Get Your Shoot Together Photography Podcast

Send us Fan MailThe wedding is over, the money is paid, and the couple is still waiting for their photos. How does it get to that point?This week, Kira Derryberry and Mary Fisk-Taylor discuss the North Carolina wedding photography case involving couples who reported missing photos, undelivered videos, and broken promises. It raises some uncomfortable questions about client trust, professional responsibility, and what happens when a photographer fails to follow through. We talk about owning your mistakes, protecting irreplaceable images, and how the photography community might help couples left without the memories they paid for.We also share a few reminders that good business habits can pay off years later. Mary hears from a portrait client who’s finally ready to order from a 2018 session, Kira reconnects with a client whose newborn portraits never made it to an ordering appointment, and we discuss why consistent marketing needs time to work.Plus, the emotional energy of photographing reluctant adults versus enthusiastic kids, a painful personal lesson about backing up photos, and a little holiday merch news.Have thoughts on this episode? Join the conversation on Instagram @getyourshoottogether, find Get Your Shoot Together on Facebook, or email [email protected]. Follow the show and leave a review wherever you listen!This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailSomebody has to send the email, follow up, and keep the marketing moving. This week, Kira Derryberry and Mary Fisk-Taylor talk about putting their AI assistants to work on the tasks that are easy to put off when you’re running a photography business.Mary shares how she’s using ChatGPT to help with outreach to potential portrait clients and business partners, organize follow-ups, and keep track of responses. She’s also exploring partnerships with local content creators to introduce her studio to new audiences. Kira explains how ChatGPT, Descript, and Buffer are helping get this very podcast edited, produced, and promoted, with plenty of human oversight along the way.We also get into:Creating marketing content when clients don’t want their children’s photos shared onlineMary’s experiment with an AI storytelling persona, and why she’s still deciding how she feels about itMaking video less intimidating with behind-the-scenes footage and voiceoversThe next step in Mary’s marketing reset: what happens after someone raises their handPlus, a wedding recap featuring handwritten notes, an enthusiastic flower girl, and some seriously impressive dance moves.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @getyourshoottogether, email [email protected], and watch the video episode on YouTube.This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailKira finally has an AI assistant that does more than hand her another checklist, and Mary wants details.In this episode, Kira Derryberry and Mary Fisk-Taylor talk about getting some of the “wow” back into creative work. Kira shares how her ChatGPT assistant, Dottie, helped organize a weather-related headshot reschedule, draft client emails, and work through scheduling. We also discuss why workflow documents, proofreading, and human approval still matter.Mary brings the conversation back to your photography business with a practical assignment: pick one thing you want to sell, identify what’s stopping your clients from buying, and turn those questions into useful content. Every post needs a job, whether it’s building trust, answering an objection, creating desire, or asking someone to take action.We’re talking about:AI assistance that thinks ahead and helps move work forwardWhy your professional experience still has value when tools become more accessibleMetricool, consistency, and getting back into a posting rhythmA two-week plan for more purposeful marketingPlus: Oregon winery pigs, questionable airport carpet, wedding preparations, and why making an AI assistant look like a Squishmallow gives us pause.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @getyourshoottogether, email [email protected], and watch the video episode on YouTube.This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailHalloween Costumes to Marketing Reset: Storytelling, Funnels, and Video AnxietyKira Derryberry and Mary Fisk-Taylor chat about Halloween plans and costumes, including a piñata partner costume idea and Kira being “Elphaba” for trick-or-treating without painting her face green. Mary shares excitement and nerves about attending the Story creative conference in Nashville alone, focused on storytelling, creativity, and transformation, and explains she’s seeking a marketing reset beyond traditional photography conferences. They discuss how photographers must better communicate the “feeling” they sell, build clearer funnels from trust to booking, and learn what triggers customers to buy in today’s fast “buy now” culture. Kira describes new tactics like a paid headshot “happy hour” mixer for theater parents and nurturing fundraising relationships. They also address the growing need for video content, discomfort being on camera, and practical BTS capture ideas to create more effective marketing content.This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailWe made it to 200 episodes! Kira Derryberry and Mary Fisk-Taylor are talking about the kind of customer service that goes far beyond delivering beautiful photographs.Mary shares the story behind a $46,000 portrait sale and why listening, compassion, and taking care of the details made all the difference. We discuss supporting clients through emotional moments, becoming their portrait concierge, and recognizing the value of the photographs we create and preserve.Plus, practical ways to solve your clients’ problems, from artwork installation to keeping corporate team photos current. And because it wouldn’t be Get Your Shoot Together without a few detours, we’re also talking new glasses, questionable concert merch, 3D printing, and a little much-needed whimsy.Connect with us on Instagram @getyourshoottogether, find us on Facebook, or email [email protected]. Watch the video episode on YouTube and subscribe for more photography, business, and real-life conversations.This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailChatGPT found nearly $10,000 in overlooked business expenses, and that discovery launches a much bigger conversation about how AI is changing the way photographers run their businesses.In Episode 199, Kira Derryberry and Mary Fisk-Taylor discuss how they are actually using ChatGPT, Work, Codex, and new financial tools. They break down what these tools can access, how services like Plaid handle financial connections, and where human judgment still matters.They also discuss Kira’s experience using ChatGPT to build a corporate headshot-day landing page, the growing problem of generic “AI slop,” and how photographers can use automation without losing their personality or professional voice.Plus, Kira and Mary announce that they will both be teaching at the Texas School of Professional Photography in 2027.Topics include: The $10,000 ChatGPT discovery  ChatGPT versus Work and Codex  AI access, credentials, and financial privacy  Using AI to analyze business finances  Building a headshot-day landing page  Where AI genuinely saves time  Avoiding generic AI-generated content  Preserving your voice while using automation  Texas School of Professional Photography 2027 Follow Kira Derryberry at @shekira and Mary Fisk-Taylor at @maryfisktaylor.This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Kira and Mary break down the now-viral Vanity Fair photo scandal featuring Trump’s cabinet - and it is photography tea at its finest. They dig into the deliberate choices behind the lighting, composition, angles, and lack of retouching by photographer Christopher Anderson, and how all of it contributes to a not-so-subtle visual narrative. This isn’t just a pop culture moment - it’s a masterclass in editorial photography with intent. The conversation also hits on why this story matters to us as photographers, how we wield power through images, and why “just taking a picture” is never just that.Plus, the duo shares exciting plans for the future of the podcast, imaging updates, and new ways the community can join the fun in 2026. 🎉🎧 Listen now for expert takes, a little gossip, and big inspiration for your photography life!This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailIn this reflective and relatable episode, Kira and Mary dive into the emotional rollercoaster of year-end chaos, family dynamics, and business burnout. Mary introduces the “Thousand Minute Rule,” a mindset trick that reframes daily stress by imagining your 1,000 minutes as dollars. Don’t let a $5 problem wreck your whole $1,000 day! The duo also explores how celebrity beefs (hello, 50 Cent!) can mirror our own petty grudges and how to let go of what’s not serving us. They touch on how unresolved issues can quietly linger, referencing The Body Keeps the Score, and share how doing inner work can transform relationships. It’s the pep talk we all need heading into the new year.🎧 Listen now for a dose of perspective, mindset magic, and a few holiday laughs!This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailFeeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just meh about your business lately? You're not alone. In this episode of Get Your Shoot Together, Kira and Mary get candid about creative burnout, the emotional toll of ongoing change, and what it really feels like to be in a “failure to launch” phase—even when you're busy and successful. They unpack the mindset shifts needed for AI-era marketing, what the Atlas browser could mean for SEO and content strategies, and why optimizing for AI search is about to change everything. Tune in for a real conversation about the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.Listen now and join us on the journey to reboot our creative energy - one honest convo at a time!This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.

Send us Fan MailThis week, Kira and Mary dive into the wild world of $15 mini sessions, client expectations gone rogue, and how to deal when someone tries to bully you into handing over your RAWs. They discuss navigating awkward client calls, the dangers of uncalibrated drugstore prints, and why educating every decision-maker matters. The duo also chat about AI’s rise in the photography world from creepy real-looking fake videos to actually helpful editing tips. Plus, they share clever ways to use ChatGPT to match brand consistency for commercial work. It’s a real talk episode full of insight, strategy, and the occasional cat-print sweatshirt.🎧 Listen now and get re-inspired to hold your pricing ground!This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced and edited by Kira Derryberry.