Episodes

EP 63: Identifying potential points of failure can be just as critical to success as developing great work. It's not a matter of if, but when a mistake is made or a piece of gear is broken, and it is up to us as creative professionals to ensure that we can get the job done unequivocally for our clients. In this episode, I'll list 7 areas of contingency planning to practice in your business. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artrepreneurs)

EP 62: The benefits to owning gear are numerous, but it is not without challenges either. Not every small business owner has the funds to drop down a large lump sum of money to acquire the tools needed to do the jobs. With technology advancements improving at a rapid pace, is leasing a potential option to avoid having our money tied up in obsolete equipment? In this episode, I give my 2 cents on leasing vs buying for professional creatives. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artre...

EP 61: Conduct is just as important to your branding as your style, your creativity, and your hustle. It is not about what you think your brand should be, but rather how the customer, client, or colleague experiences your brand based on your actions. In this episode, I break down why integrity is so meaningful to your reputation and highlight the mistakes I've made that hurt my own. The Futur (podcast) with Chris Do - feat Marty Neumeier Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artreprene...

EP 60: Working photographers are not always guaranteed safe haven from accidents, theft, or damage. Some might even say, these possibilities simply come with the territory. In this episode, I talk about how playing solid defense can keep your business and your mental health above water in moments of crisis. Gofundme for Kelley Smiley: https://www.gofundme.com/f/r85ce-help-kelly-get-back-on-her-feet Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artrepreneurs)

EP 59: Oh the aches and pains of learning on the fly. These hardships are both excruciating reminders of what could have been, as well as the perfect lessons to guide us on our path forward. In this episode, I'll highlight a few blown assignments starting out and how it has provided me with core values thereafter. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artrepreneurs)

EP 58: With the label of "visual creator" or "visual storyteller" being so broad, it covers a number of sins like photo manipulation and influencing a scene. But when you cross over to photojournalism, the emphasis on truth and trust becomes paramount. In this episode, I react to a recent staging shoot by a photojournalist that has the industry very passionate about where this lies on the moral and ethical scale of journalism. NPPA CODE OF ETHICS Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/a...

EP 57: Whether we are aware of it or not, we often abide by conventional wisdom for lighting. A softbox is used for portraits, a beauty dish for beauty, a reflector for contrast. But is following these formulas really what lighting theory is about? In this episode, I talk about my favorite rule of lighting, and why applying it to my shoots increases my efficiency and creativity. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artrepreneurs)

"If you know your costs, you have key information that's going to fund many of your decisions going forward; you can build confidence in your pricing, you have more strength in your negotiations, you have more justification, to walk away from clients that don't match your business goals, you will know what your business can afford and what it can't, you'll make smarter investments at the more appropriate time."

"This law should not impact your overall business, unless you're conducting under the table transactions on the reg, which I've already mentioned, is not so legal, the IRS law states that you have to report all income for your business."

💯 💯 💯 "Identify what is important to you, and occasionally prioritize that over what might be urgent to you."

💯 💯 💯 "In order to manage your business with as much ease as possible, you need to be practiced in a broader concept of finance, which is to separate your personal money from your business money."

💯 💯 💯 "learn how to write an article, learn how to interview people learn how to be an editor, and determine what the publication needs photographically versus just seeing it from the photographer's vantage point."

💯💯💯"Visualize how seriously some photographers prioritize their relationships, you should take that part of the process and apply it to your business."

💯 💯 💯 "As a freelancer, no one else is going to willingly increase your rates. The only person that has the power to do that is you."

💯 💯 💯 "When your costs go up and your client work goes down, you want to do the best that you can to maximize your time efficiency."

💯 💯 💯 "gratitude, truth be told is not innate. It isn't something that you're born with, it's a learned behavior. And I think that surprises people when you tell them that, but that is why gratitude must be practiced."

💯 💯 💯 "If you're living rent free, you have this rare opportunity to kill off debt so much faster than the average working professional who has five times a living expenses as you do."

💯💯💯 "Is your photography improving? Is your understanding of backend business getting more advanced? Are you working well with people? If the answer is yes, then don't give up on that. When you have a good process, trust that process."

💯 💯 💯 "We as a community are really way too quick to spend 1000s and 1000s of dollars on equipment and not a penny on marketing."

💯 💯 💯 "Don't overpay in taxes. Keep what is yours. Learn how deductions can help reduce your taxable income, it is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal."

💯 💯 💯 "It's not about the gear at all in any way. No one's gonna hire you because you had a 600, no one's gonna hire you because you have a phase one, but both those you can rent, right? So if the client comes to you and says, Hey, I need you to shoot and you think at that point that the lens is needed, you rent it, but you shouldn't be having a $12k - $15k lens, sitting in your arsenal that you only use sparingly."

💯 💯 💯 "you're not just an employee, but the business owner as well. So naturally, you're going to be responsible for 100% of your Social Security and Medicare costs, as opposed to just fronting 50%."

💯 💯 💯 "a credit score is a numerical measurement of risk that a borrower poses to a lender, basically, it's an indication of how likely you are to repay a loan on time. The higher number that you have, the better position you're in, it's like aceing the test of financial responsibility"

💯 💯 💯 "There are over 1 billion Instagram accounts, there are over 600 million blogs, and over 37 million YouTube channels, all of which are growing each and every day. You know how many podcasts are out there? Under 2 million."