In this episode, D'Arcy discusses the power of storytelling in engaging audiences and driving action. She helps course creators, coaches, consultants, and wedding professionals become better storytellers to sell their services and products. She shares her own story and emphasizes the importance of origin stories and the hero's journey in effective storytelling. D'Arcy also addresses dealing with haters and the significance of staying true to your purpose. Hit play! 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOW NOTES

This week on Play It Brave, our guest (and D’Arcy’s actual lawyer) Paige Hulse shares valuable insights on crafting airtight contracts, including tips for creating payment plans, copyright assignments, and non-disparagement clauses. She also introduces her brand new cutting-edge AI-powered tool (seriously, this is going to blow your mind!) called the Foundry Contract Builder, part of the Creative Law Shop, which helps business owners like you create customized, legally-binding contracts, line-by-line based on your unique business needs.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOW NOTES

Learn the ins and outs of breaking into the luxury wedding photography market with Rebecca Yale and I. We cover the crucial role of practice and pricing strategies for success. Tune in now!

Meet Rebecca Yale: 

Rebecca is a world renowned, brilliant photographer and educator based in California. She has been named one of the top photographers in the world by Harper's Bazaar and Bride's Magazine and included in 100's of publications including Martha Stewart and The Knot. Rebecca's goal is to encourage photographers to grow their business so that they can be fulfilled financially and artistically. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOW NOTES

This show originally aired on 1/26/2023

What was the best testimonial you’ve received? What was the worst? These highs and lows of your business are there to show you where you could refine and align your offers and pricing to serve people better. Today I’m sharing two case studies of two women who have gone through the Self Made Phase 1 Mastermind with me. Each woman faced challenges with pricing and offers before their mastermind experience, and we’re diving into each of their transformations to pinpoint the mindset shifts and strategies it took to get them to a place of abundance, worthiness, and high profitability! Hit play to learn how you could get there too.

About Julia Luckett: Julia Luckett is an award winning wedding photographer, with a background in fine art and documentary photography. Her work has been published in Vogue, Elle, National Geographic, and Equally Wed among others.

About Cate Batchelor: Cate Batchelor is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Diego, California. Ten years ago she could be found snapping souvenir photos at the San Diego Zoo and today she lives out her dream of running a highly profitable photography business and jet-setting across the globe capturing high-end weddings.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/mindset/refining-and-aligning-your-business-to-charge-what-youre-worth

Have you ever heard of Curiosity Marketing? These psychology-driven marketing techniques are SO powerful in converting your audience into paying clients. I invited my Psychology Expert/Photographer friend, Jodi Anne onto the podcast to drop all the info on Curiosity Marketing and how YOU can use it to CONNECT and CONVERT without feeling salesy. Ready to dive in? Hit play.

About Jodi Anne:

Jodi is an accomplished international wedding photographer and a single-mom to three incredible future-gentlemen.  She holds a Master’s degree in Educational & School Psychology and somehow juggles it all with candid humor and deep authenticity.  She uses her years of studying Psychology and human behavior to ease her clients into her photoshoots with grace, and creates images that convey true emotion and connection due to her signature shooting method.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/marketing/instagram-psychology-expert-jodi-anne

Not experiencing the success you crave? We all have our blindspots, and in this episode I’m sharing the 11 most common blocks to success that my clients and students often face. Maybe this episode will give you the awareness and awakening you need to step into your power and reach your goals!

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/success-blocks

How many hours do you spend editing a wedding or shoot? Probably too many, right? In this episode of the Play It Brave Podcast, I present my very first threesome! Erich Mcvey and the geniuses behind Goodlight Presets joined me in a chat about all things film and digital in a world where creativity is queen! This team of top-notch photographers collectively created the presets to end all presets. Hit play to listen into our geeky gear conversation and learn how you can truly save yourself HOURS of computer work.

Erich Mcvey is a world renowned wedding, portrait and editorial film photographer with a love for medium format cameras, natural light and incredible scenery.

Erich teamed up with Goodlight in pursuit of creating the most advanced filmic presets and profiles that had ever been made to give all types of photographers the ability to match a variety of classic film stocks at a very high level.

Cody Tolmen and Austin Trenholm have both been wedding photographers for more than 14 years, they understand the  countless hours that can be spent editing. They knew there was a niche in the market for a preset that was more than just a click of a button. They wanted to recreate a preset and invent an entirely new process for color matching that would elevate their work and the industry leaders around them.

Cody and Austin created Goodlight Presets knowing that photographers needed an editing technique that gravitated towards perfect lighting conditions and produced beautiful imagery. 

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/erich-mcvey-goodlight-presets

Have you ever thought about reverse engineering your career around your life? Gone are the days of work work work to make more money. On today’s episode, my special guest Daniel Kim and I chat about how we can all design careers that fit our dream life instead of making our life fit into our careers. You may need to hear this one, friend… YOU are not defined by your career. YOU have the opportunity to live the life of your dreams and become abundant and wealthy in more ways than just one. Let’s get you there. Dive on in… it’s a good one.

About Daniel Kim:

Daniel is a photographer who lives with his wife and daughter in the desert of Arizona. He doesn't consider himself a wedding photographer. He considers himself a photographer, who happens to shoot weddings. After the shitshow of 2020 and how COVID-19 affected the wedding industry, Daniel was forced to step back and reflect on what he wanted for his life, and from there his life changed for the better. Now, he’s sharing his new perspective in hopes that it can change someone else’s life too.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/shaping-your-career-to-fit-your-life-daniel-kim

Are you ready to decrease your weekend workload, but also grow your business and bottom line? Our expert guest, Emily, of Anna Delores Photography joins me on this episode to help you reach your full earning potential by sharing her knowledge about hiring an associate team. If you want to be more than an employee in your business and step into the CEO role, then hit play to dive in!

Emily Loeppke is the founder of Anna Delores Photography and a wedding industry educator who empowers fellow creatives to grow their businesses (and profits) by hiring an associate team.

Anna Delores (named after Emily’s grandmothers) is now a team of five photographers serving over 50 couples every year for their California wedding celebrations.

Emily’s vision for other wedding photographers is excellence in both aesthetic details and business acumen in order to achieve a healthy, thriving entrepreneur life. 

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/marketing/growing-with-associates-emily-loeppke

It’s a new year full of fresh goals, dreams, and standards – and if you’re not dreaming of tripling your income this year, then put that on your vision board right now and hit play.

This episode is three parts. In part one I announce some big things coming in 2022 that you’ve all been waiting for. Part two is my standards for this year that I think you should implement in your life as well. And finally part three is the premiere of a new series called the Money Maker Series where I spotlight amazing creatives who are killing it and we talk about the strategies that brought them to where they are!

As the first episode of the Money Maker Series, I could not be more excited to introduce you to Summer Adams. Summer joined my Self Made Phase 1 Mastermind in the Spring of 2021 and since then she has tripled her income from $40k to $120 in less than a year! In this episode we chat about what shifts she made to get her on the path of wealth and abundance. YOU can take these 10 strategies and implement them in your business too! Listen in to learn how.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/new-year-new-standards-summer-adams

To end the 2021 season of the Play it Brave Podcast, my dear friend Paul Von Rieter interviews me about my life, brand, and my biggest takeaways from 2021.

Our stories of joy, healing, heartbreak, love, and adventure are what build personal brands. We’re in a world that is seeking connection in new ways (since we can’t just hang out in a pub and share a drink these days).

So to end Season 4 with a deeper telling of these stories of courage feels right. It’s the way we show up in our lives with courage over fear that makes me committed to living life each day, even when it’s hard...and 2021 has been hard. Has it for you? It’s been heavy and uncertain and interesting and surprising and heartbreaking and full of loss and full of deeper love too.

So dive into this week’s episode of Play it Brave with me!

If you’re a photographer in the wedding industry right now, then you might identify yourself as a Light & Airy or Dark & Moody style photographer. It’s easy to just lump ourselves into one or the other categories, but in this episode of the podcast, fellow film photographer, Patrick Le joins me in a conversation about the in-between of the two styles and how it’s important to understand light and master it for ALL lighting situations you might come across. Tune in for all the beautiful nuggets of wisdom.

About Patrick:

Patrick is a wedding photographer based in Southern California and is best known for his Apollo Workshops. His workshops are designed to not only teach photographers how to shoot film without the convenience of natural light, but to also open their minds to their own creative processes and how film fits within that.

SHOW NOTES: 

Are you unsure of what to say on an initial call with a potential client? Maybe you’re afraid to even get on the phone with them… In this episode, Ben Hartley and I discuss the importance in communicating your value, and how to do that in a natural way that doesn’t feel sales-y so that you can book more high-end packages. Sound too good to be true? Tune in to hear an example of what a bad and a good sales call should sound like. This is a must-listen!

About Ben:

winning wedding photographer, podcast producer and photography educator. He is known for teaching other photographers how to market and grow their businesses through his coaching, courses, workshops, and podcast called The Six Figure Photography Podcast.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/marketing/sales-calls-101-ben-hartley

One of the most common questions I get is how to get on Preferred Vendor Lists, and I’ve brought on the owner of Rachael Ellen Events to personally answer your questions and teach you the do’s and don’ts of connecting with wedding planners. What are you waiting for? Push play already!

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/the-secret-to-getting-booked-by-wedding-planners/

This episode originally aired on 10/22/2019.

Do you believe you have to have the best planner connections in order to book luxury clients? Think again. This chat with luxury French photographer friend, Audrey Neracoulis, proves that an impeccable portfolio is your strongest asset when it comes to booking luxury, and she shares her secrets to getting there. From styled shoot, portfolio curation, and networking tips – this episode is chock full of invaluable information. Hit play to soak it all up.

About Audrey:

Based in the heart of Paris’ Marais district, Audrey is a film photographer known for her unmistakable fashion house-inspired aesthetic and distinctive, sophisticated, editorial, boudoir, and wedding photographic work.           

In true Parisian style, she brings a certain "je ne sais quoi" to her images, which resonate with classic femininity and timeless elegance; capturing romance at its most chic. 

Her vision - a delicate balance between fashion photography and cinematic documentary style - has made her a much sought-after partner in Paris’ creative industry, and a favorite among her wedding and elopement clients worldwide, print and online publications - Glamour, Vogue, Brides Magazine, and Style Me Pretty among them - and anyone who values elegant simplicity. 

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/portfolio-luxury-clients-audrey

If you’re anything like me and you work from home, or have just fallen into a rut of not getting ready everyday, do yourself a favor and tune into this episode. My good friend Alison Lumbatis joins me to chat about the power of getting dressed everyday. Feeling confident, empowered, and WORTHY not only affects how you show up into the world, but it affects the decisions you make too. Imagine if you looked and felt like a 6-figure CEO everyday… Let’s all take an oath to start playing it a little more brave everyday and hit play to learn some of Alison’s strategies for putting our best foot forward.

About Alison:

Alison Lumbatis is the founder and CEO of Get Your Pretty On and Outfit Formulas, the #1 personal styling membership site in the world. She's served over 40,000 women through the Outfit Formulas program and has attracted an online audience of millions to the GYPO blog. Her platform democratizes style for every body and budget and is a leading resource to help women rediscover their worthiness through wardrobe while making getting dressed the easiest thing they do all day. 

An author and life coach, Alison is a thought leader in the personal style and confidence arenas. She's been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Redbook, Life & Style Magazine and on Good Morning Texas. 

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/feeling-good-alison-lumbatis

Calling all photographers! If you feel burnt out by shot lists, formulas, posing, and overall wedding redundancy, then tune into this raw and real conversation with Celebrity Photographer, John Dolan. We chat all about using a “less is more” approach to photographing weddings that allows for magic to unfold, and what photography clichés need to go so that we can get back to the real meaning behind the wedding photographs. This is truly one of my favorite episodes ever and I truly believe it could breathe new life into your work if you let it. Hit play.

About John:

John Dolan has woven a career of advertising, editorial and fine art photography. He is a recognized leader in contemporary wedding photography. Wedding clients include magazine art directors and editors, as well as celebrity clients Will Smith, Ben Stiller, Kate Bosworth, Bridget Moynahan, and most recently, Gwyneth Paltrow.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/wedding-photography-cliches-john-dolan

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be an Interior Photographer? Today’s guest, Lindsey Salazar took her photography skills and put them to use photographing homes and has since been published in countless publications such as People, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, and more. She’s mastered the art of photographing interiors, and you can too! Tune in to learn her tricks of the trade and see if this is an avenue for you to explore.

About Lindsey:

Lindsay Salazar is an interior photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lindsay is known for creating images that feel warm and inviting. She loves being a photographer because it fills the creative part of her soul and puts a smile on her face. Lindsay’s passion for interior photography has led her to share her talent with other aspiring photographers through her mentoring program. Her work has been featured by People, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Domino, House Beautiful, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart, The Discovery Channel, and more.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/interior-photography-lindsay-salazar

In today’s episode I’m fan-girling a little bit as I interview one of my favorite artists, Fia Forsström. Fia is known for her  inspirational lyrics that inspire and motivate spiritual journeys all around the world. Fia and I chat about what inspires her music, and her thoughts on the healing power of using your voice. Tune in to be enchanted by this beautiful soul.

About Fia:

Based in the countryside north of Stockholm, Fia Forsström is a folk pop singer/songwriter who with her inspirational lyrics, empowering songs, and catchy melodies quickly enchanted hearts all over world with the release of her solo debut ”Made of Stars” in 2016 which was crowdfunded together with her fans. Building a solid platform through social media and word of mouth, Fia took her place as one of the leading voices on the motivational music scene with ”Legacy of Light” (2017) and ”Waterfall of Wisdom” (2019), both of them recorded and released with the help of her loving listeners.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/your-voice-fia-forsstrom

If you’re into learning about Enneagrams, Archetypes, Myers Briggs, or other modes of identifying your personality, this episode is for you! Knowing your Spirit Animal is just another modality to getting to know yourself better, and my friend Fox  is my go-to girl. She paired her intuition with her background in Veterinary Science to step into her super power of being an Animal Reader. In this episode I challenge you to put aside all the ways you’ve tried to define yourself and open yourself up with other ways of getting in touch with how you communicate, show up in the world, and characteristics that you might struggle with. Hit play to learn more about Soul Animal Readings and how it can help you navigate your life, career, relationships, and more.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/mindset/spirit-animal-fox-lantern

Have you ever craved time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? Maybe you’re looking for ways to connect in deeper ways with your family or your creativity… This conversation with my friend Jaime Fenwick is filled with endless ideas of how you can tap into the art of slow living, whether it be a total lifestyle change or just a few small tweaks to your everyday habits. It’s time to step back and THRIVE in our everyday lives. Tune in to be inspired!

About Jaime:

Jaime Fenwick is a professional photographer and the founder of Bringing Inspiration Home, a business designed to help women thrive by tapping into their creative gifts through walking retreats, creative coaching, and photography. Jaime is based in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and 3 children and is passionate about beauty, adventure, and finding rhythms that slow life down. Check out her Instagram and Website for updates on their family’s adventures, recent blog posts, and opportunities to tap into your creativity.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/slow-living-jaime-fenwick

Do you find yourself often in a place of guilt, shame, fear or anxiety? Maybe you suffer from perfectionism? In this episode I dive into all the ways that you can move out of that space and into one of abundance and love. It’s time to harness your thoughts and beliefs so that you can live the most beautiful life that you possibly can. Hit play to check in with where you’re at and how you can become a better version of yourself.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/heart-space

Today the tables are turned and my mastermind sister and master copywriter, Dawn Apuan is interviewing me about what mistakes business owners and entrepreneurs often make when it comes to their businesses and brands. When it comes to getting seen, making money, and living a beautiful life that you dream of, it’s really all about these 6 things that you may or may not be doing… Tune in to hear if you’re doing any of these things.

About Dawn:

Dawn Apuan is an expert copywriter and funnel strategist. Former pastor and non-profit Executive Director, her mission now is to help entrepreneurs create magnetic messaging that sells even their most expensive offers. She provides expert copy and done-for-you funnels to automate leads and sales, increasing your income and impact.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/6-business-brand-mistakes

Ask yourself this one question: If you could ask for one thing from the universe, what would it be? Today’s conversation with mastermind alum, Afrik Armando, is one of my favorites and we dive into all the ways to making your biggest dreams come true. We chat about what led him from a life with less than $1000 to his name to becoming a 6-figure CEO in less than a year. Spoiler alert: it’s not as hard as you think, and you can do it too! Hit play to find out how.

About Afrik Armando:

Afrik Armando is a well-respected photographer with an editorial style and a playful personality. His approach can be summarized as the boldness of Beyonce’s “Who runs the world" merging with the quirkiness of Taylor Swift's “Shake it off".

Afrik Armando's work has been featured in several high-reputed publications including the likes of; Vogue UK, New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, and more.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/afrik-armando-transformation-story

In this episode, D'Arcy and Peyton cover a variety of skills and strategies to becoming a luxury wedding filmmaker. They discus finding your own vision, how to price yourself, how to deal with clients, and how to deliver a truly exception and luxury experience for clients. Hit play!

Meet Peyton Frank:

Peyton is a luxury destination wedding, commercial, and editorial cinematographer named by Harper’s Bazaar as one of the Top Wedding Filmmakers in the World. With humble beginnings as an intern at a wedding planning firm and producer at an experiential marketing agency, she has over ten years of knowledge of the wedding and events industry and five years as a self-taught wedding filmmaker. She now works alongside some of the most talented and sought-after wedding planners, photographers, and designers in the world.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOW NOTES 

If you feel stuck in the budget wedding hamster wheel, then this episode is for you! In this Hot Seat episode, I give Lauren Galla-Rini some simple tips that can help her transform her brand, vendor relationships, and portfolio to attract the luxury clientele that she dreams of. Say goodbye to burlap and say hello to Vogue-worthy details! Hit play to find out how.

About Lauren Galla-Rini:

Lauren Galla-Rini has been in the event industry for more then 10 years. After 5 years of fully submerging herself in it, she had a burning desire to start her own company called My Beloved Events. Her wedding and event planning company focuses on bringing an elegant timeless design with exceptional communication and planning services to her clients.

She has a passion for traveling and family and incorporates that into her business as it's the foundation of her love for people and connection.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/luxury-market-lauren-galla-rini

About Juliana Cole:

The title of this podcast “Play It Brave” couldn’t be more fitting today as I share my insights on how most of us are giving away our power to others, how to stop this vicious cycle, and what amazing life we can create when we’re in a place of empowerment. (hint: it involves more money & freedom) If you feel disempowered in your business, your relationships, or life in general, this episode is for you! Tune in.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/stop-giving-away-your-power

As Europe begins to open its doors again, it may be a little while longer until you’re back in France, grabbing a warm baguette on your way to enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Seine. And that’s okay! This episode isn’t to be missed–no matter when you’re headed back across the Atlantic, Yanique Frances and I are here to share how you can sprinkle a little French woman chic into your every day. 

Hint: It’s more than just red lipstick… It’s a whole mood. Hit play to tune in.

About Yanique:

Yanique is a former New Yorker turned Parisian city dweller and street-wise wedding planner, living the joie de vivre lifestyle that most can only dream about. Yanique is the woman behind the internet’s insider guide to Paris, My Parisian Life, and the sought-after destination wedding planning service, Elope In Paris. Take it from me–Yanique is one to watch when the time comes to plan your first overseas trip after the pandemic. You can count on Yanique to curate the chicest list of must-visit spots in Paris no matter the season. Not only that, you can rely on her knowledge and experience with the bureaucracy of the city: Yanique’s worked for French universities and e-commerce companies, not to mention she welcomed her first child on French soil. Before enrolling in school, her son was enrolled in a local daycare–a crèche.

Despite my big move to Paris when I was just twenty years old, Yanique has had fourteen years of living and breathing The City of Lights to reflect on in today’s chat (not that it’s a competition!).

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/paris-living-yanique-frances

If you’ve been putting off creating passive income for yourself, this episode is for YOU! Get the ultimate kick in the butt and tips for launching your passive income streams from the passive income expert, Lisa Johnson who has been featured in Forbes, The Guardian, and other international publications for her multi-million dollar strategies and insight. Hit play to dive in and get your healthy dose of motivation to finally launch that passive income idea you’ve been putting off for far too long.

About Lisa Johnson:

Lisa’s social media following shot up to more than 50,000 after she had a $2m launch in a week. Her signature technique, called The CASsH System, helps her clients double their income but cut their work hours in half. She developed it after two decades of experience in finance, law and the entertainment industry which helps her support her clients in every phase of business development. 

Lisa has been featured on the BBC and in international publications, including The Guardian, Red, Psychologies, Metro and Huffington Post. A recent Forbes feature on her was viewed more than 250,000 times in less than a week.

She is scheduled to perform a TedX Talk in October 2021 on using adversity to fuel success.

She also speaks on stages across the globe. Lisa lives in Bedfordshire, UK, with her husband and 9 year old twin sons.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/passive-income-lisa-johnson

Do your photoshoots feel cookie cutter? Do you ever have an unhappy client? Are you just looking to find better ways to connect with and pose your clients? Today’s guest is a psychology expert and talented photographer, Jodi Anne, who has some really helpful methods backed by psychology to create a better client experience full of trust, communication, and beautiful photos that don’t feel posed. Tune in to hear all her secrets!

About Jodi Anne:

Jodi is an accomplished international wedding photographer and a single-mom to three incredible future-gentlemen.  She holds a Master's degree in Educational & School Psychology and somehow juggles it all with candid humor and deep authenticity.  She uses her years of studying Psychology and human behavior to ease her clients into her photoshoots with grace, and creates images that convey true emotion and connection due to her signature shooting method.

She squeezes business calls in between double-headers.  She meets with florists and designers after school drop-off and dentist appointments.  All the while she also transforms wedding details and memories into heirloom images that serve as the building blocks to her client's dawning legacies.  Her everyday life presents the chaos that serves as her very own wedding-day bootcamp.  She thrives in the frenzy and feeds off of the energy... which allows her to expertly navigate bustling wedding days with precision and laughter.  

Jodi has taken her love of composition and intertwined it with a pervasive study of human expression in order to build a business that has her clients singing her praises and a body of work that speaks even higher volumes.  Her work is calculated and precise yet also... effortless, calm and alluring.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/mindset/psychology-clients-jodi-anne/

Do you want to free, organic traffic to your website and bring in quality leads on a daily basis? Then SEO could be the key to your success, and this episode with my SEO Expert and good friend, Ryan Moreno, gives some quick tips and strategies for achieving some quick wins right away. Dive in for all the invaluable tips and strategies!

Ryan Moreno is the SEO Strategist and Expert behind Moreno Collective, and my personal go-to for anything SEO related. He is the reason behind my ever-growing website traffic, leads, and Google ranking, and for that, I can’t thank him enough.

Ryan is a former photographer turned ShowIt website designer who quickly learned the power of SEO for businesses, especially creative businesses like mine in the wedding industry where SEO was not being utilized. Ryan has become what I consider the industry’s biggest expert on the subject, and is sharing a wealth of knowledge in this episode that you can’t miss.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/seo-ryan-moreno

Today’s guest came from cleaning toilets to making 7-figures as a Women’s Wealth Advocate. Merel Kriegsman was my business mentor last year, and she has such golden nuggets of wisdom about what wealth truly means and how to go from a place of unfulfilled potential to one of wealth and fulfillment. She dives into how you can harness your creativity and courage to become the wealthiest version of yourself. If you’re struggling with the idea of being or becoming a wealthy woman, this one’s for you. Hit play!

About Merel Kriegsman:

Women's Wealth Advocate and Business Mentor Merel Kriegsman is the CEO and founder of Merel Kriegsman Media - a company that has helped hundreds of women globally ascend into SELF-FUNDED WEALTH.

She's dedicated to helping women break the chains of generational scarcity, and step into becoming unapologetic female leaders who fearlessly demand what they're worth - and get it.

Her insights on women & wealth have been featured on CBS news, ABC news and in publications like Forbes, Fast Company and Good Housekeeping, and she was recently quoted in an article in Entrepreneur entitled, "7 Tips to Hit 7 Figures in 2020 and Beyond", alongside Sir Richard Branson.

SHOW NOTES: 

In this episode of the Play It Brave podcast, I’m talking all things investing with Laura Murray–and not the Wall Street kind. 

Laura Murray is a sought-after photographer with the best of both worlds, brain-wise: she was trained in mathematics prior to photography with an insatiable desire to live a creative life. In her words? “There were always two sides to me – a technical and a creative – and I love how photography combines the two. It’s the perfect blend.”

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/investing-laura-murray/

Do you have copycats? People who always seem to be following in your footsteps, taking your ideas, and mimicking your style? On this Hot Seats episode, I coach well-established photographer, Jenny King through her copycat woes and share my one big strategy for keeping the copycats at bay. Hit play to tune in.

About Jenny King:

Jenny is a self taught photographer who started her business at the age of 30 with a newborn.  Jenny was a bartender for nearly a decade, went corporate in banking then fell in love with the wedding world after her own wedding experience.  In the last five years she has grown her business specializing in weddings, has since created an associate wedding company & is currently in the process of launching a third brand specializing in racy boudoir.  She has shot in 3 different countries & has been recognized as the best wedding photographer in her area.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/marketing/being-copied-jenny-king

In this episode, I'm delving into the secret sauce of crafting wow factor images that not only capture attention but also resonate with luxury photography clients. Hit play!

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES

NOTE: This episode originally aired on Sep 14, 2023. 

Have you ever wanted to “pick the brain” of a celebrity wedding photographer? It’s your lucky day! In this deep dive conversation, Joel and I chat about all things traveling (and how to get into other countries with all your gear), the move towards digital and his gear of choice, and finally, what his client communication looks like from the first call to the final delivery. You don’t want to miss this episode! Joel even shares some behind the scenes stories from his times shooting alongside his talented husband, Jose Villa, for celebrity clients like Justin Bieber & Hailey Baldwin and Nick Jonas & Priyanka Chopra. Hit play to tune in!

About Joel Serrato:

Joel Serrato’s artistry in wedding photography is built upon a strong foundation of capturing pure moments of emotion, innocence, laughter and love. Specializing in huge, complex weddings and seeking clients who are crazy in love and aren’t afraid to cry, the Harper’s Bazaar published photographer’s nuptials of note include Pat Benatar, Tamera Mowry, Elle Fowler and Adam Housley, to name just a few.

Show Notes: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/joel-serrato-traveling-gear-client-communication

It’s pretty rare to find yourself in a scenario where no one else is doing the same thing you are. If you look around and find yourself flying solo with no one else throwing metaphorical elbows to get ahead? Consider yourself ahead of the game. You identified a need before anybody else–now’s the time to meet it. 

Albert Roig, my guest on today’s episode of the Play It Brave podcast, found himself in that very position when he established Carmencita Film Lab. Before Carmencita came on the scene, a lot of European photographers were sending their film across the sea to America. Their film was forced to make a lengthy, international journey simply because there weren’t options for high-quality, personalized film scanning in Europe. As a film lover who studied the ins and outs of film scanning and developing from Jon Canlas of The Find Lab, Albert realized he had the power to meet a growing demand for Europe’s fine art photography movement. After joining forces with a friend who happened to own a film scanner, Carmencita was off to the races. Need, meet solution.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/carmencita-film-lab/

During the peak of the pandemic, when just about everything was taken from us, we were given one opportunity:

We were given the opportunity to see the world differently. To retrain our brains to see beauty in repetition. To see things in a new way. To do more with less. To create with reckless abandon. 

And today’s guest on the Play It Brave podcast? She did just that.

Céline Chhuon is a sister of mine–of the “chosen family” variety. She lives the dream as a full time photographer and creative living in Paris, The City of Lights. When France went into lockdown for months last spring and her calendar of bookings was shot, she decided to challenge her boredom in order to rise above it. Her book that resulted from those 54 days, Home Is Where The Art Is, is Céline’s manifesto to the radical act of creation. Listen to today’s episode to hear the story.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/self-portraiture-celine-chhuon

When’s the last time you collaborated with nature? Can you remember a time when you really, really engaged with the earth?

Today's guest is Shellie Pomeroy, the owner of Silk & Willow and maker of the finest silk ribbons that have found a home in the hands of the worlds greatest floral designers, stationers and photographers. Shellie has struck a chord with her customers with her values-driven business model, and I for one, think we could all learn a thing or two about becoming more heart-centered in our businesses.

Listen to today’s episode as we talk about inspiration, clever curation, and the good old-fashioned power of pounding the pavement to build your creative enterprise from scratch.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/heartful-business-silk-willow

Few things will get you to the “Should I quit?” phase of entrepreneurship faster than trying to replicate someone else’s journey. Have you ever compared your "trudge through the mud" journey, to your competition's apparent, "jet-set to the top?" It's time to see the full picture, and get into alignment so that you can reach your fullest potential. Tune into my conversation with Emma Natter to learn how to harness your passion to achieve financial stability and success!

Emma Natter is a business coach and the founder of The Aesthetic Way, the unshakeable venture to unify the creative self with entrepreneurship. She helps people discover their own sovereignty, find their voice, create their life's work, and get paid well throughout the process. Emma has worked as a stylist, floral designer, wedding planner, styling surface maker, antique curator, art director, writer, and has an MFA in creative writing.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/alignment-emma-natter

Let’s be honest with each other… How many of us TRULY enjoy writing email newsletters? Most of us are afraid of hearing crickets after we hit send, so we put off sending anything to our subscribers who are really truly waiting to hear from us. It’s a vicious cycle we all need to break, so let’s break it today! In this episode of the Play It Brave podcast, we’re talking all things savvy subject lines and noteworthy newsletters with Laura Belgray (my copywriting idol). From subject line do’s and don’ts, to the stories our people are actually HUNGRY for… It’s all waiting on the other side of that play button. What are you waiting for?!

Laura Belgray, founder of Talking Shrimp and co-creator of The Copy Cure, is a copywriting expert who helps entrepreneurs find the perfect words to express and sell what they do in a way that gets them paid to be themselves. Through her work with hundreds of clients (including online biggies like Marie Forleo and Amy Porterfield) she’s seen firsthand that putting “you” into your copy and all through your business is pure magic for getting people to love you up, share your ideas, and happily click your Buy button.

In addition to online types, Laura’s list of clients and credits include NBC, Bravo, HBO, TBS, Fandango, and many, many more. So if you watch TV -- and don’t skip the commercials -- you've probably seen her words on air.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/marketing/email-copy-laura-belgray

We’re back with part two of my honest conversation with Erich McVey, the celebrity photographer that everyone is curious about! In this episode we cover the hot topic of Erich’s gear lineup, his workflow, posing, and we even dive into what he’s NOT doing to stay afloat in Covid times. Tune in to hear all about it.

Erich is a wedding, portrait and editorial film photographer with a love for medium format cameras, natural light and incredible scenery.

Using an approach that combines documentary and fine art styles, Erich captures beautiful, honest, and timeless images.

Named by Harper’s Bazaar and Martha Stewart Weddings as one of the best wedding photographers in the world, and twice selected as film photographer of the year by Belle Lumiere Magazine, Erich’s work has been featured in top wedding publications; including Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine, Brides Magazine, Magnolia Rouge Magazine, Flutter Magazine, Pacific Weddings Magazine, Weddings Unveiled Magazine, Bella Lumiere Magazine,  Style Me Pretty, Once Wed, Snippet & Ink, Ruffled, and The Knot, as well as the LA Times, and Design Sponge.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/erich-mcvey-part-ii

In this two part series, I’m chatting with beloved photographer, Erich McVey about all things photography. We’re diving into all of your burning questions about how he got to where he is now, how and why he chose film, and what marketing strategies allowed him to shoot all over the world. Hit play to dive into part one of this honest conversation.

About Erich:

Erich is a wedding, portrait and editorial film photographer with a love for medium format cameras, natural light and incredible scenery.

Using an approach that combines documentary and fine art styles, Erich captures beautiful, honest, and timeless images.

Named by Harper’s Bazaar and Martha Stewart Weddings as one of the best wedding photographers in the world, and twice selected as film photographer of the year by Belle Lumiere Magazine, Erich’s work has been featured in top wedding publications; including Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine, Brides Magazine, Magnolia Rouge Magazine, Flutter Magazine, Pacific Weddings Magazine, Weddings Unveiled Magazine, Bella Lumiere Magazine,  Style Me Pretty, Once Wed, Snippet & Ink, Ruffled, and The Knot, as well as the LA Times, and Design Sponge.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/erich-mcvey-part-i

In celebration of Black History Month, we are giving a big standing ovation to Black creatives of past and present. So much of Black art was not given a space to flourish, so in this episode, photographer-extraordinaire, Alicia Rinka shares some of her favorite Black artists, poets, makers and creative content that is worthy of so much celebration and honor this month – and every other day of the year. Hit play to learn and discover the beauty that is born from Black history and culture.

Alicia Rinka is the Owner and Lead Creative of her professional photography team. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in communications. Her love of photography was complemented by a keen eye for details and an adoration for the world of fashion. Her work, which has been featured in Brides and various other publications, boasts a sense of fine art style with a modern editorial aesthetic.

It's important to Alicia Rinka and her team to be welcoming to all walks of life.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/black-history-alicia-rinka/

In my effort to become more inclusive in my life and business, I reached out to Youtube star Celeste Monsour to educate me on non-binary they/them pronouns. I wanted to let you in on this conversation because Celeste’s wealth of knowledge and experiences is so worth being shared so that we can all be better at making EVERYONE feel comfortable and accepted. Hit play if you’re also open-minded and striving to be more inclusive!

About Celeste:

Celeste Monsour is a trans YouTuber and activist who makes personal and educational videos about their experiences as an aromantic asexual non-binary person. Through telling their own story and documenting their transition, Celeste aims to serve as a resource for others on similar paths and for allies simply seeking to understand. Off camera, Celeste is an insatiably curious multi-creative who has been a writer, blog editor, podcaster, photographer, cosplayer, web designer, and performer, currently on a journey to figure out what's next.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/pronouns-celeste-monsour

In this episode D'Arcy and Elisabetta discuss what it's like to grow a luxury photography business from the ground up. They chat about the importance of being true to yourself, how to improve your styled shoots to attract your dream clients, and the power of collaboration. They even touch on enjoying the journey and not rushing growth as a luxury photographer. Hit play!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOW NOTES

On today’s episode of the Play It Brave podcast, my guest knows exactly what it means to live your truth and manifest the life of your dreams. 

Sandra Chuma is an entrepreneur, speaker, coach, podcast host, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. She believes that our greatest responsibility is to share our stories so we can inspire and create possibility for others.

Raised in a tiny mud hut in Zimbabwe with no running water or electricity, Sandra has never been one to let circumstances define her. She went on to build two successful companies and advise major global brands. 

Despite her professional success, she knew she wasn’t walking in her purpose. Sandra went back to school in 2015 to get a master’s degree in journalism, storytelling, and documentary filmmaking from Columbia University.

Through the power of story, and leveraging her experience as a management consultant, Sandra has made it her mission to help others create the best version of themselves. She builds brands focused on providing inspiration and community.

Sandra is the founder of Ndini, which is a platform focused on telling the stories of inspiring, trailblazing African women. Sandra is also the founder of Worthy and the Woman on Fire Summit.

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/live-the-life-of-your-dreams-sandra-chuma

What started as Bachelorette star, Mike Johnson’s interview about finding love turned into a vulnerable conversation about Self Love and Intimacy and how those two combined are super powers that can change the state of America. While that may sound foolish on the surface, I promise you this episode will challenge you to invite more self love and intimacy into your life so that you can truly Play It Brave and speak out for what you believe in.

Surviving Reality-TV fame, a deployment with the military and countless challenges throughout his life and career, Mike now writes and speaks on how the ability to overcome stems from the power within. With his focus on self-love, the breakout star from ABC's The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise is transforming audiences by showcasing his global influence through brave storytelling and big smiles.

Call me a human fortune cookie, but I predict that 2021 truly can be your year… I know that’s taboo to say after the year we just had, but Coronavirus or not – it’s up to you to make it great. In this episode I’m predicting the top 10 things that will turn 2021 into your most fruitful year. Some of these things will require radical change, but I always say that the same habits bring the same results. So are you ready to make some major changes in your life and show 2021 who’s boss? Hit play to dive in!

SHOW NOTES: https://darcybenincosa.com/play-it-brave/2021-predictions/