The Six Figure Photography Podcast With Ben Hartley

Episodes

• SFPP 310: Your Editing Workflow Just Changed Forever With Justin Benson 28.05.2026 44m

  In this episode, I sit down with Justin Benson, co-founder of Aftershoot (and still an active wedding photographer shooting 10 weddings a year), to unpack what might be the biggest workflow shift photographers have seen in years. Aftershoot has officially expanded from an AI culling, editing, and retouching tool into a full RAW rendering platform with built-in gallery delivery — meaning you can now cull, edit, retouch, and deliver an entire session without ever opening Lightroom. Justin and I get honest about Adobe’s stagnation, why legacy software giants can’t move fast enough to serve modern photographers, and where Lightroom still holds an edge (spoiler: masking and generative patch). We dig into Aftershoot’s new gated gallery access with face recognition — a game-changer for wedding guest galleries, school portraits, sports, and event photography — and why this could replace some pricey single-purpose platforms. If you’ve tried Aftershoot in the past and walked away, or you’ve been clinging to your Lightroom-based workflow out of habit, this conversation is your nudge to reexamine everything. The cost of change has never been lower — and the cost of staying the same has never been higher. The photographers willing to rebuild their systems now are the ones pulling ahead. Chapters [00:00] Welcome [02:15] Why This Aftershoot Update Is an Exponential Leap, Not an Incremental Step [05:30] The Truth About Lightroom Loyalty (And Why It’s Not Earned) [10:00] One Linear Workflow: Cull, Edit, Retouch, Deliver — All in One Place [14:45] Setting Realistic Expectations With AI Editing [17:30] What Lightroom Still Does Better Than Aftershoot [19:30] Where Photographers Are Still Wasting the Most Time [22:00] Gated Galleries & Face Recognition: A Game-Changer for Guests, Schools & Sports [26:00] Why Now Is the Time to Reexamine Your Entire Workflow [30:00] Why Big Companies Like Adobe and Canon Can’t Keep Up Resources Mentioned Aftershoot (AI culling, editing, retouching, and gallery delivery): ShootProof Dropbox WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) Join the community Full Transcript BEN: All right, here we go. We are recording and we are going live in three, two, one. Forgot to press the native audio button to record. So now, now I’m really recording. Now we’re really recording. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Good. Good. So we’re going live in three, two, one. Hey, you’re listening to the six figure photography podcast with Ben Hartley. Each week, a new episode is going to air to help you grow your business by winning more bookings, maximizing your profits, breaking through your limit and beliefs. Welcome to the show. I am super excited that you are here with me and my friend Justin today. Today’s an exciting episode because I don’t know, every so often something happens. Like there’s a new piece of technology, a new piece of gear, a new piece of software that comes out and it actually like changes stuff. And I want to bring it up like that because I think a lot of, a lot of times we get the hype, we get like, Hey, this is good. This is going to change things. And then we get in there and we’re like, ah, I don’t know. I don’t know if it changed much. This is actually an episode where we’re going to discuss something that is changing like a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff’s changing y’all. So we’re going to be discussing it today specifically around your workflow, which is probably one of the most exciting things to see change because it’s where most of your time is lost is in the weeds of the workflow. And so we got Justin Benson from Aftershoot on the show, Justin, welcome on in. JUSTIN: Thanks for having me. BEN: So Justin, you are co-founder of Aftershoot, but you are still an active wedding photographer in the, in the pre-roll. My friends, I asked Justin, I said, so you’re still shooting weddings? And you said a little. And I said, Oh, okay, that’s okay. Fair. That’s fair. That’s fair. How many is a little? What did you say? JUSTIN: I said 10. I got 10 weddings this year. BEN: 10 weddings is not a little. For the wedding photographers out there, that could be a full year for them. And you are also actively involved in, in Aftershoot. And so that’s crazy, man. So for those of you who don’t know, Aftershoot is an AI culling and editing and retouching. And now, well, yeah, you guys should know, a gallery delivering software. And it’s in my, in my experience is absolutely leading the market in terms of what is possible. And so I think my first question for you, Justin, by the way, is it okay if we just skip all the story stuff? You’ve been on the show like three times. I’m like, yeah, we got it, Justin. Go listen to the old episodes. I just want to get right into the meat of stuff. So I think the first question I’m curious about is this new change with Aftershoot is is kind of like, well, it reminds me of an exponential leap instead of an incremental step. There’s been a lot of incremental steps within Aftershoot, right? Like a little bit of better this, a little bit of better that, a little bit more, a little bit less, whatever it is. And so now, now with raw rendering, raw editing, raw retouching with galleries, this is like a huge leap where you’re, I mean, you’re kind of removing something like Lightroom from the picture. Is that accurate to say? JUSTIN: Yeah, I mean, we’re not we’re not replacing Lightroom yet. I mean, there’s still features that Lightroom has that we won’t have, but that’s kind of where we’re going. I mean, the whole idea is to take your workflow and kind of dump it on its head and make it faster and make it easier and just make it better. BEN: Yeah. And so walk me through this. So now within Aftershoot, you have the ability to you don’t have to export the images and then bring them into Lightroom. You don’t have to do that anymore. JUSTIN: Nope. You can keep it all inside Aftershoot. I mean, I delivered a full session. I shot at First Communion a couple weeks ago. I delivered the entire thing and didn’t open Lightroom once. BEN: So like you’ve moved the sliders from Lightroom, essentially you’ve created your own Lightroom inside of Aftershoot. JUSTIN: Yep. BEN: That’s so crazy. JUSTIN: You got sliders and, you know, masks and yeah, it’s in there. It’s all in there. BEN: And so like the problems that you were originally solving for with Aftershoot, how have those problems changed or maybe or how have you guys changed in order to solve them? Because it feels like you’re solving much bigger, more complex problems now than when you first set out to just like help photographers call. Now we’re doing something just far more comprehensive. JUSTIN: Yeah. So this was always in the plan. So like since day one, it was always we want to be a coloring, editing, retouching. We want to just be the tool you use as a photographer. You know, as a brand, I’m a photographer. So I want a company that I support, that I believe in, that is doing right by me, doing right by the industry. And obviously other companies out there, I won’t like talk poorly about them, but there’s a lot of other companies out there that just that’s not their goal. They’re not here to make the photography industry better. They’re here to make a billion dollars. BEN: So I guess I want to talk about Lightroom because I feel like there’s a lot of Lightroom loyalists and myself kind of being one of them. And I don’t know if I’m actually a Lightroom loyalist because I’m actually loyal to the tool itself. Or is it more so like familiarity became loyalty? Like it’s well, in a lot of ways, it was really the only real solution out there from day one. And so like for the photographers who who, whether it’s just because it’s ingrained in us for the last 15 years or they really love the program, they’ve got deep loyalty to Lightroom. Like, yeah, where do you think that loyalty came from, maybe? Like, is it is it still earned? JUSTIN: Earned is not I would not say it’s earned. You know, I think Lightroom is a legacy product. It’s something that’s just been around for so long and they keep pushing things into it to try and fit to the old platform and keep people happy. But at the same time, they’re kind of not really giving you the right tools and the right flow that you would actually expect or that you would want. They introduced Culling last year, I think it was. And I if you tried it, it was here’s my here’s my my biggest gripe with the whole thing. They announced that they were doing Culling. They spent an entire year launching Culling. The first iteration of it was so bad, I had to delete the catalog and start over and just like use my aftershoot Culling. I could try it. I was like, I’m curious. It was so bad I had to start over because it was like hiding images and it did all these things and just the results were terrible. And I was like, this is so disappointing. This is a billion dollar company that I’ve dumped so much money into over the years and the best they could do was terrible. Yeah. And, you know, in that same time frame, that’s when we launched aftershoot. I mean, we took one year from start to Culling and immediately it was such an improvement over anything that had been in the market yet. And so to me, that’s that’s where that loyalty is not earned. I mean, they they have the opportunity. They have the resources, the money to invest in App in Lightroom and make Lightroom a better product. But it’s not. They’re just kind of like, hey, we’re going to just stick this thing in here. Look at the patch tool. They did the generative patch first iteration. Amazing. It’s gotten worse every every iteration because it’s about saving money now. It’s about not spending as much on cloud costs and, you know, they’re reducing the capabilities in order to just make more money off of you. BEN: Yeah. And I think this is something that a lot of photographers are waking up to, is like even even in the recent price increase with Lightroom for photographers, like their creative suite, like that jumped. And I think what I’ve typically found with these legacy companies is like you’re saying what you’re saying makes sense. They have all the budget. They have all of the data. They have all the resources. And in some ways, they’re almost like too big to be nimble. Like there’s been so much like sometimes I think about the code in the back of like Photoshop, like the amount of complexity that is built this thing because it’s a legacy product, because it’s been built over all these years, like they just they don’t move fast enough. And when they do move, like sometimes I’m terrified to update like my life. I’m like, oh, man, I have a gallery that is do like I’ve got I’ve got work to deliver. I think I’m going to skip this update because I don’t know what’s going to happen if I go to if I go to update. So when you have a conversation, though, with a photographer who is just like a die hard loyalist to Adobe, to Lightroom, like how do you have that conversation with someone who genuinely loves Lightroom still? JUSTIN: I mean, I’ve yet to really meet that person, but if they you know, but but really, I mean, if they’re so devoted to it, that’s OK. We’re still going to, you know, support Lightroom catalogs and, you know, everything still works as it does before. It’s just that we’re trying to build something that’s totally new and and familiar at the same time. I mean, when you open aftershoots interface, it’s not like you’re totally lost. The sliders are in the same positions. They feel similar. The touch, the feel, all the coloring is so similar to Lightroom, like you would have to really sit there and look at them side by side to see any difference at all between what you open up an aftershoot versus Lightroom. So we’ve done a really, really good job of trying to keep what we know as Lightroom users while expanding it. I mean, it’s not in this iteration that’s launching now, but I can tell you our our new masking tools, you’re going to be able to just click on a background and it’s going to mask it or click on a subject and it masks it. And it’s like there’s such easy things that should have just been built into a billion dollar company’s tool that we’re like, hey, why is this not why do you have to have like I don’t know if you’ve used the masking since they updated it like three years ago. That was when they did that update. I was so mad because they took a pretty simple masking process, made it more complicated. And I was like, this makes zero percent like like zero percent logic was put into this process. And now I’m like, oh, I have to click like seven times to add and remove parts of a mask. Yeah, it doesn’t make sense. And now it’s like, oh, we’re going to click on it and aftershoot, like it should be easier. Yeah, it’s harder. BEN: And I think that this is one of those things that, OK, so when I first heard about this, I was like, cool, like, all right, we’ll see it. Like I was like that was I was I was I don’t know if I would say I was pessimistic, but I was like, I’m so I’ve been listen, man, I’ve been using Lightroom for like 15 years. It’s it’s so when I hear that there is something that is that I can do all the same things inside of Lightroom, but now inside of the native company, like the software they already use, it just felt like I don’t know if it’s too good to be true. And then I actually opened up and you’re right, dude, I was like, oh, this is this is just like how it is. I didn’t my brain didn’t need to get reprogrammed, retrained. It was just oh, this is exactly how it already is and how it feels. I just don’t need to leave. And I’ll be honest, that was probably. And I’m sure you’ve heard this one of the the the biggest maybe like time drains that I experience, even maybe mentally of having to like move out of aftershoot after it had called edited into another piece of software in the Lightroom or whatever you guys want to use and then do my editing there. And then if I wanted to do retouching like that back and forth, that was always that was always like a big hiccup, you know, for me and in a in a company that’s all about saving time and being able to walk away and like it be done. Yeah, that was just a big hurdle. And so like what I don’t know, this just it feels like it really did completely change my full workflow of how I’ve how I’ve been doing things. And I guess I’m curious, do you feel like photographers are are ready or willing to change their systems and processes, their workflows for the ways that they’ve kind of been dug into doing for so long because it feels like it’s time to reexamine the post production workflow overall? JUSTIN: I think I say this every time we have a launch. There’s no better time than now to get involved because you can help shape it so you can you can use our raw rendering tool and say, you know what, I typically use it this way and I want to keep using it that way because it makes more sense. And then, OK, that’s the way we’re going to go. We’re going to help build this in such a way that you can do it in your old traditional style in our new platform. And like I’ve said it about culling and retouching and editing and like every time I’m like, hey, just just use it. Give us the feedback because I’ve I mean, I’ve already shared tons of my feedback, but nobody really wants to listen to me in aftershoot, not because of any other reason than I’m very stubborn. Right. So like I am I am set in my ways. I have my workflow in Lightroom and this is how I want everything to work. And they’re like, OK, yeah, but you’re an old dude. Like you’ve been doing this since 2011. You know, like what about the next generation of photographers? What are they looking at and how do they want this platform to work? And it’s forced me to kind of change a little bit of how I work. But it’s made my my workflow better. So I’ve kind of adapted and adjusted over all these years because like, no, this is what all like users actually are saying. So let’s let’s ignore Justin and just talk to them. And, you know, at the end of the day, you can change your workflow to fit what we have now. You can keep using the workflow that you had before. We kind of try and leave it as open ended as possible, but really like get involved. I mean, use this program and say, hey, I don’t like this feature about it and we’ll change it. We’ll work towards building something that really fits. I mean, my biggest flag, I was so accustomed to being in Lightroom and then opening things in Photoshop, just command E in Photoshop. And I was like, it’s such an easy thing for us to be able to launch into retouching the same way. So that was my flag. I was like, no, I don’t want to have to click. I want to just keyboard shortcut. That mattered so much to me to be able to just hit command E and then automatically be in retouching. And everyone was like, no, you’re crazy. And then after a while, they’re like, oh, yeah, actually, you can skip Lightroom and Photoshop altogether easier by just having a keyboard shortcut to do it. BEN: Yeah, I think this is one of those things that as like a as a photographer and now business owner, we’ve kind of patched together our workflow. Like, again, after being in this industry for 15 years doing this, like the systems and the processes over those 15 years that like I’ve I’ve kind of strong on them to work for me in a way. But if I were to actually look back at the whole process, there’s probably no, there’s not probably there’s 100 percent like a more streamlined way to do it. And I think what happens is like the pain of change has been it’s been greater than just like the pain of the little hiccups along the way, you know, and I’m like, I don’t want to change. I don’t want to change. But it feels like and I’m seeing this with A.I. across the board, like when I look at what cloud code can do and cloud cowork and and codecs and all these things, it feels like across the board. The the pain of change is is actually less in the first time in a long time than the pain of just kind of staying the same while everybody else is flying by, I am observing that the photographers that are willing to reexamine their systems and their processes, not just in editing, but in looking at other A.I. tools to help them in their business automations, systems, processes, agents, all that kind of stuff, the ones that are willing to say, OK, you know what, I’m going to suspend this. I’m going to get off my horse and I’m going to look at a different way to do things. They’re moving. They are moving so much faster. And and so I think that’s the encouragement maybe that I would have for photographers is this is one of those times in history that it may be worth the pain of change to reexamine, reexamine the systems and the processes and the workflows and the time. And man, that’s not sexy, is it, Justin? JUSTIN: I am as stubborn as they can be. I refuse to put a plug in into Lightroom to upload to gallery. But now that aftershoots launching gallery or has launched gallery, I’m I’m in this position where I’m like, you know what, one click out saves me so much energy. I used to export the gallery, wait for it to go. And then at three o’clock in the morning or whatever, I’m uploading and sending it off and I don’t have to do that anymore. It’s just one click and it’s up there. But again, it’s because of the new system. It’s not a plug in into aftershoot to go to aftershoot gallery. It’s literally ingrained in it. So the button clicks and I can trust it. And before it was always like, oh, if shoot proof updates their plug in and there’s a bug, my images don’t go up. And then I look like an idiot because half the gallery is missing. But we’re not doing plugins with this. It’s literally just built into the software and it’ll flow and work. And I think that’s why it’s so important to change and look at these things and say, the amount of time we said at the beginning, you said 10 weddings, that’s like a full season. I would like not a chance I could do this without all of these new tools and all these things that are helping me actually get my work out the door faster. BEN: Yeah. OK, so let’s I should probably pull back a little bit for somebody who hasn’t touched aftershoot yet, or maybe they touched it. They’ve worked inside of it six months ago. Like, what does the platform look like today versus back then, six months ago? Because I think a lot of us have we’ve maybe you tried it, you’ve experienced aftershoot a year ago or something. And so, like, just spell out what is the shift? What is transformed today that was not there yesterday? JUSTIN: Yeah, I think the main points that exist now, you have we launched gallery. So you have literally a delivery platform. It is a website, but it’s connected directly to the program. And then you have this raw rendering feature. I mean, we’ve redesigned everything from head to toe. You’re going to find new buttons and new places and, you know, more simple like flows and ways to work about it. But literally, you can bring in your files directly into aftershoot. You can choose whether you want to call, whether you want to run a editing. If you want to just manually edit, you can do that, too, if you want. And then you can bring it straight to retouching and then send it right up to cloud to the gallery. So it’s all just in one linear flow. You know, if you’ve used it before, it’s not going to be a huge leap where you’re like, oh, no, where is everything? All the buttons. It still says call and edit and retouch up along the top. But you just have more features baked into every single piece of the software now. And you don’t have to do the dance of exporting out. BEN: And then what was the I can’t remember the language. It was like restructure the re rebuild. JUSTIN: Yeah. Rebuild previews and all that stuff. And then then left clicking on images and sending them back and forth. I mean, you know, it’s literally you have the freedom to batch as much as you want or individually work on images. And I’ll give you like the main example. I did. My daughter had her dance. My two daughters, they had their dance. I did photos of them and their friends right here with the white backdrop. And I just needed like 10 photos. So I ran the call, ran the edit. And while I dropped them off to the dance, I came back, opened them up and I just did my like little tweaks, like little fine tune exposure tweaks or whatever it may be, and opened each one up as I went and retouched them. I replaced the background like because it was just the bedsheet that was wrinkly. Like I just like made it look better. Right. And and got rid of pimples. They’re all like, you know, 13 and 14. So they’re pimply and all the things. So I just cleaned them up, made them look awesome, sent to the parents. They loved it. Right. So it was such a cool traditional workflow because that’s pretty much what I used to do before AI. But now I had AI powering the whole thing. Right. It used to be open them up in Lightroom, pick the ones I want by hand, edit them, bring them into Photoshop, run an action, clean up the skin, do all the things, replace the background and then send them back to send them back to Lightroom and export them. But I just did it all in one flow. But what’s really cool is that you can batch it, too. So for weddings, I’m running in, running my cull, running my edit. I’m reviewing the cull a little bit, like kind of cleaning it up, getting it really down to my final number, doing any tweaks I need to do as I’m doing that. And then I’m actually batch retouching. So I’m just opening the retouch tab and I’m clicking on a photo with everybody. Like I want old people, young people, male, female. I retouch each category individually. So like old people get like extra wrinkle removal and stuff. And then I sync it across the whole gallery and it’s done. Right. It just goes through and retouches everything. So again, it’s it’s a different flow because you can make it what you want. Like it’s weird to say, hey, I have one workflow for like personal stuff and another workflow for weddings and another workflow for sports. But that’s what I have because I have that freedom. BEN: Yep. This is one of those things that I say it a lot. This is one of those things, don’t I? This is one of those things where it’s one of those things. So the the experience that I’ve had with a lot of photographers is I think there’s a belief that AI editing, especially the way that it was before, where it would call edit and then you bring it over to Lightroom, like they would open the gallery in Lightroom and everything would just be good to go. And then they have to go like back into retouching that back and forth process. It almost made it more painful when this is my experience, when I didn’t knock it out of the park perfectly. It was almost like more frustrating because it created this extra level of work of like, OK, so now I got to go over to Lightroom. I’ve got to then if I want to do retouching, I go back and then I go forth. And now with you being able to actually just make those little tweaks, those like fine-tuned adjustments right inside of Aftershoot, it just feels far, far less painless to expect, OK, we’re going to get 80 percent of the way there on the set. At least this is my kind of take, Justin, is I want I want AI to get me like 80 percent of the way there. I feel like as time keeps progressing, that percent keeps my expectation keeps going up, you know, like I’m looking forward to 99 percent of the way there, you know, I think I’m at like 80, 85 percent of the way. And then just being able to to stay The post SFPP 310: Your Editing Workflow Just Changed Forever With Justin Benson appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 309: The Secret Strategy You Didn’t Know You Needed Featuring Tiffany Crenshaw 20.11.2025 19m

  In this episode of the Six Figure Photography Podcast, I’m joined by Tiffany Crenshaw, a successful newborn and family photographer from Huntsville, Alabama.  Tiffany shares the concept of ‘CEO Days’— dedicated time for photographers to step back from day-to-day tasks and plan their business strategies.  We dive into the importance of reflecting on past performance, identifying successful elements, and making strategic plans for future growth.  This episode also covers practical steps for organizing a CEO day + the benefits of collaborating with peers for mutual support and idea-sharing.     Links & Resources: SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses 30 Days To Clients – My Black Friday Deal is LIVE! Get 50% my new program 30 Days To Clients + 2 months of coaching with me. Offer ends 11/20/25.   P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 309: The Secret Strategy You Didn’t Know You Needed Featuring Tiffany Crenshaw appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 308: Efficiency Systems Every Photographer Needs With Zac Wolf 19.11.2025 23m

  In this episode of the Six Figure Photography Podcast, I sit down with Zach Wolf, a seasoned wedding photographer known for his effective systems of efficiency. We discuss how photographers can streamline their businesses, the importance of outsourcing tasks like editing and bookkeeping, and maintaining a consistent marketing strategy.  Zac shares practical tips on balancing creativity with efficient workflows and highlights the importance of understanding certain tasks before delegating them.      Links & Resources: SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses 30 Days To Clients – My Black Friday Deal is LIVE! Get 50% my new program 30 Days To Clients + 2 months of coaching with me. Offer ends 11/20/25.   P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 308: Efficiency Systems Every Photographer Needs With Zac Wolf appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 307: The End Of Organic Reach Featuring Rebecca Rice 10.11.2025 25m

  In this episode of the Six Figure Photography Podcast, I feature Rebecca Rice, a successful family photographer who reveals the shift from organic social media growth to more effective email marketing and paid ads.  They discuss the declining efficacy of social media algorithms and the mental toll it takes on photographers, emphasizing the importance of diversifying marketing strategies.  Rebecca shares her success with email marketing and meta ads, detailing practical tips for building and maintaining an email list, including content strategies and platform recommendations.     Links & Resources: Booking Bootcamp 2025 – During this 3-Day event, I’m going to give you 5 proven strategies to get you more clients + supercharge your business SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ https://rebeccaricephoto.com https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaricephotography   P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 307: The End Of Organic Reach Featuring Rebecca Rice appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 306: Stop Copying, Start Creating Featuring Chris Denner 06.11.2025 46m

  In this episode of the Six Figure Photography Podcast, hosts Ben Hartley and Noella Andre are joined by UK-based wedding photographer Chris Denner.  Known for his mantra ‘Normal is Boring,’ Chris discusses his bold, colorful, and authentic approach to wedding photography.  He emphasizes the importance of breaking industry norms, avoiding plagiarism, and being truly creative.  Chris also shares practical advice on improving client relationships, maintaining professionalism, and preparing for wedding shoots.  Through his unique perspective, Chris offers valuable insights into standing out in a ‘sea of sameness’ within the industry.     Links & Resources: Booking Bootcamp 2025 – During this 3-Day event, I’m going to give you 5 proven strategies to get you more clients + supercharge your business SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ https://chrisdenner.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/chrisdennerphotography/   P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 306: Stop Copying, Start Creating Featuring Chris Denner appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 305: Creating A Life + Business That Actually Fits You With Taylor Isselhard 04.11.2025 41m

  Today on the Six Figure Photography Podcast, we’re diving into the real side of entrepreneurship with Taylor — a husband, father, wedding photographer, and business coach who’s captured over 170 weddings and built a thriving business on his own terms. Taylor is passionate about redefining what success looks like, reminding us that the highlight reel on social media doesn’t always tell the full story. He’s sharing how entrepreneurship has allowed him to build a life centered on what truly matters, his family, his values, and his health. We’ll talk about the seasons of hustle and the seasons of glide, what those rhythms look like in real life, and how you can take your passion from a hobby to a profitable business without sacrificing what matters most.     Links & Resources: Booking Bootcamp 2025 – During this 3-Day event, I’m going to give you 5 proven strategies to get you more clients + supercharge your business SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+   P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 305: Creating A Life + Business That Actually Fits You With Taylor Isselhard appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 304: Building A Luxury Brand Grounded In Gratitude, Elevated By Excellence With Chris Evans 30.10.2025 45m

  Luxury in photography isn’t just about shooting at castles in Europe or working with high-budget clients—it’s about the way you carry yourself, the experience you create, and the values that anchor your brand. Today’s guest, Chris J. Evans, knows this inside and out. An internationally celebrated wedding and editorial photographer, Chris has photographed over 500 weddings around the world—from Lake Como to Cartagena, Paris to Maui. With roots in fashion photography and a family steeped in art and couture, Chris blends cinematic elegance with deeply personal storytelling.  But what makes Chris stand out is more than just his images—it’s the way he’s built a luxury brand on a foundation of gratitude, calm confidence, and uncompromising excellence. What I love about Chris’s perspective is that it reminds us luxury isn’t about being unapproachable or out of reach, it’s about elevating every part of your craft and client experience while staying rooted in gratitude. It’s about showing up with excellence, creating trust, and making your couples feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Links & Resources: [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 304: Building A Luxury Brand Grounded In Gratitude, Elevated By Excellence With Chris Evans appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 303: How To Know When To Outsource In Your Photography Business With Rick Liston 21.10.2025 39m

  If you’ve ever found yourself drowning in editing, emails, or admin work and wondered, “Is this really what I signed up for?”— today’s episode is for you. Rick Liston is the founder and CEO of Wedding Workflows, an outsourcing agency that supports photographers across four continents with a team of over 60 specialists in the Philippines. What makes Rick’s story so powerful is that he’s lived both sides of this journey — first as an overwhelmed wedding photographer trying to do it all, and now as the leader of a global company that helps creatives reclaim their time, energy, and passion. In this conversation, Rick breaks down how to know when you’re ready to outsource, what tasks actually make sense to delegate, and — maybe most importantly — what it’s really costing you not to outsource. Links & Resources: [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 303: How To Know When To Outsource In Your Photography Business With Rick Liston appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 302: How To Pick The Photography Events That Truly Grow Your Business With Chris Stiles 07.10.2025 43m

  Photographers have no shortage of options when it comes to workshops, retreats, conferences, and summits. But with so many events out there — and often a big price tag — it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time and money. Today’s guest has sat on both sides of the table. Chris Stiles is a Connecticut-based wedding and portrait photographer who blends his background as a meteorologist with his passion for storytelling. He’s also the co-founder of Lens & Light,one of the few summits that brings together wedding, portrait, and commercial photography education under one roof. In this conversation, Chris shares what photographers should look for when investing in education, how to spot red flags, and how to actually implement what you learn so the event pays off in your business. Links & Resources: [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 302: How To Pick The Photography Events That Truly Grow Your Business With Chris Stiles appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 301: Building a Thriving Photography Business (without relying on social media) Featuring Elena Blair 23.09.2025 47m

  Today’s guest is someone who has redefined what it means to build a successful photography business in a digital-first world. Elena S Blair is an award-winning, internationally recognized Lifestyle Family and Newborn photographer based in Seattle.  Her work has graced the cover of Rangefinder Magazine and appeared in leading publications like Click Magazine.  Beyond her artistry, Elena has become a sought-after educator—teaching thousands of photographers each year through CreativeLive, B&H, Adorama, and her own signature programs. She’s also the founder of The Elena S Blair Mastermind, where she empowers photographers to create meaningful art while stepping fully into their CEO role. In this conversation, Elena pulls back the curtain on how photographers can build a profitable, sustainable business without being chained to social media. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by the algorithm, this episode will show you fresh, effective ways to grow your business that actually feel good. Links & Resources: [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 301: Building a Thriving Photography Business (without relying on social media) Featuring Elena Blair appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 300: Turning Clients Into Your Best Marketing With Catherine Guidry 17.09.2025 40m

  Today’s guest is Catherine Guidry, a wedding photographer known for her professional, organized approach and her ability to craft real, timeless imagery. With a master’s degree in architecture, she has a deep understanding of color, light, and composition—using them to create photographs that feel more like works of art than just images. Catherine’s work has been featured in Over the Moon, The New York Times, Style Me Pretty, Brides, and more. But what’s even more impressive is how she built her thriving business. Catherine didn’t rely on flashy ads or aggressive marketing campaigns. Instead, she focused on relationships, trust, and creating a seamless client journey that naturally fuels referrals. Today, she’s pulling back the curtain to share how you can do the same in your business. Links & Resources: [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 300: Turning Clients Into Your Best Marketing With Catherine Guidry appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 299: Instagram Growth + Showing Up When It’s Scary Featuring Staci Brucks 09.09.2025 49m

  Today on the Six Figure Photography Podcast, we’re sitting down with destination wedding photographer and mentor, Staci Brucks.  Known for her refined, editorial imagery and timeless storytelling, Staci has built a brand rooted in connection and intentionality. But behind the beautiful work is also a story of courage — of learning how to show up on Instagram, grow an audience, and put herself out there even when it felt uncomfortable or scary.  In this episode, we’ll unpack what it really takes to grow on Instagram, the mindset shifts that make visibility easier, and the small steps that lead to big opportunities. What I love about Staci’s story is her reminder that growth doesn’t come from having it all figured out — it comes from showing up, even when it’s imperfect, even when it’s scary.  Instagram isn’t just about numbers or algorithms; it’s about courage, consistency, and connection. If you’ve been waiting for permission to step into the spotlight, let this be your sign. Links & Resources: [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 299: Instagram Growth + Showing Up When It’s Scary Featuring Staci Brucks appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 298: The Discipline Behind the Dream with Nathan Chanski 06.08.2025 42m

  This week on the Six Figure Photography Podcast, we’re getting honest about the unsexy stuff: discipline, systems, and daily habits—and how they unlock freedom and fuel creativity. We’re joined by photographer, educator, and business coach Nathan Chanski, who’s known for his contagious positivity and powerful structure. He’s one of the most consistent creatives in the industry, and today he’s pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to go from scattered and reactive… to aligned and thriving. Here’s what we cover: The mindset shift that helped Nathan go from chaos to clarity Why building systems is the best gift you can give your creative self The connection between discipline and true freedom How to stop waiting to “become” and start being the version of yourself who runs the business you want Practical tools, time boundaries, and phone hacks to reclaim your focus Why outsourcing is sometimes a necessary sacrifice for your sanity Whether you feel like your business is a mess behind the scenes or you just want to be more intentional with your time—this episode will light a fire under you. Links & Resources: Opal App for blocking social media distractions StayFocusd Chrome Extension Brick App for extreme phone boundaries Nathan’s coaching and education: @nathanchanski.co [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 298: The Discipline Behind the Dream with Nathan Chanski appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 297: Designing Client-Focused Experiences with Gary & Kim Evans 03.08.2025 43m

  This week on The Six Figure Photography Podcast, Ben Hartley + Noella Andres sit down with wedding photographers and educators, Gary and Kim Evans. These two aren’t just a husband-and-wife photography team, they’re architects of unforgettable client experiences. From their elevated approach to luxury wedding photography to their global photography retreats, Gary and Kim share exactly how they’ve built a business rooted in intention, empathy, and personalization. In this conversation, you’ll hear: How their backgrounds (in floral design, wedding planning, and banking!) shaped their client-first mindset Why client experience goes beyond communication and deliverables—and how to infuse it with surprise, delight, and even dazzle The power of automating the base so you can customize the magic Tools and systems they use (like 17Hats and Asana) to deliver a luxury experience at scale How treating every client like a VIP creates raving fans—and lifelong advocates Whether you’re just starting out or scaling a luxury brand, this episode is a masterclass in how to turn your service into your signature. Links & Resources: Gary & Kim’s Instagram Gary & Kim’s Website [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have trusted to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 297: Designing Client-Focused Experiences with Gary & Kim Evans appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 296: Overcoming Burnout as a Creative with Chloe Ramirez 15.07.2025 29m

  In this episode of the Six Figure Photography Podcast, we’re joined by Chloe Ramirez — award-winning photographer, creative director, educator, and podcast host of Hot Girls Photograph Love. Chloe’s cinematic, emotionally charged imagery has redefined storytelling in the photography industry, but today, we’re talking about something behind the scenes: burnout. Chloe shares her personal journey with burnout as a creative and business owner, the first signs to watch for, how she healed, and practical steps you can take to protect your creativity and energy for the long haul. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, uninspired, or stuck in the grind — this episode is for you. Links & Resources: Photography Website: https://www.chloeramirezphoto.com Education Website: https://chloeramirezeducation.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloeramirezphoto/ [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have used to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 296: Overcoming Burnout as a Creative with Chloe Ramirez appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 295: Stop Chasing Likes: Marketing Your Photography Business Offline with Ana Pastoria 08.07.2025 40m

  In this episode of The Six Figure Photography Podcast, Ben Hartley and Noella Andres sit down with the incredible Ana Pastoria — a destination wedding photographer who has built her thriving business without obsessing over social media, SEO, or the constant chase for likes and follows. Ana shares how she’s created a brand that thrives on offline marketing and unforgettable client experiences. She walks us through how deep connection, over-delivery, thoughtful gestures, and real friendships can fuel your photography business in ways digital marketing never will. From being fully booked through word-of-mouth referrals to showing up for her clients like no one else, Ana’s approach will leave you rethinking how you show up for your people. What You’ll Learn: Why offline marketing still works (and how to do it) How Ana built her brand with zero focus on SEO or social media The small but impactful things that create raving fans How albums can be your most powerful marketing tool Why being your clients’ friend can unlock major opportunities Links & Resources: Instagram: @anapastoria Website: anapastoria.com [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have used to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 295: Stop Chasing Likes: Marketing Your Photography Business Offline with Ana Pastoria appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 294: Building Brand Value to Attract Luxury Clients with D’Arcy Benincosa 02.07.2025 43m

  In this episode of the Six Figure Photography Podcast, Ben Hartley and Noella Andre sit down with the incredible D’Arcy Benincosa — luxury photographer, brand strategist, and seven-figure business coach. D’Arcy has built multiple six-figure photography businesses and a thriving seven-figure education brand, capturing glamorous weddings across 30 countries and helping photographers scale from $5K bookings to $25K dream clients. D’Arcy shares the real strategy behind building brand value so you can confidently charge more and attract clients in the luxury market. She breaks down how to refine your style, craft magnetic proposals, and overcome money mindset blocks that hold photographers back. You’ll also hear an honest conversation about the controversial topic of “luxury,” the power of intentional branding, and why photographers need to stop people-pleasing and start leading their clients to create extraordinary work. What You’ll Learn: How to build value so you can charge higher rates What luxury really means and why the word still matters The power of refining your artistic voice Portfolio mistakes that are holding photographers back How to present proposals that feel premium and aligned with luxury clients The surprising psychology of pricing and perception Links & Resources: Website: darcybenincosa.com Instagram: @darcybenincosa [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have used to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 294: Building Brand Value to Attract Luxury Clients with D’Arcy Benincosa appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 293: How to Build a Visual Identity That Attracts Aligned Clients with Tom Wright 25.06.2025 36m

  Today we’re diving deep into one of the most important — but often overlooked — parts of building a successful photography business: your visual identity. We’re joined by creative business consultant Tom Wright, who helps photographers, videographers, and artists define the style and aesthetic that attracts their ideal clients. In this episode, we explore how the way you photograph, the work you create, and the brand you build all come together to send a powerful message — one that either connects you with the right clients… or doesn’t. If you’ve ever wondered how to shape your work without losing your authenticity — and grow a brand that truly feels like you — this conversation is a must-listen. What We Cover: What visual identity actually means for photographers Why alignment is critical to attracting the right clients How misalignment in your brand can repel your dream clients The biggest mistakes photographers make when curating their brand How to evolve your style over time without confusing your audience Practical steps to audit your portfolio, website, and social presence The balance between technical and emotional storytelling in your brand Actionable tips to strengthen your visual identity today Links & Resources: Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/bytomw/ Website: https://www.bytomw.com [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have used to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 293: How to Build a Visual Identity That Attracts Aligned Clients with Tom Wright appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 292: How to Sell Wall Art & Albums (without feeling pushy) Featuring Ben Adams 18.06.2025 56m

  In this episode of the Six Figure Photography Podcast, Ben Hartley and Noella Andre are joined by photographer, print expert, and Freedom Print Lab team member Ben Adams — aka “Handsome Ben.” Get ready for a hilarious and highly practical conversation with one of the most trusted voices in the print world. Ben shares real-life stories and actionable strategies on how photographers can confidently (and authentically) sell wall art and albums — even if they’ve never sold a single 8×10. From reframing your mindset around “sales” to setting up client experiences that naturally lead to print purchases, this episode will give you the tools to serve your clients better and boost your bottom line. You’ll learn: Why print products still matter in a digital world How to overcome limiting beliefs around selling Ben’s favorite techniques for priming clients to value tangible artwork The “honeymoon analogy” that unlocks upselling without pressure Simple ways to start making money from print using online galleries like Sprout Whether you’re brand new to print sales or looking to step up your album game, this episode is a must-listen. Links & Resources: Freedom Print Lab Storyteller Adams Sprout Studio  Artwork Collective Instagram: instagram.com/storytelleradams [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have used to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 292: How to Sell Wall Art & Albums (without feeling pushy) Featuring Ben Adams appeared first on Six Figure Photography.
• SFPP 291: The Silent Shift in Wedding Photography with Paul Von Rieter 11.06.2025 50m

  There’s a change happening in the wedding photography world — and while many photographers feel it, few can name it, and even fewer are prepared to adapt. In this episode, we’re joined by photographer, educator, and founder of The Editorial Edit, Paul Von Rieter, to dig into the unspoken shift reshaping the industry. From the evolving definition of “luxury” to the surprising platforms clients are now using to find photographers, Paul shares what’s really going on beneath the surface — and what today’s photographers can do to stay relevant. We also talk about the new generation of photographers gaining ground, the mistakes high-end photographers might be making, and how to future-proof your brand in a rapidly evolving market. What You’ll Learn: Why luxury doesn’t mean what it used to (and what clients actually want now) How social platforms like TikTok and Reddit are impacting booking trends The rise of younger, scrappier photographers — and what they’re doing differently What Paul means by “absence of concern” and how it redefines client experience How to reposition your brand and services for longevity and impact Links & Resources: Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/paulvonrieter/ https://www.instagram.com/theeditorialedit/ Website: https://www.theeditorialedit.com/ https://paulvonrieter.com/ [FREE RESOURCE] Learn 30 Creative Strategies To Get Photography Clients – Each day, for 3 days, I’m going to share with you 10 ultra unique + creative ways to attract dream clients to your photography business (without spending a bunch of money). SFP Mastermind Group – Join a community of photographers who are passionate about growing their businesses Booked Solid – Get The PROVEN step-by-step framework hundreds of photographers have used to grow their photography business to over $100,000+ P.S. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and leave a review! It helps us reach more photographers ready to break through their limiting beliefs and build six-figure businesses with purpose. The post SFPP 291: The Silent Shift in Wedding Photography with Paul Von Rieter appeared first on Six Figure Photography.