You're doing it wrong: run away from trends to find your brand identity

"We listen and we don't judge" is a trend on social media where two people share secrets that otherwise they'd be judged over. For example, a parent and their child and the kid says "Remember when I told you XYZ happened, well really this is what happened..." I'm reading through the photographers version that I shared over in the Build and Bloom Facebook group. Resources mentioned: My 2023 mini session episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dsbgjrBSyJLAexTUjVrkN?si=ac376823ef344b94 WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/businessbasics

It's the crossover you've been waiting for! Cassidy Lynne (@cassidylynne) is coming onto the Build and Bloom podcast to share about how to strategize for efficient social media growth and her posing techniques! We discuss the importance of marketing yourself on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, and dive into actionable tips to make your content stand out. Cassidy also shares her expert advice on posing, from helping clients feel at ease in front of the camera to creating those effortlessly candid moments we all love. Whether you're looking to level up your social media game or refine your posing techniques, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice to help you grow your photography business. Listen to my episode on her podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UVhkhjOWcGUwYIoDAET3S?si=e2d6cc1215ec49c6 Pinterest episode mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fPum6TMsKxd9fpoRO3ODy?si=0c93c7d68f0146fd Follow Cassidy: "Oh Shoot" podcast Instagram: Instagram.com/cassidylynne Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cassidylynne TikTok: @cassidylynnephoto Website: https://cassidylynneeducation.com/ Video Chapters: 0:00 Intro 3:20 Social strategies for photographers 9:15 Instagram vs TikTok 15:00 How to get clients to discover you on social media 22:27 Pinterest for photographers 32:30 Posing tips 38:58 Candid posing techniques WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/businessbasics

In this episode, I chat with Sabrina of The Turning Page Photo Co., a photographer and mom who balances business ownership, parenting, and mental health through strong boundaries and time management. Sabrina shares her insights on adding more value to your packages and why authentic branding is essential for standing out. She also opens up about her journey with mental health, discussing how she navigates anxiety and BPD while prioritizing self-care and confidence-building. Plus, she offers practical tips for managing inconsistent bookings and making the most of slower seasons. Remember: Your Brain's Brilliance Is Your Business Edge Follow Sabrina: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theturningpagephotoco/⁠ ⁠https://theturningpagephotoco.com/⁠ Sabrina of The Turning Page Photo Co. is a documentary-style photographer based in Pensacola, Florida, who travels worldwide to capture love stories. She has a passion for Super8 films and 35mm photography, bringing a nostalgic touch to her work. As a member of the LGBTQ community, she provides a safe, inclusive space for all. She documents couples, small families, and motherhood moments with poetic intention. She also offers 1:1 mentorships and online courses on marketing, editing, and business. A mental health advocate, she focuses on building confidence and promoting self-love in her teachings. WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/businessbasics

Ever wonder how photographers are making six figures in less glamorous genres? In this episode, I chat with Dominic Wilkerson (@Domdoesmedia), who made an impressive $400,000 last year in the "boring" yet lucrative world of real estate photography. I first discovered Dom through the Build and Bloom Facebook group, where he consistently provided valuable insights and helped answer questions on this topic—a frequent point of interest in the community. He previously joined one of our community call episodes, and I couldn’t wait to have him back for a deep dive into real estate photography. In this episode, Dom shares a masterclass-level breakdown of not just photography, but also videography, 3D home scans, drones, and more—knowledge many would charge for. Get ready for an info-packed podcast that could transform your business. Dominic's drone course: https://bit.ly/4fnG18Y Website & Portfolio: https://www.domdoesmedia.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domdoesmedia/ WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/businessbasics

Hey, Photographer! In this episode of the Build and Bloom podcast, I am joined by Sarah Marie (@SarahMarieSpectrum). Sarah shares her journey from being inspired by pop-culture icons like Black Widow to becoming an international cosplay photographer. She'll discuss how cosplay photography is more than just capturing costumes—it's about telling personal stories, embracing creativity, and making dreams a reality. This episode will explore the intersection of fandom, art, and imagination. Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmariespectrum https://www.facebook.com/sarahmariespectrumofficial https://www.sarahmariespectrum.com/ Sarah Marie Spectrum is a storyteller and dreamer, with glitter in her heart and adventure coursing through her veins. As an International Cosplay and Fantasy Fine Art Photographer, she brings people’s stories to life, helping them unleash their imagination and embrace their wildest dreams. Her photography captures moments of creativity and wonder, exploring the limitless boundaries of imagination. Inspired by fierce women like Black Widow and the epic journeys of The Lord of the Rings, Sarah learned early on to fight for justice—not only for herself but for others. She believes in art’s ability to break barriers, build communities, and spark meaningful conversations. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Photography from Arizona State University, she deeply values storytelling, viewing it as the heartbeat of culture— preserving the past and fueling future dreams. In addition to her fine art photography, Sarah is also a seasoned pop-culture event photojournalist, having spent years documenting the vibrant world of conventions, cosplay, and fandom culture. Through her work, she uplifts others, creating a world where creativity and self-expression know no bounds.

Hey Photographer! In this episode, I (@JessicaWhitaker) have the iconic Dawn Charles (@Dawn.Charles) on the show to discuss her iconic editing style, branding, and client experience tips. Follow Dawn: https://www.instagram.com/Dawn.Charles/ https://www.instagram.com/dcpresets/ https://www.instagram.com/risephotoacademy_/ Free Client Workflow Roadmap: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/603d7bfb824b5f37289cb9cd Dawn Charles is a multi-passionate entrepreneur dedicated to sharing her expertise and creativity across multiple ventures. After a decade of shooting weddings full-time, she shifted her focus to helping other creatives grow their skills and build successful businesses as the founder of Dawn Charles Education, DC Presets, and Rise Photo Academy. In addition to her work in education, Dawn also manages an Airbnb and runs a photography rental studio in Oregon. Outside her entrepreneurial pursuits, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Tommy, and their three daughters.

Karen (@BlackVisualQueen) is an AMAZING leader in the photography space. She has hired photographers for clients like Wired, Masterclass, Square, and AARP. She is the decision-maker sitting in fancy rooms with top people debating which photographer to hire and why and has had a hand in visual stories for dozens of iconic brands. She is also a photography thought leader on LinkedIn, sharing industry knowledge. She is also the author of The Photo Hustle: Land Your First Client and Build a Thriving Career in Commercial Photography, to be published in 2025. Find Karen: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/blackvisualqueen/ Website: https://www.blackvisualqueen.com/ WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/businessbasics

https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/virtual-assistant Virtual assistant podcast episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ikZsepQfjMb Email marketing episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/SZVBZHRfjMb Pinterest episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/QNlHvIRfjMb Social media strategy & planning: https://www.instagram.com/juliabroome/ WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/photography-business-basics-course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/brand WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/photography-business-basics-course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Photography grant fund: https://aftershoot.com/create-together-fund/ Applications are open until August 23rd. WHAT’S NEXT: Join The B+B Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildandbloomjessicawhitaker/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jessica on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicawhitaker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildandbloom/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast has been made possible by: Business Basics:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jessicawhitaker.co/photography-business-basics-course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠