The Artisan CEO

You started your business because you love photography… but when it comes to the marketing, strategy, and admin side of things? It’s slowly killing the joy you once found in your craft.You worry that too much structure will throttle your ability to think creatively…but as it turns out, strategy isn’t suffocating- it’s freeing! And “profit” isn’t a dirty, four-letter word- it’s an essential ingredient in making sure your business runs well and serves the needs of everyone in your sphere of influence- your clients, your loved one, and you. Join brand photographer Abby Grace to learn how to cultivate both sides of creative entrepreneurship- being an artist AND a CEO.Stop by @abbygracephoto on IG!

On this episode, we’ll be talking about the delicate balance between artistry and entrepreneurship. I share my personal insights and experiences, exploring how I've learned to harmonize my passion for creativity with the strategic mindset required to run a successful business.Resources mentioned:Brand Photography Academyabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll be jumping into the tricky world of pricing in the creative industry. As an artist, society isn’t going to be the one to tell you you should charge more in order to turn a profit- it’s going to come down to you knowing what it costs to run your business, what you need to bring in in order to meet your financial needs, what kind of long-term savings goals you have like college funds, retirement, heck- even that Disney trip you’ve been wanting to take with your kids! Healthy businesses grow year over year, and in order to do that, you’ve got to turn a PROFIT.Resources mentioned:Ashlyn WritesReal Artists Don't Starve by Jeff Goins*abbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!

On this episode, we'll be talking about the struggles of maintaining control in your entrepreneurial journey and how to step back into the driver's seat of your business. I'll discuss the importance of setting boundaries, pacing yourself, and outsourcing tasks to avoid burnout. I'll share practical tips and strategies for regaining control and staying true to your vision as an entrepreneur.Resources mentioned:It's Not About The Nail videoPhotographer's EditAlign Album DesignSocial SquaresSocial CuratorWisestampBoomerang for Gmail appSocial Selling Promptsabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll be talking about the reason behind why I left the wedding industry. I candidly reflect on the pivotal moments, challenges, and triumphs encountered along the way, offering insights into the transformative process of aligning my career with my values and aspirations.Resources mentioned:Brand Photography Academyabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll be delving deep into the world of branding. It's a term that's buzzing everywhere nowadays, with more brand strategists, designers, and photographers emerging than ever before. But why this sudden surge? Well, let's explore the factors behind this acceleration together.Resources mentioned:Branding FoundationsBrand Photography Academyabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we're diving into a pivotal moment in my career journey – the transition from wedding to brand photography. I'm sharing my accidental foray into brand photography, sparked by a friend's need for cohesive website images. Initially a side offer, it eventually turned into my full-time profession through the strategic use of beta clients to build my portfolio and establish expertise.Resources mentioned:Season 1, Episode 5: Branding 101abbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll explore the question: "If I had to start my business from scratch, how would I do it?" This question becomes especially relevant in a world where digital assets, like social media followings, can vanish overnight. I share personal insights and experiences from a dozen years in the business, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation over fleeting success.Resources mentioned:Brand Photography AcademyPre-Shoot Questionnaireabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, I chat with Dennah Renee, good friend of mine and on-set assistant for my travel shoots. She’s been a business owner for over 3 years and is in the process of transitioning into brand photography full time joining Brand Photography Academy in March of 2021. Before that, she had experimented with doing some headshots, but she didn’t know how to get the results she knew were possible. We’ll talk about some of Dennah’s challenges and shifts and how BPA helped her business grow. We’ll go into some depth with pricing and how to respond when people ask for discounts and how to start thinking as a CEO rather than an artist.Resources mentioned:Dennah Renee PhotographyBrand Photography Academyabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll be talking about what it takes to become "so good they can't ignore you." I’ve invested a LOT in photography & business education over the years-cumulatively, we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars. Why? Because courses and coaching, even books, they’re all ethical forms of shortcuts! This has lead me to refuse to accept “good enough” as good enough, and to become a forever student. Resources mentioned:Season 1, Episode 7 - If I Were Starting Over...Primed To Launch by Ashlyn CarterOffer Cure by Funnel GorgeousBrand Photography AcademyTop Performer course by Cal NewportSo Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport*Deep Work by Cal Newport*abbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!

On this episode, we’ll delve into the world of streamlining your business operations through the power of Standard Operating Procedures. I'll be sharing some personal anecdotes and practical insights to help you implement SOPs in your own entrepreneurial journey.Resources mentioned:Deep Work by Cal Newport*Brand Photography AcademyHoneybook (get 50% off your first year with this link!)*Wave Accountingabbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!

On this episode, we’ll be talking about a topic that often sends shivers down the spine of many creatives: numbers. Numbers aren’t your enemy, even when you’re an artist and feel like your work is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the math side of things. The less afraid you are of facing the numbers, the better you’ll be able to predict your income, know when to course correct (and HOW to do that), and make decisions that will have the biggest payoff, instead of clinging to the “hope for the best” strategy that might end up leaving you… well, you know what they say about good intentions.Resources mentioned:Brand Photography AcademySeason 1, Episode 10: Six SOPs That'll Save Hours of Timeabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll be talking about why you need to diversify your marketing channels beyond Social Media. Remember when the Meta platforms experienced a massive outage in November 2021? Millions were left disconnected from their followers, friends, and family. It highlighted the risks of relying solely on one platform for communication and marketing. We'll be going through Julie Chenell's four buckets of external traffic: Search, Social. Relationship, and Paid and how those apply to your business.Resources mentioned:Season 1, Episode 7: If I Were Starting Over...Julie Chenell: How To Create A Marketing Plan That Doesn't Rely on Facebook Adsabbygrace.co/podcast

What a ride it’s been over the last couple of months! This officially marks the end of season 1 of The Artisan CEO, and I’m not even close to being done! Let's round things out with a flourish- I'm sharing four lessons I’ve learned from working on this first season of the podcast.I’ll be working on the next set of episodes over this two week break, so if there’s a specific topic you’re hoping I’ll cover next season, I’d love to hear from you- head on over to Instagram and find me @abbygracephoto- send me a DM and let me know what’s driving you crazy within your business right now.For more resources, head to abbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll be talking about why you need consistent office hours, even if you’re a photography business of one and you work from home 90% of the time. We’ll be covering both the professional AND the personal necessity of predictable work hours, and I’ll be answering the question “how do I get my clients to respect my schedule?”Resources mentioned:Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang*Boomerang AppVoxerabbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!

On this episode, we’ll be talking about outsourcing, and why it’s time to fire yourself from some of those tasks that are currently taking up valuable real estate on your to-do list. We’ll be covering the 5 signs that it’s time to hire out, and I’ll be answering the question “what is the actual cost in hard dollars to insist on doing everything yourself?”Resources mentioned:Recency Bias Wikipedia pageNegativity Bias Wikipedia pageAshlyn Carter of Ashlyn WritesSeason 1 Episode 5: Branding 101Season 1 Episode 10: Six SOPs That'll Save Hours of Timeabbygrace.co/podcast

On this episode, we’ll be talking about how to get booked for travel shoots. We’ll be covering marketing to other geographical locations and how to jumpstart your roster of travel clients, and I’ll be answering the question “how do I get clients to commit to flying me out, on top of my session fee?”Resources mentioned:Season 1 Episode 9: Being So Good They Can't Ignore YouSeason 1 Episode 12: Ditch the Social Media Hamster WheelBrand Photography AcademySeason 1 Episode 6Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini*abbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!

On this episode, we’ll be talking about how to send and receive fewer emails, which is music to the ears of anyone with an inbox that gives them anxiety. We’ll be covering the two tools I use that not only slash the number of emails we receive, but also serve our clients better than we possibly could have done when trying to run everything out of the inbox.Resources mentioned:Traction by Gino Wickman*Season 1 Episode 10: Six SOPs That'll Save Hours of TimeClient Welcome Guide Template by Abby GraceCalendlyLoughborough University studyUC Irvine study Season 2 Episode 3: Want to Book More Travel Shoots? Here's Your RoadmapA World Without Email by Cal Newport*abbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!

On this episode, we’ll be talking about the single most profitable chunk of time we spend on the business every week- and no, it isn’t spent pitching. We’ll be covering exactly how we spend the half hour block and how you can implement the exact same process to make a dent on those big dreams that’ve been sitting on the back burner for months… maybe even years.Season 2 Episode 2: CEOs Don’t Do Coffee Runs- Knowing When to OutsourceTraction by Gino Wickman*Trelloabbygrace.co/meetingabbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!

On this Top 5 episode, I’ll be sharing the five best business books I’ve read, why I'd recommend them for you, and the impact they’ve had on my own business. You’ll also get a peek at what’s next on my reading list, in case you care to tag along for the journey!My Top 5 Books:Deep Work by Cal Newport*Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey*Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull* Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang*Traction ​​by Gino Wickman*Resources mentioned:Brand Photography AcademySeason 2 Episode 5: The most valuable 30 minutes of every weekSeason 2 Episode 1: Yes, You DO Need Office Hours- Here's How to Do ItLovemarks by Kevin Roberts*Profit First by Mike Michalowicz*Atomic Habits by James Clear*Give & Take by Adam Grant*Abby’s Instagramabbygrace.co/podcast*Please note that these are affiliate links and that we do earn a small commission. We wouldn't recommend anything that we don't personally use, so please know that these are items we love!