Photography Breakthrough: Holiday Episode Recap & Workshop Invite

Merry Christmas to everyone around the world. Who's tuning in today? I'm Matthew Jordan Smith, and this is the Photography Breakthrough Podcast where we explore the art and business of photography. Specifically how to build a thriving photography career, doing what you love, photographing people in a way that changes lives, including your own.

But what if you are struggling to do that?

Struggling to find clients, struggling to raise your prices so you can sleep well at night, struggling to make photography work for you. Well, that my friend is why we are here. To help you get over your struggles, and that is the theme of the Photography Breakthrough Podcast. If you are new to the show, welcome. I'm so glad you're here, and if you've been listening for a while, thank you. I truly appreciate your support, your messages, your energy, and your commitment to growing as an artist and a business owner.

Maybe photography is just a thing you do on the side, or you're just beginning. Either way, you are in the right place.

This is where you learn how to thrive as a photographer.

Now in last week's podcast, I shared a story. But a lot has happened since our last episode, and I can't wait to catch you up.

Let me begin by recapping what we talked about last week. I shared one of my favorite client stories. How the legendary Aretha Franklin became my client for 13 years, right up until her passing in 2018. , And while some of you may think that was, then times are different.

Now, let me tell you, the world may evolve, but the principles of building meaningful client relationships, those never go out of style.

That's what this podcast is all about, helping photographers move beyond the daily struggle, because let me be honest, too
many talented photographers , are out there feeling stuck. Maybe that's you.

You are not alone. If you are struggling to get steady, clients feel like you're undercharging or constantly chasing that next big gig, that's exhausting. And. It's not sustainable. This podcast is here to show you another way, a path toward consistent, fulfilling work with clients who come back again and again because they love how they feel when they work with you.

Last week I shared the story of how I first met Aretha Franklin and how I worked on that relationship.

To help her become a consistent long-term client. But that's not just with Aretha Franklin, that's with every client I've had this year. Those same strategies work today.

This past November, we took a huge step forward. I launched a brand new three day workshop to help photographers like you overcome these exact challenges.

In the workshop, I shared the same strategies I've used to build a decades long career photographing some of the most incredible people in the world, from celebrities to entrepreneurs, to everyday people who just want to feel powerful in front of the camera.

At the end of that workshop in November. I offered photographers the opportunity to go deeper, To work with me more closely and start transforming not just their photography, but their client experience and business model.

But many of you needed more time. You had questions, you reached out via email and dm's that I want you to know. I heard you, that's why I'm excited to announce we're bringing back the workshop in January so you can begin your new year. The right way, bigger, better.

We've enhanced the workshop.

The last time we did the workshop, many people may have been traveling. It was the holiday season, beginning of the holiday season. And there were many distractions. January is the time to start things new.

And we've revised the workshop and built it to give you clarity and confidence so you can finally build the business you've been dreaming of. But before I share more about that, I want to tell you a story, one that happened just a few weeks ago after the workshop.

This story shows you that what I teach is not theory. It's what I live.

Every step I outlined in the November workshop, I follow them in my own business every single day. So here's what happened. In the first week of December, 2025, I got hired for one of the most exciting assignments of my year. I was flown to Kenya, Africa to photograph a group of seven women from Japan all going on safari together.

These women weren't models or celebrities. They were real people, each with their own story embarking on a once in a lifetime adventure, and I had the honor of documenting it.

Now, here's the part I want you to pay attention to. This client.

She was referred to me by another client. This was a first time client. Let me say that again. This job going to Africa to Kenya on Safari came from a first time client. Who was referred to me by another client. In November. I talked about this a lot, how you get consistent clients, how you get more work, and a big part of that is from referrals.

I talked about how you get referrals, but maybe some of you were thinking. Well, that's just you. That won't work for me.

I'd like to invite you to the January workshop because this will work for you. You just have to follow the steps. I know taking those steps can be scary, but it doesn't have to be.

Now, this first time client who found me.

Based on a referral from another client, I didn't have to pitch. I didn't have to chase. I showed up consistently. Shared stories and positioned myself in a way that made her say, you are the one I want.

What I want you to understand is when your positioning and your process are dialed in, opportunities come to you. Instead of you chasing every single day, the assignment in Kenya, it wasn't just a job, it was a deeply fulfilling experience. That reminded me why I do what I do, and since returning. It is already led to new opportunities, new inquiries, and new doors opening for 2026. Even a chance to go back to Kenya sometime in 2026.

That's the power of building a business that's rooted in transformation, not just pretty pictures.

When your work makes people feel something, they talk about it, they come back, they refer others. I can't say this loud enough. You don't have to struggle. There's another way. And that's what we'll go deeper into this January.

In our upcoming training. I'm gonna break down the exact steps to attract high quality clients who value your work. Clients that see your value and allow you to charge what you're worth.

We're gonna talk about that client experience. That leaves people changed and loyal for life. We are going to discuss a system that brings bookings month after month, if that sounds good to you. Make sure you're at the workshop.

Now for those who were in the workshop in November.

How many jobs have you done since that workshop. Since the workshop ended, I've done four.

I went to Kenya, photographed brand new clients. Came back 20 hour trip and the day I arrived, a client wanted to shoot on that same day, two days later did another shoot. Two days after that, another shoot. <span style="f