My Food Lens

Love the episode? Send me a text & tell me.Editing is directly linked to business results. It is the finishing touch to our creativity and to that raw photo. And if that end product does not blow the viewer's minds, it's a red alert - a gap we may not see, but clients most definitely will, which will begin to show up as fewer clients, clients not returning, confusion, and second-guessing ourselves.Editing isn't just about creating a magnificent photo. It's about creating a solid business on the foundation of solid skills because our editing skills position us as experts & increase our value to the client. This week on the podcast, the queen of editing, Roberta Dallalba, continues to share powerful editing tips that not only elevate our photography but also grow our business. Clients can love us. They can love our work ethic, our creativity, our talent, the raw photo out of the camera, the experience of working with us, but at the end of the day, if our editing doesn't match their needs, none of that matters. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/121-photo-editing-tips-to-elevate-your-photography-grow-your-business-with-roberta-dallalba-part-2Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERELightroom course link: https://robertadallalba.com/lightroomtransformsUse Discount code for 10% off: FOODLENS10Mini-course: A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

Love the episode? Send me a text & tell me.Often, we see editing in isolation from the creative process.In fact, many creatives don't realise that editing is not an optional step, and miss it.The consequences of weak editing or missing it altogether are never obvious.When our photos don't stand out, we are unable to create a brand's style or don't see progress in winning clients - we think of everything except editing. The role of editing and how it might be holding us back is not something that comes to us. This week on the podcast, the queen of editing, Roberta Dall'Alba, shares powerful editing tips, but also how to use them to grow your business. She shares the direct link between editing and business growth, an efficient editing workflow that saves time, pros and cons of different Lightroom versions, the power of AI in editing, bringing storytelling to editing, and much more.This isn't just a masterclass in post-processing but a mindset shift to edit like a true Creative.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/120-photo-editing-tips-to-elevate-your-photography-grow-your-business-with-roberta-dallalba-part-1Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERELightroom course link: https://robertadallalba.com/lightroomtransformsUse Discount code for 10% off: FOODLENS10Mini-course: A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

Love the episode? Send me a text & tell me.Free work or working in exchange for anything except $$$ isn't a NO-NO. In fact, it can be a big fat “YES” too.I share how to easily decide when to work for free. After endless mistakes & many lessons learnt, I've created a decision-making process for offers to work for free or in exchange for products.I've created a simple way to quickly decide whether an opportunity without monetary compensation is worth taking on or not. In this episode, I share exactly how to make that decision in minutes and free yourself from doubt, frustration, and being taken for a ride. Working for free can be powerful, very high-value, and catapult your business  - but only when you do it on your own terms.This episode will show you exactly how to make a quick decision with complete confidence - a decision that will leave you joyful, satisfied, profitable, and creative, in spite of not being paid in cash. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/119-work-for-free-here-s-how-to-decide-when-it-s-worth-itHave a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course: A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

If we send our rates and the client ghosts us, we blame ourselves for being too expensive.If we don't send our rates, but request more information and then the client ghosts us, we blame ourselves for sabotaging the opportunity. If we send our rates and the conversation moves further, we think it's sheer luck. We are forever living in this debate between yes and no, sending or not sending, overcharging or undercharging.. Ughhh!The loop of doubt and insecurity continues.The truth is that this loop exists because we are missing an essential part of the business - boundaries.Boundaries and rules for the way we do things.In fancy words, a sales process.As we continue our mindblowing series with Candice Ward, a food photographer with a background in corporate sales, she talks about the absolute necessity of having a sales process in place.She shares the essential steps in a sales process, transitioning from pitching to closing the deals, the best way to handle objections, using a sales process to position yourself as a premium service.. and so much more. Having a sales process in place gives us the highest level of clarity, and when we have clarity, the client has clarity. .. because it comes through in everything we do and say.If you've felt shaky sending out your rates, been unsure about how to proceed with a project, negotiate, or clear objections - having a sales process in place is your answer.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/118-how-to-use-linkedin-video-pitching-to-book-more-clients-with-less-effort-with-candice-ward-part-3Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course: A guide to diversifying your  photography businessPitch to profit playbook - https://candiceward.mykajabi.com/playbookDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

Pitching through email or video is a pain but it is one of the most essential tools for building a business.  If it feels frustrating to keep sending pitches without hearing back, then there's a need to shake things up.This week, Candice Ward, food photographer and business coach for creatives with a background in corporate sales, returns on the podcast to talk about one of the most effective, fun, and strategic ways to reach out to brands - video pitching.Candice shares why video is such a powerful tool for pitching, the key elements of a high-converting video pitch, common mistakes to avoid, and how to create a repeatable video outreach system that saves time but still feels personal.There'll always be someone who does the job cheaperThere'll always be someone who gives more photos There'll always be someone who offers a different rate Stand out, differentiate yourself, and become memorable & unignorable - by video pitching. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/117-how-to-use-linkedin-video-pitching-to-book-more-clients-with-less-effort-with-candice-ward-part-2Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course: A guide to diversifying your  photography businessPitch to profit playbook - https://candiceward.mykajabi.com/playbookDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

This week on the podcast, Candice Ward, a business coach for creatives, food photographer, dessert blogger, and online educator with a background in corporate sales, shares how to use LinkedIn powerfully to boost your leads without stress and overwhelm. She shares different ways to use LinkedIn, how to power it with chatGPT prompts, types of LinkedIn content that build credibility, how to optimize your LinkedIn profile to attract inbound leads, and the best way to turn a LinkedIn connection into a paying client without sounding salesy. LinkedIn can come across as a stiff platform. But boy! It is a powerhouse and often underutilized. As creatives we flock towards Instagram and more visual platforms but if you're trying to build a business, a presence on LinkedIn is non-negotiable. At least now, with the fickle algorithm of Instagram. This episode is a conversation you will love. Bring a notebook and make tons of notes because the strategies discussed are absolute game-changersRead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/116-how-to-use-linkedin-video-pitching-to-book-more-clients-with-less-effort-with-candice-ward-part-1Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course: A guide to diversifying your  photography businessPitch to profit playbook - https://candiceward.mykajabi.com/playbookDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

Collaborations are crazy effective, they double the results and double the impact but can go sideways, which can be detrimental to business growth, which makes it essential to approach them the right way. This week on the podcast, Aimee Twigger @twiggstudios discusses how collaborations could be the secret sauce for business growth. She explains how collaborations lead to business success and the best way to approach them to avoid partnerships going sideways.She talks about rewarding collaborations, how to reach new audiences, tackle challenges, resolve conflicts, and use collaborations to double the results you deserve. Collaborations are mighty powerful because 2 (or more) minds are better than one. Collective effort brings bigger results and nothing should stop us from tapping into the power of partnerships. If anything, we should take that leap because of the mighty results it brings.Many factors play a part in a successful collaboration, and we need to be aware of them because when collaborations don't go well, they leave a bad taste, scar us, and shut us out of the idea of partnerships.Get into collaborations - make them impactful, joyful, and highly profitable, as they should be.Collaboration is a powerful tool that completely changes the course of our business and creative journey. Welcome the opportunity to collaborate with open arms but also with eyes wide open. Tune in to learn how to stay on top of your collaboration game and drive it to bring you the highest results.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/115-how-to-use-collaboration-to-improve-your-photography-and-grow-your-business-with-aimee-twigger-part-2Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course: A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

The struggle of feeling alone in business is real. We all wish for a listening ear, an accountability partner, or a mentor. In some way or the other, most of us wish we had a sounding board to encourage us and complement the gaps in our skills:  a no-judgment person who shares the same passion for the mission. Collaboration is having a partner in crime or a partner in creativity so the journey feels supported, understood, less lonely, and fast-tracked to success. This week on the podcast, Aimee Twigger @twiggstudios shares how collaborations could be the secret sauce for growth in business. She shares how collaborations improve photography techniques and also lead the path to business success.She talks about the benefits of collaboration, how it takes skills up a notch, signs of successful collaboration, different types of collaborations, and what to look for in potential collaborators.Aimee has experienced personal and business success through several collaboration projects and shares how collaborations can change the course of the journey & even save Creatives from giving up on their passion.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/114-why-collaboration-is-the-secret-sauce-for-business-growth-improving-photography-skills-with-aimee-twigger-part-1Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

In this week's podcast, I'm sharing 3 simple ways to work with colour without falling back on the colour wheel. I'm sharing an unconventional approach to simplify the colour selection process to make your photos unique and stunning. The episode covers selecting the number of colours in a photo, working with neutrals and creating a striking multi-colour composition. I talk about strategic colour placements, absolute no-no's for a cohesive, impactful palette, and an easy practice to include in your workflow to check if your colours work. If you've ever doubted your colour choices, struggled to choose a palette, or hesitated before introducing a bold new colour, allow me to share simple ways to work with colour easily, fearlessly, and intentionally .. and without the colour wheel. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/113-3-ways-to-confidently-work-with-colour-without-using-the-colour-wheelHave a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

In this week's episode, Seema Rose, a Food & lifestyle photographer whose life's purpose is to bring Creative communities together through her creative retreats, continues to share why retreats are complete game-changers for business and personal growth. She shares the transformation Creatives can expect from attending retreats, how to choose the right one for yourself, how it nourishes the mind, body & soul, boosts creativity, how to prepare for a retreat emotionally & financially, what to expect, and how bonds get stronger even after the retreat ends.We're not meant to do this alone. Sharing ideas with like-minded creatives, hearing their struggles, and learning from their wins— having a community isn't just helpful, it's essential.If you've been feeling isolated or unsure, a creative retreat could be the community you didn't know you needed because immersing yourself in a retreat pulls you out of your routine, eliminates distractions, and fast-tracks your growth. There's a reason why retreats have become so popular now and more & more Creatives are attending at least one retreat a year …because it satisfies their single most desired craving - a no-judgement, safe & uplifting community.If you're ready to recharge your creativity and meet people who walk the same path as you, this is your sign. Join a retreat and find the connection your creativity craves.Your people, your tribe are waiting for you. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/112-why-creative-retreats-aren-t-a-luxury-but-a-necessity-for-business-growth-with-seema-rose-part-2Seema's Bali Retreat - https://www.seemarosephotography.com/creativeretreatsHave a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

In this week's episode, Seema Rose, a Food & lifestyle photographer, whose retreat invite changed my life and business, and who organizes the most magical creative retreats shares why we need to attend at least one retreat a year. She shares how retreats are complete game-changers, can help us find our creative style, give business ideas, lead to portfolio growth,  and partnership opportunities, reignite our creativity, and boost our business. Why, rightfully so,  retreats have become so popular now and more & more Creatives are attending at least one retreat a year. This is an eye-opening episode emphasizing that sometimes we need to step away from the daily hustle & immerse in experiences that changes our lives & businesses forever. I say by experience. Whether you're going through a low or a high, stepping away from the pressures of building a creative life can be the magic touch you didn't know you needed.If you haven't thought about it, do so now.If you haven't planned one, do so now. If you haven't attended one, do so now. Plan to attend a creative retreat this year & watch your life change. If you're working hard but seeing fewer results, feeling uninspired, not on top of your creative spirit, looking for a break, or simply curious about retreats, tune in to find out why you need to attend at least one retreat this year. And why it should be the one Seema organizes.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/111-why-creative-retreats-aren-t-a-luxury-but-a-necessity-for-business-growth-with-seema-rose-part-1 Seema's Bali Retreat - https://www.seemarosephotography.com/creativeretreatsHave a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

In today's podcast episode, we're sharing game-changing advice from successful food photographers, bloggers, and creatives who've tackled these same challenges—and come out stronger.

I'm not as good as the others. Why would a client work with me?I still don't know my style. I'm so behind. Should I quote lower so I don't lose the client? I post regularly on Instagram but no one engages with my content anymore.I feel so lonely on this journey. Who do I speak to?These are a few of the thoughts that keep us awake at night. Worst is, sometimes these thoughts get so loud in our heads that they amplify our doubt in ourselves, leading us to believe that we are not cut out for running a business. If you've any doubts about running or creating a business that trouble you, this week's podcast episode is exactly what you need right now. Imagine hanging out with your favourite photographer or blogger and asking them the questions that make you doubt your future as a business owner. This episode is exactly that. It is a conversation with successful creatives about their biggest challenge while building a business and how they overcame it. Here's a lineup of your favourites from Joanie Simon and Jordan Hughes to Suze Morrison and Anja Burgar etc. sharing how they overcame these hurdles in their journey. It's the beginning of the year and a good time to cut our ties with self-doubt, pricing problems, confidence issues, tough money talks, and social media frustrations. This episode has answers for all of those. Challenges in business do not spare anyone. But the comforting part is that we all go through almost the same challenges, hiccups, and doubts. Which means, the answer to our question already exists. Someone already went through it and found a way to answer, tackle, and overcome it. Hear what our experts have to say. You'll walk away feeling empowered & reassured of your value.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/109-pricing-photography-instagram-the-answers-you-need-to-grow-your-businessHave a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshootThe 5 steps to visual storytelling

This week on the podcast, I'm sharing 3 questions you should be asking yourself this year if you want to grow your business. We all have a long wishlist or goals for the year but I'm giving you just 3 simple things to think about that will help you get laser-focused, give you direction, and make it easier for you to get started. It will simplify your decision-making process and help you take action with clarity …  because we all know how difficult it is to take the right action when the options are endless.Even if you don't have goals for this year, just hearing out these 3 questions will give you new ideas and the inspiration to progress forward with enthusiasm.Here are 3 essential questions to ask yourself this year to help you grow your business, increase your revenue, build confidence, and become a skilled Creative.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/108-3-questions-you-should-be-asking-this-year-to-grow-your-businessHave a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREMini-course : A guide to diversifying your  photography businessDownload free resources:The 10-step photoshoot The 5 steps to visual storytelling

In this week's podcast, grab a box of tissues and join me for an emotional yet powerful episode where I share how to turn your low point in life into a high point, How to have a breakthrough when you're at your lowest & How to grow your business when you're going through a rough phase.I spent days thinking about how I had met big goals that had been sitting on my list for years during a time when I was at my weakest, most vulnerable, and had no drive or passion for anything.Despite being buried in grief, I had made thousands of dollars, grew my email subscriber list, diversified my business & established a higher credibility. There's not one person I know who has not gone through a low point in their life - financial crisis, personal loss, burnout, depression..etc.This episode will guide you on what to do during those rough phases of life.Allow me to show you how to : Find strength when you're weak.Stay creative when you're exhausted. Guide yourself when you feel lost.Trust your decisions when you're vulnerable.Make money in your business when you're slow.Move forward even when you're stuck.These are skills we all need so that every time life pulls us down, we bend a bit but can stand right back up because we know better. We know how to turn our low point in life into a high point. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/107-how-to-have-a-business-breakthrough-when-you-re-at-your-lowestDownload free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast, Jessie Sierra Ross, Food blogger, TV personality, and cookbook author shares everything about writing your cookbook without overwhelm. In this part, she discusses writing,  photographing,  pitching, working with a publisher, the role of an editor, negotiating contracts, sequence of marketing activities, and ways to promote & monetize the book. It's all about taking one step at a time & Jessie tells us how to do it without running out of steam. Writing a book can be a massive leap in your creative journey. It can establish credibility but also boost your business.A cookbook expands your reach, helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level, and creates a ripple effect of opportunities for your business. Yes, it's not an overnight task. It takes a bit of time but the results are equally proportionate. The results are for life because once you write your cookbook, you become an author for the rest of your life. Imagine!Thinking of this alone, made me realize why even shark tank judges, who know so much about business, emphasize writing a book. Because they know that writing a book is more than a project; it's a launchpad for your brand and career.Here's the process of writing, photographing and monetizing your cook in the simplest way. It might seem like a lot of work but with the right mindset and approach, you can easily make it happen.Remember, a cookbook is a bridge to new opportunities and a game-changer for your business.Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/106-how-to-create-pitch-monetize-a-cookbook-without-overwhelm-with-jessie-sierra-part-2Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

What if creating our cookbook was the breakthrough we need in our business? What if Writing our cookbook is actually a gateway to bigger opportunities?What if it is actually the missing piece of the puzzle that can set us up for the success we are looking for? Truth is, that creating your own cookbook is one of the most powerful ways to build credibility. No one ever takes a cookbook author lightly. There is so much weight in those words, whether you're introducing yourself or pitching to a brand.  It instantly sends the message that you're a pro. Creating a cookbook can also be the most joyful, soulful, and creatively fulfilling experience in your journey. It can seem daunting but the benefits of creating your cookbook overshadows that overwhelm.In this 2-part series,  Jessie Sierra Ross, Food blogger, TV personality and cookbook author shares everything about writing your cookbook. She breaks down the entire process of creating a cookbook. From writing,  photographing,  pitching, working with an editor, marketing, promoting and monetizing the book - she shares it all. From concept creation to digital applications to visual design and food styling, Jessie opens up about every step involved in writing a cookbook.This episode will leave you inspired and motivated. A cookbook has the potential to bring results for years to come. It works as a long game but the impact is absolutely life-changing.If you have been considering writing a cookbook, this episode will give you all the information you need to get started.And if you haven't thought about it yet, this episode will open a new way of thinking, introducing you to an idea that can be the pivotal point of your creative career. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/105-how-to-create-pitch-monetize-a-cookbook-without-overwhelm-with-jessie-sierra-ross-part-1Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Food photographers are called visual storytellers for a reason. We are known to create photos that tell a story, and transport a viewer into the frame.The best part is that we can tell if our photos have a strong storytelling element in them or not because it shows. It shows in the results that they bring. They either attract more clients, bring more traffic to our blog, captivate a viewer, garner beautiful comments on Instagram or win awards.Photos with powerful storytelling make an impact and bring results.But creating an impactful visual story every time isn't always easy. We can run into an idea shortage or a creative block. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the technology side of photography that we miss the storytelling part. And other times, we underestimate the power of a strong story and don't give it enough time and attention. Oh, and sometimes, we do create stories, but they don't bring results, indicating a weak storyline.As simple, and fun as it sounds, storytelling can be our superpower but only when we know how to create it and it brings us some sort of results. In this week's podcast, I'm sharing my guest appearance on the popular Eat Blog Talk podcast, where we dove deep into how to build a compelling visual story in food photography. Whether you're shooting recipes for brands or looking to improve your food photos, this episode is packed with practical tips, fresh perspectives, and ways to avoid common storytelling mistakes. I share how to craft compelling visual stories, even with the trickiest food subjects, why your photos might lack impact, how to create a "hook" in your images, break free from creative blocks, and easy ways to tap into viewers' emotions and imagination and use it to attract clients. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/104-how-to-elevate-your-visual-storytelling-skills-to-hook-your-audience-attract-clientsDownload free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Being laser-focused about where we want to take our business and working on the right aspects that will bring results.Creating a portfolio and marketing it, is a huge part of building a photography business. In fact, it is the key step in starting right because if the client does not like what they see, there's no 2nd conversation from there.But when our portfolio is created the right way and shared the right way, it helps us work with better clients, negotiate better rates, and in fact, raise our rates. The secret lies not just in creating beautiful work but also in being smart and strategic about how we create, share, and update it. In this week's podcast episode, we continue our conversation with Lucia Marecak, food photographer, food photography teacher, coach, and creative online business consultant based in Italy. Lucia shares everything about creating a powerful portfolio that brings clients, helps you raise your rates, and differentiates you from the competition.Lucia shares everything from creating separate portfolios, the different ways to market your portfolio, use it to attract clients, tips to present your portfolio in pitches, how to use it to raise your rates, and the importance of feedback to improve and upgrade your portfolio.We are always creating new content, new photos, new recipes, new videos. It's so easy to start being strategic about our content creation anytime.We can start today.And if we already have a robust, well thought-out portfolio, then we can start sharing it in ways that all that hardwork can make the impact it truly deserves. And we start anytime, wherever we are in our journey. Basically, we can start today!The beauty of it is that it's never too late. The train hasn't left the station. As soon as we learn the power of creating and marketing it a portfolio, we can start right away.Here's how to create a photography portfolio that brings results. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/103-how-to-create-a-professional-photography-portfolio-to-grow-your-business-part-2Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast, I'm sharing 3 powerful ways to bounce back when you're not loving your work. I share ways to shift your focus, your energy and your photography efforts when you're feeling stuck or blocked. Some of the ways might feel counterintuitive but are highly effective.I share how to look at your work when you're not loving it, what action to take with creations that are not up to your expectations, how to work smarter to actually start seeing improvements in your photography skills, how to get clarity and keep your creative energy flowing. Look at photographers who've been in the industry for over a decade and are still going strong. What do you think is their secret? Truth is, there is no Creative who is spared from low phases, from feeling discouraged, having self-doubt, and not liking what they create. Even the photographers who've been in the game long enough have experienced these phases. The only difference is that when they begin to feel the low point, they know how to address it. We can't run away but we can definitely empower and prepare ourselves to deal with such phases to limit that spiral feeling, and come out of it stronger. And with time such blocks, or phases become easier to navigate through.Always remember that our mindset and actions can block creativity and growth. Creativity thrives in a light, nimble space, not one filled with self-criticism or pressure. Tune in to learn three ways to bounce back & continue creating beautiful work without sabotaging your creativity or self-esteem.  Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available athttps://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/102-3-powerful-ways-to-bounce-back-from-a-creative-block-without-sabotaging-your-self-esteemDownload free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Our portfolio is a reflection of our skill, style, and aspiration as a photographer. So, the portfolio must be built with intention and strategy. The work in our portfolio must be cherry-picked and chosen strategically.  It is the intention and strategy that brings results. Knowing how to create photos for a portfolio efficiently and effectively is essential for reaching more clients and increasing your chance of success with every outreach. If you haven't seen much success in your client outreach or closing deals with brands, it might be time to look at your portfolio, how you're sharing it, what you're sharing, and what your website represents. In this week's podcast episode, Lucia Marecak, food photographer, food photography teacher, coach, and creative online business consultant based in Italy, tells us everything about creating a powerful portfolio that brings clients, helps you raise your rates, and establishes you as a professional in the market.Lucia shares everything from the kind of photos to include in a portfolio, the style of photography to follow, how to organize photos that work well for clients, how to create an SEO searchable online portfolio, the different ways to share your portfolio with clients, how to leverage social media to showcase your work, negotiate better rates, etc. Whether you already have a photography portfolio or are creating one, this conversation with Lucia is absolute gold. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/101-how-to-create-a-photography-portfolio-that-grows-your-business-with-lucia-marecak-part-1Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Now, did you know that about 20% of all small businesses fail within the first year, half of the remaining fail within the first five years, and only about one in three get to the 10-year mark?In this week's milestone episode, as we celebrate the 100th episode,  I want to share the top 3 lessons that made this possible and kept me in business. I was on the verge of quitting at the 3-year mark but I didn't and one of the lessons here came from that experience. In this episode, I share the conversation that shook me and changed my status to business owner. I also talk about the surprising investment I made to not quit food photography, and my biggest learning so far. Let my mistakes save you from tears, financial setbacks, and from giving up on your dreams.I've seen more businesses shut down than take off. I've seen food photographers give up their dreams and return to desk jobs they hate. I have friends who did not have the courage to follow their passion to run a business.I have seen the most talented photographers get crippled by the fear of failure and quit forever.Running a business or following a Creative career is not for the faint-hearted. We all know that. But there are small shifts in our thinking, professional practices and lifestyle that can make this path easier with a higher chance of success.Let's be the one in three businesses that make it past the 10-year mark by learning from the surprising situations that our creative journey throws at us. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://www.myfoodlens.com/blog/surpising lessons every photographer needs for a successful businessDownload free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast, I'm sharing 5 reasons why you shouldn't share RAW files with a client and how to communicate it professionally. I share 5 critical aspects of RAW file sharing that clients may not be aware of, and maybe you too. Even if you do, you may not be bringing it up with the client thinking it's not important or they probably already know.But more often than not, clients who request RAW files do so out of ignorance. A bit of education and sensitivity to their requirements is all it takes to easily cruise through this tough conversation... as long as we know what to say and how to say it.We build trust and establish long-term working relationships by educating our clients. If a client insists on RAW files, make sure your contract reflects this, and price it appropriately as this should be a premium service.Discussing RAW file sharing this way with the client will put you in the expert's chair and make the client feel that they've picked a knowledgeable professional who understands their requirements and presents solutions in their best interest.Never be out of ideas or words to communicate to a client about your professional practice of sharing RAW files.  Sharing or not is your decision but it's important to understand the implications of the decisions. The better we understand, the better we communicate. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/99-5-professional-replies-to-client-requests-for-raw-files-without-losing-their-trust/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

In this week's podcast, we continue our conversation with Sam Adler, a food photographer, Saveur Blog Award winner, and food blogger about what it takes to become a 6-figure food photographer. Sam already has a 6-figure food photography and blogging business. She also has 3 kids, and is aiming to make a million dollars in revenue next year. Being able to justify our rates, watch out for pricing mistakes, learn to negotiate, and find legitimate resources for industry standards are essential for building a robust, secure business. Sam shares how to find high-paying clients, industry standards for license fees, raise your rates regularly, make 100k with your food blog, negotiate when budgets don't align etc. If you're stuck, feel that you're not making enough in your food photography business, or doubt that you could have a profitable business, learn how to navigate the challenges blocking your way to a six-figure business. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/98-how-to-build-a-six-figure-food-photography-business-with-sam-adler-part-2/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

When we see others finding a level of success that looks too far-fetched, we begin to believe that it is not possible for us. Instead, when we take the success of others as proof that it is indeed possible & tell ourselves that if others have achieved it, then it must be doable, we begin to make way for more joy, success, and money than we imagined… Because then we set a new limit for ourselves and start working towards it.Don't miss out on opportunities, understand where to work hard & where to work smart, and tap into a revenue stream you may have been ignoring. I invite you to tune into this week's podcast where Sam Adler, a food photographer, Saveur Blog Award winner, and food blogger talks about what it takes to become a 6-figure and 7-figure Creative. Sam already has a 6-figure food photography and blogging business. She also has 3 kids and aims to make a million dollars in revenue next year. She knows it's going to happen.And she's telling us everything about how we can make it happen for us too. Sam openly shares her $$ business revenue trajectory over the last few years, how her blog made over 100k when she took time off work as a new mom, how to book $20,000 photography projects, how to price, pitch, and find high- paying clients .. and much more.If you're stuck, feel that you're not making enough in your food photography business, or doubt that you could have a money-making profitable business - you have to tune in. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/97-how-to-build-a-six-figure-food-photography-business-with-sam-adler-part-1/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

In this week's podcast episode, we continue our conversation with Megan Porta, an OG food blogger and the founder of the Eat Blog Talk podcast. We talk about habits and thoughts essential to attract success as a Creative. Megan helps entrepreneurs break through their limiting beliefs and achieve breakthrough results in their creative careers. She shares unexpected ways to increase productivity, how to come out of your comfort zone to discover your full potential, how to get more results by working less, and tools and resources to avoid triggers and comparisons that bring negativity.If hard work was the only requisite for success, everyone would be successful because none of us shy away from working hard.But overworking can actually repel success. When we begin to see beyond hard work and talent, we realize the untapped power of what lies within us to attract the success meant for us.Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/96-how-to-attract-success-without-working-more-hours-with-megan-porta-part-2/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

If you've been working hard and not finding the success you desire, you might be missing the same piece of the puzzle as I was. We love learning about creativity and photography. We tend to invest our time and money in them thinking that getting better at those skills will pave the path for our success.And when someone tells us that we actually can attract success without working so hard, by just making small changes in our habits and behaviors, we tend to overlook that advice until we hit a roadblock. At that point when we hit rock bottom, it strikes that the only way to spring back is to think differently, focus our energy differently, and shift our mindset. The biggest piece of the puzzle in finding success was our mindset. What we think, what we say to ourselves, what we believe about ourselves and what we think about money has a huge role to play in how success reaches us.In this week's podcast episode,  Megan Porta, an OG food blogger and the founder of the Eat Blog Talk podcast talks about habits and thoughts that are essential to attract success as a Creative. She helps entrepreneurs who want to break through their limiting beliefs and achieve breakthrough results in their creative careers. If you've been working hard and not finding the success you desire, you might be missing the same piece of the puzzle as I was. We love learning about creativity and photography. We tend to invest our time and money in them thinking that getting better at those skills will pave the path for our success.And when someone tells us that we actually can attract success without working so hard, by just making small changes in our habits and behaviors, we tend to overlook that advice until we hit a roadblock. At that point when we hit rock bottom, it strikes us that the only way to spring back is to think differently, focus our energy differently, and shift our mindset.Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/95-how-to-attract-success-without-working-more-hours-with-megan-porta-part-1/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast we continue our conversation with M. Aimee Tan,  a professional food and beverage photographer, food stylist, creative director, recipe developer, and content creator based in Canada, who reveals everything you need to know about creating sponsored posts for brands.Aimee works with local, and global clientele as well as PR & marketing agencies.In this episode, she discusses how to price your services, deal with brands that offer free products, tips to tap into retainer clients, differentiate yourself while pitching to brands, and much more. Given the current climate, social media content will be in high demand. With digital & social media ads becoming a norm, brands will need more and more such content. This is great for us as it can be a lucrative way to add this revenue stream and grow our business. We just need to know how to go about it.While brands may or may not have a professional approach while requesting our services, we sure can educate them & create successful partnerships. Here's how to Create a streamlined and profitable process to work on sponsored content. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/94-how-to-partner-with-brands-for-sponsored-content-with-m-aimee-tan-part-2/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

In this week's podcast, I'm sharing 4 practical reasons why pursuing food photography as a business may not be the right career choice for you.As someone who advocates turning your passion into your profession, I had a tough time creating this episode, but it was important to share the 4 main areas you need to keep an eye on if you want to start or grow your business. If you're facing frustration, burnout, or self-doubt, this episode might tell you which areas of your business need attention.Our passion for photography is not enough to create a successful business. Several technical and emotional aspects need to align to do so.Running a business is a tough journey but going in with our eyes wide open can help us recognize curveballs, stay vigilant, and deal with setbacks without burning out. The last thing we want is to quit or give up on our dream of a creative career.Just like we put on our seat belts before an airplane takes off to be steady during turbulence, we need to do the same in business too. As long as our seat belts are on aka as long as we are realistic about what it takes to be a creative business owner, there's no stopping us.Take away unrealistic expectations, surprises, and misunderstandings from your creative journey. Tune in to find out whether a food photography business is the right fit for you. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERERead more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/93-4-reasons-why-a-food-photography-business-may-not-be-the-right-fit-for-you/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast, M. Aimee Tan,  a professional food and beverage photographer, food stylist, creative director, recipe developer, and content creator based in Canada, reveals everything you need to know about creating sponsored posts for brands.Aimee works with local, and global clientele as well as PR & marketing agencies.In this episode, she discusses how to get started with brand partnerships for social media content, how to pitch, the eligibility to approach brands, ways to position your value and offer a range of services under the realm of sponsored posts, and whether a large social media following and a media kit is needed.The demand for social media content is more than ever before. We're living in the age of the Instagrams and Tik Toks where even basic searches are being done on social media instead of Google. Which means there is so much potential for us to add sponsored posts as a service to our businesses as a way to widen our client base and diversify our revenue streams. Don't let myths and misconceptions hold you back from partnering with brands of your choice and portraying their products in your unique style. Whether you're in Asia or Europe or anywhere else in the world, remember that we live in a global world & digitalization has dissolved boundaries.Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/92-how-to-partner-with-brands-for-sponsored-content-with-m-aimee-part-1/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Most photographers start a full-time or part-time business with passion and enthusiasm. But over time, when the rubber hits the road, they begin to run out of steam because they hit a roadblock - How to grow the business and make more $$ every month?How to scale the business, a natural progression?Where to go from here, what's next?Staying in business, any business, not just photography, is a challenge.Building a sustainable business requires us to stay on top of market demands, continuously reinvent ourselves, and get smart about how we run the business so we don't burn out.One of the ways food photographers can continue to do all of the above and stay in business is by adding a service for their clients - a service that is in hot demand and will only continue to get more attention in the future.It is the service of creating food videos. In this week's podcast episode, we continue our conversation with the queen of videography, Eva Kosmas Flores.Eva is a photographer, author, and educator based in Portland, Oregon. She teaches video and photography through her online courses and in-person workshops.Eva has been creating food videos for over a decade & has grown her business exponentially by offering photo and video content to clients.She talks about the business side of food videos in part 2 of this episode covering how to price videos, licensing & copyright, pitching  to clients, how to leverage videos to stand out from the competition, the style of videos for the future & much more. At some point or the other, we all feel stuck in our creative journeys. We question what the future of our business looks like. We feel insecure thinking whether we can continue to bring more income so we can pay rent, and our child's school fees and have the financial freedom we dreamt of when we started the business. Food videos can help you stay in business. Not only stay in business, but also skyrocket and catapult your business. Tune into the episode to learn what a successful & thriving food photography & videography business looks like.Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/91-how-to-create-captivating-food-videos-and-monetize-your-content-with-eva-kosmas-flores-part-2/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

This week on the podcast, I've 5 quick tips to improve the lighting in your food photography. There is always so much to learn about light. Small, subtle changes can completely change the feel of a photo. It can take a photo from realistic to artistic, with never-ending options. Flatlay photography, adding movement to photos, or a creative way to learn about lighting - this week's tips will immediately tell you what might be missing or can be improved in your photos.It is the reminder we all need every once in a while to stay on top of our lighting game. The truth is that a simple composition with stunning light is way more powerful, than a large composition with beautiful props but okay light.Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlensShow notes available https://myfoodlens.com/5-quick-tips-to-improve-the-lighting-in-your-food-photography/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

The future is looking towards food in motion. I mean, look at social media. We're seeing a surge in food videos. Look at client briefs. They want their products to be captured in action.Look at our potential of being able to convey a visual story of food way more powerfully through videos.There is no denying that photos will always hold their importance but the future will have a huge demand for videos.Now, I love creating photos but videos make me sweat. The amount of time, different set of technical skills, additional equipment, and then new editing applications, just totally overwhelms me. If you're like me, you probably feel the same way that videos are too much work or perhaps, videos don't interest you at all.But the one thing I've discovered over the years of being a creative business owner is that our growth & success highly depend on our ability to adapt and pivot towards where the market is moving while staying true to our values and vision as a creative.If you want to ease into video creation, you want to tune into this week's podcast episode with the Queen of Videography, Eva Kosmas Flores.Eva Kosmas Flores is a photographer, author, and educator based in Portland, Oregon. She teaches video and photography through her online courses and in-person workshops.She is an icon in the food photography industry & has been creating food videos for over a decade. She has stayed open to how the food content creation industry has evolved and has grown her business exponentially by offering photo and video content to clients.In this episode, Eva shares all the technicalities of creating videos - camera equipment, frame rates, what are cinematic style videos, how to bring visual storytelling to them, and which tools to use to organize yourself for a video shoot. Food photos are my first love but I've also seen how powerful food videos have become, at least in the past few years. Short videos can capture the audience on your food blog & increase traffic.A photo and video package offered as a service to brands can add scope and bring more revenue. And if you're creating for passion, expressing food through movement can be a highly enriching  & moving experience.If you've been thinking about growing your skills, expanding the range of services to brands, somersaulting your social media presence, or just exploring your creativity, this episode with Eva will ease you into the world of creating captivating food videos.Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com  Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/89-how-to-create-captivating-food-videos-and-monetize-your-content-with-eva-kosmas-flores-part-1/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Have you ever looked at another photographer and wondered why they're doing better than you? Why is their business more successful than yours? Why have they achieved what you've not? Why is your business not growing like theirs?  Will your business ever look like theirs? Will you ever be as successful as them? If these questions have ever crossed your mind, then let me share with you that the reason why some businesses are more successful than others is because they have a secret hack. And no matter which industry it is, every successful person knows this secret and they're using it to their advantage to build the business of their dreams. In this week's episode, I'm sharing the reason why your photography business is not taking off & the reason you're not seeing results in spite of doing all the hard work.I share the secret hack that all successful entrepreneurs have which has helped them build their businesses and can help you build yours too. I share a simple way to incorporate this secret into your business to achieve success. It's a teeny tiny hack that can make a big impact. If you feel that your business is growing too slowly & not shaping like you had hoped, this episode is for you. It will open you to a new idea that will change the way you do your photography and also look at your business.But also knowing fully well that your business should not look like anyone else's. Not only because that's what'll make it unique but also because no two people are alike. So how can their businesses be alike? Your dreams for your business, your vision and your efforts will be very different from someone else's.But irrespective of what your vision for your creative journey is, there is a way to get to where you want to be.There is only one difference between those who are successful at what they set out to do and those who are not, and it is that one practice. If you're feeling stuck or that your business is not taking off, this episode might change that. Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/88-why-your-photography-business-is-not-taking-off/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Have you noticed that a basic food photographer can have a thriving business and Have you also noticed that a brilliant photographer may not really be making enough in their business?This is more common than you might think. Photography talent is very different from business acumen. They're both completely different skill sets and just because we are good at photography doesn't automatically imply we'll have a profitable business.Yes, it begins with us falling in love with photography. That step is a must to be able to even start a business, but once we are in it, the real game begins. Just like any other business, the reality of running a photography business is more than meets the eye.It might look like all we have to do is take photos for clients, but that's not what a successful photography business is only about. In this week's episode, we continue our conversation with the NYC based Italian food photographer, Fracensco Sapienza, to learn more about the unseen realities of being a full-time food photographer.This episode is hot & fiery as we dive into pricing, scaling your business, how to make it bigger by working less, client work, pitching to big brands, how to meet the profit and success we dream of when we set up a business etc.If you're thinking of moving to full-time photography or wanting to grow the business you already have, become informed about the path ahead and empower yourself for success. Just because there are challenges, doesn't mean there aren't ways to overcome them. Being aware of those challenges and having realistic expectations is a large part of meeting success in our business. What looks easy on the outside is way more complicated on the inside. But there is no stopping if we decide that a photography business is what we want. Just like we build careers in the corporate world, it takes time and effort to build a career in the business world too.And just because we are artists, doesn't mean we are destined to live the image of the “starving artist”.Let's be successful business owners and passionate artists.Learning from someone else's struggles and being prepared for curveballs puts us in a strong position to live the dream we so badly desire.Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast  Read more at https://myfoodlens.comFollow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/87-the-hidden-realities-of-being-a-professional-food-photographer-with-francesco-sapienza-part-2/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Have you ever been in a photoshoot and felt something was off, but you couldn't quite figure it out?Most of the time, it's because of one big reason – light.But instead of tackling light, our tendency is usually to start fussing with props and backdrops and composition, thinking that is the problem when actually sometimes all it needs is a tiny tweak in the light.But here's the deal – to tweak the light, we've got to know what to tweak. We've got to understand light.In this week's podcast, I'm sharing all about one of the most dynamic lighting direction for food photography – Side Backlight.Yep, this kid of lighting is my absolute personal favourite and I share all the reasons why it is so powerful. In this episode I also talk about where this light might not be the best fit because that is part of understanding light. Not just where it works but also where it doesn't so that not only can we create this awesome light, but also know what to do if we get stuck.The lighting techniques for food photography are not the same as other forms of photography. A solid grasp of lighting in food photography not only streamlines our photoshoot workflow but also propels our skills forward. Understanding various lighting techniques allows us to harness the unique strengths of each type of light, tailoring them to create the mood we want and make the food hero look like a million bucks.Infact, it is the #1 skill every food photographer needs - a good grip on lighting techniques & the ability to troubleshoot when needed.  I personally think that side back light is a superhero, it is mine atleast & once you begin to use it, I'm certain this lighting style will totally wow you.Don't be at the mercy of available light. Create light the way you want and take your photography to the next-level.​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/86-side-back-light-when-to-use-avoid-it-in-food-photography/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

What do you think it takes to be a successful commercial food photographer?Excellent camera skills?High level of Creativity? Crazy passion for photography?Expensive photography equipment? What if I told you, none of the above are deal breakers to be a commercial photographer.It takes more than camera skills, creativity and passion to run a photography business.Most of us get into food photography because we love food or have a passion for photography but running a successful and profitable photography business is a completely different game and definitely not a piece of cake.In this week's podcast we are getting as raw and real as it gets.We are peeling back the layers & sharing the truth of being a commercial food photographer with our guest, Francesco Sapienza, a food photographer based in NYC.He's worked with huge names like the New York Times, Smithsonian Books, Rizzoli publications, Whole foods market etc. and is sharing how to build a photography business in a competitive market and the challenges to expect.We talk about the different kinds of projects under commercial food photography, how to transition from part-time to full-time photography, the secret ingredient to set up a business, how to add & price your services, rejection in business, whether to get an agent, how to market yourself in a competitive market etc.If you want a real peek into the opportunities and challenges of being a commercial food photographer, this episode is for you.  Being able to take a good photo is only a small part of a photography business. Photography is the learnable part but there are many more parts that go into making it a profitable business. Ever seen an iceberg? We see a small part of the iceberg above water but the majority is below the surface. A food photography business is exactly like that. What we see on social media or hear professionals talk about is only the part of the business above the surface. There is a large part we don't see or hear about. In this week's episode, we're pulling that large part of the iceberg out of the water so that you can see it in its entirety.Not to discourage you though but to prepare you. This episode is full of truth bombs that will help you in your journey and set you up for success. It will help you anticipate challenges, identify opportunities and embrace change better.Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast  Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/Download free resourcesThe 5 steps to visual storytellingThe 10-step photoshoot Write that pitch 

Is creating compositions a challenge for you? I can totally see why. First off, for the simple reason that composition is art. It is subjective and everyone's style is different. So it really leaves a lot of grey area on whether a certain technique works or not.Secondly, because composition is an art, it is tough to learn it technically. Yes, we can understand guides and placement and general rules around composition but really, we all know that creating composition is like composing music. Thirdly, compositions are tough because there are so many choices. Any food can be photographed in infinite no. of ways. And because the choices are so vast, it often becomes a time struggle for us. In addition to the time we spend on creating the composition, theres so much decision making that has to be done to choose a composition style for our subject, ending up in taking up more time.What if there was a way to make that decision faster? What if you could look at a food subject and decide what composition style would suit it best? What if you could save all that time upfront? In this week's episode, we discuss how to know when to create large compositions.We discuss the 3 categories of food that are worth spending the time to create elaborate compositions, how to use that to your advantage in client projects and how to work smartly to create simpler yet powerful compositions. Creating large and elaborate compositions can be really time taking. Oftentimes we spend so much creating a composition for a subject and it doesn't deliver our vision or look the best it could. We are either disappointed or think that we don't have the skills to envision the result upfront or we start over and recreate. None of these situations are preferable.Learn a simple way of identifying which food works best for larger compositions can help save time, develop the skill of envisioning the result upfront and also position us as experts in front of clients. Whether composition-creation is a struggle or not, here's a simple way to work smarter with it. Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens PodcastHERE Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/84-how-to-know-when-to-create-large-compositions/Download free guide and workbook The 5-step guide to visual storytelling - DOWNLOAD HERE The 10-step photoshoot - DOWNLOAD HERE Write that pitch - DOWNLOAD HERE  

Whether it's the start of the year or not, we all find ourselves at different points in our journey setting new goals, striving to achieve existing ones, or perhaps even questioning the necessity of setting goals altogether. Regardless of our stand on goal setting, we all have ambitions for our creative journey. It could be launching a new project, getting better at photography, growing our business, or simply finding more balance in our lives. Whether we set ambitious goals or avoid setting goals altogether to dodge the feeling of overwhelm, we have our own unique approach to move towards our creative aspirations. In this week's podcast episode, I'm sharing what I wish I had done differently at the start of last year and how I'm approaching my goals this year.Whether you set goals or not, the idea that I'm sharing in this episode can be a game-changer in your creative journey.  And if you have set goals for this year, this episode will definitely make your goals stronger and more powerful, setting you up for success.As creatives we want to continue to grow and improve in our journey. But how can we move forward if we don't know which direction is forward? Goal-setting is exactly like that. How can we reach somewhere if we don't set a destination? In this episode I'm sharing a goal-setting tip that can change how much you achieve this year.Making that small tweak in the way you set goals is like picking your parking bay and reversing exactly between the 2 white lines. Perfectly.  Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/83-dont-lose-a-year-make-this-easy-goal-setting-tweak-now/Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREDownload free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Being a full-time photographer and running a business can be very overwhelming.esp when everyone around is constantly hustling. Someone is working with food52Someone is shooting for Delicious magazineSomeone just made $500,000 by selling their online courseSomeone is talking about completing 10 years in food photographyWe hear them, we look at their photography businesses and go, “Sigh! I'm so behind. Everyone is doing so much. I need to work more, work harder.”Running a business is tough. But do you know what is the best part about having your own business?The best part is that your business is your own. It can be anything you want it to be and it does not need to be like anyone else's.In this week's episode, we continue our conversation with food photographer, blogger, professional cake designer, and cookbook author, Tessa Huff, who tells us all about how to create a business  you love without compromising on your personal life.Tessa has 3 kids, moved countries, shut down a business and started a photography business from scratch only to go on to work with brands like Food network canada. The biggest step she took to set herself up for success was by creating a business unique to her and not influenced by how others were doing it in the industry.In this episode Tessa tells us her challenge of working with food network, how she continues to work with brands on an ongoing basis, how she wrote a cookbook while balancing a business and family and how to make photography a profitable business.The advantage of having our own business is that we can make it anything we like. It doesn't have to look like someone else's. We are unique as creatives, our lives are different from each other so how can our businesses look the same? If we can come to terms with this simple concept, it makes it so much easier to create a business around the life we have. Our personal commitments are as important, if not more, than our professional responsibilities. Oftentimes, life changes or starting from scratch makes us feel like we've fallen behind. But the truth is that there is no “behind” in life.The biggest advantage of having our own business is that we can set our own pace, milestones, deadlines, processes and definition of success.If you've been wondering whether your photography career will ever take off or are feeling behind because of personal commitments or you're thinking about starting a new business, this episode is for you. Read more at https://myfoodlens.comFollow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/82-how-to-build-a-photography-business-while-balancing-family-part-2-with-tessa-huff/Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREDownload free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Have you ever taken a photo and thought -“Ughh! that looks dull”“Why does my photo look flat”“That food does not look delicious”“Why doesn't my photo pop” “Ok, that looks good but I wish it was better” “Gosh! I did everything right but there's still something missing”Truth is, 90% of the time that missing factor in our photos is the light.Most of us understand the basics of lighting in food photography but we are forever striving to take it to the next level.We are constantly working on building a better understanding of light and honing our technique so we can create more impactful and eye-catching food photos.But what does it take to create next-level lighting in our photos? How do we tell whether the light in our photos is powerful enough?In this week's podcast episode, I'm sharing simple yet powerful techniques to take the lighting in our food photography to the next-level. I share some key considerations that can skyrocket the way we work with light & double the power of our photos by working with light in a very intentional way.In this episode, we go beyond lighting-101. It's about thinking about light and working with it the way most professionals and experienced photographers do. I'm sure you've heard enough times that light is everything in food photography. In fact, I keep repeating that in food photography we don't need great composition but we always need great lighting.It doesn't matter whether we work with artificial light or natural light, whether it's soft light or harsh light, once we have a solid grip on technique, it applies to anything and everything we create. This episode will give you insights into what to look for when you feel there's something missing in your photo. It will also help you look at light differently. It will help you get intimate with your light and really create a photo that meets your vision. We all want to create next-level photos and one of the most essential ways to get there is to deepen our understanding of light.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/81-take-your-lighting-to-the-next-level-in-food-photography/Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HEREDownload free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

If you had to uproot yourself and move to a new country, you had to shut down your businessAnd when you moved to the new country with the hopes of starting a new business,You found out that you had a baby on the way.How would you feel at that point in life?Would you be excited at the prospect of building a new life and having a clean slate to start from? Or Would you be upset that you had to shut down your business and move to a completely unknown country and start building a life from scratch with such a huge life change on the way?Most of us would be pretty confused or pulled down. I know I would.And even if I would be okay with everything, willing to start a new business, the news of the baby would make me think. I would be excited but also wonder if it would be a good time to start a new business knowing full well how big mom commitments are.Why am I asking you this?  Because this is the story of our podcast guest,  Tessa Huff.Tessa had to overcome all those challenges that I mentioned above and in spite of it, she built a successful food blogging and photography business for herself. Tessa is a food photographer, blogger, professional cake designer, and cookbook author based in Canada. She's worked with several big brands including food network Canada.  In this week's episode Tessa shares exactly how she built a business from scratch while taking care of 3 kids at home.She shares what it takes to uproot yourself and settle in a new country, how to set a niche for your business, food styling and content creation tips and how to set up an organized approach to build a successful business from the get go.Family is more important than business, so how do we bring ourselves to be present for our loved ones but also build the business of our dreams? It is totally possible. It takes a different style of working but with determination and an organized approach, it is totally possible.We often take challenges and life changes as setbacks but the truth is that these changes have the potential to shape a brighter future for us. Tessa's opportunity to work with Food Network may or may not have happened had she not moved to Canada. A life change whether it's moving cities, having a baby or simply the idea of starting a business, tune in to learn how to accomplish everything without compromising on anything.  Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/80-how-to-build-a-photography-business-while-balancing-family-part-1-with-tessa-huff/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Look at you stepping into the new year with a smile!Well, I hope you're smiling because it's the time of the year when fresh starts and new beginnings feel a lot easier to make. I don't know about your goals but a big goal for me last year and the year before was to not quit food photography. Yep! It was my goal to do what I'm doing in spite of things not going my way.It was a tough one no matter how easy it sounds.And a big part of trying to achieve my goal of not quitting was to be able to recenter myself and constantly remind myself of why I do what I do. Over and over again.A shocking realization in the process was that my love for food photography alone was not big enough to keep me in it. There had to be something more, something that would pull me out of the trenches every time I was sinking.And there was one thing that did exactly that over and over again. It was a huge part of bringing a sense of purpose and a higher meaning to my creative life. It kept me from giving up.In this week's episode I'm sharing how to find that higher meaning and purpose in food photography. I share why we all need a higher purpose and need to make our photography journey more meaningful, how my entire way of thinking changed once I discovered this purpose, how a small simple step can change your life and others too. If you feel that you don't need that sense of purpose, that is exactly how I felt. But when I was on the verge of giving up and leaving food photography for good in 2021 that higher purpose grounded me. It saved me from making a decision I knew I would not be happy about.We as humans are always seeking meaning and also logic in everything we do. As passionate as we might be, as creatives we battle self-doubt, judgment, insecurity and sometimes, the feeling of not being seen as an equal to someone with a hot-shot corporate job. We work hard on our skills and business, but I think we work harder on our mindset. We work harder in trying to navigate the tough road of a creative life and an even tougher path of entrepreneurship.If there is a way to make it a tad easier for ourselves, a way for us to navigate this tough path with more strength, resilience and joy, then why not try it.I'm sharing an easy and simple way to create a deep-rooted sense of purpose in your creative lives. I can guarantee that once you find it, you'll never see food photography the same way and no one around you will either. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/79-how-to-find-a-higher-purpose-make-food-photography-more-meaningful/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Few years ago I received an enquiry from a brand for a cookbook photoshoot. They had seen my work and wanted to know more about my process and also my rates for the project. I shrieked. I mean who doesn't want to shoot a cookbook. Almost every photographer dreams of it. I did too. I was excited reading that email.But there was a minor problem. I had never done a cookbook shoot before. I had absolutely no idea what the process looked like and how I was supposed to charge for it. I mean it wasn't a magazine, it was a cookbook. They're both print media but are they really similar in process and pricing?My head was spinning.And so, I reached out to my dear friend in the industry, Diana muresan. Diana food photographer, stylist, blogger and educator, was also an experienced cookbook photographer & she came to my rescue.I bombarded her with questions and she answered each one of them patiently and with complete transparency. In this week's podcast we continue our conversation with Diana Muresan about cookbook shoots and she shares all the tricky details. We talk about pricing the project confidently, credits to be included in such projects, curveballs to expect and how to cater for contingencies, how to keep such projects profitable and whether cookbook photography is lucrative enough.  So, when I received that client enquiry, I had made a rough estimate of $5000 for the project but after my conversation with Diana, I realized how far off that was from what the project fee should have been. Based on the brief, it was easily a $12000 project.But I would've never known had I not spoken to someone about it.Imagine if I would've been hired for $5000 only to realize too late what the project fee should have actually been. Can you imagine the jolt to my confidence, passion and my desire to do a good job on the project? Leave all of that, imagine how unappreciated and unvalued it would've made me feel.We never want to be in that situation.If we run a photography business, it is always a good idea to know about the different kinds of projects in the industry, what it takes to execute them & how to quote for them so that if there is ever an opportunity, our decision to take it up or leave it is based on our interest it instead of our lack of knowledge about it.  Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/78-how-to-take-a-cookbook-shoot-from-start-to-finish-with-diana-muresan-part-2/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Ever dreamt of shooting a cookbook?How would you feel seeing your work in print?How would you feel if you opened a cookbook and found your photos on large pages staring right back at you?I don't think I've ever met a photographer who didn't want to see their work in print, who wasn't excited by the thought of photographing a cookbook and creating memories not only special for the author of the cookbook but also for themselves.  That feeling is pretty priceless, I'll say. And while that feeling might be surreal, the overwhelm of taking on a cookbook project is real. There are so many questions about cookbook photography projects that fill our minds that most of the time, the intimidation of the process itself stops us from signing up for a cookbook project, in spite of wanting it so badly. In this week's episode, Diana Muresan, commercial & editorial food photographer, stylist, blogger and educator based in Canada, who has worked with cookbook authors, national and international food brands and marketing & PR agencies, shares the A-Z process of a cookbook shoot.In our conversation we cover everything from -Landing a cookbook projectQuestions to ask before quoting for the projectPricing for the projectThe styling & photography skills neededThe team setup required…and basically the entire shebang of taking a cookbook shoot project from start to finish. I don't know if you feel so but I think that cookbook shoots are a bit of a mystery because they aren't talked about much or discussed as frequently as commercial food photography projects.Even if there is a mention, there aren't enough details to be able to get a good grip on the entire process. A holistic picture of what this sort of a project entails is somewhat missing in our industry conversations. This episode gives complete insight on what a cookbook project looks like at every single stage. If you've ever wanted to photograph a cookbook or wondered what it is to take on such a project, this episode is for you.  Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/  Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/77-how-to-take-a-cookbook-shoot-from-start-to-finish/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

I don't know which camera to buy.Is this lens worth the cost?Should I go for flash or continuous lights?Deciding on which camera equipment to buy is never easy. It almost always comes down to our budget and whether it's worth the investment. Have you ever bought a piece of gear and found that it wasn't really worth buying, didn't improve your photography or was too inconvenient to use? We've all spent money on equipment we didn't really need & we've all dreamt of certain equipment we wish we had in our collection. Photography is an expensive craft and we need to be extremely careful where we invest.In this week's podcast episode, I'll share one of the best ways to save time and money while investing in photography equipment. Sometimes we wish to upgrade our gear, sometimes we need to replace it and sometimes we are intrigued by a new technology in the market.If we can strengthen our selection process, it can actually save us dollars but also headache, frustration and stress.Here's a simple practice, no matter which stage of the creative journey you're in, that can be a huge game-changer in our photography investment and skills improvement. The photography equipment we own depends a lot on our personal preferences, our workflow and the kind of work we create either for ourselves or for our clients. It takes many factors for a certain equipment to work for us and take our skills to the next level. One wrong choice can set us back hundreds and thousands of dollars. It can also set us back in our confidence and in feeling skillful - that's how important it is to make our equipment choice wisely. There is a way for us to make an informed decision which has a 100% guarantee of working for us. If you're wondering if that's really possible, I want to tell you, it absolutely is.Spend your money on the right equipment, save the headache of decision-making & become a more skillful photographer in the process. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at  https://myfoodlens.com/76-how-to-save-time-money-when-investing-in-photography-gear/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

A few weeks ago someone on social media commented on one of my posts saying that in their opinion they didn't believe that food photography could ever be a full-time career, that it could be profitable or be taken up professionally.I didn't say much to this because we are all welcome to have our opinions and unfortunately, this is a common opinion about our industry.But between you and me, I completely disagree.In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing in the world that cannot be a full-time profession, it all depends on us. And food photography, c'mon, we have so many success stories in front of us who are leading a thriving career in food photography.But I can also understand why someone might feel that food photography cannot be a full-time profession. I mean, do food photographers make enough money?Do you? The answer is Yes and No. I know many successful food photographers who are doing well financially because of the way they've shaped their creative career but I also know several who are struggling to make ends meet and questioning whether it was the right choice.If you fall in the latter category, I have something for you today. In this week's podcast episode, I'm sharing 3 simple yet big reasons why you might not be making enough money in your photography business. I've included immediate actionable steps that you can take today to change the way you might be bringing in revenue in your business.  These might seem obvious but they're highly overlooked and not applied, resulting in the frustration of pursuing a career that we dearly love but cannot sustain financially. The good news is that we can change that. This episode is for you if - You're not making as much as you'd like in your photography businessOrYou'd like to make more than what you do right nowOrYou're curious if you're missing anything in your business workflow even though you're pretty happy with what you're making Money is not what got us into food photography so how can it be the reason to take us away from it. At the same time, we need to be practical. We've got to pay rent, our child's school fees, bills,  and we deserve a comfortable life too…And if food photography is not bringing us that joy both emotionally and financially then it's time to relook at the way we are driving it. Don't fall for a stranger's opinion on whether food photography is full-time worthy or not. Your financial freedom is in your hands.Do the work and bask in the success. Here are 3 simple practices to put the rein into your hands. ​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/75-not-making-enough-money-in-food-photography-3-common-mistakes-to-avoid/Download free workbook Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Would you like more followers on social media?More likes?More engagement?YES?Almost everyone wishes they had a larger following on social media. Infact, there are courses in the market on “How to get 300k followers in 30 days.”Sounds tempting, right?Who wouldn't want a larger community? Why not?But the question we really need to ask is, why?Why do we want a larger community?How does it help us or help them?Will it make us better photographers?Will it boom our business?Will it celebritize us in the industry?Will it bring more clients?Truth is, having a large following is very minutely linked to any of these. The celebritize part I would agree with but at the core of being photographers and business owners, social media only solves a certain purpose for us.This week on the podcast we continue our conversation on this hot topic with the power-duo, husband-wife team, Madhushree and Anindya Basu @pikturenama.Previously restaurateurs, now food bloggers, food influencers, food photographer & videographer, cookbook authors, food writers, together the duo runs a creative agency in India. Madhu and Anindya have a stunning social media presence and are driving a successful food blogging and photography business...And in this episode they share how it's been possible inspite of social media changes. We discuss whether algorithm changes impact client work, When do the numbers on social media matter, Mistakes creators make, what it takes to create a robust presence on social media & the absolute needle moving effort that improves skills and brings businessThere is no denying that social media numbers are important but we need to have utmost clarity on how they're working for us and why we should work on them.It is essential to take a step back and look at our clients or our revenue generators to see how much of it is really linked to social media. What would happen if our numbers didn't grow?What would fall apart?This conversation with Madhu & Anindya is an eye opener. They're practical about the  value of social media but at the same time, they've taken steps to build a solid foundation for their business that does not get impacted by algorithm changes. If you've wondered whether it's possible to thrive as a food photographer with a smaller following on social media or creating less content or being less present, this episode is for you.It will tell you exactly where numbers matter and where they don't Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/  Read more at https://myfoodlens.comShow notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/74-how-to-create-a-resilient-food-photography-business-unaffected-by-social-media-changes-with-madhushree-anindya-basu-part-2/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Let's say you have a friend who loves your photography....but they don't really understand the technicalities.One day you post a moody photoAnd they absolutely love it.So they ask, “how did you create it?”And you get excited and start telling them all about light and how light creates mood.But how confident are you about your understanding of light in moody photography?What if I told you that the most common mistake photographers make while creating moody photography is in the lighting.And that is majorly because of one huge misconception that has risen from social media. Many photographers teach this technique to create moody photography and those who learn don't even realize that the technique is not really accurate.This week's episode is inspired by that one misleading advice about lighting in moody photography that we see all over the internet.In this episode I describe the different moods in food photography, what creates mood, lighting basics for creating mood and the biggest lighting mistake we make in moody food photography.Light is the backbone of photography and it is made up of a ton of subtleties. Having a good hold on these subtleties allows us to take our photography to the next level. Understanding brights, highlights, shadows and darks is essential to be able to create a powerful food photo especially, if we want to create a specific mood in that photo. When we have a deep understanding of the components of light we can create different moods with exactly the same composition by working on the lighting alone.And if someone asks “how did you create it?”We understand lighting for moody photography well enough to be able to answer in the most informed and technically correct way..… And with full confidence!   Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/  Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/73-the-1-lighting-mistake-in-moody-photography/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Have you ever bought a course, and then left it for some or the other reason without completing it? Have you ever bought a course, completed it but it never really gave you results. Didn't help much.Most of us have invested in courses in our creative lives and gone through the pain of certain courses not working out for us.We buy courses but don't always get the results we expect.What happens when a course doesn't work out for us?It feels like a waste of money.It feels like a waste of time.We doubt whether we're the only ones who didn't quite get it.We judge the course instructor thinking they didn't do a good job. It makes us hesitant to invest in another course again.While there are many mediocre courses out there and any of the above can be true about a course, we rarely invest in courses that are truly mediocre.We buy courses after careful thought & consideration.But still they don't work out. WHY does that happen and WHEN does that happen? Spoiler alert - it has nothing to do with money.In this week's podcast episode I share the #1 mistake when buying a course. The top reason why a course doesn't help us, why we don't feel motivated to complete it and how it impacts our faith in our skills. Quite often it is neither the content of the course nor the course instructor. The mistake has to do with us. I'll tell you how I wasted 1000s of dollars just because of this one reason  & share how to save money, make the right choice when it comes to investing in a course and get the maximum results from that decision. The cost of a course has nothing to do with the results it will bring us.There's no guarantee that a $1000 course will work better than a $100 course. It depends on us. If our selection is not based on that one solid criteria, whether it's $1000 or $100, both courses will be a waste of money and time.We have so much to learn as photographers, it is a time-consuming and energy demanding passion.  We need to make sure that if we spend time and energy on learning something new, it should inch us towards our photography goals. If it leaves us confused, frustrated or exactly where we were, that course was definitely not the right choice.There is a way to always know which course would be the best choice and where to make your investment. Don't make the same mistake I made for years. Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/72-the-1-mistake-to-avoid-when-investing-in-a-course/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Instagram has gone through such massive changes in the last year that we food photographers & bloggers are finding it difficult to love it like before.Some creators are thriving.Some have left the platform.Some have distanced themselves.Some return only for the community and conversations. It has impacted almost all of us esp. those who depended on Instagram for collaborations, influencer work, driving traffic to their blog or getting discovered by clients. While we feel robbed of the joy we once felt sharing our work on the platform,  our businesses have also been impacted.It's not easy navigating through this phase of social media. It doesn't really inspire us to share our work on it anymore like before.Tell me you feel so too.This week's podcast is ultra-special because we have not one, but two special guests - husband-wife, Madhushree and Anindya Basu @pikturenama.Previously restaurateurs, now food bloggers, food influencers, food photographer & videographer, cookbook authors, food writers, together the duo runs a creative agency in India. While many creators are struggling in this social media climate, Madhu and Anindya are buzzing with their thriving food blogging and photography business....And in this episode they share how it's been possible inspite of social media changes. We talk about the impact of social media on the creative industry, how to diversify your business, how to promote your business outside of social media, get discovered by clients, a powerful practice to grow your business while staying unaffected by Instagram algorithms etc.As creators, we love connecting back to a community on social media and as business owners, we love how social media gives us access to potential clients and showcases our professional work.There are so many reasons for us to feel frustrated given how it has changed but hearing Madhu & Anindya will not only give hope but also leave you with fresh ideas on how to navigate through this phase.It's time to embrace, adapt and pivot because it is totally possible to still find joy in sharing our work and also have a thriving business in spite of Instagram's mood swings.Read more at https://myfoodlens.com Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/create-resilient-food-photography-business-unaffected-by-social-media-changes/Download free guide and workbook The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch