Photography and Business With Double Exposure Show

In this episode, Petro and Sophia talk about customer service and having integrity in your business. Sometimes things go wrong. You'll screw things up from time to time as a business owner. And you won't be able to make everyone happy 100% of the time. But when you take a moment to fix the problems you cause (or don't cause) you'll have even happier clients than before the problem arose. Listen to this episode to hear some of our stories. Links & Sponsors If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Do you ship or mail goods to your customers or clients? Well, for our Canadian listeners, we have the BEST online platform to help make that easy, save you time, gas, and money. Sign up for your free account with Freightcom using the promo code SOPHIA and start shipping with all the major national carriers, wow your customers, and make your life easier. Tap right here to sign up. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Candra and Sophia successfully completed their first annual business building and planning retreat, and Sophia wants to share what she learned! Listen to this episode for a glimpse into what they did and some ideas for how you can do it for yourself and your own business. Links & Sponsors If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Check out Buffer and take your time back by scheduling your social media posts. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode, Petro and Sophia talk about how important your branding and content is. Is it best to agonize over every decision or get right to the point and get it out, already? You might be able to guess by the tone of that question what our opinion is. But there are a couple things you need to remember when addressing your branding and social media posts! First, you need to know exactly what your brand is, and next, that you adhere to that vision for your business in all of your social media posts, on your website, and in how you deal with people in general.  We discuss the ups and downs of branding, what to consider, and what to relax about! Listen to this episode. Links & Sponsors If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Do you ship or mail goods to your customers or clients? Well, for our Canadian listeners, we have the BEST online platform to help make that easy, save you time, gas, and money. Sign up for your free account with Freightcom using the promo code SOPHIA and start shipping with all the major national carriers, wow your customers, and make your life easier. Tap right here to sign up. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

When was the last time you did any goal setting or planning for your business? Last month? Last year? When you started your business? So many creative business owners have done absolutely no goal setting or planning. But Sophia is making a point of setting goals and planning for 2020. Because if you don't have a goal in mind or a plan of how you'll reach that goal, then you'll just be floating through your business life with no direction or understanding of how to grow. Listen to this episode to get some advice on how to set concrete goals and how to plan for the year to come so you're prepared for success. Links & Sponsors Buy Masters of Sales: Secrets From Top Sales Professionals That Will Transform You Into A World Class Salesperson If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Do you ship or mail goods to your customers or clients? Well, for our Canadian listeners, we have the BEST online platform to help make that easy, save you time, gas, and money. Sign up for your free account with Freightcom using the promo code SOPHIA and start shipping with all the major national carriers, wow your customers, and make your life easier. Tap right here to sign up. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Have you seen any Facebook ads lately for bringing in more clients, converting more leads, or generating billions and trillions of dollars of income all while travelling the world and living a life of leisure?! We all have. And they're annoying. The truth is that you don't have to do any of that crap to run a successful business. But so many of us fall into the trap of signing up for all the webinars, and buying all the courses, and paying for all the software... Listen to this episode for our permission to do your own thing and ignore all those exhausting, stress-inducing ads. Links & Sponsors If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Do you ship or mail goods to your customers or clients? Well, for our Canadian listeners, we have the BEST online platform to help make that easy, save you time, gas, and money. Sign up for your free account with Freightcom using the promo code SOPHIA and start shipping with all the major national carriers, wow your customers, and make your life easier. Tap right here to sign up. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

We talk a lot about wedding and portrait photograph on this podcast. But in this episode, Petro and Sophia are thrilled to speak with Jesse Dittmar, who photographs "people who are affecting the world." In other words, they're celebrities. Which we believe makes us famous adjacent adjacent! Listen to us totally geek out over Jesse's work, and hear all about how Jesse got his start in the industry photographing celebrities. For those of you who want to photograph things that are not necessarily "the usual," this is a must listen, and it's one of our favourite episodes to date. Links & Sponsors You can find Jesse Ditmar at his website and on Instagram. But we recommend that you purchase his latest book, Two The Book, right here! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Do you ship or mail goods to your customers or clients? Well, for our Canadian listeners, we have the BEST online platform to help make that easy, save you time, gas, and money. Sign up for your free account with Freightcom using the promo code SOPHIA and start shipping with all the major national carriers, wow your customers, and make your life easier. Tap right here to sign up. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

We're back! Thanks for hanging in with us while we've been on hiatus. We didn't ask for permission. But Petro had a baby and Sophia has been busy, so we took a break! And now we are back. AND we've moved our podcast to a new platform (so you might need to resubscribe--tap here to find out where you can subscribe) and changed up our show notes, and we know you are going to love the new show just as much. And on that note, we want to talk about doing your own thing in business... With your own business, you should have your own policies and procedures. Catch Sophia's latest rant all about people complaining about doing the same thing over and over again that they hate, but neglecting to do anything any differently. Listen to this episode to get our permission to run your business the way you want to. Links & Sponsors If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Do you ship or mail goods to your customers or clients? Well, for our Canadian listeners, we have the BEST online platform to help make that easy, save you time, gas, and money. Sign up for your free account with Freightcom using the promo code SOPHIA and start shipping with all the major national carriers, wow your customers, and make your life easier. Tap right here to sign up. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode petro and Sophia are talking about delinquent vendors. As a small business owner, you'll need to work with all sorts of business people. And sometimes it doesn't go as well as you'd like it to. Here's the story: Sophia reaches out to each wedding vendor she works with prior to, and after the wedding. But recently she's been receiving automated responses from a few vendors which say something like, "We value your email and will get back to you shortly." But the hitch? They never get back to her. No! Vendors are ignoring emails, but promising that they will respond. This is not a good example to set, especially to people in your network who may refer you for future business. Some of these vendors were on Sophia's preferred vendors list, but because they neglect emails (and even direct messages on Instagram), Sophia doesn't trust them to respond to clients she sends their way. In fact, after recording this episode, Sophia has now hired one vendor for 2 jobs herself which she would have normally hired other vendors for. But because they are unreachable, she's moved on to someone else. The moral of the story is to respond to your emails! Respond to your DMs! And don't send use generic autoresponders for every single email that you receive. Let's talk about that for a minute... Imagine every time your clients email you, they receive the same autoresponder! It's horribly annoying and impersonal. So unless you're on vacation, switch off your autoresponders. So. Don't be a delinquent vendor. Respond to messages. Stay in contact with your network. It's the only way you'll build a good reputation. Share your thoughts in our Facebook community Double Exposure Show Group. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your choosing with the purchase of a bag at our new shop F8 STYLE! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week Petro and Sophia take a deeper dive into marketing for your small business. Networking is so much more than just meeting someone and handing them your business card. So in this episode we tackle what we think are some key strategies to networking well: Being memorable. This means knowing your business, being kind, and being interested in the people you meet. No matter who they are! Don't just shove your business card in people's hands. Get to know them! Making casual connections. Never try to sell on your first meeting, unless you know for a fact that a person is interested. This can backfire. Instead, connect with people on a deeper level. Networking is about more than just business. It is about knowing each other. Following up with networking connections. Send emails, schedule coffee meetings, and write handwritten notes. Reconnecting with networking connections over the long-haul is an essential part of networking effectively. Catch the podcast in video form! Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. Share your thoughts in our Facebook community Double Exposure Show Group. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your choosing with the purchase of a bag at our new shop F8 STYLE! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode, Petro shares a quick story of networking gone wrong, and the unexpected consequences of networking poorly. Have a listen, and tune in to the next show for our advice on how to network properly. Catch the podcast in video form! Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. Share your thoughts in our Facebook community Double Exposure Show Group. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your choosing with the purchase of a bag at our new shop F8 STYLE! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week Petro wanted to talk about something a bit more positive than our last few episodes. So we decided to share some of our favourite non-business tools which we think give us an added edge in business. Here's our top 3's. Sophia's: My Kindle, which I use to read many business books including Networking Like A Pro and How to Win Friends and Influence People (which is $0.73 in the Amazon Kindle Store). I'm also currently reading Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain For Life. My Apple TV, which I use to watch Netflix... And also host in-person photo viewings and print consultations. I can use the Apple TV to use my TV as a second monitor, so I can show my clients their photos on a large screen. My Bluetooth Eye Mask which I use to block out light and sound. This is especially helpful when I'm travelling and want to get a good sleep. You know how I like my sleep, and as someone who grew up in the country with very little light polution and unexpected sounds, staying in a hotel in a busy city might mean that I don't sleep so well, but blocking everything out with one of my favourite podcasts helps me get a better sleep and feel more together in the morning. Petro's List: Audible and audio books, because sometimes you just don't have the time to sit down and read, but you really want to get through that business book. Some books are even offered on Kindle and Audible, and you can switch from reading to listening when you need to. I listen to audio books when I'm driving. Apple products. This might sound an awful lot like Sophia's Apple TV, but I'm a particular fan of the Apple HomePod, and how all of my devices sync and make my life easier. Rigid work lights! I've talked about these things on previous episodes. I've replaced my strobes with Rigid work lights because not only can I use them with my existing light stands and accessories like umbrellas and softboxes, but they are constant lights, light weight, and durrable. They run on rechargable batteries. And all of this put together makes them super easy to transport. You can find them at your local hardware store, and they cost a fraction of the cost of strobes and come with a lifetime waranty, so no need to replace expensive bulbs. Catch the podcast in video form! Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. Share your thoughts in our Facebook community Double Exposure Show Group. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your choosing with the purchase of a bag at our new shop F8 STYLE! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Have you ever been photographing a wedding, when in walks Uncle Bob with a massive camera rig, and sets up right at the end of the aisle? Guest photographers can be a serious problem for professional photographers. Recently, Sophia had this exact experience at an unplugged wedding ceremony. She had to diplomatically convince the man to put his gear away. Thankfully, the bride had been very clear prior to the wedding that no guests were allowed to be taking photos, so Sophia felt 100% confident relaying this message. But when she told the guest that the bride would be mad if he was taking photos he said, "She won't be mad at me. I've done this before." Though it took some creative fenagling, some stubbornness, and some reiteration, the man did ultimately spend the ceremony in his seat. Here's our best advice for dealing with characters like this: Have a conversation with your clients. While you might have a clause in your contract stating that there will be no other cameras present at every wedding you photograph, it is best practice to discuss this policy with your clients, because they might have different expectations. Know whether they want their family and friends to take photos, whether they want their family and friends to stay seated, or whether they want absolutely no electronics in the hands of their guests. Make a point to introduce yourself to other photographers and amateur photographers. Often couples will warn photographers of family members and friends who work in the field or who are die-hard hobbiests, because they tend to bring their cameras everywhere. With a clear understanding of your clients' camera policy, shake hands with each of these people. Often with a simple friendly discussions they'll say something like, "I don't want to be in your way. Just let me know if I'm blocking you," or will completely stay out of your path. Offer to hire amateur photographers for the day. If your clients say that there will be another photographer present who will be taking photos because "they're just starting out and want to get some porftolio shots and experience," offer to hire them for the day! Reach out to these guests prior to the ceremony, invite them to meet with you before-hand, and come up with a plan for how you can work together. This will give them real experience, you might pick up a future employee, and you'll have more photos to add to the clients' album. Stay positive, be courteous, and smile. Or as Petro says, don't be a rockstar. Throwing a fit and storming out of the wedding because Aunt Edna stood in front of you for the kiss will only give you a reputation of being a diva, and that will not bode well for future business. Catch the podcast in video form! Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. Share your thoughts in our Facebook community Double Exposure Show Group. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your choosing with the purchase of a bag at our new shop F8 STYLE! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week we are talking about everyone's favourite topic, delivery! OK, I lied. It's not everyone's favourite topic, but Petro and Sophia do our best to make it as interesting as possible. We tell you all about how we deliver our customers' products and the goodies we include to make the whole experience positive. We also get into what you should do after you deliver artwork. Listen here to catch the details! How do you package and deliver products for your clients? And what do you do after they've been delivered? Share your thoughts in our Facebook community Double Exposure Show Group. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your choosing with the purchase of a bag at our new shop F8 STYLE! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week Petro and Sophia weigh in with our opinoins on the Meg Bitton controversy. Meg Bitton, if you didn't know, is a talented child photographer. She frequently publishes series of photographs which garner a lot of attention and scrutiny, and recently came under fire for a series of portraits she did of children on the streets of New York City. She's being accused of sexualizing and objectifying young girls. If you have no idea what we're talking about, read this to hear our description of some of these photos and our response to the controversy. In short, we believe that every photographer is an artist, and deserves the right to explore her life experience through photos. We do not agree that these girls are being sexualized and objectified, and instead challenge those who are totally squigged out by these photos to ask themselves, "Why?" In fact, when we quickly compare Meg's photos to the promotional material for popular TV series Dance Moms, we think Meg's photos are quite tame. And more importantly, by not recognizing Meg's photos, we're sweeping the modern reality of many young girls across North America under the rug. By choosing to look at these photos as deplorable filth that shouldn't see the light of day we are simultaneously ignoring the fact that many in our communities live like this. And if we don't like it, we should do something productive about it... not post nasty comments on Facebook from the comfort of of our pjays. (As much as we love our pjays.) What do you think?? Join the conversation in our Facebook community Double Exposure Show Group. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your choosing with the purchase of a bag at our new shop F8 STYLE! If you're looking for a new CRM for your new or growing creative business, we have a special treat for you! Get an extra 30 days with your free trial when you sign up with Táve! That's a total of 60 days free! Click this link to sign up with our favourite CRM for creatives. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Charging credit cards is something every small business owner should consider at some point. Petro and Sophia both find the process very useful when it comes to getting paid swiftly for work because our clients find it convenient. But many small business owners do not like the processing fees attached charged to businesses for processing credit card transactions. There are a couple things to consider. Listen to this episode to learn about what credit card processors might be best for your business. We also explore whether you should charge a processing fee for credit card transactions, whether you should increase all of your prices to compensate for processing fees, or whether you should offer incentives to clients who pay with cash or free bank transfers. Use code DELAUNCH to receive a free tshirt of your chooseing wiht the purchase of a bag at http://f8style.com Use this link to get an extra 30 day free trial on Táve! That's a total of 60 days to set up your new small business CRM at https://tave.com/join/happyppl Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Use code DELAUNCH on checkout at http://f8style.com and receive a free t-shirt of your choosing with your purchase of a bag! This episode starts off with Sophia admitting that she's shifted to using the auto settings in Lightroom to save time while editing weddings... You may have heard us rant about focusing on things that make you money and getting off of social media. Well this is very much related. Think about it! If whatever you're doing is not creating the results you want it to, change it! The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So when your business isn't creating the results you want, be prepared to make some changes. For example, Sophia is joining BNI to open herself up to new networking opportunities, and taking a step back from social media marketing. Tip of the week is to keep track of where your paying clients are coming from. Review those results regularly, and put your focus on building out your popular sources rather than trying to bring in clients through methods that aren't working. Schedule an annual assessment of your business each year to do things like this. You can track where customers are coming from in your CRM. If you don't have a good CRM, check out Táve! It's our recommended CRM of choice: https://tave.com/join/happyppl Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode of Double Exposure Show, Petro and Sophia are discussing the type of photographer who stays up until 2am editing photos. Sound like you? Maybe you have a full time job, kids, and a partner, and the only time you can find to edit your photos is at night when everyone else has gone to bed. But we're here to tell you that this unhealthy behaviour will wind up with you feeling burnt out. Listen to this episode for our thoughts and advice. / Discuss this episode in our Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook / Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. / You can find Sophia Lemon at http://sophialemon.com and Petro at http://luxephoto.co / And don't forget to subscribe!

Running a business requires endless patience. Inevitably you will work with people who don't value your work like you do, people who don't read their contracts, and a bunch of people who seem to ask the same damn questions over and over again. This week Petro and Sophia go on a rant about dealing with "stupid people," answering repetitive questions, dealing with hostile clients, and how to diplomatically respond to what we perceive as stupid questions. We also briefly discuss why it's so important that you don't devalue yourself by slashing your prices just to get more work. - Subscribe for more of our delightful rants and raves. - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode Petro and Sophia are discussing professional courtesy, honesty, and transparency in business. Why? Because personal issues... Have you ever experienced social "drama?" Have you had a client come to after the job was done saying, "You didn't do what you said you'd do!" Well we have! People lie, people misunderstand, and people don't remember the original agreement. - Our best advice this week is to have a very specific and clear contract, to make sure that you are reviewing your contract with your clients, and to keep a paper trail. All of this can be done while remaining courteous and personable. For example, write things down! When you speak with your clients by phone or text message, follow up with an email outlining everything that was discussed. Always be clear. Always be honest. If you don't sell digital files, be upfront about it. If you require a meal be provided for you at the wedding reception, be clear about that before booking. If you only work with people with pools so that you can get a break from major heat waves (like we're experiencing right now in our part of the world), say that before booking so that everyone is on the same page. - Listen here for our advice on being clear and upfront, showing professional courtesy, and dodging major disagreements after-the-fact with your clients. - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week Petro and Sophia are talking about how to ask, give, and take criticism as a photographer or creative small business owner. We find that, sometimes, people ask for criticism when what we are really looking for are compliments. How do you know when you're doing this? If you are disagreeing with the advice your peers are giving you, then you probably aren't looking for criticism. - If you have something to say about this topic, please join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week we are talking about managing your client expectations and also behaving like a professional. - As you can imagine, you always, always, always want to do a good job for your clients. But sometimes we push ourselves too hard, saying that we are producing higher quality, when we are in fact doing our clients and ourselves a disservice. For example, if you're spending an hour editing each wedding photo you deliver, you're going to burn yourself out trying to edit each wedding and you'll likely be delivering each wedding to your clients late. - Listen to this episode to get some perspective on where to better allocate your time. - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week, Petro and Sophia talk about shaking things up, changing our businesses, and reevaluating our routines. Because over the years as a business owner you're going to go through times when you're bored and lacking passion. But that doesn't always mean that it's time to move on from your business. It might just mean that it's time to tweak things just enough to bring that passion back into your life. - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode of Double Exposure Show, Petro and Sophia sit down with former wedding photographer and entrepreneur Lee Mann to discuss his exit from his business. When Lee discovered he'd lost his passion for wedding photography he slowly put less and less attention into it and found himself making mistakes that hurt his clients. He knew it was time to leave, but leaving a business everyone associates you with isn't exactly easy. - We are constantly telling you to leave your full time gig and give your side hustle your full attention when it's what you're truly passionate about. But what happens when you grow out of that business? Listen to this episode to find out. - Check out Lee's new podcast The Infinite Game on iTunes. - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

As a business owner, you are creative and engaged in many passions in life. But for anyone who has tried yoga, you know that when you start out trying to stand on one foot, you might fall over. Life is all about balance, and focusing all of your attention on your business and neglecting every other joy in your life will leave you tired, overworked, and unproductive. So this week Petro and Sophia are discussing how they find balance in life in order to keep on top of their personal lives and business lives. - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode, Petro and Sophia take a quick look at the new social platform, Vero, and what implications it might have for small business owners and (deep breath) Facebook. If you're a business owner with a social media presence and a page on Facebook, you might want to have a listen to this episode! - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week Petro and Sophia are talking about a topic that is important to both of us. And that is bullying and cyber bullying in business. You know that we hate the fauxtographer movement, and that we both think it is important to open up and share with other photographers who are just starting out. With that in mind, we have seen too many business owners try to virtually clobber each other online. In this episode we are taking a stand and saying that it is not cool to be mean in business. Have a listen! - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thank you to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Find the links for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/70 - If you're in a routine with your work and not advancing, then listen to this episode. We expect you've gotten a little too comfortable with your life the way it is and have stopped kicking the necessary butt to move you and your career forward. - So many people are afraid of change just because it might get a little uncomfortable. But that discomfort is so worth it when you can look back on your when you're 80 and not once regret that discomfort. - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Petro and Sophia have more to say on the topic of breaking convention. This week, we ask that when you're asking for advice that double check with yourself that you aren't actually asking for validation. Because if you're really asking for validation, then you need to have a different conversation with yourself. Confidence comes from within. You're not going to get it right the first time, and if you do, you probably won't get it right the second time. - Get the show notes and links for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/69 - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Get the links for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/68 - Ship better with Freightcom. Use the promo code "Sophia" at http://doubleexposure.show/freightcom - Friend of the show, Candra Schank, recently had an idea! She wants to sell one frame. This one frame will come in a select number of sizes and colours, and this will be her bread and butter product. If her clients want a more custom piece, she'll turn it into an experience and take them to the framer to have their custom frame dreams come to life. However, when she presented this idea to the framer, she was told, "No. You need to have 4 options." And the options he gave her were nearly identical, with only a few variations that her clients wouldn't care about. This is what we are talking about this week. Petro and I are sharing why it's a great thing to break your own trail and forget about what everyone else thinks you should do. Listen to this week's episode for a few of our stories and shenanigans, and to hear the advice we give Candra. You'll also catch our friends at Carbon Based Business Units giving us some serious props at the end of this episode. - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Get the show notes and links at http://doubleexposure.show/67 - Recently Petro had an unfortunate interaction with Tank's vet which included some name calling and slander on Facebook. In fact, it all took place on his vet's business page. We don't want to see this happen to you. Because as a business owner, you should be acutely aware of the impression your behaviour is giving off. As a listener of this show, we hope that you are giving off a professional and pleasant impression. In this episode we share a couple stories and tips on how to interact on social media when someone has a different opinion than yours. Here is a quick run-down: Leave it alone and cool off. Read the whole post. Don't just read the first thing that makes you angry and then respond. You need to grasp the full intention of the post first. Stop not helping. Especially if someone is asking for help. Also, if you want to disagree with someone else's advice because you don't like what they said or how they said it, refer to step one. Read your tone objectively. While you might think that you are giving important information to the conversation, others might read your tone as angry or rude. Be aware that you might offend people. You can't go through life making everyone happy at all times. Ask yourself, "Is this something I might want to delete later?" Don't post private conversations. Especially when you are just looking for someone to validate your feelings. If that's what you are looking for, chances are you're not sure that you were in the right to begin with. Remember you can't go back. Once it's on the Internet, it could be out there forever. Refer to #4 and #6, and reread your post or comment objectively. Be sure it's something you absolutely want to say. - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

#66 Podcasts We Listen To by Sophia Lemon & Petro

Join our Facebook community on Facebook where folks just like you are sharing all about working in creative small business: http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Save on shipping this year! Sign up for Freightcom with the code "Sophia" at http://doubleexposure.show/freightcom - We have a beef with you. Yes, you. YOU, the type of person who doesn't share your knowledge with "the competition," because you're afraid they might steal your ideas. Here's the truth: business competition isn't what you think it is. Especially in creative industries like ours. Take for example, small businesses like photography. Both Petro and Sophia believe that if a photographer can't succeed, then no one will succeed. If we are constantly dropping our prices to undercut our competition, then none of us will be able to pay our mortgages. Our clients will devalue our work, because we'll be telling them collectively that our time and talent is worth increasingly less. Instead of looking at your competition as people to be squashed, let's think of them as people whom we wish to succeed. Because if that new photographer on the blog improves and increases her prices to the same as yours, then you will both be telling your local market that what you do has value. OK, so what about sharing? Let's be realistic, no one has had a unique idea in 100 odd years. Mini sessions have been around forever, everyone can deliver prints on metal, and a wedding album has been a standard in wedding packages for, well, ever. If you have ever been on Pinterest, read a message board, taken a college course, or picked up a magazine, then you have been influenced by others in your field. Don't hoard all that information as if you're the only person who knows. (Shhhh!) Don't be afraid to share because you think your competition might do it better. Don't be afraid to share because you think your competition will put you out of business. Instead, share! Then bust your butt to provide your clients with a better experience. Treat them nicer. Send them more thoughtful gifts. Take a course on sales to learn how to better pitch to your leads. Learn how to make the booking process easier. Grow your mailing list. Connect with more people on Instagram. Hone in on your niche market and provide them with a better service than they could have ever imagined. Share more! Because we are doing ourselves a disservice by whining about not being able to bring home the bacon because there is too much competition. - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. - Get the links for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/65

Not long ago, friend of the show, Candra Schank, showed Sophia a local photographer's Facebook account which seemed to be blowing up. Candra thought something was amiss about it... and there was. This photographer had way paying for Facebook likes. And not only that, but engagement on her posts. Each post had the exact same number of likes, the exact same number of shares, and the exact same number comments from the exact same people. We have a problem with this! Because this means that this photographer is getting absolutely no engagement from real life people; her target market! Here is a very quick outline of how the Facebook algorithm works: When a a real-life Facebook user engages with your content he or she will start seeing more of it because, presumably, they like what you're putting out in the world. Not only that, but Facebook will start serving your content to more users like that person. However, if your content gets no engagement (or in this case, no real engagement), then your content will be shown to fewer users. Listen to this episode and don't let yourself fall into the trap of purchasing social media likes or engagements! - Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week we have a special guest! Malia Remtula is the Sales Director of Freightcom. You've heard us totally nerd out over Freightcom, but if you haven't here's what we think: it's amazing! - Use the promo code Sophia at http://doubleexposure.show/freightcom to have your account automatically activated! - Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Get in the Facebook community RIGHT NOW... This week we have shared a screenshot from one of Sophia's favourite Facebook communities regarding refunds. We want to know what you would do if you were in this photographer's position. Join here: http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Check out the show notes for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/62 - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Find the links for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/61 - Join the conversation and ask YOUR questions in the Facebook group at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This episode is all about listener questions. We're answering how to advertise on Facebook and how to reach your target market for photographers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. - Get the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/60 - Join the conversation on Facebook and get your questions answered at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Get a copy of Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

We are all about automation. For small business owners and professional photographers they are so integral in saving time and taking the thinking out of a lot of tasks that really don't need to be thought over. Petro and Sophia use all sorts of workflows and templates to take care of tasks from emailing incoming leads, to sending out galleries, to reminding customers of their print order quotes. Listen to this week's episode for examples of how our workflows and templates look and to get started working on your own. - Need a little more help getting started? Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our aardvark and Bensound for our theme music.

Get the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/60 - Join the community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - The truth is that in small business, accountability is a huge part of your success. If you cannot set a goal, map it out, and work towards achieving it, you will never achieve it. So in this episode Petro and Sophia are sharing our best advice for committing to projects in your business and working towards success. Here's what we talk about: Setting goals, mapping them out, and tracking them; doing what you say you're going to do; creating habits; and taking a chance. Because you don't have a chance if you don't take a chance. - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our Aardvark and Bensound for our theme music.

In the last episode we told you that marketing is all about building relationships. What better way is there to do that than on social media. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest make it so easy to engage directly with your target market without ever having to change out of your pjays. But how the heck does one get started? I mean, there's so many options, which do you choose? And after you set your profile picture and cover photo, and invite all of your friends, how do you use them to make money? That's what this episode is all about. Petro and Sophia go over the super simple strategies to transform your social media profiles into lead-converting machines without the headache or nervous breakdown. Listen to this episode to learn how to choose the right platforms, schedule your posts, choose the right content and captions, use calls to action, and engage your audience. - Get our action steps at http://doubleexposure.show/57 - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Social media has changed how business owners market their products and services. Gone are the days of relying on Yellow Pages ads and car graphics. Today, in addition to investing in brand recognition, you need to invest your time in building relationships with your potential clients. It so easy for businesses to connect directly with their clients. If you are not on social media building those relationships, trust us, someone else is. Here is a quick rundown of what we get into in this episode all on marketing for small business owners: 1) Marketing is no longer about brand recognition. It is about brand relationships. 2)Know who you're talking to (your target market), and talk directly to them. 3)Know your elevator pitch, and be sure it resonates with your target market. Keep a database. 4)Automate as much as you can to keep yourself sane. 5)Use storytelling to draw your ideal client in and capture their imagination. 6)All of your marketing material should point readers, listeners, and viewers to contact you somehow. That might be a link to your contact page, a button to message you on Facebook, or a call to action to connect with you on Instagram. These basics will help you get started with your marketing and keep you focussed. We will be going into more detail on each of these topics in future episodes, and we want to know what you want to hear about specifically. Join the conversation on Facebook and let us know what you want to hear at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week we talk about our favourite tools for managing our photography businesses! Get all the links to our favourite tools at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/55 - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music

Check out the Ellen video at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/54 - Tell us what you would do if you were in Darren's position at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - This episode tackles the story of Darren Hatt photographing his groom saving a child from a river. The story has gone viral, and Darren is getting some attention himself. How would you handle the publicity? Tell us on Facebook! - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Get the show list at http://doubleexposure.show/53 - We've been recording for one year! Yaaaaaay! And we hope you've been learning something about photography and business. In this episode we want to share with you our favourite episodes from the past year. The episodes we think you absolutely need to listen to in order to equip yourself with the knowledge to run a successful photography business. - Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Last year while at a wedding, a groomsman grabbed my (Sophia's) second shooter's butt. The guy had been drinking and seemed to think he had developed a rapport with Katie, so while she was doing her job fixing the bride's veil for photos, he helped himself to a feel. She jumped and told him to stop. Katie asked that we discuss this topic this week. It's not too uncommon that drunk clients and their drunken family and friends will make their photographer feel uncomfortable. This kind of behaviour is called sexual harassment and both Petro and myself agree that it is inappropriate under any circumstances. Listen to this episode to get our instructions on how to behave should you feel uncomfortable working with your clients' wedding guests. Feel free to translate this information to other professional circumstances like working with boudoir clients, or doing headshots in a private space with a member of the opposite sex (or the same sex, for that matter). - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Review us on iTunes for your chance to win a copy of the Aardvark! - Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Both Petro and Sophia admit to using our cellphones in some capacity for our businesses. Sophia mostly uses her's for Instagram while Petro actually plays with his at jobs with some great results. We're not the only ones, though. Is it possible that smartphone photography is becoming a real, recognized professional thing? - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide

Join the community and tell us how you'd handle client tragedy at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Natural disaster and tragedy cannot be avoided. If the hurricane in Texas has taught us anything, that is it. In fact, Sophia has witnessed a tragedy strike 2 weddings just this year with the loss of close family members. In both cases my clients came to me asking for photos to use at the funerals. I sympathetically obliged. - As a business owner you might find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place when tragedy strikes your clients. You'll struggle with putting food on the table while also wanting to lighten the load these people are saddled with. - In this episode Petro and I discuss how you should respond to clients when tragedy hits, and how you can protect yourself from being out of pocket any money. - Listen to the full episode and get the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/50 - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. - Get Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide

Join the community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - This is a quick episode as Petro and Sophia have absolutely 0 time! But it's an important one nonetheless. When was the last time you upgraded your camera? 1 year ago? 3? 10? Sophia hasn't updated her cameras for years... because she doesn't need to. And the truth is that your clients can't tell the difference between the Canon 5D Mark IV photos and the Canon Rebel photos. So before you rush out and put the latest equipment on your credit card, listen to this episode! We talk about the latest gear, third party equipment, and even memory cards! So listen up and save yourself a few (thousand) dollars. - Download Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Read the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/49 - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Find the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/48 - Join the community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - This week Petro and Sophia Lemon are discussing media relations for photographers. The media is a stellar resource for free advertising for photographers, and it's easy to harness their reach to establish yourself as an expert in your area. Listen to this episode for our tips! - Here's the basics: * Learn to write press releases. * Connect with media professionals online and interact with them regularly. * Create a media list in your database. * Blog content your clients will find interesting and share it on social media to establish yourself as a resource. *Engage in news discussions in online communities. * Partner with charities and other groups to hold special events. - Leave us a 5 star review at http://doubleexposure.show/iTunes - Download Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide

Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Download Sophia's Picture Perfect Guide at http://pictureperfect.guide - Leave us a review for your chance to win a copy of the aardvark by Benjamin Edward at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes - There's so many reasons why you might want to work with a charity. And when you're first starting out you'll likely be approached to donate your time and services. You might choose to work with a charities because you're passionate about a particular cause, you'll get some publicity out of it, to meet new clients, to feel good, or to get a little bit of a tax break. However, photographing charity events might not be great portfolio-building exercises. Instead, when working with charities you need to consider how you'll make money in the long run. It sounds greedy, but you can absolutely be charitable while also building your business. Listen to the episode for the details! - See the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/47 - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Join the Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - This week Petro and I (Sophia) decided to have a little bit of fun and discuss some of the things we learned in college. These aren't the things we use over and over in our business. Instead these are the things we learned which were out of date when we learned them, or which we never needed o know. - Included in this week's episode: Dreamweaver and Flash, 3:1 lighting, Light metering, Background lights and hair lights, Rule of thirds, Diffused lighting, Selective colouring and other editing. - Listen for a little chuckle, and share the things you've learned on the Facebook community!

Read the show notes for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/45 - This week we are talking about how to speed up your photo editing process so that you can spend more of your time shooting and bringing in new paying clients. - First, we recommend breaking up your process into smaller chunks. Let's start with my (Sophia's) post-shoot process. I complete each segment over several days following the session or wedding. The day after: download and backup photos. A couple days later: sort the photos into folders. This especially makes culling and colour correcting weddings easier by making each segment smaller. A couple more days later: cull photos. This is the slowest part due largely to technological limitations. I'll zip through a section of photos and reach a section of photos which haven't fully loaded... Then I wait... A few more days later: colour correct photos. Once I've edited a few of my favourites, I sync those settings across all of the photos (except exposure and white balance) to speed up the process. Then all I have to do is correct the exposure and white balance of all of the photos, which I can do in large chunks. Really, this part is pretty quick. Pretty much immediately afterward: upload photos to the client's gallery or contact them to schedule their proofing session. By following the same process each I edit a shoot I don't get sidetracked, and each segment seems more manageable when performed on its own. - After you've broken down your process into smaller, bite-sized chunks, there are a few things you can do to speed the the process up even more. Here is some advice from Petro: Frame photos in your camera so you don't have to crop anything later. Properly expose your images in your camera. This will take so much work out of colour correcting later. Know your equipment. For example, if your camera shoots dark, bump up your exposure meter. This will help make it so you don't have to bring up the exposure in every image later on. Cull images as you download them. This will save you a lot of time in editing. Save presets with your preferences and apply them on import. - If you still cannot for the life of you get through editing another single wedding, consider outsourcing. Include the price of editing in your packages. Remember that by paying someone else to do it, you are saving the money you'd be paying yourself to do it. While you're not editing you can be spending time bringing in new business and making even more money.

Join the Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - As a photographer who is intending to get hired on your technical and creative expertise it is important that you have a portfolio. Even though you have a website, your print portfolio will help you bring in clients in all industries. - 12 Steps to Building A Kick Ass Photography Portfolio Specialize. Wedding and commercial content shouldn't be shown together. Determine the purpose of your portfolio before you start compiling images. Be consistent. Your images should follow a theme. Avoid duplicates. Don't use two images from the same shoot unless they are significantly different. Even then, you should probably display them as a spread, or in other words as one image. Two images from the same shoot should not take up two slots in your portfolio unless the viewer can't tell that they're from the same shoot. If you need to explain it, take it out. Show your portfolio to someone and if they ask "what's the purpose of this image?" take that image out. Less is more. You only need about 10 images in a print portfolio, or 10 spreads in a sample album. Quality over Quantity. Choose your best images for those 10 prints or 10 spreads. Be creative. Your a photographer, after all. Be Clean and Organized. There's no need to add background colours or unnecessary text. Think ahead and avoid too many trendy design elements which might not transfer well in the future. Start strong, finish stronger. Use your second best image for your first image, and your best for your last image. Have a professional give their opinion. And listen to them! Pick your best images, not necessarily the images with the most meaning. Though that image of the father-daughter dance might have meaning to them, it doesn't to your clients. Don't use images because they have meaning to your previous clients. Add images because they make your future clients want to BE your previous clients. Design your print portfolio differently than your digital portfolio. Your print portfolio will have different images and a different flow than your digital portfolio. You have a little bit more time with people sitting right in front of you, so use that time to tell them a story with your images.

Get the show notes for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/43 - We've all felt what it's like to be unhappy at one point or another. For me (Sophia), it was in university. I was out of shape, in an unhappy relationship, and I could barely force myself to go to class. My body felt terrible, my mind felt worse, and it had consequences on my relationships, creativity, and productivity. Eventually, though, I found a gym that I liked and started to change my lifestyle in a big way. Today I find motivation to keep myself moving and eating well so that I don't have to feel all of that anxiety and depression from university. Motivation is absolutely essential when you're running a business, and procrastination is your enemy. But many creative types find themselves bitten by the procrastination bug, and sometimes finding motivation can be tough. A lot of this is brought on by anxiety. As Petro describes his chat with a doctor, creative types are very susceptible to anxiety because our imaginations run wild with all the possible outcomes of any given situation. Especially the bad ones. So it is especially important that we find ways to keep ourselves engaged in our business and motivated to finish jobs and bring in new clients. This week Petro and I discuss our top 10 ways to find motivation both for life and our businesses. Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Get the show notes for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/42 - As a professional photographer whose contact information can be found online, you are bound to be the target of a scam at some point. At times it can be difficult to recognize the signs of a scam, but once you see them you'll know exactly what to look for. A couple of days ago Petro was the target of a common text scam which inspired this week's episode. Before we get into the details, enjoy this interaction between Petro and the scammer. Signs of a scam: Unusual area code; Poor grammar and spelling; Scammer is inquiring about the wrong industry; Scammer asks if you accept credit cards in their first contact; The scammer is not located in the same geographic area as you, or the venue is not an actual venue; The scammer will refuse to get on the phone with you (another reason we recommend that you speak with your clients before booking them); The scammer asks you for a favour, and that you charge extra money and send it to them or to another vendor. How to avoid getting scammed: Deal with people you know; Check the phone number in Google; Check their Facebook and look for mutual friends; Post a screenshot to the Double Exposure Show Group; Never send money to another vendor or client; Get on the phone or meet your clients face to face; If you feel weirded out about someone who is contacting you, stop talking to them. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week we sat down and talked about some of the bad and useless advice we've received in our photography careers both before and after going pro. Listen to the episode for a full rundown and commentary on our individual lists. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. Join the Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook

This week's episode all started when I (Sophia) went on a rant on Facebook. I was venting about a horribly disgusting sexist post I saw pop up online. (Listen to the episode to hear the post.) This got Petro and I thinking about how photographers treat each other, and especially new photographers. The truth is that not all photographers are savants, and there is a considerable learning curve which never really ends until we officially put our cameras down. At some points in our career we feel like the most talented, creative photographers and 5 minutes later we might feel like every photograph we have ever taken is absolutely terrible. This is why we advocate for sharing our knowledge and helping each other grow as artists. If every photographer chose to keep what they know to themselves then no one would ever learn, including that photographer. If you haven't already please join our community! It's a safe, supportive space where photographers go to learn. - Here are more of Petro's tips for improving your skills: Listen to our show for photography business tips and hilarious rants; Get educated by taking a college program or doing online courses; Join a local collective to learn along-side other photographers; Second shoot for a professional to build a portfolio and learn. - To join the community on Facebook go to http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music!

Some folks in our industry have earned themselves a reputation for being a creepy photographer. I think you know the personality we are talking about... The guy who exclusively photographs aspiring models half naked. The photographer who posts on client's beach Facebook photo saying, "You look hott!" The wedding photographer who gets a little too friendly with the bridesmaids. A couple weeks ago we shared with you how to behave when you work. This week we're talking about how to keep a squeaky clean reputation with your clients and prospects. Here's a rundown of what we discuss: Don't comment on girls' revealing Facebook photos; you can ask for boudoir business, but you have to do it the right way; don't stare at your clients boobs or butt; don't make a face, don't say anything negative, and don't laugh at serious moments; learn to give your clients an appropriate compliment like, "You look fantastic;" learn how to read people, and don't push them beyond their comfort level; be careful using humour to diffuse a tense situation. For example, don't use racist or sexist jokes; protect yourself from inappropriate behaviour; we also share a few ways you can market your boudoir business without seeming like a total perv.

As a business owner it is especially important that you take good care of yourself. If you're under the weather no one can perform your duties for you and that may cause a loss of income. That's what we're talking about in this episode! - Join the conversation in our Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook - Here's our best recommendations for keeping yourself in good shape so you can do your job! 1. Figure out your routine. 2. Exercise. 3. Eat well. 4. Get good sleep. 5. Hydrate. - Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week we talk about those behaviours you should avoid while working with your clients. Here's the list, and listen to the episode (above) for for the details. Don't be a diva or try to be the centre of attention. Unless you're shooting family groups or the wedding party, let the moments around you happen naturally. Don't distract from the natural flow of the day. Don't lecture the family, bridal party, or other guests. It's not your place to shame wedding guests for their behaviour. Don't waste your clients' time. Get them to their ceremony and reception on time. Don't bring up the contract. You should only refer to the contract in situations when you absolutely have to. And by that we mean, unless you're close to calling your lawyer, try your best to resolve disputes without referring to your contract. No means no. If the bride doesn't want to sit in the grass or lean against a tree, don't try to push her into it. Don't touch your subjects. We will only touch our subjects after giving instruction several times and then asking. This is especially important when working with children. Always ask first and be sure you have developed a rapport with the subject before doing so. Don't compliment your clients' body parts. You can tell everyone they look fantastic, but there's no need to say, "Your ass looks great," or, "Wow! Your boobs!!" Don't wear inappropriate clothing. We always recommend that you dress professionally, but this goes beyond that. You might need to lay in the dirt or stand on a ladder while crouching... Wear pants that will cover your underwear should you bend over, and if you love to wear dresses at weddings be sure they're practical. Don't argue with the coordinator. They know a lot of people. Use them! But refer to item #1 and don't be a diva. Don't complain about your clients. Don't share technical problems. Deal with them. You should show up prepared with backup equipment, and you should be able to work in practically any environmental situation. Don't make your problems your clients' problems. You're the professional. Make it work! Don't say how few weddings you've shot. If people ask you can tell them, but you don't need to comment on how this is your first wedding. If you are feeling compelled to do so, you are probably feeling insecure. Suck it up and rock it. Don't drink and don't dance. There are few situations in which this is OK, like when you're photographing your friends' wedding. Otherwise, be professional. Don't drink and let the guests do the dancing. Don't behave inappropriately. Check out the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/37 Join the Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/Facebook Leave us a 5 star review at http://doubleexposure.show/iTunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Are you a portrait photographer thinking of branching out to commercial work? Pricing your service is a little bit different. Listen to this episode for our tips on properly pricing your commercial photography service and protecting yourself from getting ripped off. Join the Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Leave us a review on iTunes at http://doubleexposure.show/iTunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week Petro and Sophia are taking a break from the podcast to catch up on work and recover from the long weekend. Instead we've included the latest episode of Ridiculously Happy PPL, Sophia's new podcast. Hope you love it! Feel free to use the tips with your clients. Join the Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week we're answering a listener question! Hey Petro and Sophia. Starting a biz, and wanted your insight on what products I should offer and which ones not to. Any I should say no to? Which products do you think I should offer as a new photographer? So of all the photography products out there, which should you be offering your clients? Listen for the answers. To join the conversation in our Facebook community go to http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Please leave us a review on iTunes if you like what you hear at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

No on likes small talk. Especially about the weather. But nothing is more awkward than silence. Well what happens when you hit a rough patch with a client and things get a little bit uncomfortable and weird? Listen to this week's episode for our awkward stories and how we deal with awkward moments with clients. Join the community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook We can't wait to hear your questions and share your struggles! Get the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/33 Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

This week received a question in the Facebook group which we think deserves a good conversation. If you are not in the Facebook group already, be sure to join, and remember to post. If Petro and I don't have an answer for you we will tag others who might! There is a wide variety of photographers in there from wedding and portrait photographers, to landscape photographers, commercial photographers, and artists of all skill levels and years of experience. Don't be shy. Everyone is super nice. Here's the question from Mark: I would like to take a couple online courses to up my game. I've heard you, Sophia and Petro, say that you didn't think too much of online courses and that you only watch for example creative live if it's streaming free. Are there any courses that you would recommend? Find the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/32 Join the Facebook community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Leave us a review at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes And thank you to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music!

Petro and I sat down with his first year wedding and portrait photography students on their last day of class. I was excited by how engaged they were, and they asked some important questions! In this episode we're sharing the answers to their top 5 questions including our biggest struggles, our branding, and insurance. Join the community on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound.com for our theme music.

Your website is an essential part of your photography business. That doesn't mean it should be made up of 70 billion pages, though. In most cases, less is more. Wow your visitors with a few small details and quickly usher them to your sweet and simple contact form. Listen here for our tips on building your new website. Join our community at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Leave us a review at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound.com for our theme music.

This week we list our Top 5 lists of things we love, things we regret purchasing and things we want. To hear about the items we can't work without or items we wish we never had tune in and enjoy. Have your own top 5 to share? If you listened to this episode and you're on Facebook, you should be in our Facebook group! Join here: doubleexposure.show/facebook Leave us a review at doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Your mailing list is the most powerful digital marketing tool in your toolbox. Unlike social media which relies on algorithms and followers' settings, your mailing list allows you to reach your subscribers right in their email inbox with content tailored for them. Both Petro and myself have mailing lists we've packed with family, friends, photography clients, wedding show attendees, social media followers, and folks we've targeted online through advertising and generally being social. I get responses from every single email I send out, and Petro often books additional weddings in his post-bridal show follow up emails. So how do you get started? Listen to this week's episode for our tips. If you listened to this episode and you're on Facebook, you should be in our Facebook group! Join here: http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Leave us a review at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

While Facebook can be a powerful tool for some, the influence of your Facebook page doesn't lie in the number of likes you have. The truth is, it's all about engagement, and the more engagement you have, the more engagement you'll get. But then... how do you get engagement in the first place?? Listen here! Join the conversation at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. Subscribe to the podcast to get the next episode when it's released, and remember to leave us a review if you like what you hear at http://doubleexposure.show/iTunes

It's important that at the end of the day your clients like you. Why? Because referrals. Your clients are more likely to talk you up if they like you, and even more likely to say bad things about you if they don't. Many photographers focus on the art and forget about the other parts of the business. Follow this week's tips to make your clients happy and to impress future clients. Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook, and if you like what you hear please leave us a 5 star review! Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

If you've ever been so stressed out about calling a client that you procrastinated, or if you are having trouble focusing on one task at a time this is the episode for you. Taking control of your calendar can be difficult as a business owner, but we are tired of hearing, "I don't have time!" The truth is you have time for the things you make time for. So photographers, graphic designers, videographers, retailers... Listen for our tips and reclaim your calendar. Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Let us know you like the show at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Help! I'm travelling with my photography equipment and I don't want to lose or break it! Get our tips on travelling for photographers in this week's episode! Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Let us know what you think about this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound.com for our theme music.

Hey, photographer! How do you know you are absolutely ready for your first wedding (or another other kind of shoot for a client)? (Or for your first wedding of the season?) You listen to this week's episode and follow our recommendations! Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Leave us a review at http://doubleexposure.show/iTunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music!

Style is more than just post processing your images. It's how you evoke emotion from your clients. From your branding, to how you talk to your clients, to how you direct people at a wedding day, your style is in everything you do. That's what we talk about this week! How to determine your style and cultivate it. Join the conversation on this episode on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook. Leave us a review at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound.com for our theme music!

This week Petro played shit-disturber on Facebook. He called out some photographers on providing a half day of photography coverage and 200 digital edits for $400. Charging $400 for 4 hours of your time (plus 20 to 40 hours of editing, countless house of customer relations, equipment purchases, and supporting... you know... your life) fails to take into account your overhead and the value of the service you're providing. This is where too many photographers fall part! We have a serious problem with this. Here, have a listen... Have thoughts on this episode? We'd love to hear them! Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/Facebook Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. If you like what you hear please leave us a review at http://doubleexposure.show/iTunes

This week I [Petro] am going solo. In huge part thanks to Sophia for taking off on me and leaving me to do the show all by myself. This got me thinking about other situations when you are needed to do the work by yourself. Particularly, I address the stigma behind having to use a second shooter at a wedding. Countering my own point I discuss the benefits of having a second shooter. Additionally, I cover taking the second shooter's help further and outsourcing your workflow to help you regain your precious time and enjoy your life.

This week we have our very first listener audio question! Yay! This one is from Eric from Red Button Photography. Eric asks what to tell amateur photographers looking to make their first small investment (of about $1500 and under) in photography equipment and potentially make their hobby a profession. We also discuss what makes a "real photographer." Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. Leave us a review at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes and remember to join our Facebook group at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook

If you've listened to episode 15 and 17 you've set up your business, you're getting out and shaking hands, and clients are starting to pour in. As a photographer and business owner it is absolutely imperative that you keep organized with your clients and leads and have a system to manage them. That's what we're talking about episode 18! Communication. You can find the show notes for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/18 Remember to join the Facebook group where you can share your photo fails and request episode topics: http://doubleexposure.show/facebook If you like what you're hearing please leave us a review to help us connect with more listeners like you: http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

You've registered your new photography business, set up your website, and you have a few likes Facebook. Now what? In this week's episode we discuss real ways to connect with clients and discuss the do's and don'ts of marketing your new business. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. Join the conversation on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook and leave us a 5 star review on iTunes at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes.

Tax time is creeping up on us and that has us thinking about saving those pennies. In this week's episode we talk with Carla Black from Investment Planning Counsel about saving for tax and retirement. Thanks to Christy and Maygin for requesting the topic. Double Exposure Show is a podcast for aspiring and professional photographers. Sophia Lemon and Petro share real behind-the-scenes insight into running a successful photography business. We go beyond the camera and talk about marketing, accounting, client relationships, mental health, and more. Subscribe to download the latest podcast every Wednesday and if you like what you hear please leave us a 5 star review on iTunes at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Thanks Benjamin Edward for our new Aardvark and artwork and Sophia's awesome new phone case. Check out more of his artwork at http://benjaminedward.ca! Thanks to Bensound for our theme music and Zencastr for helping us record with Carla.

If your 2017 resolution is to finally start your photography business you need to listen to this episode. Petro and Sophia share some insights into how to start your business the best (legal) way, how to navigate your online presence, and what equipment you do and do not need. Join the conversation on this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook and find the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/15. Double Exposure Show is a podcast on the business of photography from two photographers actually working in the industry. If you like what you hear please subscribe and be sure to leave us a 5 star review at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes.

This week's episode is a long one because we're dealing with a hugely important topic for photographers. Contracts! They're SUPER important, but can be a bit terrifying for some. Listen here for some important clauses to include in your wedding contract including deposits and retainers, termination and refunds, liability, and copyright. Double Exposure Show is a podcast about the business of photography, brought to you by two photographers in the industry. Listen every Wednesday for marketing, small business, and other behind-the-lens tips and inspiration for portrait and wedding photography, as well as other photography-related topics. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. Find the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/14

Merry Holidays! From Petro and Sophia. In this episode we talk a little bit about how we treat our clients for the holidays. We also talk about snow tires. Because you should have some! Double Exposure Show is a podcast about the business of photography, brought to you by two people in the industry. Listen every Wednesday for marketing, small business, and other behind-the-scenes tips and inspiration for wedding and portrait photography, as well as other photography-related topics. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. Find the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/13

This week we are talking bridal shows (aka wedding shows). Bridal shows are a great way to connect with engaged couples for both new and seasoned photographers. But they might not be exactly straight forward. In this wedding shows 101 episode Petro and I go over some things you need to consider when choosing a bridal show and preparing for it. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our artwork and Bensound for our theme music. Double Exposure show is a podcast about business by photographers for photographers! Subscribe at http://doubleexposure.show/subscribe and share us with your friends and coworkers!

This week Petro and Sophia sit down with Rob from Wave to for a follow up discussion on episode 9 and talk credit card processing and invoicing clients! Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our snazzy new artwork and Bensound.com for our theme music.

Not all photographers are equipped with a meeting space, let alone a studio. So coffee shops can be a great place to meet clients. But there are a couple things you need to consider, especially if you want to look like a total professional and book new clients on-the-spot. Episode 10 will walk you through the etiquette of meeting at coffee shops and a few tips on how to look totally professional. Join the conversation on our Facebook group! Remember to subscribe, and if you like what you hear please leave us a 5 star review to help us connect with new listeners. And if you're feeling generous please share this episode. You'll really be helping us out. Thanks to Benjamin Edward for our new artwork and Bensound for our theme music.

Let’s get down to business... This episode is about efficiency, workflow, and time management. We've picked out 4 apps (Wave, Tàve, OmniFocus, and Asana) which we actually use every day to keep our businesses on track and in the money. Thanks to Camera Canada for helping us exist and Bensound for our theme music. And a BIG THANK YOU to Benjamin Edward for our new artwork. It's freaking amazing!

In this special episode we reintroduce ourselves and remind you why we're hosting this podcast. Thanks to Camera Canada for helping us exist and Bensound for our theme music.

This week’s guest is Melissa Crannie from Mme Shutterfly who has been photographing people for the past 10 years. But that's not what is special about Melissa. What makes Melissa particularly interesting to me (Sophia) is that she runs her photography business while simultaneously juggling life with 3.5 kids and a husband. That's right! She's pregnant with baby number 4. How the heck does she do it? Listen to find out! Thanks to Camera Canada for helping us exist and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode Andrew asks, "Am I best suited as a portrait photographer, photojournalist, commercial/product photographer, lifestyle/wedding photographer, hobbyist, etc and how do I make that a part of my lifestyle and career?" We answer! Get the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/6/ Join our Facebook group at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook Thanks to Camera Canada for helping us exist, and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode I (Sophia) spoke with Drew Dudley, founder and CEO of Day One Leadership about making the decision to start his own company and dealing with the fears and anxieties associated with it. We discussed some listener fears and also thanked some reviewers. And I challenged YOU to come up with some questions you'll ask yourself daily to be sure you're living your core values. If you like what we have to say please leave us a 5 star review at http://doubleexposure.show/itunes You can find Drew and his podcast at http://dayoneleadership.com You can join the discussion on Facebook at http://doubleexposure.show/facebook You can find the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/5 Thanks to http://cameracanada.com for helping us exist. Thanks to http://bensound.com for our theme music.

The prints vs digital files debate isn't much of a debate for Petro and Sophia. We both agree that prints are a necessary part of most photography packages, and every new photographer should too! Listen to this episode for some tips on why and how to market prints to your portrait clients. You can find the show notes for this episode at http://doubleexposure.show/episodes/4/ Thanks to Camera Canada for helping us exist and Bensound for our theme music.

In this episode we talked with photographer and journalist Jenny Jay from The Double Jay Collective about her experience photographing a Donald Trump rally this past weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio. Subscribe to our show in iTunes: http://doubleexposure.show/itunes Subscribe to our show in Stitcher: http://doubleexposure.show/stitcher Thanks to http://camaracanada.com for helping us exist! Thank you to http://bensound.com for our theme music.

This one is a doozie! Sophia tells the story of the cranky community member who chased her down on a country road after an engagement session and accused her of vandalism. This is the inspiration for this week's episode. Last week we talked about other photographers; this week it's all the other people! How do you deal with difficult clients? How do you deal with difficult family members? What about wedding guests who THINK they're photographers? You'll learn some real tricks in this episode! Sit back and listen as Sophia and Petro share their experience dealing with temperamental characters. Get the show notes at http://doubleexposure.show/uncategorized/2/ Thanks to Camera Canada (http://doubleexposure.show/cameracanada) for helping us exist and http://bensound.com for our theme music. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Hey! It's our pilot episode! In this one Petro and Sophia discuss how other photographers are your friends. Because you'd never make it in the photography business without them! Sophia tells us all how mean she used to be and Petro encourages us to be nice. Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/doubleexposure/ Email us at doubleexposureshow@gmail.com Thanks to Camera Canada (http://doubleexposure.show/cameracanada) for helping us exist! Thanks to http://www.bensound.com for our totally awesome music!