The Entrepreneurial Expedition: Following Your Own Path To Your Unique Business Niche

"Uncool & Unfiltered" is a podcast collaboration series between myself and my good friend Steph Zakas of Alchemize your Weird Podcast, where we get together for some frank and unfiltered discussions current topics from the wedding photography and creative industries that have caught our attention. As two successful elopement photographers who have always done things differently, and now certified coaches, we chat openly and honestly about the things that we are and are not loving about the industry. We're proud to have never been the "cool kids" in the industry, but we also know that sometimes being an outsider can be tough. In this first episode, we cover how educators in the photography space are using sleazy marketing to sell courses and why it's giving us the ick. We talk about how we are tired of mainstream marketing tactics that use emotional manipulation and fear mongering to create feelings self-doubt in order to sell you something, and how to instead, choose education and support that empowers you to follow your own unique journey, in a way that makes you feel great. --- If you've got topics you's like us to discuss in future episodes together, please leave us a comment or send them to us at: cat@adventureweddingacademy.com or steph@stephzakas.com ---- About Steph: Steph is a Success Coach and Sales Expert for Photographers & Creatives helping them leverage their weird to make more money and confidently become a sorcerer of selling their unique services. As an introvert with ADHD and self-proclaimed weird kid, Steph has grown her premium priced Elopement Photography business into an international success moving from America to Iceland through leaning into her weird and uniqueness in the world. She now loves to do the same for others as a certified Master Coach & Master Hypnotherapist, mentor, and advisor to bottle up their weird and expand what they ever thought was possible. Connect with Steph on: TikTok & Instagram  &  Alchemize Your Weird™ podcast Stephzakas.com About Cat: Cat is a British elopement photographer, ski instructor, hiking guide and certified coach, living in the Austrian Alps. She created a super-niche photography business, not as a way to stand-out and attract her dream clients in a crowded market, but also because that's the only work she wanted to do. Through her role as a certified coach, mentor and advisor she supports entrepreneurs across the wedding and creative industries to embrace their differences, and achieve what everyone else tells them is impossible. Connect with Cat on: ⁠Instagram⁠  &  Facebook AdventureWeddingAcademy.com

In this episode, I talk about the most common misconceptions about being a luxury photographer and why what you've been told might be completely wrong for you and your business. Are you one of those people who think that being a luxury photographer is all about your photography style? If so, then you're in for a big surprise! In this episode, I'm going to tell you why being a luxury photographer isn't what you think it is - or what lots of people tell you it is. --- Whenever you’re ready… here are 5 ways we can work together: 1. Join Book Club - A quarterly meeting where we get together to share thoughts, insights and learnings from a chosen book. 2. Book A Shadow Shopper Audit - Want to know what a stranger really thinks of your website when they are comparing it with your competitors? Now you can find out. 3. Peak Performance Mentoring Program - 4-month intensive mentorship to fast-track your journey to YOUR DEFINITION of success, building a luxury brand that gets noticed. 4. Book A Business Booster Call - Want to work on what YOUR version of luxury looks like? Book a one-off 1:1 consulting call with me. 5. Join The Inner Circle - An accountability membership for people who need a sometime to make sure they get their sh*t together.

Running a business is full of challenges. At times, it can be a struggle. But I've noticed that there are also a lot of people who only ever seem to be struggling. Perhaps you can picture someone right now? Or perhaps that person is you! Are you maybe attached to the struggle, and keeping yourself small? Join me in this episode as we explore some of the reasons why you might be attached to the struggle, and what you can do to move past it. --- In this episode, I mention the European Elopement Guide, a new resource for couples, created by vendors. If you want to be a part of it, you can submit your work here: https://europeanelopementguide.com/submit/ --- Whenever you’re ready… here are 5 ways we can work together: 1. Join Book Club - A quarterly meeting where we get together to share thoughts, insights and learnings from a chosen book. 2. Book A Shadow Shopper Audit - Want to know what a stranger really thinks of your website when they are comparing it with your competitors? Now you can find out. 3. Peak Performance Mentoring Program - 4-month intensive mentorship to fast-track your journey to YOUR DEFINITION of success. 4. Book A Business Booster Call - Have a particular challenge or goal you'd like to work on? Book a one-off 1:1 consulting call with me. 5. Join The Inner Circle - An accountability membership for people who need a sometime to make sure they get their sh*t together.

As creatives, we need inspiration. It plays a huge role in our lives, not just in our businesses. But inspiration can be a double-edged sword. Often when we crave it the most, it helps us the least. And when we're not looking for it, that's when it can strike. Today I want to talk about the problems I see when it comes to inspiration within the creative business community, and how we can start to get re-inspired, whilst also finding our truest voices at the same time. If you'd like to work with me to identify where you might be overlooking some of your biggest gold mines for inspiration, book a 1:1 Business Booster session with me, and let's explore your world together. Book a call --- If you're ready to take action, here are two things you can do  - Take my free niche challenge to start learning about how to create your Super Niche - Find out how much your website really stands out from your competitors by booking a Shadow Shopper Audit today - Learn more about working with me here: https://adventureweddingacademy.com/mentoring/

Are you tired of competing with new people coming into your industry, and offering their services for cheap of for free? You wouldn't be alone if you answer is HELL YES I AM! Here's my take on this. If you're threatened by someone new in the business, you're failing to acknowledge what you have to offer. You're saying that someone with next to no experience in the industry is your equal. And we know that's simply not true. So today I'm going to explore my thoughts around this question from a member of my community. --- If you're ready to ramp it up and start standing out from the competition, you should start with my free mini course on Building Your Super-Niche. You can sign up here: https://adventureweddingacademy.com/niche --- Whenever you’re ready… here are 5 ways I can help you increase your income and improve your life right now: 1. Join Book Club - A quarterly meeting where we get together to share thoughts, insights and learnings from a chosen book. 2. Book A Shadow Shopper Audit - Want to know what a stranger really thinks of your website when they are comparing it with your competitors? Now you can find out. 3. Peak Performance Mentoring Program - 4-month intensive mentorship to fast-track your journey to YOUR DEFINITION of success. 4. Book A Business Booster Call - Have a particular challenge or goal you'd like to work on? Book a one-off 1:1 consulting call with me. 5. Join The Inner Circle - An accountability membership for people who need a sometime to make sure they get their sh*t together.

The photography industry is full of a lot of incredibly ambitions people with a determination to succeed. But at what cost? Since I spoke out on social media a few weeks ago about finding a photographer marketing themselves with stolen images, I got so many messages from people telling me that they had been victims of image theft, copyright theft, and a whole number of other really shameful things. I love being an elopement photographer, but I don't love this industry. There's a sense of entitlement that you can have whatever you want, and it doesn't matter who you need to bulldoze to get it. Then there are the "gurus" who plant insecurities, then just when people feel bad enough about themselves, launch a course that so conveniently offers to be the solution. Where is the integrity? In this episode, I want to talk about some of the things that give me the ICK and some of the things that have given my clients, colleagues and friends the ICK about the state of the industry right now. I fully aware that some of these opinions might not be shared by everyone. And that's ok with me. --- Whenever you’re ready… here are 5 ways I can help you increase your income and improve your life right now: 1. Join Book Club - A quarterly meeting where we get together to share thoughts, insights and learnings from a chosen book. 2. Book A Shadow Shopper Audit - Want to know what a stranger really thinks of your website when they are comparing it with your competitors? Now you can find out. 3. Peak Performance Mentoring Program - 4-month intensive mentorship to fast-track your journey to YOUR DEFINITION of success. 4. Book A Business Booster Call - Have a particular challenge or goal you'd like to work on? Book a one-off 1:1 consulting call with me. 5. Join The Inner Circle - An accountability membership for people who need a sometime to make sure they get their sh*t together.

We continue with my journey, looking at the evolution of by photography business. I talk about some of the big mistakes I made along the way, and how I've continued to learn, grow and evolve every year.  If you'd like to talk with me about working with you on your business goals, head to the Adventure Wedding Academy website, where you can learn what it's like to have me as your business coach, mentor and advisor.

I believe that our stories are one of the most powerful things we have. Even some of our earliest memories hold the key to what makes us truly different from other people around us. So I thought I would start by sharing my story. Because my story has shaped exactly where I am today in more ways than I can count. I’m going to share my story over 2 episodes. In this episode, I’m going to share the story of my life up until I started my business in 2015. And in part 2, I’ll talk about my life after business, and the evolution of my business to where it is today. You can learn more about working with me at adventureweddingacademy.com and you can stalk me and my life in the mountains on my personal blog LessWorkMoreAdventure.com

This is YOUR Entrepreneurial Expedition.  Each episode, we’re going to explore what it really takes to give up the comfort of looking to everyone else in your industry for how to build your business, and discover the tools, the support and the courage to forge ahead and make your own path. Your niche journey begins now! Take this 6-day mini challenge to find out how niche your business already is: Niche Mini Challenge