Three Things Twenty Years In My Studio Taught Me

Lately I've been talking about the new changes AI has brought to how clients find our businesses. Today I'm going to share a story about how client-centered marketing booked me a client while I slept. We'll discuss the data behind it and what you can do to build an online presence that answers real questions in a way that Google and AI can find and recommend.Join the Waitlist for my new six-week visibility sprint — Searchlight.

A few weeks ago I sent a survey to my email list asking them to identify their biggest business struggle. 71% identified marketing as their biggest hurdle in their business.And honestly, that doesn’t really surprise me.  I’ve been mentoring and coaching other photographers for over a decade and photographers often tell me that marketing is there biggest struggle… But, what does that even mean? This week on the podcast, we're going to break down what it really means to struggle with marketing and how you can take concrete steps towards being found by your ideal client.JOIN THE WAITLIST: https://sandra-coan-photography.kit.com/ccba991e0aSHOWNOTES: https://sandracoanstudios.com/your-problem-isnt-your-marketing/

Twenty years ago, I signed a lease terrified, alone, with twin newborn twins at home and no guarantee any of it would work.I had no idea what I was doing. Just rent to pay, and a gut feeling I couldn't shake.What I know now is that the studio didn't just give me a place to work. It gave me a style, a community, a career I couldn't have predicted. It pushed me to learn things I never would have sought out on my own, and it kept me accountable when it would have been easier to walk away.The take away? Do the scary thing.  You may be surprised by where it leads you.Listen to the whole episode to learn more!SHOWNOTES:https://sandracoanstudios.com/what-twenty-years-in-my-photography-studio-taught-me/Are you ready to take the next step in your photography career? Join the waitlist for my new class and let's make sure you're showing up!

The holidays are coming up and that means holiday photos! But how do you capture that fabulous holiday ambience when the light is terrible?We're going to talk about the challenges of lighting holiday photos and my tips and tricks (yes, we're talking about off-camera flash) for conquering them!The holidays are full of real emotional, beautiful moments and they deserve to be photographed well! It's a little tricky to learn lighting on a podcast so I'm starting a lighting series tackling holiday lighting on my Instagram!Follow along with my new Festival of Lights series starting next week!And if you want to get a head start on your in home lighting, be sure to check out my course, Lighting on Location: Off Camera Flash for In-Home Photographers, currently 50% off for a limited time!Lighting on LocationFind me on Instagram

Unpopular opinion: I think "charge your worth" is terrible advice. Do you think you have a pricing problem? Let's talk about it!Here is that pricing worksheet I talked about:https://sandra-coan-photography.kit.com/99cf778aefYou do not have to figure this out on your own! Check out my free webinar for more information:Sandracoanstudioslearn.sandracoanstudios.com/wm-freeworkshop

My goal with this podcast is to challenge industry myths, question the so-called ‘rules,’ and talk about what really works when it comes to building a photography business- based on my almost 30 years of experience.And today’s unpopular opinion is this: natural light isn’t always better. Grab my equipment list and get 10% off on you Westcott Lighting GearGet 50% Lighting on Location: Off Camera Flash for In-Home Photographers

It's important to remember that we all start as beginners!This week we're talking about the comparison trap, how to grow your business, and what I wish I could have told myself when I was first starting out.Ready to elevate your photography business? ⁠ Follow this link to book a call with Sandra to learn more:

Hi friends! This week on the the podcast, we're going to talk about how to attract clients who are happy to pay what you're worth.I call it the "Tripod Framework" ' - three simple pillars that transform your photography business.This is the exact system I used to go from borrowing gear to building a six-figure photography business.Ready to elevate your photography business? Follow this link to book a call with Sandra to learn more: https://calendly.com/sandracoaneducation/sandra-coan-certification?month=2025-10

Hey friends, it’s Sandra, and today I want to talk about something that’s been showing up a lot in my world lately — and maybe in yours too. It’s something that I think deserves an honest conversation. So buckle up, because we’re diving into a topic that’s part rant, part reflection, and totally from the heart.SHOWNOTES: https://sandracoanstudios.com/why-are-so-many-female-photographers-bullied-on-the-internet/

I've spent the last year writing my new book, The Complete Guide to Family Photography, and on today's episode I'm sharing a little about the writing process as well as what's inside the new book!Publication date is Dec. 9th, 2025, but you can pre-order now! Just follow the links below!AmazonBarnes & NobleRockyNook