Beyond the Algorithm with Matt Jacob

Photographer Iasis Kennedy shares her journey from working at Anthropologie during the pandemic to becoming a full-time destination wedding photographer. With stimulus checks in hand and a new camera, what started as a casual hobby quickly evolved into a thriving business. Originally on the pre-nursing track at University of Washington, Iasis found herself drawn to photography after participating in styled shoots and realizing this creative path could become a legitimate career.Now with about 50% of her work being destination-based, Iasis discusses the challenges of pricing travel appropriately while building her portfolio. She reflects on lessons learned about advocating for herself financially, especially when excited about shooting in dreamy locations like Mexico, Spain, and Italy. Her approach centers on creating genuine friendships with clients rather than strictly business relationships - making her the ideal photographer for couples who want someone who feels like a friend documenting their special day.After transitioning to full-time photography just a year ago, Iasis credits industry friends who warned her about taking on too much work and a crucial pricing workshop that helped her understand exactly what to charge to sustain her business. Her experience offers valuable insights for photographers navigating the delicate balance between creative fulfillment, financial sustainability, and maintaining quality of life in a competitive industry.Check out Iasis' links!WebsiteInstagramTiktokGet Narrative for Free: ⁠⁠narrative.so/select

Cultural portrait photographer Matt Jacob shares his journey from being an airline pilot to building a creative photography business on his own terms. Currently based in Bali, Matt discusses how his previous career afforded him the privilege to explore photography projects without immediate financial pressure, allowing him to develop his distinct style over five years.Rather than following industry norms, Matt deliberately carved his own path, focusing solely on projects that genuinely excited him. He explains his diverse approach to monetization through print sales, brand collaborations, educational offerings, podcast sponsorships, and community building. Matt emphasizes the importance of photographers maintaining personal passion projects alongside client work, noting how these can eventually evolve into revenue streams through avenues like sponsored trips, books, and magazine placements.Throughout the conversation, Matt addresses common challenges facing photographers today, particularly the pressure to grow a massive social media following. He advocates for cultivating "a thousand true fans" rather than chasing empty metrics, explaining how an authentic community creates more sustainable opportunities than algorithm-dependent growth strategies. His perspective offers valuable insights for photographers struggling to balance creative fulfilment with financial sustainability in today's competitive landscape.Check out Matts Socials!The MOOD Podcast⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠WebsiteGet Narrative Select for Free: ⁠narrative.so/select

Wedding photographer Heather Schoolcraft talks about her incredible journey from a small West Virginia town to shooting weddings across 30 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico - with Iceland and Paris on the horizon! She works alongside her fiancé who handles video, making those long wedding days less stressful and more fun. What makes Heather's approach special is how she taps into couples' love languages to capture genuine moments - like having someone whisper sweet nothings if words of affirmation is their thing, or encouraging meaningful physical touch for those who connect that way.After five years in the business, Heather's learned the power of saying "no" - her actual New Year's resolution! She's shifting from being what she calls a "workhorse" (shooting tons of weddings) to becoming a "unicorn" photographer who takes fewer clients at higher rates. Along the way, she's faced challenges like wrist surgery from lugging around heavy camera gear, which led to the unexpected side hustle of making polymer clay earrings as client gifts.Throughout the conversation, you really feel Heather's passion for finding couples who genuinely match her energy. As she puts it, "I want you to feel the warmth and love and happiness" in her photos - something that comes through when working with people who are truly excited about their wedding day.About Heather:Hi, I’m Heather - a photographer and videographer based in Charleston, West Virginia, but you’ll often find me traveling with my camera in hand. I’ve had the chance to capture love stories and real moments in 30 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico - and soon adding Iceland and Paris to the list! I’ve been photographing weddings for five years, and for the past two, I’ve been lucky enough to film alongside my amazing fiancé. My work is all about chasing golden sun rays, embracing pops of color, and capturing those raw, genuine reactions that make every story unique. Links: InstagramTikTokYouTubeGet Narrative Select for Free: narrative.so/select

Rory and photographer's like them need creative communities to build networks, pass down education without gate keeping and bring new life into a lane of photography that changes often and quickly.On this episode, Rory gives us an insight into how they're not sitting idly by waiting for the industry or veteran photographers to bring them into the fold. They're connecting and creating exactly the social circles that are needed to thrive in at the intersection of art, sustainable income and the fashion industry in Montreal and beyond.About Rory:Rory Creelman (they/them) is a photographer and creative director in Montreal, Canada. Their work is dynamic and colourful, strikingly alive, and unabashedly authentic, often exploring queer realities and showcasing the beauty of the local fashion scene. Rory believes strongly in community as a force to unite us, and takes pride in running an Instagram Broadcast channel which acts as a landing dock to connect artists in their local scene to each other and to the opportunities that they deserve.Links: InstagramBroadcast ChannelGet Narrative Select for Free!

Meghan details her plans for moving from Connecticut to Alaska and how she intends to continue her business seamlessly while maintaining personal well-being and avoiding the dreaded burnout.⁠About Meghan:Meghan is a photographer and videographer based in Connecticut and soon to be relocating to the Anchorage, Alaska area. She loves guiding couples through poses that encourage movement and laughter. Her major goal and priority is to make sure couples are comfortable and have fun on their wedding days during the photo process. Links: http://www.meghanannimagery.com/https://www.instagram.com/meghanannimagery/https://www.tiktok.com/@meghanannimagery?lang=enhttps://www.youtube.com/@meghanannimageryGet Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Gabe McClintock an acclaimed photographer known for his distinctive and consistent style over the past decade. Gabe shares insights on maintaining a timeless style, the evolving photography industry, and the importance of light and mood in his work. About Gabe: Gabe McClintock, based in Calgary, Canada, has been photographing weddings since 16 years. He shot his first wedding for friends who asked him to document their special day since he has a background in Photojournalism – he replied “sure…you buy the film, feed me dinner and I'll shoot it.” Links: https://www.gabemcclintock.com/ https://www.instagram.com/gabemcclintock https://www.onedayworkshop.ca/ Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

In this episode, we talk with Blair DeLaubenfels, the creative force behind Junebug Weddings and World's Best Wedding Photos. Blair discusses her lifelong passion for photography, her journey from creating Junebug to curating the best wedding images globally, and her insights into building a successful portfolio. About Blair: With 25 years of experience in the photography and wedding industries as a publisher, curator, writer, public speaker, and professional photographer, my work focuses on catapulting the careers of creative entrepreneurs. With an emphasis on the luxury wedding market, I help transform established companies and turns startups into well-respected brands. Links: https://www.artlifeandbusiness.com/ https://www.worldsbestweddingphotos.com/ https://www.instagram.com/theworldsbestweddingphotos/ Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Cameron Thorp, a veteran wedding photographer and founder of Lensel, a thought leadership platform for wedding photographers. Covering insights into the evolving trends in wedding photography, the importance of planning and mood boarding, and how Lensel is helping to elevate the photography community. instagram.com/lenselworld lensel.com/subscribe Sign up for Narrative for free narrative.so

Based in Northern California, Christy started her wedding photography career in 2016 and traveled the world shooting couples in places like Saint Lucia, Nicaragua, Paris, Jamaica, Mexico and all around the United States. While shooting weddings, she started to build her brand photography portfolio and today is a full time commercial photographer. Her clients include La Croix, BHLDN, Narrative and more. Co-Founded along with her husband, they run Creativ Rise, an online education platform focused on helping others succeed in their creative businesses. Links: instagram.com/christyjspeers instagram.com/creativrise Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Growing up in the ranching and rodeo world, Kadra Clark's deep-rooted connection to the Western way of life shines through in every shot. From weddings to branding sessions, she captures authentic rural life in Nebraska, Wyoming, and beyond. She shared with us how she built a thriving business by being true to herself, embracing versatility in her work, and balancing business with life in a rural setting. About Kadra:  Hi, I'm Kadra! I am a western wedding and lifestyle photographer based out of Wyoming and Nebraska and love to travel! Growing up ranching and rodeoing, the western lifestyle is what inspires me and my business. My approach is to tell stories through dreamy and timeless images that document their authentic connection with a western flare! My passion for photography started many years ago and grows every day. It is always an honor to photograph memories and connect with so many amazing people. I find joy in creating connections with my clients to cultivate a great client experience. I love to capture the little moments and the in-betweens for people. I am a 2025 bride myself and a very proud dog mom! I love the gym, walking, roping, and thrifting.  Links: http://www.kadramariephoto.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kadramariephotography/ https://www.tiktok.com/@kadramariephoto https://open.spotify.com/show/6YBIHxAkUW8zd0JWYTUrsi?si=cbd27cd08b23401c Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select