review!!If you haven't caught up on Season One check out these episodes:103 - The Creative's Battle: Why it Took Me Two Years to Launch This Podcast108 - What It's *Really* Like to Take a Big RiskThe first episode of Season Two is called "Parentpreneur" and I dig into the complicated mess of running your own business while raising kiddos at the same time. Subscribe so you don't miss it!

[TRAINING] You're working a full time job, but you're also running a creative business on the side that's growing rapidly. In fact, you're spending just as much time on your "side hustle" as your day job, and you're starting to make some good money, too. You're starting to wonder if you should leave your day job to run your business full time, but when is leaving a steady job to work a dream job a good idea? Is running your own business really all it's cracked up to be? In this episode, I unpack the five steps every wedding photographer should take before taking the leap into full time business ownership... and when staying at your job might actually be the best thing that could happen to your photography. GET ALL EPISODE RESOURCES & FREEBIES:http://creativerising.com/109In the episode: Jessica del Vecchio of Zoeica ImagesQuitter by Jon AcuffBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:http://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.Head over here, click on "Write a Review", give us a five star rating, and tell me what connected with you on this episode

[NARRATIVE] In early 2019, we signed a lease on a brand new studio - an empty 4,000 square foot warehouse with industrial offices and a massive garage. The next six months were spent moving, renovating, and building out this new space - while running our businesses in the middle of the construction.We've documented this journey on social media, but even that doesn't tell the full story - the exhaustion, the all-nighters, the setbacks, and the anxiety. Was this a good decision? Or were we in over our heads?This is the behind the scenes story of what it's really like to take a big risk. A risk you're not entirely sure of...FOLLOW SKYLIGHT STUDIOS ON INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/skylightsandiego/ALL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT & RESOURCES:http://creativerising.com/108EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank you!!)GET 50% GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit! NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[TRAINING] Responding to inquiries is frustrating. Especially when most of your leads don't ever write back. How can you get people to respond? How should you follow up? How often should you follow up? I mean, you don't want to be that "annoying vendor" right?Our studio handles hundreds of inquiries every year, so we're sharing all of the lessons we've learned about the best ways to respond to a lead. If you've ever felt like you're bugging your clients, we talk about how you should follow-up, how often you should follow up, and the four key things we do that have brought stale inquiries back to life. (Special thanks to Sarah Bradshaw!)GET ALL EPISODE FREEBIES & RESOURCES HERE:http://creativerising.com/107EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: KISS WEDDING BOOKSGET 50% GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit! NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[INTERVIEW] What are you believing to be true that is keeping you out of your vision? What could be just as true, if not MORE true, than that?These are questions that transformational life coach, Julia Woods, asks all the time. And the answers she produces are powerful. I should know, because her coaching (and these questions) have transformed my own life.Which is why I brought Julia onto the podcast. Julia’s insight into why we experience doubt, procrastination, and fear, and her process on how to step into a mindset of possibility will change the way you think about the battles that rage in all of us.In this interview, Julia shares:The most common core beliefs that hold you back – and how to transform them into your greatest giftsHow to overcome your life sentence so you can produce your life’s workHow to create a vision for your life and step into itGET ALL EPISODE RESOURCES & FREEBIES HERE:http://creativerising.com/106JULIA'S COACHING: https://www.beautifuloutcome.com/EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank you!!)Grab 50% Off Your Getting Started Kit!!http://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit! NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[TRAINING] I'm sharing the six essential tools that we can't live without in our photography business. These are the apps and software that help us save time, educate our clients, make more money, and deliver an amazing product. You'll learn what these tools are, why we love them, and how we use them in a unique way. In fact, I reveal all kinds of insider tips and tricks that you can use in your own business, too. You'll love the hacks I have to share!Not only would our business come to a screeching halt without these tools, but there's no way we would be able to provide the incredible client experience we've built our reputation on without them!GET ALL EPISODE RESOURCES & FREEBIES HERE:https://creativerising.com/105Our Six Essentials Tools:SHOOTPROOF - Get 3 Months for $1:https://creativerising.com/shootproofTAVEhttps://tave.com/join/theyoungrensASANAhttps://asana.comBLOGSTOMPhttps://stompsoftware.com/blogstompPHOTO MECHANIChttps://camerabits.comLIGHTROOMhttps://adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.htmlOUR FREE SOCIAL MEDIA CALENDAR:https://creativerising.com/asanaEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: SHOOTPROOF (Thank You!!)https://creativerising.com/shootproofWant to wow your clients with an amazing gallery experience while making passive income on print sales? Shootproof is what we use to generate thousands of dollars in passive income every year while delivering our images in a gorgeous, easy-to-use gallery that our brides love! Get any plan, for 3 months, for only $1. NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[INTERVIEW] Do you overwork? Shay Cochrane would say it's harder to admit than we think. In a world where fear, distraction, and social validation drive us to spend more time at our laptops, it's more important than ever for creativepreneurs to prioritize what truly matters.How are we spending our time?Is balance even possible? Even though she's a serial entrepreneur, Shay runs her two businesses in only 16 hours a week so that she can do what she truly loves - being a wife of 14 years to her entrepreneur husband and a mom to two little girls.Learn how she does it, why she does it, and why it matters in this episode.GET ALL EPISODE RESOURCES & FREEBIES HERE:https://www.creativerising.com/104GET FREE STYLED STOCK FROM SHAY:https://www.creativerising.com/stockshopSC STOCKSHOP:https://www.scstockshop.com/SOCIAL SQUARES:https://www.socialsquares.com/EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[NARRATIVE] I shouted from the rooftops that I was launching a podcast… but then I didn’t… for two years. It was embarrassing, defeating, and discouraging.This is the raw story of what really happened in those two years - the life, the lies, the self-sabotage - and why it took me so long to finally put this podcast out in the world. If you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, doubt, failure, grief, or you’re simply a creative entrepreneur fighting the creative’s battle, then my hope is that this deeply honest episode will bring a bit of healing salve to your soul. Or at least, you may not feel so alone.(SPECIAL GUEST) JULIA WOODS, BEAUTIFUL OUTCOME:https://www.beautifuloutcome.com/GET EPISODE TRANSCRIPT & RESOURCES HERE:https://creativerising.com/103EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:http://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.Head over here, click on "Write a Review", give us a five star rating, and tell me what connected with you on this episode.

[TRAINING] Does your social media look less like a strategy and more like throwing a wet paper towel against a wall and seeing what sticks? Do you feel like no matter what you do, you never seem to get the right followers on Instagram? Or have no idea WHAT to post and WHEN?In this episode, I break down what every wedding photographer needs to know about social media (and what you can ignore). I'll unpack our step-by-step marketing system that we use across all three of our photography brands to attract our Dreamies on a regular basis.In this episode, I cover:Which social media platforms to ignore (and which ones you can't)What to post on Instagram, how often, and whyHow a wedding photographer should REALLY be using FacebookThe key to writing copy that your ideal clients will loveThis episode will take the guess-work out of marketing to get your Dreamies knocking down your door – even if social media makes you cringe!DREAMIE CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comGET ALL EPISODE RESOURCES & FREEBIES HERE:https://creativerising.com/102EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: SHOOTPROOF (Thank You!!)GET 3 MONTHS, ANY PLAN, FOR $1!https://creativerising.com/shootproofWant to wow your clients with an amazing gallery experience while making passive income on print sales? Shootproof is what we use to generate thousands of dollars in passive income every year while delivering our images in a gorgeous, easy-to-use gallery that our brides love! Creative Rising listeners get ANY plan, for 3 months, for only $1!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

[TRAINING] Are you a wedding photographer that’s ready to start shooting the clients you want? But you're frustrated with how to find and book them?Most photographers *think* they know who their ideal clients are, but I would argue that 9 out of 10 photographers actually have no idea.Don't worry, we were there, too.Before the world travels, the dream weddings, and the commercial studio that brings in over half a million dollars every year, we were exhausted newlyweds working out of our kitchen, booking any wedding we could get. We were stressed out, burned out, and ready to give up. Our images were awesome, but our couples weren't - some were gracious, but many were dismissive. A handful paid us what we were worth, while the rest bargain-shopped every single thing.Dream life? Not so much... If we wanted better weddings, we needed better clients - fast. But that's when we realized we actually had no idea who our ideal client was, much less what mattered to them. Before we threw in the towel on our photography dream, we scrapped our website, reworked everything we knew about ideal clients, and built our brand from scratch… and it worked.Hear the story of how we went from burned out newlyweds to running our dream business – and learn the key exercise that will get you booking your perfect brides, too!TAKE THE DREAMIE CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comGET ALL EPISODE RESOURCES & FREEBIES HERE:https://creativerising.com/101EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: SHOOTPROOF (Thank You!!)GET 3 MONTHS, ANY PLAN, FOR $1!https://creativerising.com/shootproofWant to wow your clients with an amazing gallery experience while making passive income on print sales? Shootproof is what we use to generate thousands of dollars in passive income every year while delivering our images in a gorgeous, easy-to-use gallery that our brides love! Creative Rising listeners get ANY plan, for 3 months, for only $1!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.