Welcome to today's episode, where I am going to rant about why I don't believe in imposter syndrome anymore.

There are a few reasons, which we'll get into, but specifically I believe that people are often using the phrase "imposter syndrome" incorrectly. What's typically behind that feeling is actually a lack of confidence because you are doing something new.

And that can be a good thing! Because you can work on building that confidence. Tune in to hear the rest of this discussion. 

Episode highlights:

01:18 Defining Imposter Syndrome

01:39 Imposter Syndrome in Minority Groups

02:30 Mislabeling Lack of Confidence as Imposter Syndrome

04:09 Building Confidence Through Practice

06:28 Personal Experiences and Overcoming Challenges

07:46 Practical Advice for Photographers

09:33 Embracing Lack of Confidence

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

I've been hearing from so many photographers lately that they feel bookings are slow right now. Their inquiries are down, and they're not booking as much as usual.

And while these seasons can be very challenging, I know from experience that sitting in your feelings is only helpful for so long. If you are needing to provide for your family, it's okay for it to feel discouraging, but you also can't just keep waiting around. Instead, you need to take action and do something about not booking as much business. That is what this episode is about.

I'm exploring reasons behind fewer bookings, mindset shifts to make, and key money-making strategies to implement to help with this season.

00:53 Personal Experience with Business Downturns

02:22 Mindset Shift: Don't Overthink Slow Bookings

03:45 Analyzing Past Data to Understand Trends

09:37 Immediate Actions to Boost Bookings

09:51 Money-Making Activities to Implement Now

14:35 Brand Building During Slow Seasons

17:55 Enhancing Client Experience

I know that it can feel really frustrating to be in a slow season. But what I want to remind you of is that it is truly just that - a season!

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

In this episode, learn about Rebrand, my 16-week group coaching program for photographers who want to transition into personal brand photography. The program aims to help participants charge four figures per session while enhancing their confidence in brand photography. The episode discusses the structure of Rebrand, including weekly coaching calls, a comprehensive curriculum with swipe files and templates, and a Slack community for continuous support. Key features include portfolio reviews, a booking tracker for measuring success, and the upcoming Rewind video training series. Enrollment begins on June 14 with the new cohort starting on July 17. Learn more about Rebrand here!

Highlights from this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Rebrand Enrollment

00:29 Why Rebrand Was Created

01:42 The Importance of Personal Branding

04:00 Rebrand Program Structure

05:10 Resources and Tools in Rebrand

10:21 The Rewind Feature

11:47 Group Calls and Community Support

15:24 One-on-One Support and Portfolio Reviews

19:08 Accountability and Success Tracking

23:09 Enrollment Details

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Rebrand Waitlist: Enrollment opens June 14

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

It’s no secret that I love Instagram. I’m a big fan of the platform. I love connecting with people there, I love creating the content, I love seeing what other people are doing and scrolling for way too long. It’s a great platform and when used properly, it can be a huge asset in your business.

But it’s also no secret that Instagram can be really draining. I think especially over the past couple of the years that constant connection, while helpful, can also be a bit of a detriment. Because Instagram is this wheel that keeps on spinning, we can start to feel like we can’t take a step off of the wheel. It’s exhausting, right?!

So, having other things in place in your business that are able to keep moving, even when you want to take a break, is really important - to keep generating sales, to get your content out to more people, to add people to your email list, etc.

And that is essentially how I met today’s guest, Addie Gray. Addie is a Pinterest expert and analytic strategist. I actually met her on Instagram about a year ago, and she has been working in my business for about 9 months managing my Pinterest!

Addie is a queen in the realm of Pinterest, and I have her to thank for my Pinterest page doing well. Today’s episode is a deep dive into that and why Pinterest could be a great thing for your business. Here’s some of the things we talked about in today’s episode: 

• All about Addie and how she first got started with Pinterest
• Optimizing your Pinterest account
• Using secret Pinterest boards
• Why Pinterest is a good platform for business owners to consider
• How Pinterest differs from Instagram and can be working in the background for you
• Creating and scheduling Pinterest content
• SEO and optimizing your pins with keywords to show up in the search results
• What type of content to put on Pinterest (simpler than you think!)
• What making money on Pinterest looks like
• Repurposing content
• Figuring out your Pinterest strategy

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

This summer, I had an Instagram Reel go viral! And it was a really interesting thing to witness, and I wanted to reflect on it today.

Video does not come super natural to me (I mean, hello, I have a podcast. That should tell you all that you need to know about how I feel about video). So, the fact that I do Reels at all, let alone have had some go viral, is shocking because it’s just not my jam. But I will add, that after practicing for a while, they have become easier to do! 

The Reel that went viral was me lip syncing to the popular “I don’t know what you heard about me” audio clip. When I heard that clip, I knew I wanted to do something like I did for this Reel as I have had instances at preschool or the post office or wherever where people say that they follow me on social media. When that happens, it’s kind of embarrassing...because what I do on social media is kind of embarrassing (but I still do it anyways ;)). 

And honestly, it’s pretty funny that this is the Reel that went viral. I had put a good amount of production into my other Reels, but this is one that I did very quickly. I was getting ready to leave the house, didn’t have makeup on or my hair done, I had coffee in my hand as I was about to get in my car, and I’m pretty sure my neighbors were watching. And guess what? It took me 30 seconds. And this Reel that I spent 30 seconds on went viral!

This is what we are talking about today - my thoughts on this, why I think it went viral, things that I did to help me gain about 2k followers from it, and what I plan to do going forward for Reels:

• Why Reels do well on Instagram
• Creating relatable content
• Questioning the “mom relatability” of this Reel
• Creating content under the umbrella of your personal brand/niche-related content
• How this Reel helped me in the ‘Know-like-trust funnel’
• Having a “bingeable” account
• Auditing your account
• Responding to comments on posts/Reels
• My plan going forward
• What to do if Reels aren’t your jam

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

Since I started my podcast, I’ve gotten some questions from other people about how to start a podcast. This is an interesting question to answer because it’s actually very simple! If you are creating content in any area of your business, you could somehow turn that into a podcast or shift your business to have your podcast be your main form of content.

Of course, there are challenging parts, too. I have found consistency to be really challenging when it comes to recording episodes. The tech part of it all also initially overwhelmed me–but again, it actually was more simple than I thought it would be.

I wanted to do an episode addressing these questions, but I thought it might be a little boring simply having me tell you what microphone I use, what programs I use, etc., so I decided to have my friend Jaice on the podcast!

Jaice is a photographer in Sioux Falls, SD, and she has been a member of my mastermind program, The Confident Creative, so I’ve gotten to know her on a coaching basis and also as a friend. She has a background in education and is now moving into the education space in her business to help educate other photographers (or those who want to become one). She recently started a podcast (The Mistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To) this year that has taken off, and I have loved watching her grow with it.

Here are some of the things I talk about with Jaice:

• What made Jaice want to start a podcast
• How easy starting a podcast actually can be
• Equipment she uses
• Where to record your podcast
• Editing (and outsourcing)
• How Jaice started niching down and her transition to more education
• The goals she has for her podcast
• Monetizing podcasts and making sure it aligns with your brand
• Publishing your first episode and on what hosting platform
• What’s involved with show notes
• Launching and why we suggest doing it with more than one episode
• Ideal posting schedule goals
• Creating content in a way that you are aligned with and that your audience connects with

A few highlights from this episode:

[28:14]  With show notes, you have the option of making them into a blog post and linking it back to your podcast. You can get more eyes on it from different avenues.

[33:17]  There’s no rule that says if you have a podcast, you have to release weekly. No, two weeks, a month, it doesn’t matter. Whatever you want, whatever you can do, whatever makes you happy.

[35:35]  ...Maybe it’s time to take a step back and ask what is the goal of this podcast? Who am I trying to reach? What do I want to talk about?

[35:55]  There’s a million ways to create content that people will want to consume somehow, but if you’re not aligned with that, your people are going to be able to tell...The medium doesn’t really matter so much; it’s so much more about the messages.

[38:01]  I can’t stress enough just make sure you know who you’re talking to. Find your audience! That takes some soul searching.

This was so much fun catching up with Jaice and discussing all things PODCASTING. We even ended the episode with a fun little get-to-know-you speed round. If you’ve been considering starting a podcast but feel a little unsure, I hope this episode provided you with some great insight as well as confidence to start now!

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

I’ve been working with a company since 2018. When we started working together, I had just left my full time job, and this company was on the smaller side. Both of our businesses were newer. Fast forward to 2020, their business absolutely exploded, and we went from doing shoots every couple of months to at least once a month.

Now, really, this is a photographer’s dream. Consistent income, an ongoing relationship with a really fantastic client; on paper it was totally perfect. But in the same amount of time, my business had changed a lot too, which led me to walk away from this partnership.

I’m diving into all the details in this episode, and here are some of the things I talk about:

• How getting back to the foundations of my business made me realize the work I was doing for this long-time client didn’t reflect where I wanted my business to go
• How my website redesign made me evaluate my dream clients and business passions
• How I thought adding in more team members to assist with these shoots would help me be able to keep this client (but it didn’t work)
• How the problem wasn’t the client or the dream job; it just wasn’t my dream anymore
• Pricing reflections, and when raising prices isn’t the answer
• How to handle dealing with wondering what would people think with this decision
• How the conversation with the client went
• Reactions from people regarding the “break up”
• Walking away from the consistent income and the transition forward

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

Trish Taylor is a stylist + brand embodiment coach devoted to helping entrepreneurs show up authentically and attract their soulmate clients online and feel worthy of being seen as an authority in their space without fear of judgment. She has a background in personal styling celebrities like Ariana Grande, but after building an incredible career she realized it wasn't what she wanted. Trish started over, and her business as we know it today was born.

Here are some of the things I talk about with Trish:

• How Trish first got into styling and what she did when she reached the “top” of her celebrity styling career
• How she has combined her passions of styling and psychology into her current career as a brand stylist and confidence coach
• Why it’s helpful to align your mind, body, and brand before doing a brand photoshoot
• How Trish works with clients specifically (ps. It’s not about what level of business they are at or how successful they are)
• Learning to recognize your limiting beliefs and how Trish works through her own
• What a batch wardrobe is
• How to freely shine in a brand photoshoot

I have always enjoyed blogging which I think makes me a little bit unusual because whenever I talk to my creative friends about blogging I am typically met with groans. It isn’t something that people necessarily like doing. I think some of that is because we are told that as creatives who have a website, we should be blogging. But it takes a while to see results from that blogging! And I think that’s because a lot of us are not doing it correctly.

I noticed the biggest change in my business, website traffic, the type of client I was attracting when I doubled down on evergreen content, as opposed to posts that were more timely. Evergreen content can help set you up to look like the expert that you are! And Google tends to favor it as well. It keeps people coming back to your website because the content is always relevant.

This is why I recorded an episode all about evergreen content – because it can majorly help you in your business and even save you some time! Here’s a look at what I talk about:

• What evergreen content is
• Looking through past posts to find evergreen content topics
• Ways to share evergreen content with your audience
• How to spin content to do something completely new with it
• Evergreen content ideas

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

Amanda Runia is an ex-accountant out of Brookings, SD, where she lives with her husband and three young kiddos. She has a love for fast talking, making new friends and helping others not feel lost. She owns a consulting business, In-House Ally, where she uses her accounting background and unique strengths to help business owners make better decisions and ultimately comes alongside them as an ally.

I love when people like Amanda can take something seemingly overwhelming like finances and break it down to be understandable and digestible for your business. I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Links:

Amanda on IG: @inhouseally

Amanda's website: https://www.in-houseally.com

Click here to join the Facebook group!

You finally feel good about those (higher! yay!) prices you're charging, only to find out that a "competitor" is doing what you're doing for half the price. What next? How do you handle it? 

Let's talk about the four things that need to happen when you find yourself in this position, and how it can actually be a very good thing for your business.

Join the Facebook group for more discussion after the show! https://www.facebook.com/groups/takeitpersonally/

Well hello. It's been a while. I'm popping in today to give you an update on my hiatus-turned-super-long-hiatus, and talking about what 2020 and my third pregnancy taught me about life and business. I missed you!

Join the Facebook group here and let's continue the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/takeitpersonally

Today on Take It Personally is guest, Chelsey Schnell! Chelsey is from Sioux Falls, married, and has 3 kids she gets to love on and 2 in heaven that she lost to miscarriage. She is an Enneagram 4, works in marketing and is also a photographer, and now runs a nonprofit she started, called Evermore Blooms. Evermore Blooms delivers flowers to moms, who have suffered a miscarriage, on their hardest days (due date, anniversary of the loss, etc.). 

Chelsey has a unique story as it has taken a lot of different turns over the years as she has learned more about who she is and her passions. She has come on today to share more about her journey, why it’s okay if your interests and passions change, and how to help your audience connect with your new venture.

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

If you're looking to pivot into personal brand photography, I'm running a live mini-workshop running from June 10-14 to help you make your first $500. This episodes walk you through what will be covered in the training to help you successfully transition into the personal brand photography niche and ultimately start making money. Listen in to this episode to get an overview, and be sure to sign up for the free Brand Photography Jumpstart Mini Course here.

Highlights from this episode:

00:00 Embarking on the Personal Brand Photography Journey

00:54 Introducing the Brand Photography Jumpstart Mini Course

02:58 Day 1: Establishing Your Position as a Brand Photographer

04:04 Day 2: Crafting Your First Brand Photography Package

05:04 Day 3: Identifying and Connecting with Your Ideal Client

06:34 Day 4: Marketing Strategies for Brand Photographers

08:00 Day 5: The Importance of Building Your Personal Brand

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Brand Photography Jumpstart: Free training to help you make your first $500

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

Today I get to welcome Jada Dobesh onto Take It Personally! Jada Dobesh is the owner of Selah Space, a holistic wellness cooperative. She is a Spiritual Director who uses the Enneagram as a map for her directees personal, spiritual, and mental-emotional growth. She lives in Sioux Falls with her husband Witt, and daughter, Audrey and spends a great deal of her time baking bread and working in her garden.

Over the past year, I have been exploring my spirituality more and have loved following Jada on social media. Jada is going to be sharing all about the enneagram specifically today, which is one of my favorite topics right now. 

Here are some of the things Jada and I discuss:

• How Jada got to where she is today and her journey to becoming a spiritual director
• Jada’s definition of the Enneagram
• How to find out your Enneagram number (and why she doesn't recommend a test!)
• An overview of each Enneagram number
• Tips for where to start to find your type
• Details about your soul child number and why it’s important to know that too
• Benefits of understanding the Enneagram and advice for using it in your personal life and/or business
• Enneagram book recommendations 
• What’s getting Jada excited right now

A closer look at this episode: 

[8:01] You are identified as one number and spend your life moving from number to number, gaining wisdom from all of the different types.

[21:27] The point is not to become the best ego-type that you can be. You actually want to move all the way through all of the numbers, picking up the pieces that serve you well and that make you a better person.

[34:39] It’s important as a leader to acknowledge your strength, and then find people or workers who have some of the other strengths.

Thank you to Jada for joining me today and sharing about the Enneagram! The Enneagram is such a cool and unique thing to reflect on, not only in your personal life, but for your business too. If you want to connect with Jada you can find her on social media @selahspacesd.

Jada's enneagram book recommendations: The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective / Becoming Conscious: The Enneagram's Forgotten Passageway

Download the Instagram Engagement Checklist mentioned in the episode to take back control of your IG engagement and start having fun again!

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

CONTENT. It’s a word that strikes fear and causes paralysis. There is so. much. pressure. Will it be good enough? Deep enough? Clever enough? Funny enough? Enough enough?

There’s a rule of thumb that has helped me get past that content paralysis, and it’s called the 80/20 content rule. What that means is that 80% of the time, you serve your audience, and 20% of the time, you sell to them. And if you use the 80% effectively, the 20% becomes so much easier. 

The 80% may seem daunting, but you have more to share than you think. Use your content to educate, inspire, entertain, or connect with your audience. Share what’s on your heart, special knowledge you have, or encourage deeper thinking.

Here’s some of the things I share in today's episode regarding the 80/20 content rule:

• The 80% does not all have to be original stuff, straight from your brain (ps. It’s this thinking that causes the paralysis). 
• When you are so close to something, as we all are with our own businesses, it’s harder for us to think of things that are worth sharing as it seems like common knowledge to everyone - but it’s not.
• Consider questions you wish your clients would ask you (and then answer that question). 
• If you are growing your business and providing the 80% of service content, the time will come when your audience is ready to pay you so they can get more.
• Your 20% should be about solving the problems of your audience. 

Some highlights from the episode:

[ 9:33] Sometimes content doesn't serve a significant purpose other than making a connection.

[9:54] Just because a post is not educating, doesn't mean it's not providing some sort of value.

[10:16] As uncomfortable as it makes so many people, if you've been doing the 80% the right way, the 20% should be easy.

I think you will find that you can serve your clients really well through the 80/20 content rule when you share things that educate, motivate, inspire, or entertain while remembering to listen to the feedback your content generates. It’s the feedback that leads to the 20% - the opportunities for sales and possibly for services that you hadn’t even considered until you listened to your audience and learned what problems you can solve with your unique expertise.

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

$100 off your Profile by Sanford membership with the code MADDIEPESCHONG

I’m sitting down with another business owner for this episode, Jeremy Brech, to discuss what this unique, and possibly difficult, time can mean for your business or businesses in general. I know we are all hoping to make it through with our sanity, but ultimately with our business still intact. 

There are so many unknowns, and emotions are all over. And that’s okay. This situation is not normal or ideal, but I have found talking with other business owners or people who are experiencing the same thing to be helpful.

And that’s what this conversation is today. Jeremy Brech is with DJ Jer Events and Lighting Design. He is an incredible business owner in the Sioux Falls area. He is known nationwide for his DJ skills, along with lighting and design and other business aspects. Jeremy has been in business for 24 years, and he has so much value and insight to offer.

Here’s a look at some of the things I discuss with Jeremy:

• Why he loves Sioux Falls and believes the strong economy has helped when hardships or recessions have hit.
• How making good financial decisions early on in his marriage and for his business helped put him in a comfortable position to be “recession-ready” (and he highly recommends Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University).
• Managing your money is important, but you also need to manage your time. This “extra” time is your opportunity to work on your business, which will help put you in a better position for the future. 
• Prioritize family time too, and support locally if possible (i.e.: take out food, purchase gift cards, etc.).
• Jeremy shares how he and his team are specifically helping their clients out and supporting others right now.
• Info on the small business stimulus.
• Thank your community and those still supporting you, and support them back. It’s not a marketing strategy, it’s caring for other people.

A few highlights from this episode:

[10:22]  Look to see how you can help other people – in your market, in your industry. Be the person to help somebody out if they are in need.

[17:15] It’s not so much about financial gratification, it’s more about the gratification of knowing that you can make an impact, especially in times like this. 

[27:21]  Reach out to those businesses who have been there for you. Reach out to those clients that have allowed your business to be a business or survive. Send them a thank you, and check in to see how they are doing. Every type of hope that we can get is exactly what we need. 

Thank you to Jeremy for joining me today! It was a great reminder to take time to prepare your business for the future and ultimately, to do more outside of it to support each other through this time. You can connect with Jeremy on his website here. 

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

$100 off your Profile by Sanford membership with the code MADDIEPESCHONG

I’m joined today by my personal accountant, Courtney, from Numbers and Such Prof. LLC. She is here today to talk all about the Small Business Stimulus Package and the different loans and grants available and what they mean for small business owners.

Things are constantly changing and everyone is searching for information (this was recorded the morning of April 3rd). Courtney helps clear things up today, but ultimately, we suggest that you get in touch with your CPA and business banker to understand what action you need to take next.

Here’s a look into some of the information Courtney shares:

• The EIDL is a loan that you apply for through the SBA. If you can’t get funding elsewhere, consider this one. It is an up to 30-year loan (but not guaranteed that).
• When applying, there is $10,000 grant money you can request (again, not guaranteed that full amount).
• The SBA is bogged down, so just a reminder that the money may not be granted to you immediately and may take time.
• Apply through the SBA website.

• The PPP is another one you can apply for to get 2.5x your average monthly payroll in a loan, which can convert to a grant if you use it for certain purposes.
• The loan is 2 years and has an interest rate of 1%, though it has potential to be fully forgiven.
• Independent contractors can’t apply until Friday, April 10.
• One requirement is having under 500 employees.
• Apply through your bank (more info here).
• You have 8 weeks to spend this amount (on payroll, rent, and utilities).
• 75% of the forgivable amount needs to be used on payroll. 

• Unemployment can be collected for 10 weeks before you need to start searching for other work (check according to your state).
• South Dakota maxes out at $414 a week (specific requirements to determine amount) and supposedly the federal government is adding to that with an extra $600 a week, if the state chooses to adopt and implement it. 
• If you receive a furlough notice from your employer, that may make your application easier. 

• Check with your lender to see if they are SBA-friendly and participating in these options.
• There are billions of dollars on the line, and it is anticipated to dry up. The money is first come, first serve. Apply as soon as you can.
• If you have a Schedule C, things can get murky. Because we don’t have typical payroll, having the loan be forgiven would look differently, and we just don’t have enough clarification at this time.
• You don’t need to have 2019 taxes filed to do all of this, but you will need 2019 financials either way. 

• SD sales tax deadlines are not pushed back.
• SD unemployment tax deadlines are not pushed back.
• Payroll taxes – depends if your CPA has guided you to postpone.
• Income tax got pushed to July 15 (instead of April 15).

One final reminder: the best thing you can do is get in touch with your CPA and banker to figure out the steps you need to take next to apply.

Thank you, Courtney for joining and sharing your knowledge. We hope this was helpful to all of you small business owners out there. If you are looking for help on this, you can connect with Courtney on her website or Facebook Page.

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join and ask any questions you might have regarding the Small Business Stimulus Package or information in today’s episode.

Life has been hectic lately, and honestly, I have been trying to record this episode for about two weeks. We are in the middle of this global pandemic– something none of us have navigated before. 

I’ve been trying to keep business as usual while business cannot really be business as usual. Many of us have found ourselves working on our business versus in our business. If you have the time now, (though if you have kids at your feet–you don’t, and I get it!), working on the back end of your business is a great place to spend your time because it will make things smoother on the front end, when business returns to “normal” once again.

As a small business owner, you need quality tools to keep yourself organized. As a one person shop, you deal with everything from sales to marketing to contracts to billing. If you don’t have great systems in place, important details can slip through the cracks. And let’s face it, your reputation is on the line. That’s why today I am going to share a few of my favorite tools that I use to manage my business that you may come to love as much as I do.

Here’s a sneak peek at my favorite tools:

• Dubsado is a CRM (client relationship management) software. It provides a consistent client experience through automated workflows and emails.
  • You can use it free for your first three clients. If you want to continue with it, you can use MADDIEPESCHONGPHOTO for 20% off your first year!
  
  
• Stripe is a payment processor, which allows me to take payments online. It works alongside many of the other apps and tools I use for my business.
• Voxer is a voice messaging app, sort of like a walkie-talkie, that allows for easy communication.
• Google Drive is a great place to create documents, share with members of your team, and store files. 
• Asana is a project and task management software. You can create projects and assign the subtasks to different people with different deadlines and notes.

I hope it’s been helpful for you to  learn about some of my favorite tools for organization and project management. The better you can have the back-end of your business set up, the easier everything else is going forward. Cheers to an organized business life! 

Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. Click here to join in!

$100 off your Profile by Sanford membership with the code MADDIEPESCHONG

Lately I have had some people reach out asking me to do an episode about balance. The timing is ironic as this past week I hardly worked more than 30 minutes a day due to having a sick kid at home. My daughter caught some kind of bug, and all she wanted to do was cuddle and nap on the couch. My flexibility allowed me to stay home with her, which I am so thankful for. But I will admit that, as a business owner, it was also challenging. 

I love my job, and I love to work, so it was tough having that all be put on hold. This episode comes at an interesting time for me, but it also supports how I feel about balance – and that is that balance doesn’t really exist. The more we understand that and understand that that’s just life (and that everyone else doesn’t have it together either), the better it’ll be during those times we really feel unbalanced.

Though things are never totally in balance, there are some things in my life that I have setup to help support this work-life integration, or lack of balance maybe. And that’s what we are talking about today. Keep in mind these are what work for me and my family, though it may look different for you! But here are a few of those things I am sharing on today’s episode:

• Why I don’t believe there will ever be balance, otherwise we are constantly having to choose between our family, our work, our house, our self-care and the list goes on.
• Why I like the phrase work-life integration instead of work-life balance. It really is all one and the same.
• There will be some weeks where it’s all things all family, there will be weeks you have to be more present at work or where your personal life takes priority, etc.
• Childcare is a nonnegotiable for me. If my kids are home, I simply can’t get work done. Though it is a luxury, if you can afford, I totally see it as a necessary luxury.
• My life has also been changed through outsourcing. Again, it may not be financially realistic for everyone, but if you are just scared of starting, consider it again! Being able to free up your time is so much more incredible than holding onto the money.
• This past year, I have really worked to protect my calendar. Last year, I overbooked and became so burnt out. I set goals this year to have it be different, and it has allowed me to retain my sanity.

A closer look into the episode:

[5:10] It’s all about that integration across all the different parts of your life, as opposed to balance.

[11:32]  Don’t think I’m doing it all with kids at home with me, because I’m not; my kids are in childcare full-time which allows me to get work done. 

[25:12] I personally make sure my calendar is really light before and after big trips. No more stressing over getting all the things ready or coming back to a super full plate.

I hope this episode was helpful in helping you realize that you don’t need to be striving after balance but that there are things that can support you in the “unbalance.” Come join us in the Take It Personally Facebook group and share how you find integration in your life.

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Oh, Instagram. We love to hate it, right? I actually love Instagram, but I hear frequently from other people who can’t stand the app anymore because it’s become so different from when we first started using it. I also tend to hear many people blaming the algorithm (i.e.: the algorithm is the reason that their engagement is down or no one is seeing their post). And today I’m here for a major dose of reality and to tell you...it’s not the algorithm’s fault. 

The Instagram algorithm was specifically created so that people would see engaging content that they want to connect with. And quite frankly, if you are not creating engaging content that people want to connect with, the algorithm is going to hurt you. And in my opinion, it should. If you’re not creating good content that people actually want to see, why should Instagram show your content to people?

I know this can be hard to hear as we all try to put out good content, but if you are struggling with engagement on Instagram, that may just be the case. That is why in today’s episode of Take it Personally I am talking about 3 things you can do right now to boost your Instagram engagement and ultimately create it to be a place you want to be and where your audience has fun.

Here’s a little recap of the episode:

• Ask your audience an engaging question. Yes, this sounds so obvious, but we often forget to include a reason to make your audience stick around and engage back.
• Help your audience realize your space is a fun place and worth engaging with. 
• It’s as simple as this: engage back. Respond to DMs. Comment back to people’s comments. Engage with people you follow.
• If you want more followers, you need to be a good host to the followers you currently have. Treat your current audience like kings and queens. 
• Focus more on saves and shares in 2020. Encourage your audience to do those things (versus simply liking your post). 

I am so excited to have Paige, from The Legal Paige, on Take it Personally today! Paige is the founder of The Legal Paige, a virtual law firm working with online businesses and wedding industry professionals. She is a certified Juris Doctor barred in the state of Montana and holds a double B.A. in Economics and Political Science. After working as a federal law clerk, Paige traded in the traditional law life for a virtual one and opened the doors to The Legal Paige in 2018.

She helps her clients run legal and protected businesses and counsels them on issues related to contracts, intellectual property, privacy, and business law. She has worked with Jasmine Star, Hope Taylor, Brittani and Jon Hon with Hustle & Flow, Davey & Krista, Libby Rothschild with Dietitian Boss, and dozens more. Her mission is to create an online space where the law isn’t so scary and entrepreneurs can get legally legit in no time. Law aside, Paige is a small town Montana girl who loves travel, her dog, Sugar, and a good glass of red wine.

Today we are discussing the things you can do to make your business “legally legit.” Here’s a preview into what Paige and I talked about:

• How Paige managed to start and grow a photography business while also going to law school, and eventually start her own virtual law firm 
• How Paige found her niche in the gap between photography and law
• Some of the biggest mistakes Paige sees people make in business that could have legal consequences 
• The importance of copyrights and trademarks
• Who should have contracts in place in their business
• What should be included in a contract
• Why you should outsource to an attorney (from day one, not just when things go wrong)

This episodes discusses the transformative impact of positive thinking and mindset work on running a photography business. When running your own business, it can be easy to have negative thoughts, get discouraged, or experience jealousy. I think everyone's been there.

But learning to recognize unhelpful thoughts and reframe them can make a huge impact on how you show up in your business. This episode shares tips for overcoming these challenges. Here are the highlights:

01:11 The Impact of Mindset on Business Success

03:56 Navigating Negative Thoughts and Reframing Your Mindset

10:39 Practical Steps to Shift Your Business Mindset

13:27 Real-World Examples of Mindset Shifting in Action

15:56 Encouragement to Embrace Mindset Work for Business Growth

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

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Join the Rebrand waitlist here: opening June 2024

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

Check out this episode for a sneak peek inside my new course, InstaBranding, on sale this week only!

Emily Wilson is a branding and self-discovery coach in Austin, TX who helps women embrace their true selves, discover their talents, build a confident brand & live a mission-driven life. She joins me on Take It Personally today to talk all about building a brand based on yourself, and the mistake you need to stop making in order to build something truly authentic to yourself.

This week’s episode is a little different because I wanted to talk about something that recently happened in my own life, and it’s also something that I know happens to others on a pretty frequent basis. If you’ve been on social media at some point in the last five years, chances are you’ve been hit with a cold message. You know what these look like: maybe a high school acquaintance starts selling essential oils and sends you a DM. Or a family member you only see every other Easter wants you to check out the makeup she’s now selling. These messages are awkward, they feel super icky, and they’re just all around a really crappy way to market our business—ANY business, no matter if you’re in an MLM or not. 

I want to get one thing straight before I start this episode: I don’t have a problem with MLMs, networking marketing, or whatever you want to call it. I know people who have been successful with them, and I know people who haven’t been successful with them. I actually use a TON of MLM products in my daily life. Nearly my entire makeup bag is BeautyCounter, Young Living essential oils are littered all over my house, Monat is in my shower, and I’m newly obsessed with BeachBody OnDemand because the morning meltdown workout is bomb. I don’t have a problem with the products or even the companies; but I do have a problem with the icky sales tactics that are often promoted in these companies, and that’s what I want to talk about today. 

Ever heard of imposter syndrome before? If you’ve ever found yourself feeling inadequate or like you’re ‘not enough,’ you’re one of the millions of people who have dealt with this issue. It’s insanely common, and it’s a big deal! People, especially women, are living their lives absolutely terrified that they are going to be exposed as a fraud. That someone is going to come forward and call them out and let the world know they’ve just been faking it this whole time.

As I’ve grown as a business woman, I’ve found that imposter syndrome doesn’t go away. Every time I get to a point where I can feel myself up-leveling in my business, it rears its ugly head, sometimes even more intense than before. My business is better than it has ever been and I still have moments where I’m terrified that the other shoe could drop.

However, as my imposter syndrome has gotten more and more intense, so has my mental strength. I can feel when imposter syndrome is coming and while I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop it, I have developed the tools I need to deal with it. I firmly believe that anyone can do this, and I am hopeful that by sharing with you, you can start to take action on shifting your mindset to deal with imposter syndrome instead of letting it control you. 

I'm talking about the misconception that you need to be a branding expert to excel in brand photography. Your business background and marketing knowledge can be sufficient. And truly what brand photography comes down to is asking the right questions and understanding the client's goals. Crafting strategic brand sessions is key!

If you're willing to think strategically with your brand sessions and figure things out, brand photography is definitely for you, even if you don't feel like a branding expert. Here are the highlights of this episode:

00:30 Overcoming the Brand Expertise Myth

00:59 The Power of Asking the Right Questions

02:17 Embracing New Challenges in Brand Photography

02:56 Creative Approaches to Unfamiliar Industries

04:19 Leveraging Existing Resources for Inspiration

05:50 The Importance of Strategy in Brand Photography

07:31 Adopting a Figure-It-Out Mindset

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

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LINKS:

Sign up for the free training: Plan a Strategic Brand Session

Join the Rebrand waitlist here: opening June 2024

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

Nichole Joy is a digital doula. Never heard of that title before? That's probably because this girl pretty much invented it. After the birth of her second baby, Nichole discovered a passion within her for pregnancy and childbirth education, and began studying to become a doula. But with (eventually) three young children at home, being on call for the unpredictable nature of birth wasn't going to work. Instead, Nichole took to social media and began building an online community of women who were eager to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth. Now, she's creating courses for these women, AND the doulas who serve them.

Nichole is the perfect example of what it can look like if you keep your head down and simply listen to what your people are asking for. She's built her business on serving, and there are so many amazing gems in this interview that you can apply to your own business. 

So much of building a personal brand involves showing up and being yourself. And you can't do that if you're drowning in back-end work! This is a huge struggle for people who want to bring more of themselves into their business, but are being stretched way too thin by the day to day. 

But there is an answer and the answer is OUTSOURCING! I started outsourcing in my photography business a couple years ago and I'll never go back. It's been an absolute game changer to shift my focus to what I actually NEED to be doing, and getting other things, like busy work, off my plate. 

As solopreneurs, we are building our business babies by our lonesome, and the thought of handing any piece of that over to someone else can send you into a full-blown panic attack. But the key to scaling is in making sure that you're not just working IN your business, but ON your business. If you're ready to grow, let's talk outsourcing. 

This year has been game-changing for my business in so many ways. Before I get into it, let me preface this episode by saying I’m about to get REAL when it comes to numbers, because I think it’s incredibly important to the story. So, if finance talk makes you uncomfortable, you may want to skip this episode. However, I would encourage you to dig into those feelings to understand WHY you maybe don’t love talking about money. I know it can feel icky on the surface, but the reality is there is power and freedom in understanding the numbers behind your business, and it can make all the difference in how you’re spending your time. Plus, money can be the source of some really big wins, and those should be celebrated! So, let’s talk all about why I joined a mastermind in 2019 and how it’s completely changed my business for the better. 

I first met Cinnamon in a Facebook group actually. Cinnamon used her expertise in Squarespace to help me optimize my site at the time. Our friendship has grown over the years, and we often are in contact. I love hearing her perspective as she considers herself to be a little bit different than a lot of others in her field. And I would agree and think she is different in the best ways. 

When you look at a lot of creatives, especially on social media, there are certain things about them that kind of tend to be the same. Which has me thinking: Should you build a personal brand when you feel like you don’t quite fit that mold? Let’s hear what Cinnamon has to say!

Since I quit my day job, the biggest struggle that I have had with a business owner has been time management. Before I left my 8-5, I remember thinking how much time it would feel like I would have, now that I could solely focus on my business. Fast forward a year later, and we all know that is not the case. As a business owner, your mind is constantly going a mile a minute, and there are always a million things to do. And that’s before you start factoring in things like daily distractions, people wanting to grab coffee or lunch, social media time suck, and a million other things that can pop up on the daily. Today I’m sharing the three things I’ve been doing lately to protect my calendar, and therefore my sanity, as I navigate being my own boss and trying to make sure I don’t go crazy trying to do it all. 

Annie Otzen is a Getty Photographer and takes stock photography for Getty Images. She has incredible talent and has had some of her images published in the coolest places because of what she is doing with stock. 

Annie has so many great insights into stock photography and creating passive income for your business. I just started last year with passive income, and it completely changed my business. It’s an incredible thing to do something one time and then continue to get paid for it every single month, and that is what Annie is doing with stock photography.

It's not a secret I spend a lot of time on Instagram - I love it! But in case you aren't on the app as much as I am, let's start from the beginning. What is an Instagram story? Simply put, they are stories that live for 24 hours and then go away. That is how they started, but things have changed and they have become much more. Ultimately, they give your people a little behind the scenes into what your life looks like.

There are definitely some best practices when it comes to using Instagram stories for your personal brand, and that's what we are talking about today!

As a baby brand photographer, I would sometimes get frustrated after delivering photos to clients and having them not use their photos. It wasn't because they didn't like the photos. They sent positive reviews and sent referrals even. But they wouldn't post their photos.

The consensus was often that they were overwhelmed, didn't know where to start, or were busy with the next step in their business by the time they got their images back. I even implemented additional steps like offering post-session strategy calls, Loom videos, and an after session guide, but it still wasn't working.

It wasn't until I switched around my approach that I was able to not only better plan for my client's brand sessions but also help them have a plan for when they got their images back. This episode is talking about what I changed. Here are the highlights:

00:36 Enhancing Brand Sessions with Post-Session Support

02:25 A Lightbulb Moment for a New Approach

02:58 The Power of the Discovery Call

05:09 Designing Sessions with Strategy and Purpose

06:09 The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

10:51 The Impact of Strategic Planning on Brand Photography

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

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LINKS:

Sign up for the free training: Plan a Strategic Brand Session on May 21st at 12pm CST

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

Cassie Beech, owner of Made with Grace and Grit, is a brand photography client of mine and joined me for a conversation about the significance of brand photography in business.

Cassie shares her initial struggles with DIY brand content and the transformation after adopting a strategic approach to brand photography, which includes collaboration and planning, professional hair and makeup, and selecting optimal locations. We delve into how strategic, professional brand photos can boost business image, attract the ideal clients, and provide a bank of quality content for various marketing needs. Here are the highlights from this episode:

00:32 The Power of Interior Design and Personal Connections

01:18 Interior Design vs. Interior Decorating: Cassie's Expertise

02:36 Strategic Brand Photography and Interior Design Synergy

03:52 Elevating Business with Strategic Brand Photography

15:50 Maximizing Brand Potential with Professional Photography

23:11 The Strategic Edge in Brand Photography

CONNECT WITH CASSIE:

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CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

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LINKS:

Sign up for the free training: Plan a Strategic Brand Session on May 21st at 12pm CST

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

Rachel, of Rhody Ray, shares her journey from having a scattered approach to photography to niching down and strategizing her brand photography business. Through the Build a Strategic Brand Session training and Rebrand coaching, Rachel was able to have a plan to transition from wedding photography to brand photography, while keeping her clients top of mind.

Rachel discusses the challenges of shifting her brand's focus, the importance of strategic planning and client questionnaires, and how pitching to potential clients has enhanced her business and confidence. Her experience with returning clients since her strategic pivot showcases the long-term benefits and growth opportunities in brand photography. Here are the episode highlights:

00:34 Rachel's Journey Before and After Rebrand

04:03 Transitioning from Wedding to Brand Photography

06:25 The Power of Pitching and Embracing Rejection

11:27 Gaining Confidence and Strategy Through Training

19:47 Evolving Brand Photography with Strategy

25:46 Attracting and Retaining Dream Clients

CONNECT WITH RACHAEL:

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CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

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LINKS:

Sign up for the free training: Plan a Strategic Brand Session on May 21st at 12pm CST

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

Full show notes

So often I hear from other photographers that their mini sessions were a failure. When asking them about it, they share they only promoted it a few times but because no one was booking, they stopped sharing about it. This mistake of essentially quitting before starting is something I commonly see with mini sessions.

The only way to fill your mini sessions though is to talk about them! Many photographers get really in their head about marketing their mini sessions, but their mindset around it is so important, which is the topic of this episode. Any time you are struggling to market your mini sessions, it feels like a failure, or it feels like you're being annoying - come back to this episode! Here are the highlights:

00:44 The Power of Persistence in Marketing

02:23 Switching to a Launch Mindset for Mini Sessions

03:40 Understanding Audience Engagement and Frequency

05:08 Pricing Strategies for Mini Sessions

07:24 Handling Unsubscribes and Unfollows Positively

11:17 Adopting a Business Mindset for Success

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

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LINKS:

Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

In this episode of Take It Personally, Sean, owner of Unique Unicorn Photography, shares his transformative experience with the Make Four Figures with Mini Sessions training. Initially struggling to attract clients after deciding to fully commit to their photography business, Sean and his wife discovered mini sessions as a strategic entry point for client acquisition. The episode delves into how this approach not only built their portfolio rapidly but also significantly increased their client base by booking 30 families during a single weekend.

Sean discusses the importance of marketing, branding consistency, and the value of community building. He reflects on how mini sessions became a key component for business growth, client satisfaction, and a means to efficiently showcase their work and get referrals. This story is a testament to the power of mini sessions in kickstarting and expanding a photography business.

00:12 The Journey to Unique Unicorn Photography

00:37 Discovering Mini Sessions: A Game Changer

04:01 The Impact of Training on Business Strategy

10:43 The Success Story: Booking 30 Families

18:12 Marketing Strategies and Building a Client Base

19:44 The Future of Mini Sessions

21:58 Wrapping Up: The Power of Mini Sessions

CONNECT WITH SEAN

Instagram | Website

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram | Website

LINKS:

Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Training on April 25, 2024 at 12pm CST: Sign up now!

Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

FULL SHOW NOTES here

In this episode, I share my successful strategy for conducting high-4-figure mini session days! Since starting mini sessions in 2020, I have seen significant revenue growth and average $7,000 on these mini session days. I'll be sharing an overview of the simple strategy I have in my business that allows me to accomplish this. Here are the main highlights from this episode:

00:52 My Mini Session Journey: From Start to Success

01:58 Strategic Insights: Transforming Mini Sessions into Brand Builders

03:29 Yearly Growth: A Deep Dive into My Mini Session Evolution

05:55 Maximizing Profits with Smart Mini Session Strategies

10:59 The Power of Limitations: Crafting the Perfect Mini Session Offer

15:24 Marketing Mastery: How to Promote Your Mini Sessions Effectively

16:14 Next Steps & Free Training

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram

Website

LINKS:

Make 4-Figures with Mini Sessions Free Live Training on April 25 at 12pm CST: Sign up now!

The Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: 10 must-have images

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE