Listen Now

We are kicking things back off this year with a solo pod, recapping 2021. Recovering what was a crazy and difficult year for creatives, some highlights from the conversations with fellow photographers both on and off the pod. So kick back with your notepad, ready to storm 2022.  What I talk about  Finding your own personal style and creativity To stand out from the crowd you need to stop trying to fit in Curate your work to curate the work you want to shoot You can’t cheat time to build style and skill Being easier on yourself as a new photographer Stop comparing yourself to other photographers Habits throughout your day outside of your business are directly mirrored in your business The power of unplugging and active movement Reducing distractions from your own mind Pivoting your business - how to move forward and adapt What’s next for Feather & Finch Look to the future and map out where you want to be Invest in yourself and invest in your business My biggest takeaway of 2021  2021 was a massive wake up call for many photographers. What it highlighted to me is the value and essential nature of investing in yourself. A shiny new lens or laptop might give you a momentary one up in your everyday working, but getting a mentor, taking time off, going on holiday with your family, going to a workshop have life-long benefits. No matter how challenging the photography climate gets if you are strong individually nothing can hold you back. 

Today we have the owner of Kings and Thieves Benjamin Urquhart, an incredible creative and inspiration for photographers across the world. He has such a unique perspective on the business and creativity, one which he’s used to mentor some of my personal close friends in the industry. Ben is a busy man and I was super stoked to have him on the pod with us today.  What we chatted about  Where he’s based and his multi use office space  His micro-wedding business  Challenges of working from home and evolving the business  Rolling photography into his laid back wedding business  How constraints can forge creativity  How Ben created his style and his want to create a shift in the industry  Leaning into his own style after not feeling like himself in his work Showing up as a person rather than just a photographer  His process working with couples  Time allocation at weddings  Going with the flow on shoot  Focus on light vs subject  His work vs ‘generic’ work - the power of being human  Getting your couple started without pushing to pose His stance on advice with weddings - making them feel as little stress as possible  How he charges his services without getting too heavy  How his price guide has helped with the quality of his leads  Adjusting times to give better photos - why lighting matters  Helping people to create a wedding they actually want  Learning to channel your inspiration to fuel your creative voice  Does Ben ever think he’ll do video?  Are his boudoir sessions just for clients or for anyone?  His feelings on creativity during the boudoir sessions My biggest takeaway  What struck me about Ben was his adaptability and raw creativity. Finding opportunities for businesses in his work space, expanding his range into the boudoir sessions and encouraging couples to push the boundaries of what their weddings can be. Looking and being open to opportunity is a key tenet which can really set you apart from being a good photographer to being  an awesome one.  Links mentioned in the pod  Kings & Thieves website https://www.kingsandthieves.com.au/  Kings & Thieves Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kingsandthiev.es/  His personal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/benjamin_urquhart_/  My website https://ryanteague.co/  My Instagram (for guest DMs) https://www.instagram.com/ryanteague.co/ 

E045 Escaping The Ordinary - John Gazzingnato Today we have John Gazzingnato making his return to the podcast after a crazy year. He is an Tasmania-based award-winning photographer who has really thrived throughout the last 12 months despite the pandemic. Rather than going back to his roots, we look at the last year in depth, discussing his business growth, success and forging moments of true creativity.  What we spoke about in the pod  His journey from 12 months to now  Working  with COVID and overcoming adversities throughout  Rediscovering motivation after the pandemic  His business growth - creative style vs business foundations  The power of his artistic approach  Storytelling & curation - creating a portfolio that attracts the work you’re looking for  Creating work he loves and times he wasn’t  Moving out of what’s expected of you or trending  How to read wedding situations differently - some practical tips  Scheduling a wedding - getting it just right  His default start for couples shoots GIving cues and helping couples to feel more comfortable  Lighting and couples shoots - telling a story  Colouration with portrait sessions  His ‘secret sauce’ when it comes to editing  Leaning into your local area and the light you like using  Over exaggeration of presets  His luscious hair secrets  His dream shoot if he could plan one  How to make recommendations for clients & the importance of building the relationship  His favourite shoes for shooting weddings  The Rangefinder Rising Star Award  What's changed over the last year - mentally and practically  What the future hold for John  My biggest takeaway  John’s journey is the most clear evidence of the power of leaning into what you’re excited about. Rather than just creating images that you think are expected or trendy, it’s all about creating moments and stories. This year has been a massive year for his personal growth and assertion of his style and brand voice - so find it and don’t look back!  Links mentioned in the podcast  John’s website https://www.jongazzignato.com/  His Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jongazzignatophotographer  His Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jon.gazzignato/  My Website https://ryanteague.co/ 

E044 Escaping The Ordinary - Bec & Andrew - Willow and Wolf These guys are the epitome of adventure photography - creating stunning elopement images as well as capturing beautiful moments of their travels together. Today we chat about their road to starting Willow and Wolf, how to capture epic landscapes and how they run their business together. They are such an inspirational couple and have a lot of wisdom to share.  Get to know Bec & Andrew  Bec & Andrew met in Canada while Bec was travelling from her hometown Byron. They bonded over a love for the outdoors and passion for photography. Ben had business roots and Bec in graphic design but both found themselves feeling a little astray from their paths. After parting ways after a fun summer there wasn’t much on the cards. Creating a photography business was always a dream but didn’t come to fruition until Andrew came to Australia two years later. After a few years of back and forth from Australia to Canada and burning out, they have moved permanently to Canada, now basing themselves in Banff.  What we spoke about in the pod  An insight into their background  Their journey to starting a business together  Similarities and differences between Canada and Australia  Capturing epic landscapes  The challenges of hiking and photography Planning a mountain shoot  How they manage out there enquiries  Picking locations and exploring Letting your couple come forward with their idea How to move into adventure photography as a professional  Some professional horror stories  Why they haven’t done styled shoots - using clients for this  How to photograph weddings together  Their process working with clients  How they prep their clients for outdoor weddings and get the shots at the top of a hike How COVID has affected their business  Organising their blog and portfolio  How they’d work their business to Australia  Their kit and how they work them during a wedding shoot  My biggest takeaway  There was so much to take from our chat. But, my biggest takeaway has been about the way to work crazy elopements and the sheer amount of work that goes into every one of them. The key is being prepared - over prepared in terms of kit and items which can make the process all the more easy and getting your couple up to speed too.  Links mentioned in the podcast  Willow & Wolf Website https://willowandwolf.co/ Their Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willowandwolfweddings/ Their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willowandwolf/  My Website https://ryanteague.co/ 

In today’s episode, we have the incredible Omar Diaz, founder of wedding photography business, By The Wilde. We met at a workshop in early 2021 and since then he’s gone from strength to strength - pushing his creative boundaries and creating a business that aligns with his style and values. It was an honour to chat with him and discover more about his journey to becoming a recent full-time photographer.  Get to know Omar  Omar is based in Hobart Tasmania - a beautiful part of the world that attracts a lot of interstate travel for elopements. He started his photography journey inspired by travel after burning out from years of social work. Backpacking through parts of Asia, Europe and the Americas he captured stunning images of nature and progressed onward to people-focused photography in the streets of South America. This sparked an obsession with wanting to collect and curate those special moments - building a story around every one of his subjects. He did his first official wedding in the summer of 2019 and has since been building his skills and business into the impressive portfolio you see today.  What we talk about  Omar's roots and photography journey.  The benefits of having a fantastic wife who has wedding industry knowledge.  How he’s feeling 6 weeks into full-time photography - an honest and raw perspective.  Creating his new website and honing in on his personality.  Why community is important to him.  How to build and search for a sense of community. Mentoring and peer-reviewing.  How he chose certain creators to review his work.  Practical things Omar took away from mentoring.  How to make your clients feel comfortable.  The power of humanising the space and levelling with your clients.  His kit and how he uses it throughout the wedding day.  Building relationships and rapport - and what it means to him.  His ratio of creativity to business person.  How much of a factor his editing has on the end image result.  A few practical things you could do to create that ‘magical’ feeling with light.  Personal projects and style shoots - the benefits he’s seen.  How to handle others' expectations of style shoots: balancing creativity with meeting the brief.  Documenting his son’s life and the guilt of not documenting enough.  My biggest takeaway  It’s awesome to see someone who has stepped into their own style so early on in their career. But my biggest takeaway from our conversation was the power of human connection in photography. And this comes in different, but all equally important forms. His connection to his wife and her network. His connection to the community of peers and mentors he’s built around himself. And, creating a human connection with his clients. It’s this connection that drives purpose, supports creativity and truly helps you tell stories.  Links we mentioned  The By The Wilde website:  https://bythewilde.com/ By The Wilde Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bythewilde/  By The Wilde Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bythewilde  By The Wilde Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/bythewilde/_saved/  My Website: https://ryanteague.co/  My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanteague.co/ 

Shari & Mike are veterans of the photography scene - based in Vancouver and working in the industry since 2005. They share valuable insights into the journey, the lessons they’ve learned, how they dealt with the pandemic and what their ‘aha’ moment was - something I know a lot of listeners are waiting to try and find.   Get to know Shari & Mike  Shari & Mike started their journey in completely different industries, dabbling in photography on the weekends. However, when things started to pick up Shari went full time - still supported by Mike who continued to work full time. As they moved to Vancouver Mike also made the leap to go full time - and there was plenty of work for the both of them. Since then, they’ve built an awesome reputation in the wedding space around Vancouver as a laid back and creative couple which has also taken them around the world to destination weddings. Their focus more recently has been localised with COVID making it difficult to travel, however this has been a useful shift in their work - allowing them to appreciate their own city and stay closer to home and family.  What we talk about in the pod  Their family set up with a 4-year-old.  Their pace of work and busy seasons.  Both Shari & Mike’s journey into photography - from dabbling to full time.  Co running the business and photographing weddings together. Using your roots to propel you forward in your new journey.  COVID and the wedding industry in Vancouver - how they’ve coped throughout and the post lockdown boom.  The benefits of not travelling - yes, there are some!  How their business has changed since having a daughter.  How their practical shooting has changed with having a daughter too.  A shift in shooting and approaching weddings - focusing more on relationships.  Bringing parenting to your approach - putting yourself in the attendee's shoes.  Getting out of your own head and ‘off plan’ when it comes to weddings.  Emotive stories and the privilege of being part of such a special day.  Falling in and out of love with photography - and how their perspectives are quite different.  How removing the tool can help you to reconnect with your art.   Keeping balance when documenting your child growing up - keeping the fun & joy in special moments. What they think hold photographers back from creating images that are full of life and personality.  Being a calming presence at weddings and lifting your client’s anxiety.  The power of personalising your approach with every client - creating as you go.  Not trying to fit into a formula.  My biggest takeaway  Shari & Mike shared so much knowledge from years of being successful in the industry. However, the biggest takeaway for me was their thoughts on personalising your approach with every client and not trying to fit in with a formula. As a business person and photographer, it can be easy to slip into a process-driven mentality. But their style which has brought and continues to bring them much success focuses on the individual and fitting the mould of what they need at the time.  Links we mentioned  Shari & Mike’s Website: https://www.shariandmike.ca/ Shari & Mike’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shariandmike/  Shari & Mike’s Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/shariandmikephotographers/_created/  My website: https://ryanteague.co/  My workshop tickets: https://ryanteague.co/ 

This guy doesn’t need much of an introduction - it’s his second time on the pod and we’re stoked to have him back. He’s an incredible friend, artist, creative, businessman, photographer and educator- an inspirational figure in our industry. Oli has a really unique way of doing things, not bending to any rules but teaching others to forge their own path.  Get to know Oli  Oli started his creative life in advertising, UX and design - working at product agencies creating graphical elements, flash games and animations. He then moved into photography - assisting other photographers and making a lot of creative work without consequence. Over the years he’s built a business that has continued with this creativity albeit within the guise of weddings and projects. Now, he not only has become an iconic photographer in the space but also shares his knowledge with other photographers through workshops, guest speaking, mentoring and assets to help blow their clients’ minds.     What we spoke about  A Q&A answering your questions on Instagram  The strangest thing Oli’s ever done  Upcoming broadsheet release  His advice project - 100 mixed messages  His favourite film camera  Minimising what you show to increase the power of the shots   Storytelling at a wedding practically  Using scarcity to push your creativity  Accessing your ‘zone of genius’  What inspires him to push his boundaries of creativity  The power of music for Oli  Why the bigger questions can become crippling for some  How contradiction can help communicate a message  How not knowing the rules and not being paid allowed him to be the most creative  Creating opportunities to flex your creativity  How his education platform came to fruition  Mixed mediums of content - bitesize, short-form, long-form etc.  Making content for people with different learning styles  His new spins on workshops  Three things that hold photographers back  The power of connections within the photography community  Where he thinks the wedding industry is going to be in 10 years time  Advancement in technology and how it’s playing into the standards within the industry  Timeless styles and storytelling  Leaning into his own style on Instagram  Making your wedding couples feel ‘safe’ and focusing on your people  Tech solving problems and thinking about where it’s going to go  Why a business is more than just being different  The new educational space he’s created  My biggest takeaway  There’s always so many good nuggets of info from a thought leader like Oli. But my top takeaway was his thoughts on creativity - using scarcity to force your hand into being more thoughtful, using other art mediums to trigger creative thoughts and how storytelling will always be a timeless form of creativity.  Links mentioned in the pod  Oli’s Instagram www.instagram.com/olisansom His website www./olisansom.com/  His education website https://strangeatlas.co/  Mannequin talks Instagram /www.instagram.com/mannequintalks/  Briars Atlas Instagrm www.instagram.com/briarsatlas/  Briars Atlas Weddings https://briarsatlas.com/  My website https://ryanteague.co/  Feather & Finch Instagram www.instagram.com/featherandfinchphotography/ 

Today I want to welcome Christian from Paper Bear Weddings. He’s doing some incredible things in the industry and has a lot of value to bring to other budding wedding photographers. I met Christian at a workshop and have since been mentoring him, helping him to expand his business. We cover how he got into the industry, finding his unique style and how he made the switch from corporate to creative.

Get to know Tanya Lambart Tanya actually started her career as a performer, working in the buzzing events space. From this however, she wanted a change of scene and created a role for herself at Bond University. Highlighting the need for social media management and the power it could have for them. Using all of these learnings and an incredible level of tenacity, Tanya started her own company Creative Haus. Today, she works with small businesses to build out an authentic social media strategy based around real business metrics. She offers reel packs, social media management, a reel course and so much more.  What we cover  Her career journey to starting Creative House Finding her niche in the social media marketing space  The sustainability of the social media space and how it’s evolving  The ‘metaverse’ and the crazy future of social media  Keeping up as a small business  The importance of having an intention with social media  Vanity metrics - and why they really are just that  Balance of quality & quantity  Not just blindly following trends  Uncontrollability of the algorithm and virality  Tracking your own data  Tiktok Vs Reels  Testing, experimenting and refining content  Importance of planning, structure and knowing when to post  Finding music on Reels & Tiktok Her normal setup to create content  Showcasing what you do on social  Power of standing out in a noisy industry  What trending actually means & how to find it  Looking at others in your industry & thinking about what your customer wants  Sticking to what’s true for you  What Creative House does and how Tanya helps her clients  Why outsourcing social media can be beneficial  My biggest takeaway  Social media is such an overwhelming space but Tanya does a great job of simplifying it. My biggest takeaway is authenticity. Firstly in the content you create, making content that not only speaks to your audience but speaks to your own personality. An inauthentic piece of content sticks out like a sore thumb, so if you’re going to commit to creating content, make sure it highlights your values and personality. Also ask yourself ‘is it authentic to create content or manage my social media?’. If the answer is no then outsource it to a great creative like Tanya - giving you more time to focus on your skill and business.   Links mentioned in the show Creative Haus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_creativehaus_/  Creative Haus Website: www.creativehaus.studio  Tanya’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tannierose/  My website: https://ryanteague.co/  My workshop (2 spots left): https://ryanteague.co/workshop 

Escaping the ordinary 8 common mistakes  Today is a super short and sweet pod where I’ll take you through the  8 most common mistakes I see a lot of my coaching clients struggle with. In this discussion we'll hone in on some home truths, difficult aspects of running a business and uncover what holds so many photographers and videographers from achieving real success. Here’s a sneak peak of the 8 mistakes I’ll be digging into:  Many photographers prioritise business over skill  creative Throwing money at paid advertising without a strategy or delivering value  Posting too much on social with no intention or tracking  Over blogging and repetitive imagery  Copying or following brand trends  Not leaning into your personality and style  Thinking you’re the number one in your business and refusing to accept otherwise  Not getting across your why or digging into your purpose  Links I mentioned  My website: https://ryanteague.co/ 2 spots left on my Gold Coast workshop: https://ryanteague.co/workshop Want to chat in person? Check out my mentoring options: https://ryanteague.co/mentoring 

Today marks the third podcast with this photography and educational powerhouse - Jai Long. He needs no introduction at all, but if you need some context listen back to his past two episodes linked below. In the pod, we jump into all things wedding summit, what’s worked for his business in the past and key areas he helps his photography students overcome. Jai is truly a master of his craft and communicating the big pain points for new photographers out there, so be sure to have a notepad and pen at the ready.  Get to know  Jai is an experienced photographer but is now more focused on educating other photographers. Helping them to overcome their internal boundaries, building a business that matches their values and finding their photography style. From physical products to e-learning, workshops to his unbelievable summits, Jai is committed to building up creatives and their businesses.  What we cover Recurrent problems mentees come to him with  Imposter syndrome and mindset  Practical ways to overcome imposter syndrome  Power of self-reflection and self-love - recognising your success  How that ‘week to week’ mentality affects how you show up for your business  Mind blocks for photographers  Working and learning with others  Moving with shifts and when to leave a trend  All you need to know about his online coaching program: The Business Map  A great trend of innovation in the photography business  Jai’s commitment to innovating in the wedding photography business  How the summit came to light  The upcoming summit on 22nd November  How he’s optimised his new summit  How lockdown didn’t hold him back from being a self-made millionaire  The power of having a big goal and not complaining just acting Having an emotional connection to your goals How he comes up with his ideas  How he switches off  How important time and solitude are  Social media scrolling and when it crosses into a negative boundary  Managing time and realising where it’s slipping away  How he’s innovating awards in the wedding photography space The extra details of the summit that have added to the load His mission and core values  My biggest takeaway  Talking to Jai is always a pleasure and source of inspiration. From this chat, I think my biggest takeaway is the power of self-belief and overcoming your internal boundaries. Jai is living proof that you can literally do anything you set your mind to, you just have to get out of your own way and really push towards goals that matter to you.  Links mentioned in the podcast  Sign up to the wedding summit: https://weddingphotographysummit.com/  Jai’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jailong.co/ Jai’s Website: https://jailong.co/  Jai’s podcast: https://jailong.co/category/podcast/  Free the Bird Wedding photography: https://www.freethebird.com.au/  Listen to Jai’s previous guest appearances: https://ryanteague.co/podcast 

We have an incredible guest on today’s episode - Joe Alson. A repeat guest that we spoke to last year, Joel is the founder of Barefoot & Bearded a highly successful non-traditional wedding photography business. Today we talk about what’s changed, his vulnerabilities, his childhood and the way his business has transitioned into what it is today. This pod is full of tonnes of practical tips for aspiring photographers who haven’t yet found their voice and aesthetic.  Get to know  Joel started much like many other photographers, doing photography as a hobby. Initially focusing on landscapes he was asked to shoot a mates wedding - and the rest is history. Not coming from an artistic background and having a talent for business, Joel focused on his branding and marketing before honing his craft. His unique takes on location gave him a unique selling point to run with, taking him all over the world. But after still feeling unfulfilled after reaching his ‘peak’ in the eyes of the industry, he pivoted his business in line with his core values. Creating a direction and movement that pulled him out of some of his hardest moments.  What we cover My link and history with Joel Joel’s grassroots in photography  Focusing on the business and brand - how it can carry you when you haven’t got an arty background How definitions of success are based on society and social media - and why that doesn’t make sense for everyone  Focusing on your core life values and how they should play into how you define success  Reaching rock bottom despite ‘ticking all of the boxes’ and how transformational it was for him  How to work out your own values and integrating your non-negotiables into your lifestyle  The value of working with a therapist and how it forged his own introspection  The rebrand of his business and how COVID gave him the opportunity to do it  Finding your own personal style in photography and leaning into your point of difference  Being honest with yourself and your clients  Applying his ‘f*** traditions do it your way’ attitude to his art  How to plan with clients for their non-traditional weddings  Working outside of the wedding day cruise control - encouraging couples to do whatever they want on their day  How to have creative conversations with your clients when you want to lean into new concepts  Creating real and authentic images of a couple not just staged  Building trust and honesty with your couples  His different gear and transitioning through them  Embracing part of your couples’ day and having fun with it  Giving guests at the marriage a camera and getting different perspectives  What his wedding would look like today  Being grateful despite having trauma in his past  Using your battles to forge a happy and fulfilled life  My biggest takeaway  Joel is one of the strongest guys out there and has so much wisdom to offer. But, the biggest takeaway for me is the power of leaning into who you are and digging into your values. So often we get lost in societies definitions of success when it doesn’t truly serve us. Joel is living proof that finding your core values and forging your business to suit them is the path to a truly happy and fulfilling life. Ensuring you are on track with your non-negotiables and creating art that is reflective of your true self.  Links mentioned in the podcast  Barefoot & Bearded website: www.barefootandbearded.com  Joel’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/barefootandbearded Joel’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/barefootandbearded  My Gold Coast Wedding Photography Workshop: www.ryanteague.co/workshop 

This international pod is with the awesome Sean Bell, based in Scotland. An inspiration for myself and a lot of photographers across Australia and New Zealand.  Sean is considered a veteran of the photography industry - with a 15-year career of creating incredible art and imagery. In our chat, we explore his journey to wedding photography, his artistic processes and how to create a career with longevity.  Get to know  Sean is based just outside of Edinburgh but travels all over Scotland shooting - especially in the highlands. Growing up in Edinburgh, Sean was surrounded by photography with his father being a super keen amateur with a darkroom in his childhood home. As a kid, he was fascinated by the red light emanating from the darkroom and after getting a hand-me-down camera from his Dad, he was hooked. He’s now been in the business for 15 years after studying photography at college - starting in a local paper and then transitioning to commercial photography. He then fell into wedding photography, shooting for family and friends. It gave him a new sense of autonomy and the space to be creative when weddings were moving away from the traditional, stuffy format. Sean now creates stunning yet subtle imagery and has seen his business grow to much success.  What we cover An intro to where Sean and where he’s located  His family ties to photography  The harsh beginnings of his professional career in journalism  His transition into wedding and portrait photography  How early criticism forged his photography  Not feeling satisfied with his images  Looking for nuance and subtlety  Sean’s practical process during a wedding The importance of levelling with your clients and reading their body language Inserting banter and soft direction - taking the couples lead His kit for weddings  How to give direction and tapping into what makes a couple lights up  Buying time by starting the process and how it leads to creativity  The beauty of wedding shoots in Scotland  Working with his wife and We Are Elopers  What new photographers don’t do enough of lighting and working with couples  Still getting nervous before jobs and being the underdog  How to push your boundaries in wedding photography  The importance of consistently experimenting to keep things fresh  Taking your own artistic direction on shoot  My biggest takeaway  Speaking to Sean was really inspiring - especially with his legacy in the wedding photography space. What struck me was his consistent want to improve and ‘winging it’ attitude. Despite having a honed process and skill he still actively steps outside of his comfort zone and taps into the energy of a couple. This not only comes across in his creative process but his imagery too - enabling him to have a long and successful career.  Links mentioned in the podcast  Sean’s website: https://seanbellphotography.com/ Sean’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanbellphoto/  Sean’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhotographybySeanBell/  My workshop on the gold coast: https://ryanteague.co/workshop 

Today we have two of my brilliant mentees Katy and Matt. Together they run Rope & Pulley, Newcastle based wedding photography and video business. The married couple has really been driving their business towards success and forming it into the business that fits in with their goals. In this chat, we talk about their beginnings, their biggest business mistakes and regrets and how their journey has really shaped the strong business they now have.  Get to know  Katy and Matt are the dream team. Married since 2014, they set up Rope & Pulley soon after. Both coming from artistic backgrounds they each bought something different to the table, offering both still and video imaging for their clients. Rope & Pulley became Katy’s full-time gig in 2018 and Matt continues to work full time. Since then they’ve been working to build awareness in the wedding space but were a little slowed down by COVID. Today they have a highly successful business, with an additional 6 team members shooting weddings and engagements across New South Wales - pandemic permitting of course.   What we cover An intro to Rope & Pulley  The beginning of their business  Making the transition from part-time to full time  The importance of setting business goals from the word go  Knowing what success looks like  Not sweating the small stuff  How to cut through the noise  Prioritising what you’re doing and self-value  The power of a mentor  Photography as your product  Focusing on what you like doing  Investing in learning  Their biggest business mistakes  Not letting your ego get in the way when you shoot How to not just make assumptions about what you think a client wants  How Rope & Pulley are handling COVID  Growing their team and training  Offering support to couples affected by the pandemic  The trickiness of scaling and the busy 2022 ahead  Supporting other photographers within your own business Pre mentoring headspace compared to now  Finding your true north  Handling your clients to make their day as smooth as possible  The two pieces of advice  they’d each leave behind to other photographers  Putting in the work during slower periods  My biggest takeaway  It was great to have these guys on the pod and talk about their journey. The biggest takeaway for me was about learning from your mistakes. Katy & Matt are super self-aware and reflective, implementing changes to their ways of working and the business when they can see issues arise. Having that level of humility and being able to put your hands up and ask for help and guidance are rare traits, but are incredibly important to build and scale.  Links mentioned in the podcast  Rope & Pulley website: https://www.ropeandpulley.com.au/ Rope & Pulley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropeandpulley/ Rope & Pulley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropeandpulley/ 

Today I welcome Toby Atkins to the pod - one of my ex-clients, business mentor and most importantly a great mate. This pod is a must-listen for pretty much everyone, with Toby sharing his wisdom on business, finding your purpose and optimising your health. In this mind-blowing chat, we talk through making your own successes, finding your true north and how to build a life that brings you true happiness and fulfilment.  Get to know Toby Atkins  Toby has built his vision into a successful business with over 30 staff - creating a health-based movement across Australia. Starting his career training in sports physiology, Toby wanted to create a collective of fantastic talents and connect like-minded professionals together. This initial purpose has now been built into his successful business Atkins Health - which no doubt will leave an amazing legacy. What we talk about  How we met - our relationship to date My own health struggles and how Toby helped me heal my body  How psychology is most of the job when it comes to physical recovery  Diving into Atkins Health - from his vision to a highly successful movement and business The importance and longevity of Atkins Health purpose and values  Importance of finding great people for specific gaps in the business  The necessity of self-reflection - in business and life  Societal frames of success and why they’re not for everyone  Practical tips of how to unpick your ‘place’ in life - what is your genius mode?  Creating a community or movement around your business & not going it alone  Visionary meets - creating life goals and moving towards them in business Being a leader in business and changemaking Having a dynamic vision  Seeking to understand  Toxicity of the word ‘busy’  Similarities in ‘successful’ or important people - creating good habits  Making rules and making it easier for yourself to follow them Plans vs habits and building out your process Why we need to stop chasing and focus on the things that make us happy  Letting purpose come to you and just enjoying the process of growing - not just focusing on not being at your outcome  The value of giving  My biggest takeaway  There were so many great nuggets of knowledge in this discussion. The biggest takeaway for me is the concept of not just chasing purpose, but finding purpose in the process. Society only allows us to see certain parameters when it comes to success and more often than not, they’re not fulfilling - they just hold us back. They’re asking us to constantly chase a financial or status goal. But when you’re looking at success holistically and finding purpose in the process all of those arbitrary parameters don’t hold any value. You can find that value and passion in your own change.  Links we mentioned in the pod Atkins health https://www.atkinshealth.com.au/  Atomic habits https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits  Principles https://www.principles.com/ 

In this episode, I welcome a person that’s always inspired me and someone I am grateful to call a friend: Daniel Carruthers. Since meeting over 10 years ago, when we used to train together, I’ve always admired Dan’s drive and ability to push past what’s possible. As an athlete and businessman, he’s found much success, all leading him to the release of his true calling Fund My Challenge. In the pod, we chat about how to find drive and motivation, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and why challenging yourself in every aspect of your life is necessary for growth. Get to know Being bought up in an athletic family, Dan has always had an innate sense of resilience and motivation. This drove him to set up businesses across several different industries, from surf craft manufacturing to app development. He now has combined his entrepreneurial spirit with his passion for challenging himself mentally and physically. Drawing on his vast and strong network, Dan founded Fund My Challenge. An easy-to-use donation app, which creates an ecosystem of people that want to help. With unmatched capabilities in getting the message out there and raising a lot of money for people or causes in need. He now balances his fast-moving business with family and fitness: all essential and equal components of his happy life on the Gold Coast. What we coverWhere he gets his energy for life from Daily moments of uncertainty and overcoming them Knowing you’ll have setbacks and how to take control of them His first business venture Forging his entrepreneurial career - failures and successes How working in the gym environment wasn’t profitable, but was in terms of connectionsHis athlete’s mindset and  the integral part it’s played in his lifeSome of his toughest mental and physical challenges How he started Fund My ChallengeThe steps to take to get your idea off the ground How important your network is Taking risks and not giving up Getting market validation - just because you think it’s great, doesn’t mean your market will Aligning your passion, product and purposeSurrounding yourself with honest people who can give you feedback What a day in the life of Dan looks like What doesn’t get inspected, doesn’t get respected Why challenging yourself every day in some way is essential - it’s what keeps you moving forward My biggest takeaway There were so many golden soundbites, but I’d say the main takeaway was creating your own athlete’s mindset. Being competitive with yourself, encouraging yourself to take risks and challenges all while looking after your health. With your health in order you’ll have the energy and self belief to smash those goals both in fitness and business. Links mentioned in the podcast Fund My Challenge: https://www.fundmychallenge.com/Fund My Challenge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fundmychallengeappFund My Challenge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fundmychallengeapp/ Download on Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fund-my-challenge/ Download on Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fund.my.challenge Dan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-carruthers-517688183/?originalSubdomain=au Dan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancarruthers_/?hl=en 

Today we’ve got Van Middleton on the show. Van is known for his creative photography style, mixing a balance between photojournalism and portraiture. We chat about how he’s found his style and how he sees the wedding industry pivoting after COVID. Get to know Van Middleton (Website Copy) Where do I begin? First and foremost, I’m a father, husband, brother & son. My world revolves around my little girls and my wife. I’m a curious and restless person. When I was younger I wanted to be a writer; I wrote a lot, including a few books, one that I finished just out of high school. My interest in writing has never faded, but it’s become dormant – I’ll revisit it one day. Now that I run my own business and play father and husband, I dont have time to read much, let alone write. And it takes so much time. Instead I take photos. In many ways it’s a similar thing. I tell stories. I try to create beautiful things. I use my imagination, I explore, I try to capture moments, and manufacture things that will move people. I studied Journalism at university, because I wanted to write and to tell stories, and see things. After graduating I learnt pretty quickly that journalists don’t do much of this at all. So I went travelling. I was a little bit lost. I travelled for years, and during my travels I found two of the most important things in my life: my wife, and photography. I decided to keep both of them close for the rest of my life. When I returned to Australia, I studied photography and film. I had no idea I wanted to shoot weddings, but I did understand what I had always known: I wanted to use my imagination, my creativity, and I wanted to work for myself. After graduating, work didn’t come easy, and I did more study, this time to become a teacher. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure I had much choice. While I studied, I shot a few weddings. I did them for next to nothing, for experience. My clients were happy. I looked around and realized that I could do a better job than my competitors. I didn’t raise my prices, but instead I shot dozens more weddings. I wanted to improve, and to learn. I studied the best wedding photographers in the world, I bought the best equipment. I got better. I’ve now shot more than 400 weddings. I’m still learning, and hopefully always will be. Along the way I’ve also shot wedding videos. They’re difficult and stressful, and if you want one you’ll need to twist my arm. But I do a few here and there, just to keep myself on my toes, to test myself and discover new things. I was asked once, by a prospective client, what my philosophy is. I found it an oddly disconcerting notion, that I should be able to distill my photographic approach into a few words – actually, into any words at all. Officially I call myself a Documentary Photographer. Or, probably because it borrows from my education, a Wedding Photojournalist. Neither of these titles are particularly accurate. In truth, I do whatever it takes at a wedding to get photos that I find most beautiful. Sometimes these photos involve me being an observer, hovering discreetly so I can snap the most unguarded moments. Sometimes they involve me rearranging furniture, manufacturing light, posing my muse, doing whatever it takes to get the shot I have in my head. Text REMOVE Links mentioned in the show Van’s Website: https://www.vanmiddleton.com/ Van’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanmiddletonphotography/?hl=en

Looking back over the years, I have learnt some valuable lessons and want to share with you all some things that I wish I had done earlier in my career. From creating specific goals, knowing my numbers, having a mentor and much more. These tips will help you not make the same mistakes I made and had to learn from.

Today I talk all things marketing and go over things that have and have not worked in the past From Social media, word of mouth to vendor relationships. Learn the inns and outs of filling your funnel, ROI and more