Jennifer Ryals began her wedding photography business just a few years ago and it took off a lot faster than she hoped or expected. So like many photographers, she came into 2020 with big goals for her rapidly growing business.However, so much has happened in the years leading up to 2020, that the COVID pandemic has caused Jennifer to truly pause and reflect on what her future as a photographer looks like.In this episode, Jennifer opens up about her experiences with her mental and physical health as well as the racism she's experienced as a black female wedding photographer in the years leading up to 2020. We also talk about  how she's been coping with the pandemic itself while serving her clients and navigating decisions about the future of her business. This raw and open conversation is a must listen as we close out this challenging year and all look ahead to the future of our businesses. VIEW JENNIFER'S WORK HEREhttps://jenniferryals.com/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

407 | Mental Health, Physical Well-Being, and Racial Injustice as a Wedding Photographer in 2020 (with Jennifer Ryals)

As a wedding or portrait photographer, its indisputable that selling physical products such as albums, wall art, and prints will not only serve your clients better but dramatically increase your revenue.But selling physical products can feel complicated, sleazy and just plain overwhelming. In fact, you might be thinking:What if I'm not good at sales?Can my clients afford beautiful albums & prints?I don't have a beautiful studio for sales sessions...My business is new - how do I even get started?Whatever objection or uneasiness you're experiencing with post-wedding sales and selling physical products, Makayla Jade of The Harris Company and The Printographers Society has felt it, too. She began her photography business as a brand new mom selling wall art out of her apartment living room (think: Cheerios in the couch cushions!), and has grown into a thriving, high-end photo + video studio generating multiple six figures in print sales alone - all by focusing their brand experience on albums and physical products.In this episode, Makayla shares her story of learning how to sell physical heirlooms like wedding albums, and walks through all of the objections photographers typically feel when it comes to selling products beyond just the digital files. If you're feeling nervous about selling albums, she'll answer:The key communication touchpoints that need to occur with your couples for successful salesHow to handle the digital files in order to make your clients happy but also sell beautiful heirloomsHow to educate your couples on the value of physical products so they'll always want what you have to offerThe exact steps to take to begin selling albums and physical products to your clientsIf post-wedding sales or selling albums feels overwhelming to you, this deep-dive episode is going to demystify the whole process!GET MAKAYLA'S FREE EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR BETTER SALES:https://www.printographerssociety.com/email-templatesCHECK OUT THE PRINTOGRAPHERS SOCIETYhttps://www.printographerssociety.com/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

406 | Demystifying Post-Wedding Album Sales with Makayla Jade

With the majority of big weddings either postponing to 2021 or pivoting to smaller celebrations, wedding photographers have had to learn how to pivot their businesses to offer coverage for elopements and small intimate weddings - many for the first time ever.However, the number of couples that have been ditching the idea of a big wedding and choosing an intimate elopement has been on the rise for years - and Maddie Mae noticed this in 2015. After 5 years photographing big wedding days, Maddie found herself burnt out and jaded with the performance and production of big weddings, but that all changed when she photographed her first elopement. Immediately she knew that it was her greatest passion and she took the leap to go “all in” and created Adventure Instead, her high-end brand that specializes in adventure elopements only.Now, 5 years later, she runs a Forbes-featured and Rangefinder-award-winning, kickass team of 3 adventurous female photographers (herself, Amber, & Tori) who travel around the U.S. and world helping eloping couples bring their vision of their own intimate & meaningful wedding experiences to life.In this episode, Maddie shares:Why so many couples have been choosing to elope (even before 2020)The biggest myths & misconceptions about elopements and intimate weddingsHow to pivot your business to become an exclusive elopement photographerHow to offer intimate wedding coverage if you DON'T want to become an elopement photographer, but need to book business NOWJoin Maddie's Facebook Group Here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingsandwanderlustLearn About Adventure Instead Academy Here:https://adventureinstead.com/academy/Learn About Maddie's Leave No Trace Program Here:https://adventureinstead.com/academy/how-to-leave-no-trace/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

405 | How to Become an Elopement Photographer with Maddie Mae

If you've hung around us Youngrens in 2020, then you've heard us talking about time management, specifically the block scheduling system that we've created and teach to all of our students in our Thrive Business Intensive.On today's show, I'm expanding on the block scheduling that we use to stay focused, eliminate distractions, and achieve our goals... even in a crazy year like 2020. As we near the end of this year and round the corner into a fresh new one, it's time to start the conversation about how you're going to level up your habits in 2021.If you have a lot of rescheduled weddings next year, it might be a much busier year than usual, which means you need to get a handle on your time so you can not just survive 2021, but THRIVE. Learn about the simple ways that this system will transform how you view your time and move your business forward. Wanna know how I run our three brands while being a part time mom?GET MY EXACT WEEKLY WORK SCHEDULE HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/overwhelm/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Our First Episode on Time Management: https://creativerising.com/301NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/GET ON THE WAITLIST FOR THE THRIVE BUSINESS INTENSIVE:https://theyoungrens.com/thrive/LEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

404 | How to Use Block Scheduling to Get Things Done

For many many years in our business, controlling my email inbox was a battle that I fought nonstop. A full inbox would cause so much stress in my life, that it’s the #1 thing that pulled me away from important work - things like updating my website, getting new clients, and building my brand. Work that truly affects the bottom line of my business. So if email is such a powerful force in your business, how do you keep it under control?In my fourteen years of business, the thing that has been the single most effective weapon in this epic battle against email overwhelm is using EMAIL TEMPLATES.In this episode, I'm sharing the six critical email templates that every wedding photographer should use and why.These six email templates are the ones that not only free up the most time in our business, but they also help us grow our business and make more money.Check out this episode to find out what they are!GET OUR THREE FREE EMAIL TEMPLATES HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/top-3-email-templates/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Get our Full Set of 42 Email Templates in our ShopCR107: Four Things We Do That Turn Our Inquiries into BookingsTAVENEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/GET ON THE WAITLIST FOR THE THRIVE BUSINESS INTENSIVE:https://theyoungrens.com/thrive/LEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

403 | The Six Critical Email Templates Every Wedding Photographer Should Be Using

If you've spent hours curating your Instagram feed and gotten little to no results for your business, you're not alone. Instagram easily sucks hours of valuable time from your days and bring very little in return, and Devin Robinson argues it's probably because you're doing it all backwards. Devin spends half the time on Instagram than most creatives, posts very little to his own feed, and yet generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in wedding bookings from Instagram alone. Want to know his secret? He flips the entire system on it's head to generate raving fans and book his entire team of associate photographers. He spills his entire strategy in this refreshing and honest episode and it's unlike any strategy I've ever heard from any other educator - period.You're not gonna want to miss this episode!Download Devin's IG Shortcuts & Join His Facebook Group Here:https://twpmasterclass.com/creativerisingCheck out Devin's podcast, Anchored Business, here:https://anchorandveilphotography.com/category/anchored-podcast/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

402 | Tired of Instagram? Check Out this Amazing IG Strategy (that Nobody Teaches) with Devin Robinson

As a wedding photographer in 2020, how often do you get asked, "So how has COVID affected your business this year?"So often, there's the surface answer to that question (ie "everything's fine," "we'll get through it") and then there's the REAL answer (ie "my business has been devastated").Since the COVID pandemic hit the US in March of 2020, Jeff and I have lost over 70% of our revenue across our three brands and we've only shot four weddings, two of which have been last minute elopements.And we're not alone.If you're a wedding photographer, this year has probably decimated your business. So in true Creative Rising style, we pull back the curtain on what's really been going on with our studios over the past six months - no BS, just the honest truth about the struggles, challenges, and lessons we've learned as we've navigated this pandemic.Spoiler Alert: there's been a LOT more going on behind the scenes than we've let on over social media.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR THE THRIVE BUSINESS INTENSIVE HEREhttp://thrivebusinessintensive.com/GET OUR FREE COVID-19 EMAIL RESPONSE TEMPLATES HEREhttps://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/covid-19/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

401 | Our COVID Story: What 2020 Has *Really* Been Like

During this time of quarantine, one of the best things for you to focus on as a wedding photographer is to make sure your website is looking amazing.But what exactly makes a website 'amazing'? How do you know if what you're showing is really converting?Knowing what you should put on your website (and where) can be extremely confusing, which is why I brought in the expert. Davey Jones and his wife, Krista, are incredible website designers that help brands create websites that book.In this episode, Davey unpacks the step-by-step process of how to create a website that creates clarity, spreads your message, and attracts your dream clients. From the 2-3 important items that MUST go on your homepage (including the ONE item that should be seen first) to how to create an about page that actually works, he helps us understand the two critical questions that every website needs to answer that stand in the way of you and booking clients.You're gonna love the concrete action steps in this episode that you can use to level up your website today. Learn more about Davey and Krista here:https://daveyandkrista.com/Check out Davey's podcast, Brands that Book, here:https://daveyandkrista.com/btb-show/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

312 (BONUS) | The Two Questions Your Website Needs to Answer to Book More Business with Davey Jones

As this episode goes live, we're deep into quarantine life because of COVID-19 and while most of the world has had to figure out how to work from home, wedding photographers are no strangers to it. However, as client work has come to a stop, this pandemic has dramatically highlighted our true working habits. And it's become painfully clear for a lot of you that there are loads of habits from your pre-COVID life that you brought into your current reality that are seriously holding you back right now.And you can either allow those habits to continue to produce bad results or you can exchange them for new habits that will finally produce the amazing results you long for.If you're ready to level up your habits to meet the demands of this new economy, in this episode I dig into the five essential habits every wedding photographer needs to win at working from home.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Indistractable by Nir EyalDeep Work by Cal NewportDigital Minimalism by Cal NewportThe Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark ComerCR301: Time ManagementNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

311 (BONUS) | 5 Daily Habits You Need to Win at Working from Home

Two weeks ago, Jeff and I were completely checked out on a two week vacation on Kauai. No phones, no media, no news. But when we landed back in San Diego, Coronavirus hit the U.S. And within a week, our revenue stopped, our state ordered shelter-in-place, and our business shut down.In a very short amount of time, the world has turned upside down for all of us. But for photographers, this time is not just scary, it's absolutely terrifying as we've watched our cash flows dry up and jobs get cancelled or postponed for months.So how do we survive this?Well for me, that's the wrong question to be asking.Instead, the better question is, "Who are we going to be IN this?"Jeff and I are reeling from the emotional and mental roller coaster of this pandemic, so I sat down (literally, I sat down on my bedroom floor), turned on a spare mic (all of my regular mics are at the studio) and shared my innermost thoughts about what this all means.I get honest, I cut the BS, and I definitely cry. Cuz that's just how things are right about now. Plus, I outline the three things that wedding photographers should be doing RIGHT NOW to make it through this crisis.GET OUR FREE COVID-19 EMAIL RESPONSE TEMPLATES HEREhttps://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/covid-19/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Traction (book)Tyler J. McCallKatelyn JamesBrene Brown on FFTs (podcast episode)Hannah Abad of Prime CollaborativeNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

310 | An Open Letter to Wedding Photographers During COVID-19

Asset management is something that can get very confusing very quickly, which is why most of us put this part of our business on the back burner for far too long.But every time we photograph a wedding or session, we need to know exactly how we're downloading and naming our files, how we're backing them up so they're secure, and where we're storing them long term once the job is finished. This part of our business isn't sexy or fun, which is why I'm taking the guesswork out of this workflow. In this episode, I tell you exactly how you should be backing up and storing your images, covering your entire asset management workflow from download to archive. Plus, I created a freebie that includes all of the shopping of products you need for this workflow (thankfully there's very few!) and I've outlined the entire workflow plan (which is very simple!). Listen to this episode and grab that freebie at the link below. It will feel so good to finally have a simple and clear backup system that actually works!GET OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT WORKFLOW + SHOPPING LIST HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/photographers/free-resources/asset-management/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:CR301: Time ManagementCR304: Creating Healthy Social Media Habits with Abby GraceCR107: Four Things We Do That Turn Our Inquiries into BookingsEPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

309 | Asset Management: How to Create a Simple Backup System that Works

Natalie Franke co-founded the Rising Tide Society in 2015 out of a deep personal need for community with other creative entrepreneurs. She felt desperately alone and knew that others must feel the same way, too. Since then, the Rising Tide Society has become a cornerstone for the creative community, but Natalie's journey transformed when she required surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and subsequently walked through a journey of infertility to have her son, Huey.In this intimate interview, Natalie shares how facing these struggles deeply transformed her identity in surprising ways, and how she came face to face with the true meaning of community in a way she never thought possible.Hearing Natalie's story will change the way you view competition, legacy, and community in powerful and transformative ways.FIND YOUR LOCAL TUESDAY TOGETHER MEETUP HEREAbout Natalie FrankeNatalie Franke Hayes is an entrepreneur, mobilization marketer, community builder, and neuroscience nerd.As one of the Founders of the Rising Tide Society and the Head of Community at HoneyBook, she leads tens of thousands of creatives and small business owners while fostering a spirit of community over competition around the world.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Rising Tide SocietyLearn more from Natalie FrankeNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

308 | Natalie Franke: How a Benign Brain Tumor and Infertility Transformed Her Identity, Community, & Leadership

Want to know the best advice we ever received in our business?It was to FIRE OURSELVES. As wedding photographers, we wear a lot of hats. We're bookkeepers, salespeople, accountants, and marketers just to name a few.But if you want to run a business that's efficient and sustainable, you need to fire yourself from being a photographer, and promote yourself to the most important role - that of CEO. In this episode, I walk you through exactly how to clearly organize the roles in your business so you can always be wearing the right hats (and letting go of the wrong ones).You'll learn:How to see your business from the view of a CEOWhich roles you should be spending all of your time on (and which ones you definitely shouldn't)The proper mindset you need to successfully outsource If organizing roles doesn't sound exciting to you, then I explain how getting organized and creating systems actually creates the most exciting - and profitable - brands.DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART HEREhttp://creativerising.com/307EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY:FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job edited entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) Exclusively for Creative Rising listeners!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

307 | Why You Should Always Think About Scaling Your Business (Even If You Never Want To)

You take amazing photos, but when the words on your website don't match up to your gorgeous photographs, it will cost you. Big time.The copy on your website can either set you apart or blend you in with the crowd, so it's critical that you not only know what makes you different, but that you communicate it clearly on your site.Rachel Greiman of Green Chair Stories writes websites for photographers, and she'll walk you through the most important action steps for understanding your Unique Value Proposition (your UVP), the thing that sets you apart from everybody else.She clearly explains what a UVP is and (more importantly) what it's NOT, where you need to communicate your UVP on your site, and how to craft copy that connects with your Dreamies. If you struggle with copy and wish you could get your site to sound like you, then this episode will help you get the right words on your site - and the right clients in your door. Get 15% Off Rachel's Copywriting Guide HereUse Code: creativerising15About Rachel Greiman of Green Chair Stories:Rachel Greiman is a copywriter and documentary family photographer in Philadelphia, PA. She owns Green Chair Stories, a company committed to taking photographs and writing words that look and sound like real people. She also believes cookies are a perfectly acceptable breakfast food, as long as you eat some salad later. She lives with her giant dog (an 80-pound bernedoodle named Bernadette) and her giant husband (a 6'6" man named Travis), and her lil (but probably soon to be giant) baby in a townhouse in the city.EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY:KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank You!!)GET 50% OFF YOUR GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit!NEXT STEPS:WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too.

306 | Copywriting: How to Write Your Site to Attract Your Dreamies with Rachel Greiman

This week, we're taking you behind the scenes to experience what a typical work week looks like here at The Youngrens. In true entrepreneur fashion though, this week was anything by typical.We have a lot happening behind the scenes here at the studio, including hiring new team members, reworking our entire production workflow, and implementing a brand new childcare schedule to balance it all.At times, it got a little crazy and our to-do lists felt never ending. But we're so thankful that we've created a time management system that expands and contracts to withstand the demands of creative entrepreneurship. Listen to how our daily lives actually play out in real life, and enjoy your journey behind the scenes with us!Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Episode 301 | Time ManagementNeuYear Planning CalendarAsanaTraction by Gino WickmanNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

305 | A Week in the Life: Behind the Scenes with Jeff and Erin

**Next Creative Rising Gathering --&gt; Feb 12th in San Diego. RSVP HERE!**It's no secret that our businesses rely on social media to get in front of the brides and grooms we most want to photograph.But it's also no secret that many of us struggle with distraction, comparison, and insecurity when scrolling our feeds. Social media is becoming more addicting than ever, but also more effective than ever for our marketing. So as creative entrepreneurs, it's critical that we learn to untangle our hearts and create healthy boundaries with a digital world that is becoming increasingly distracting.In this episode, I have a conversation with Abby Grace, a film photographer in Washington D.C., about how she establishes healthy boundaries and balance in her relationship with social media.Abby shares the resources and practices she uses to keep social media in its proper place in her business, and how she keeps social media out of her personal hours. Hint: Hear how she deletes Instagram every day at 5pm!This is a life-giving conversation you definitely don't want to miss!Learn More About Abby Grace:https://abbygracephotography.com/Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Digital Minimalism by Cal NewportDeep Work by Cal NewportIndistractable by Nir EyalFreedom AppPlanolyNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

304 | Creating Healthy Social Media Habits in a Distracting Digital World (with Abby Grace)

**Next Creative Rising Gathering --&gt; Feb 12th in San Diego. RSVP HERE!***Launching a wedding photography business is daunting, no matter when you do it.But in today's world, it can be overwhelming to know what exactly you should do to get your business off the ground.There's a lot of you out there just starting out, so Jeff and I sat down to talk about the ten things we would do if we were starting our wedding photography business right now in 2020. In this episode we share:The biggest thing we would do in our first year that most photographers don'tThe tools we would invest in right away and why (+ the tools we would wait to spend money on)How to know if you should invest in paid education or notJeff and I started our business 14 years ago in 2006, and it's quite the understatement to say that a lot has changed since then.When we started, the iPhone hadn't been released yet, Facebook and Twitter were brand new, and Instagram wouldn't exist for another four years. So the world we run our business in today is dramatically different than the world we launched our business in fourteen years ago.But here's the surprising thing we discovered in this episode... Even though the world has changed, the fundamentals of starting a business haven't. Many of the same rules that we followed over a decade ago, still ring very true for today.So while there's still some very specific things you should do to take advantage of today's opportunities, some things will (thankfully) always stay the same. GET OUR LIST OF TEN MUST READ BUSINESS BOOKS HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/free-resources/ten-books/EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY:KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank You!!)GET 50% OFF YOUR GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit!Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Flodeskhttps://flodesk.com/c/THEYOUNGRENSShootProofhttps://creativerising.com/shootproofCreative Rising Communityhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/Creative Rising Gatheringshttp://creativerising.com/gatheringsTuesdays Togetherhttps://www.honeybook.com/risingtide/the-detailsNEXT STEPS:WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amaz

303 | 10 Things We Would Do If We Were Starting Our Business in 2020

We all know that booking weddings is vital to running our business. But for most of us, sales is our least favorite part of the job. I get it. Client meetings were always a lot of fun for me... until pricing came up. Things would go from amazing to wanting to crawl under a table and hide!I've since learned that sales doesn't have to be a cringe-worthy experience. The first step is to stop seeing yourself as a salesperson and start acting as a GUIDE. In this episode, I'm sharing my five sales tips that help me eliminate the awkwardness and  step into that role as a guide with each one of our meetings, including the KEY question I always ask that easily transitions the meeting into pricing!DOWNLOAD OUR 5 SALES TIPS (AND FREE SALES QUESTIONS) HERE:https://theyoungrens.com/free-resources/free-action-plan-our-top-5-sales-tools/EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: FREEDOM EDITS (Thank you!!!)Get Your First Job Edited for Free HEREhttps://creativerising.com/freedomWe trust Freedom Edits whenever we outsource our editing across all of our brands. We absolutely LOVE their simple, easy, and totally customized approach to editing and how quickly they got our preferences juuuuuust right! They save us tons of time! Right now, they're gifting all Creative Rising listeners with their first job entirely for FREE! So that's a complete wedding, edited for FREE. (Not a test wedding, either.) This is exclusively for Creative Rising listeners! Get your first job free at the link above at: CreativeRising.com/freedomNEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER CLIENTS? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you're binging these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

302 | Our Top 5 Sales Tips on How to Run a Killer Client Meeting That Converts

Let's be real. Time management is hard. I have a lot I want to accomplish in the next twelve months, and I bet you do, too. But let's be honest. New Year's goals can fizzle out quickly.There's so many things that demand your attention - client needs, overflowing inboxes, social media posts - that it's easier than ever to feel overwhelmed, forget your goals, and leave important work undone. So it's more critical than ever to prioritize your time and be intentional about how you work. There were a lot of years in our business that I rarely got to the important things on my list, and it's because I didn't know how to step out of overwhelm and manage my time to put those big goals first. Something had to change. A few years ago, I started developing a time management system for myself that's helped tremendously in accomplishing my big priorities for my business, and I'm sharing it with you today for the first time ever! It's been the biggest game-changer for me, especially as I've become a parent and cut back to only working two days a week. With less than half the hours I used to work, I still move my business forward in big ways!In this episode I'm sharing:The single mindset shift that completely reshaped how I think about my timeThe three simple categories I use to block my time that will work for ANY wedding photographerThe key to how I get important work done, while living an intentional life free from overwhelmEven if you consider yourself a free spirit and you don't love routine, the way that I manage my time gives you the structure your business requires while also gifting you with the freedom you want.I'm so excited to share my time management practices with you to help you achieve big things in 2020 - while living a life free from stress and overwhelm!READ THE EPISODE BLOG POST HERE:http://creativerising.com/301EPISODE MADE POSSIBLE BY: KISS WEDDING BOOKS (Thank You!!)GET 50% OFF YOUR GETTING STARTED KIThttp://creativerising.com/kissAre you ready to level up your income and make more money with each wedding? Selling albums dramatically increased our revenue, and we now sell KISS Wedding Albums with every single one of our wedding packages. We love the printing, quality, and gorgeous options with each KISS Album, and Creative Rising listeners get 50% off the Getting Started Kit!NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/WANT BETTER BRIDES? TAKE THIS CLASS:https://dreamieclass.comLEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

301 | Time Management: 3 Simple Rhythms I Use to Eliminate Overwhelm, Stay Focused, and Get It All Done

[NARRATIVE] Are you shooting weddings you don't love but still booking them only because they pay the bills? Do you want to completely change your style, but you're afraid that no one will book you if you do? For years, Duke Khodaverdian (of Duke Images) and Spencer Lum were both shooting traditional weddings in a style they didn't love - until they pivoted their brands and started shooting weddings in completely different styles, setting entirely new trends in the photography world and dominating their markets.This is the story of two polar opposite photographers that both found amazing success by defining and going after clients they love. But while they both created remarkable businesses, the journeys of how they got there will completely surprise you.WANT TO BREAK FREE AND FINALLY BOOK CLIENTS YOU LOVE? TAKE OUR FREE DREAMIE CLASS HERE:https://dreamieclass.comOR LEARN ABOUT OUR FULL DREAMIE COURSE HERE:https://discoveryourdreamies.comIn this Episode:Follow Duke's amazing work on Instagram: @dukeimagesLearn more from Spencer Lum at Ground Glasshttps://ground-glass.com/NEXT STEPS:JOIN OUR FREE CREATIVE RISING COMMUNITYhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/339344669485595/LEAVE A REVIEW:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-rising/id1464017907Reviews are how we get found! If you binge these episodes, then share the love!! Leave a review on iTunes so that other amazing photographers like you can find us, too. 

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