Shoot Bigger: a photography podcast by The Pinckards

Are you tired of feeling like just another face in the feed? In this episode, Laura and Dan dive deep into the core principles of content strategy that lead to long-term, "snowball" growth. While social media algorithms are always shifting, the power of brand recognition remains constant. We talk about practical ways that creators are using that kind of brand recognition to be more noticeable and memorable on Instagram and TikTok.We share our personal journey of shifting toward short-form video, how we’re finding clarity in our brand voice, and why being "instantly recognizable" is the ultimate goal for photographers today.Key Takeaways:Finding Your Unique Hook: How to use visual and audio cues to stand out.Consistency vs. Frequency: Why building trust through recognizable patterns is more important than just posting often.Real-World Examples: Analyzing successful creators like Black Tail Studios and Mike Jeffrey.Sponsor Spotlight: How Imagen AI saves us hours on culling and editing. Get 1,500 free edits here.Join our community "Shoot Bigger" at shootbigger.com for deeper dives and weekly live classes.

In this episode, Laura and Dan dive deep into the fascinating (and sometimes scandalous) history of double exposures. From the "happy accident" of a horse ordering at a diner to Victorian-era spirit scams and surrealist masterpieces, we explore how this technique evolved from a technical mistake into a powerful storytelling tool.We also tackle the elephant in the room: AI in the photography industry. We discuss the recent controversy surrounding AI headshot generators and why the human connection between a photographer and their subject can never truly be replaced by a prompt.Key Takeaways:The accidental origins of double exposures in the 1800s.How "spirit photography" was used to scam grieving families.Surrealist innovators like Man Ray and Jerry Uelsmann.The debate over transactional vs. relational photography in the age of AI.Why "purist" definitions of art are misguided.Resources Mentioned:Imagine AI — Get 1500 free edits and try it for yourselfJoin our community: Shoot Bigger

In this episode, Dan and Laura Pinkard dive into a major industry pet peeve: photographers who use other people’s work to advertise their own services. We discuss the ethical and legal realities of "sharing" posts to get clients, the myth of social media as "public domain," and the intentional disrespect of covering up the original creator's name when sharing to IG stories.Join our community: Join "Shoot Bigger" at ⁠shootbigger.com⁠Try Imagen AI for free: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=pinckardsKey Takeaways:The "Hire Me" Share: Why using someone else’s creative session to book your own clients is wrong.Copyright Myths: Why posting on social media does NOT make your work public domain.Handling Trolls: Dealing with rude comments on Facebook and Threads.

Welcome to the first episode of 2026—and the official debut of the Shoot Bigger Podcast! We are kicking off the year with a major announcement: we are rebranding the "Fully Exposed" podcast to align with our photography community, Shoot Bigger. In this episode, we dive deep into why 2025 felt "weird" for the industry and how you can "lock in" for a successful 2026 by shifting your mindset from "artist" to "business owner." Key Takeaways:The Rebrand: Why we’re moving everything under the Shoot Bigger umbrella. Mindset Shift: Why you need to start treating your business as an LLC, not just an extension of your personality. Value over Price: How to communicate your worth in an increasingly competitive, AI-assisted market. The Power of SOPs: Why systems (and physical punch cards!) are our secret weapon for growth this year.Join the community: Join other photographers at shootbigger.com to grow your business without feeling alone. Try Imagen AI: Stop wasting weeks on editing. Use the link in our description to try the AI-powered editing tool we use to streamline our workflow.

Feeling stuck in the wedding photography "status quo?" In this solo episode, Laura dives into her personal process for finding and staying inspired so you can keep your galleries fresh, unique, and consistent without doing the same thing at every wedding.She shares the unexpected sources of her most viral concepts and trends, including:How an idea for a slow-shutter bridal party trend came from a photo of kids. Taking cinematic inspiration from movies and visualizing a wedding as a film.Turning dreams and even commercials into double exposure ideas, like the viral shot inside the client's eye.How client Pinterest boards and questionnaires serve as a critical baseline for creativity and comfort level.The most important rule: Never let your artistic vision overshadow the client's day.Want to join a community of creatives pushing the boundaries of wedding photography?Join our community "Shoot Bigger" at shootbigger.com.Try Imagen AI and get 1,500 free edits: Try ImagenJoin our Facebook group: Join Here

Feeling stressed about slow bookings? This episode is for you.Try Imagen AI and get 1,500 free edits: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=pinckardsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepinckardsIn this solo episode, Dan shares five actionable strategies you can implement right now to start getting more inquiries. He covers everything from optimizing your website's first impression and contact form to the power of building a strong referral network with other vendors. Plus, learn why a limited-time offer might be the key to sparking action and how to use value-driven social content to attract your ideal clients. Dan also stresses the importance of following up with past leads and clients to unlock a goldmine of potential referrals you might be missing out on.

Are you feeling stuck in the same routine? Do you have big dreams but struggle to find the motivation to achieve them? In this episode, Dan and Laura share their key takeaways from James Clear's "Atomic Habits" and discuss the power of the "1% Rule." They dive into how tiny, consistent changes can compound over time to create extraordinary results in your life and business.A HUGE thank you to Imagen for sponsoring this show. If you haven't already, go sign up for Imagen here and try it for yourself. We will soon be offering our editing profile (AI version of a preset that will work SO much better than presets ever do), but you can also train your own AI editing profile or use one of the free ones.Key Takeaways:The difference between goal-oriented and habit-oriented thinking.How to build an identity around the person you want to become.Applying the "1% Rule" to a photography business to avoid burnout.A fascinating case study of the British cycling team and their journey from worst to first.Show Notes:Try Imagen (get 1,500 free edits) | AI editing platform that saves us SO much timeBook: Atomic Habits by James ClearJoin our Facebook Group

In this heartfelt and candid solo episode, Laura gets real about the challenges and unexpected pressures of being a new mom while running a successful business. She dives into the emotional tug-of-war between prioritizing her baby and her work, the societal expectations placed on women, and the surprising lack of grace people show to small business owners. Laura shares her personal struggles with mom-guilt, burnout, and the importance of asking for help, while also celebrating the resilience of women who are doing both. This is an unscripted, unfiltered conversation for any "mompreneur" who has felt alone in their journey.

We took a little break, because we were rearranging our podcast studio, but we're BACK. In this episode, Dan and Laura talk about some controversial opinions in the photography industry.We're curious to hear your thoughts on these, so be sure to comment on Spotify!Send galleries with Pic-Time (free month): https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referralMentorship / coaching for photographers: https://thepinckards.com/photography-mentorship-sessions/Our YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thepinckards

In this episode, Dan and Laura answer the question, "You guys are well known and popular among photographers (for good reason), but what has helped grow your business with clients not in the industry?"Send galleries with Pic-Time (free month): https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referralMentorship / coaching for photographers: https://thepinckards.com/photography-mentorship-sessions/Our YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thepinckards

In this episode of Fully Exposed, a photography podcast by The Pinckards, Dan and Laura read some hilarious stories that actually happened at people's weddings. From uninvited family members crashing the wedding to vendors ghosting at the worst possible moment, we’re diving into some chaotic and downright bizarre wedding stories. GIVEAWAY: We’re also running a massive giveaway right now for photographers. The grand prize is a full-day in-person mentorship with us in a scenic US location — including a styled shoot, deep-dive business coaching, and just time to hang out (valued at over $5,000). Two additional winners will get virtual mentorship calls. Want 10 bonus entries? Listen to this episode for how to earn them.Links mentioned:→ Follow us on Instagram: @thepinckards→ Follow our podcast on Instagram: @fullyexpo→ Try Pic-Time (our favorite gallery delivery software): https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referralOfficial giveaway rules⁠

Another episode of The Pinckards’ photography podcast, Fully Exposed. In this episode, Dan and Laura talk about hate mail they received a few years ago, along with rude comments that they get frequently. Send galleries with Pic-Time (free month): https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referralMentorship / coaching for photographers: https://thepinckards.com/photography-mentorship-sessions/Our YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thepinckardsmThis discussion is lighthearted & humorous, making light of negativity, but also touches on some important lessons for photographers who are spending a lot of time on social media.As photographers, we are working in a field that is entirely subjective by nature. Even the “objective” rules of photography should be broken intentionally more often than not. Everything from lighting to focus to composition, it all can be done in a dozen different ways to achieve completely different styles. Because of that, it’s inevitable that there will be people who dislike your photos, no matter what you do. There is no lighting setup, no camera settings, no posing, and no framing technique that will please everyone. On social media, the result is that you will undoubtedly get rude comments from time to time, and it’s important to put thought into how that impacts you emotionally and mentally.

What is it like to be a full-time husband & wife photography team while being new parents? We had no idea what to expect when we found out we were pregnant last year, so we wanted to share some thoughts for any other photographers who have thought about having kids & have no clue what to expect.Questions? Let us know so we can answer them in future episodes!

In this episode, Dan & Laura talk about how they got into photographing elopements and share some tips for photographers wanting to get into elopement photography. Curious about our experience getting into elopements about 7 years ago? This episode is for you!Pic-Time free month: https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referralOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepinckards

What does it mean to be original as an artist? Is it even possible to create something original as a photographer?In this episode, we talk about some comments we’ve gotten on Facebook posts and discuss what originality actually means.Pic-Time free month: https://laurapinckard.pic-time.com/referralOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepinckards

In this episode, we talk with Staci Brucks about how she stays inspired as a photographer even after being in the industry for several years. She gives tips and advice on how to not get burnt out while continuing to do what you love! Staci is an incredibly talented photographer and also posts a ton of fun behind the scenes content - so definitely go follow her!Staci’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacibrucksphoto Staci’s website:https://stacibrucksphoto.com

In this episode, we sit down with Barbados-based wedding photographer Gina Francesca to talk about the turning point that launched her full-time photography career-becoming a mom. Gina shares how she went from a traditional 9-5 to building a thriving destination wedding business, what it took to make the leap, and the real-life challenges and mindset shifts that came with it. Whether you're on the fence about going full time or just love a good origin story, this one's for you.Gina's Website: https://www.ginafrancescaonline.com/Gina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginafrancescaphotography/

If you’ve ever felt behind in your photography journey, like everyone else is growing faster, booking more clients, or finding success while you’re stuck—this episode is for you. In this powerful conversation, Dan and Laura sit down with photographer Neshaszda (@neshaszdazphotography) to talk about one of the most relatable struggles in the photography world: comparison.They dive deep into the real, often-unspoken mindset challenges photographers face—especially when you're building a business in the age of social media. From battling imposter syndrome to feeling invisible online, this episode reminds photographers that slow growth is still growth—and that showing up with intention matters more than flashy success.Neshaszda shares candidly about her early days, the moments she felt discouraged, and how she’s learned to stay consistent even when results weren’t immediate. They talk about why comparing yourself to other photographers will kill your creativity, how to navigate seasons of doubt, and how mindset work is often the key to long-term success.Whether you're just starting your business or you're years in, this episode will meet you where you are—with encouragement, wisdom, and a reminder that you’re not alone in the ups and downs.Connect with Neshaszda on IG: ⁠@neshaszdazphotography📸 Follow us on Instagram: @thepinckards▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: The Pinckards on YouTube🌐 Our Website: thepinckards.comTopics We Cover:Why comparison is such a trap for photographersThe truth about “overnight” success storiesHow to keep showing up when no one’s watchingLetting go of hustle culture and embracing restServing your clients instead of chasing growthMindset shifts that help you build a sustainable photography businessIf you’re looking for a photography podcast that’s honest, encouraging, and focused on both mindset and business, hit play on this one. Then share it with a photographer friend who needs to hear it, too.

Thinking about starting a photography business in 2025? In this episode, we break down exactly how we would start from scratch, covering portfolio building, finding your niche, setting up your website, marketing strategies, and booking clients.We started our business in 2017 with no experience, no portfolio, no formal photography education, and nobody to guide us. It was all trial and error, but that taught us the best (and worst) ways to go about starting and growing a business. Within two years, we had broken six figures, and revenue continued increasing every year.Hopefully this episode gives you some clarity on where you should start to have a good trajectory for growth.Have questions about starting a photography business? Send us a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thepinckardsNeed a photography business mentor? https://thepinckards.com/photography-mentorship-sessions/

In this candid and relatable episode of our photography podcast, we sit down with the talented photographer Kaila from Kaila & Company (https://kailaandcompany.com). We have a heartfelt conversation about a topic many photographers can relate to: setting boundaries. Go follow Kaila on Instagram at @kailaandco! Kaila shares her experiences and insights on how to handle requests from friends and family who expect discounted or free photos, and how we can communicate and set boundaries better. Additionally, we dive into the importance of setting clear expectations with clients through thorough contracts, ensuring a smooth and respectful working relationship.