After several years of side-hustling as a photographer, I went full time in 2020, and now embrace the entrepreneurial life. I sincerely believe that with a little hard work and grit, we can all turn our artistic passions into business profits. On this sho
This is a heartfelt personal story about how I'm using the success of B. Knox Photography to bring others up. Stories like this one are why I'm building this business, y'all. We don't get ahead in business by exploiting others. We get ahead in business by searching out what people are great at and then letting them operate in their area of expertise.
Are you looking to stand out from the crowd and excel in your business? In this episode, we dive into the concept of embracing your uniqueness and identifying the qualities that set you apart. Starting with a brainstorming session, we explore how to identify your unique skills and strengths that can help you succeed in your chosen field. Plus, for all our loyal listeners, stay tuned for a special offer! Don't miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and embrace your own unique path to success.
Do NOT go out and subscribe to 40 programs that have a monthly cost. You can build the foundation of your service-based business on free software. Take it from me: I'm cheap and totally allergic to overhead (ask any of my friends. I avoid fixed expenses like the plague. In this episode, I give a bite-size description of 7 softwares (programs like HubSpot, Canva, and Wave) that are free and easy to use.
This episode tells a recent story of how I successfully referred out photography work. It's work that I'm capable of (headshots) and that pays nicely, but it's not work that thrills me. Consequently, I passed the opportunity on to a friend who specializes in headshots and who gobbles up opportunities like this. You, too, can build an arrangement like this, creating a win-win-win scenario. You focus on work you love (and make some money for the referral), your friends get business they want, and the customer gets a top-notch service provider.
Today's guest on the podcast is Bri Plyler. Bri has been an entrepreneur for seven years and she currently co-owns a construction company with her husband and is a ADHD Life Coach through her company called Current. In this episode, Bri and I are specifically discussing Tim Ferriss's influential book from 2007, The 4 Hour Work Week. I wanted to get Bri on to talk about how this book may help you because she's smart , well-read, and good at implementing tactics that she learns. If you want to learn about things like how to restore yourself after a period of intense work, how to delegate your weaknesses and focus on your strengths, and how to build a tribe by telling your personal story then this episode is for you.
This one's a throwback to late 2021! Brooks and I were outside at Kaffeine Coffee Shop and it was bitter cold. But I appreciated the chance to share my story about going full-time with photography. Here's Brooks' original description: Brian Knox started B. Knox Photography in Greenville, South Carolina in early 2020 a few weeks before the coronavirus pandemic hit. We recently sat down with him at Kaffeine Coffee Shop and Roastery in the heart of downtown Simpsonville, SC. Find out about his first camera (an Olympus with a whopping 3.2 megapixels), why he moved to South Dakota after graduating from Clemson University, and how he worked as a plumber's assistant. Discover how he cultivated his CRM through the early months of the pandemic, why he loves CrossFit, and why he quit his job at Habitat for Humanity to start his business. Steve and Debbie Goss opened Kaffeine in 2019. It was one of the first businesses to open in the gorgeous renovation of the historic Burdette Central Building. They serve amazing coffee and some of the most mouth watering pastries around. Brooks Derrick, the owner of the Derrick Law Office, is a personal injury lawyer in Simpsonville, South Carolina. A Lawyer, His Friends, & Food is a show about local business owners, their journeys, and the thing that brings people closer together, FOOD! Check out more of A Lawyer, his Friends, and Food here: https://facebook.com/lawyerfriendsfood https://instagram.com/lawyerfriendsfood
Today's guest on the podcast is Racquel Collier. She's the CEO of Caliber Real Estate where she focuses on the development and management of big commercial projects. Conversations with Rocky are always interesting because she's a student of topics like branding, books, and music. She knows how to be serious when coordinating massive property deals. And she knows how to cut up when comparing New York rap with West Coast rap. In this episode we talk about Racquel's venture into entrepreneurship as a DJ, her current life as a commercial developer, and the authors, artists and mentors that have inspired her on her path.
Today's guest on the podcast is Dr. Rebecca Heiss. She's a doctor of evolutionary biology and an electrifying keynote speaker. Her mission is to deliver science-backed solutions that help people overcome living on autopilot so that they can consciously craft a better life. This episode may be particularly interesting if, like me, you sometimes feel like you're on the hamster wheel of needing to produce increasingly more successful months in your business. As opposed to feeling relieved because you've performed well on past projects, you only feel heightened anxiety to perform even better in the times ahead. I wanted Rebecca on the podcast because, in addition to having academic credentials, she's also a straight shooter. She's insightful AND fun. She wants to help us all be less fearful and more happy!
You can reduce your nervousness as a photographer by sticking mostly to your type of shoots. While you won't be able to avoid discomfort 100% of the time, you can manage your anxiety and discomfort by filtering the types of photo shoots you take on. As we're taught in the book Strengths Finder 2.0, “people are happiest and most productive when their work is well suited to their strengths.” In this episode: get permission to shoot what YOU want!
Today's guest is Hayes Wynn. She's a fun-loving and energetic entrepreneur here in Greenville, SC. At Hayes Wynn Design, she helps businesses craft engaging brand identities and innovative online experiences. And her design work is just gorgeous. I wanted to get her on the show because every time she and I chat about the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, she speaks honestly about where she's at but also gives practical resources that have been working for her. A brief summary of what you'll learn in this episode is that, although design campaigns DO involve those coveted lightning strikes of inspiration they can also incorporate processes. And these processes don't remove the romance and spontaneity from artistic work, they actually add to the final punch of the output.
Chance has been a freelance brand strategist, designer, and problem solver for the past twenty years. What I love about Chance is the blend of personality traits he brings to the table: he is endlessly altruistic, always looking for ways to encourage, support, and honor others at his own expense. Yet he is a ridiculously savvy business owner. Chance possesses the rare combination of having a huge heart for service and a brilliant mind for business. Note: firefighters and first responders may also find conversation of interest in this episode as we discuss the work they do and Chance's efforts to highlight their work.
Nathan KNOWS how to speak. Some topics you'll hear about: Nathan's income sources Transitioning from side hustle to full time Growing in creative skills Overcoming the fear of not being able to pay bills All Birds Footwear The Power of Now, The Untethered Soul, and manifesting abundance in business Quoting big rates as an artist Keeping a positive outlook while prospecting for clients Taking small steps toward big goals
Brian Knox is a commercial photographer located in the Upstate of South Carolina. He is obsessed with the classic work environment and physical labor in building tangible things. He is more the grit over the glamour type of photography. Brian specializes in photographing the everyday heroes and daily grinders who make our lives possible. From the docks to the rooftop to the farmland, his goal is to showcase your work with honest and compelling photography. Brian Knox loves serving business owners and works tirelessly to deliver images businesses are proud to share.
Chef Baity's list of accolades is long and includes things like being a two-time Food Network Culinary Challenge winner, a winner of multiple medals in the Culinary Olympics, and 2018's Professional Chef of The Year. In this episode, you'll learn about big moments in Chef Baity's life, but also get inspiration and motivation from a guy who's been in the entrepreneurial trenches.
If you're interested in photography, entrepreneurship, or building a business that operates within personal boundaries, this episode is for you. It's an interview with Greenville SC's Carter Tippins, a top-notch photographer and co-owner of the hugely successful production agency, Electric Soul Creative. What I, personally, have always appreciated about Carter is that he delivers old-soul wisdom in a kindly way. His heart is to see his fellow creatives and entrepreneurs succeed so he openly shares life lessons he's learned.
Chad is an insanely talented commercial and portrait photographer out of Charleston, SC. He has consistently jaw-dropping work and he gets those dreamy Canon tones that make us Sony shooters jealous. He and I first met in an online coaching group for photographers run by Kevin Titus, a photographer that Chad and I both admire. In this interview, Chad and I first dig deep into how he went from side-hustling to full-time photography and then move in to super-granular discussions of his camera gear and editing process.
Julie tells the story of what led her and her husband, Matt, to leave behind the security of traditional employment and strike out on their own. Julie is smart, candid, and funny as she shares practical entrepreneurial lessons and tips for balancing life and business.
Sam Thoe is a longtime Simon Sinek fan with a knack for absorbing and analyzing business books. In this episode, Sam and I offer a digestible (and hopefully entertaining) review of Sinek's The Infinite Game and outfit you with enough information to decide if now is the time for you to read the book.
Cohesive Coffee is known for its beautiful aesthetic, community vibe, and delicious coffee. In this episode, founder Josh Williams walks us through his departure from conventional employment, the obstacles of getting a coffeeshop started, and what it feels like now to be a few years in as an entrepreneur.
A great way that I have found to serve current and potential customers without saying the hard “no,” is to refer them to a photographer that you trust. Here are the FIRST two things you need to do to build a referral network of photographers you love sharing business with.
Nate is humble and understated but he's a wealth of life and business knowledge. He's also a badass videographer and photographer whose moody stylings are absolutely dreamy.