Successful Creatives: Recent Episodes
Erica Ewing
If you want a photography studio or creative business you love AND that supports the life of your dreams, you're in the right place. The Successful Creatives podcast is all about actionable items, meaningful mindset shifts + interviews with inspiring creatives who are redefining success, delivered every Wednesday. Successful Creatives make the world a brighter place...but, let's be real. Most of us would rather be making art than running a successful, profitable business. But here's the thing...we can absolutely do both.WE POUR OUR HEART + SOUL INTO OUR CREATIVE BUSINESSES.THEY CAN POUR THE SAME BACK INTO OUR LIVES.Subscribe to follow along + head to thesuccessfulcreatives.com to join the conversation!
Imagine it’s breakfast time.
You wake up starving and head to the kitchen to make some eggs and toast, but you’re sleep deprived and forget to turn on the burner. The eggs don’t cook.
When you finally realize, you turn on the burner and after an extra long time, the eggs are ready…not awesome, but edible. And the toast is cold.
Think of a sales system as a pre-heated pan, with the burner on just the right temperature.
Drop an egg (or in this case, your lead) onto that sizzling surface, and it cooks up perfectly every time.
A sales system heats things up before clients even walk in, showing off your value and building desire in a clear, repeatable way.
I share the story of how focusing on my sales system—without changing my website, portfolio, or client experience—brought me an additional $38,000 in one year! I also unpack why every business needs this setup first. From standing out in a sea of ads to raising perceived expertise, a good sales system builds desire and guides clients smoothly to a ‘yes’ without discounts or endless persuasion.
Tune in to learn how this approach shifts your business from struggling over every price point to confidently showcasing your worth. And if you’re ready to set up this sales system shortcut and skyrocket your results, Super Attractor Academy is open for you! Doors are open, but only until 11/16!
Successful Creatives make the world brighter. Follow @theewingsstudio on instagram for weekly tips and tricks to uplevel your bookings and increase profits so that you can accomplish all of the goals on your heart.
In this episode, we explore a common pitfall for many wedding vendors: the relentless chase for more leads. We challenge the traditional notion that more leads are the key to growing your business and examine why this focus might be holding you back. With real-life examples and insights, learn why the quality of inquiries matters significantly more than quantity and how a strategic approach to bookings can transform your business efficiency.
We'll discuss how prioritizing your sales process and conversion rate can free up crucial time that could be better spent on your craft, clients, and family. See why investing in the right systems now can pay dividends by drastically reducing admin hours and improving client alignment without sacrificing your precious time or resorting to underpricing. Navigate common issues like ghosting, price shoppers, and the pressure of endless marketing with renewed clarity and strategy.
For more in-depth guidance, check out the free masterclass that breaks down my simple 2-step approach that booked 5 weddings in just 4 weeks, without chasing leads or discounting: https://the-ewings.com/otfb.
Successful Creatives make the world brighter. Follow @theewingsstudio on instagram for weekly tips and tricks to uplevel your bookings and increase profits so that you can accomplish all of the goals on your heart.
The industry has experienced "seismic shifts since 2023" according to Tim Chi, CEO of The Knot. Those who are successful are the ones who understand AND evolve with the market.
There’s a growing gap between creatives who are booking well and those who are struggling. 🥵
Why is this happening? Well, there are a few culprits at hand, namely:
- the economy - record inflation, election uncertainty…you know, you’re living it, too
- the “dating gap” - this one was so interesting to me! Couples typically get married 3.5 years after they’ve started dating. Think about life 3.5 years ago - we were in the middle of a global pandemic, social gatherings weren’t happening, bars were closed, dating was DOWN. So it makes sense there’d be a wedding gap 3.5 years later!
- the sheer amount of information and options available
But there’s a silver lining: budget predictions are actually up, for a total of $70 BILLION in revenue forecasted for the wedding industry in 2025. Experts are predicting 2.1 million weddings in the US alone.
So how can you capitalize on this?
My top 3 strategies to help you thrive in 2025:
1. Niche Down
Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, niche down within your specific industry.
CLARIFICATION: I don’t advocate niching into one TYPE of job if that’s not aligned with your goal…we photograph weddings, newborns and families because I love them all and the diversity helps with market fluctuations buuuut you can niche down within each job type.
For example, if you love vibrant, intimate celebrations in the mountains of Utah, make that your calling card. You’re not just a wedding photographer - now you have a “specialty.”
When you niche down, you get known for something. You’re an expert, and you’ll stand out in a crowded market.
2. Be specific in your messaging
Specific messaging is like a magnet to right-fit clients. Vague messaging gets overlooked…and most of the industry is stuck in vague messaging.
The most valuable way to be specific is to use your ideal client's actual words in your messaging.
For instance, if your ideal couple is family-oriented, reflect that in your messaging: "Our couples are so excited to celebrate with friends and family." This clarity will draw your right-fit clients in.
3. Take a “human-first” approach
The slow decisions they’re making have nothing to do with your worth; it’s a reflection of an oversaturated market.
They’re stressed, so be the one who makes it easy:
- Think about “WIIFM” - what’s in it for me (for them!).
- Break your info down into bite-sized, digestible pieces of information.
- Create a simple process that guides them from inquiry to consultation, and consultation to booking.
- IMPORTANT: focus only on what they need to know to take the next step.
Act as a guide and you’ll build trust while positioning yourself as the expert who can help them achieve their dream wedding.
Bottom line: with the predicted 2.1 million weddings for next year, there’s plenty of opportunity out there. Embrace the evolution and make 2025 your best year yet
Successful Creatives make the world brighter. Follow @theewingsstudio on instagram for weekly tips and tricks to uplevel your bookings and increase profits so that you can accomplish all of the goals on your heart.
There are three essential systems every creative needs to run a business like a well-oiled machine.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this episode:
- How to build a pricing system that reflects the true value of your work and makes clients excited to invest
- Why a marketing system that targets the right clients is key to consistent bookings
- The power of a simple, repeatable sales system that converts nearly every inquiry into a booking
These three systems work together to create a business that runs smoothly, letting you focus on doing what you love while knowing you’ll always book the right clients.
Ready to dive deeper? Join the waitlist for Super Attractor Academy, where I’ll guide you step-by-step through a seamless booking process guaranteed to increase bookings and profitability.
Successful Creatives make the world brighter. Follow @theewingsstudio on instagram for weekly tips and tricks to uplevel your bookings and increase profits so that you can accomplish all of the goals on your heart.
Your client journey is one of the most powerful tools for growing your business. But what if I told you there’s a missing piece in that journey that could be costing you bookings, aligned clients, and even revenue? Most creatives divide the client journey into two stages: the pre-client stage (inquiries and leads) and the client stage (booked and working together). However, the real magic happens in the space between these two stages—the sales process.
Successful Creatives make the world brighter. Follow @theewingsstudio on instagram for weekly tips and tricks to uplevel your bookings and increase profits so that you can accomplish all of the goals on your heart.
In this week's episode, I dive into the powerful strategy of increasing revenue through your current client base. It's a game changer, especially when you're swamped with busy season!
Too often, we focus on attracting new clients when the real profit lies with those who already know and love us. In fact, did you know that returning customers spend 67% more than new ones? 🎉
Here's the key takeaway from this episode:
You don’t need to overbook yourself or launch new offers. Instead, a simple mini-session event—exclusively for existing clients—can bring in significant revenue without the added stress.
📈 Give this a try: Identify your favorite clients, and offer them a bite-sized mini session experience. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Ready for the fast pass? Skip the set-up struggles (or fix a broken mini, even if you've already launched) with my Quick Start Kit - now 50% off. But hurry, the sale ends September 30!!
Successful Creatives make the world brighter. Follow @theewingsstudio on instagram for weekly tips and tricks to uplevel your bookings and increase profits so that you can accomplish all of the goals on your heart.
In today’s challenging economy, it’s easy to feel like the only way to keep your calendar full is by lowering your prices. But before you start slashing rates, consider the long-term impact this could have on your business.
Lower prices might attract more bookings in the short term, but they also bring in clients who are more focused on getting a deal than on valuing your work. This can lead to burnout, resentment, and a never-ending cycle of working harder for less.
What if there's a more effective strategy that not only fills your calendar but also allows you to raise your prices?
In this week’s podcast episode, I break down this market-proof strategy in detail.
FREE MASTERCLASS:
THE SIMPLE 2-STEP METHOD TO
Raise your prices by 30% without scaring away wedding bookings
Learn the simple 2-step method I used to book 5 new weddings in just 4 weeks, even after a 45% price increase. It's how Gillie Bird from episode 27 booked 11 weddings in 7 weeks including her first 5-figure contract AND a celeb wedding.
June 5, 12:00 EST
Save a seat now:
https://the-ewings.com/otfb
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
FREE MASTERCLASS:
THE SIMPLE 2-STEP METHOD TO
Raise your prices by 30% without scaring away wedding bookings
Learn the simple 2-step method I used to book 5 new weddings in just 4 weeks, even after a 45% price increase. It's how Gillie Bird from episode 27 booked 11 weddings in 7 weeks including her first 5-figure contract AND a celeb wedding.
June 5, 12:00 EST
Save a seat now:
https://the-ewings.com/otfb
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
Featured Creative Episode!
Meet Gillie Bird, a fine art luxury wedding photographer in Toronto. She shares how she got her start, the struggle she was facing in her business and the steps she took to transform her bookings - from just 2 weddings booked for 2024 to ELEVEN booked in just 7 weeks, including her first 5-figure contract and a celebrity wedding (a Bachelor Nation couple!).
Learn how you can achieve the same results at my free upcoming masterclass on June 5,
Overlooked to Fully-Booked.
Sign up here:
the-ewings.com/otfb
And find Gillie on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gilliebird_
FREE MASTERCLASS:
THE SIMPLE 2-STEP METHOD TO
Raise your prices by 30% without scaring away wedding bookings
Learn the simple 2-step method I used to book 5 new weddings in just 4 weeks, even after a 45% price increase. It's how Gillie Bird from episode 27 booked 11 weddings in 7 weeks including her first 5-figure contract AND a celeb wedding.
June 5, 12:00 EST
Save a seat now:
https://the-ewings.com/otfb
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
Busy season is just around the corner, which is why we should have a quick chat to make sure overwhelm and burnout aren't a part of your 2024 season. How? With a few simple policies!
Let’s explore what this might look like for you…
Because this is a beautiful time of year. If you’re anything like me, you’re excited to dive back in. You’re rested and feeling creative and inspired…and also perhaps feeling a nudge from you bank account to get back to work, too!
At this point in the year, it’s easy to forget that - fast forward a few months - the end of the season doesn’t look and feel this way to most of us. We’re up late finishing client work, exhausted and stretched but also compelled to take bookings NOW as they come, like squirrels saving up for a long, hard winter.
So what’s the key to a healthy balance so that you can maintain your creativity, your inspiration, balance AND profits?
Boundaries.Connect with Erica
@theewingsstudio
Episode blog post
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
Marketing and sales are my jam. But organization, and productivity? Let’s just say I’m a work in progress.
Luckily I met THE expert in this area, NJ Shelsby who sat down to give me some tips on how to get more done, with less stress.
You see, she was overworked and stressed that it disrupted her family and health so much that she experienced a scary bout of short term memory loss.
“I was driving to a doctor’s appointment and I couldn’t remember how to get there. As in, I’m driving around for 10-15 minutes and have no idea on how to get there. And it was very scary and when I got to the doctor’s office, he was panicked for me.”
Her doctor told her “you have to take immediate steps to reduce your stress level.”
If you’ve been feeling stressed or disorganized, or get to the end of your day and wonder where the time went, never quite making enough progress on your business - you’re not alone.
Check out these stats:
- Internet usage in the workplace accounts for а 40% loss of productivity (ohhhh, we know the scroll!)
- Work overload decreases productivity by 68% (so wait, the more work you have, the less gets done?! Oof)
Here are 3 quick tips to increase productivity:
-
Absolute clarity - what’s important RIGHT NOW.
-
Focus leak boundaries - identify things that steal your focus and set boundaries during your “work times” like turn email notifications off, close tabs, silence your phone, etc. 3. Structure your schedule around your most productive times: a. Deep think times - like big projects
b. Shallow focus times - like emails, editing, etc.
NJ shares the free software she’s using now to help her get organized and increase productivity, and does a little live coaching that will undoubtedly help.
Connect with Erica
@theewingsstudio
Episode blog post
Connect with NJ
www.njshelsby.com
Free Training with NJ
Get out of overwhelm
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
A super talented wedding photographer who’s beyond lovely, with a stunning portfolio and over 70 5-star reviews should be fully booked, right?
But yet out of 40 inquiries, only 2 booked…that’s a 5% booking rate, ouch. AND she’s getting ghosted a ton.
Oh and her prices are a steal.
What’s going on?
The first mistake is in her initial inquiry email.
Well-thought, she provides EVERYTHING her potential new client needs to know about working with her in the first email. No question left unanswered, how helpful is that?
It turns out, it’s actually not really helpful at all.
You see, sales is a process. And if you offer a higher-ticket service (i.e., a 4-5 figure wedding photographer), it’s not designed to be done in one step.
Consider that each step of the sales process should focus on just one thing - move your potential client to the next step.
Your website should move them to submit the form. Your emails should move them to schedule a consultation. Your consultation should move them to book.
Provide just enough so they want to move one step forward.
Revisit your initial inquiry email and see how yours stacks up. Or skip to the shortcut with my free standout email guide and get the exact wording I use in my emails - click here to get your copy now.
Connect with Erica
@theewingsstudio
Episode blog post
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
2023 was a really strange year for me and to be honest with you, it felt like I was riding a roller coaster at times. It was really hard at times. It was really beautiful and easy at times, and it all stemmed from the pivot that I've been making in my business while really starting a 2nd business. It's funny because so many people told me throughout the year, wow, you're crushing it. You are doing so well. So I wanted to give you an inside perspective on exactly what was happening on the inside. Even when on the outside, it looked like everything was incredible.
For a deeper dive free training: the-ewings.com/otfb
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
Have you ever heard me talk about the booking slump that I hit in 2019, where I didn't book a wedding for, like, I think 4 months? I thought it was 6 months, but I think my brain just exaggerated that fact. In reality, I did not book a wedding for 4 full months and this is after 10 years in business. This is after having our best year ever in 2018. So I want to get into what happened and then how I fixed it.
For a deeper dive free training: https://the-ewings.com/otfb
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
The end of busy season is a magical time when you get to think about all of the exciting things that you’d love to see incorporated into your business dream clients. More or less bookings, higher prices. All of this is what will become available to you when you first look back at this year, and then really use that information to intentionally build out next year. This is exactly what we're about to get into.
2023 Audit Workbook
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
You got together an incredible group of women to create this amazing shades of purple shoot in Providence, and it was such a fun experience. It was the inspiration behind today's episode and why I really felt called to have you on to share your expertise, because you were a master at running that styled shoot. So this is going to be a treat for our listeners.
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
When you're repeatedly ghosted, or told you're too expensive, and you wonder why...struggling wedding pros typically look inward first - wondering if it's your work, your website, is it because you don't have enough followers or likes...
But here's the crazy thing. It's actually not you at all. It's your marketing.
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
In last week's episode, I shared about the nightmare client who changed my business. I talked about the process that I used to make positive changes after the fact, and 4 lessons that you can take and turn a difficult situation into 1 that ends up being really beautiful for your business and your clients. So that was all about what to do after the fact, after you've had a difficult client situation. In this episode, I'm going to help you screen for red flag clients in advance and give you some tips on how to handle them if you've got one currently.
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
This is a personal story about my last difficult client (which was about 10 years ago!). This particular wedding gave me cold-sweat nightmares for a month, and changed my business indefinitely.
I share the full story in the podcast, but to get right to it, we’ve all had THE ONE. Who makes us question everything we do…or why we do it at all.
Here’s how you can turn a painful situation into a win for your business.
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
If you asked me last week if I liked the performer Pink, I'd say, Uh, I want to like her. I really like her message. I like what she's all about, but she just doesn't do it for me. Something about her kind of rubs me the wrong way, and I'm just not that into her. However, I did get roped into going to a concert of hers on a girls trip down in Nashville this past weekend. And it inspired this podcast episode because within about an hour I'd say even as little as 5 minutes, I went from a casual, honestly pink avoider. I was like switching the station when pink comes on the radio, to transforming into an absolute super-fan in such a short amount of time. I found it fascinating and I kept thinking about how we could relate this to our business throughout the entire concert, which was incredible, by the way. So I broke it down into 8 lessons. Eight lessons from Pink that will help you become the highly sought, fully booked creative that you know you deserve to be.
thesuccessfulcreatives.com
This episode is all about booking destination weddings. If you've been curious about how to get started or you're interested in the strategies of a successful cinematographer on how she's really built her business filled with the weddings that she wants to be shooting. Then get ready for my guest interview with Kelly LaFleur of K. LaFleur Films.
Today we're talking all about some pricing mistakes. These are the top 5 most common pricing mistakes that I see photographers and creatives make. I'm also going to talk about how you can avoid them and also what to do instead.
So five things that I don't do now that I'm free from comparison. I don't look at other photographers websites for pricing information. I don't scroll Instagram wishing that I had the weddings that my competitors have. With that in mind, I don't actually even think of local photographers as my competitors at all anymore. I no longer spend countless hours tweaking my website or my price guide. Okay, and I get it. It is really, really easy to fall into the trap of comparison, but we got to get on top of this for ourselves because comparison is honestly the stealer of creativity, of success, of progress, of joy. If you're listening to this and you're like, Mm, I don't really understand what comparison is and why I should even care about it. We're going to talk about why it happens, some strategies to overcome it, and even a way that you can actually leverage comparison to make it work for you, instead of against you.
Today’s episode welcomes on a guest speaker, his name is Doug Levy and he is a Boston area photographer. Who has gone through this really cool evolution of his career path. Starting as a professional umpire, to wedding photographer, to where he is now, working with big brands and celebrity clients like Drew Barrymore. His story is super interesting, he is very transparent and I cannot wait to share this episode with you. Let’s dive in.
38,000 DREAM CLIENTS JUST VIEWED YOUR LATEST POST
What could that mean for your business?
That's what just happened for wedding photographer Samantha Melanson Photography after she posted a reel she created of her photography experience and portfolio using a TEMPLATE (one of Instagram's latest reel features designed to make them that much easier to create).
Ok, let's be real - likely not all 38k were dream clients, but what if even just 1% were? That's 380 dream clients at your digital doorstep, right?
If you're a visual artist - from a wedding photographer, filmmaker or videographer, designer or event planner and you're not being intentional with Instagram, I'm here to help change that because Instagram is literally a direct line to your dream clients. So let's talk about the right and the wrong way to use this incredible FREE tool to grow your business, okay?
HOW TO GROW ON INSTAGRAM:NO mindless scrolling
NO watching / sharing videos
NO posting and immediately jumping from the platform
NO comparing yourself to your competitors
YES showing up consistently
YES engaging with your followers
YES building relationships in DMs
YES connecting with a new audience
YES using Instagram's latest features to push reach
I sat down with Sinead Gillespie of Social By Sinead, owner of a Social Media Marketing firm based in Boston to learn how she does it in 3 EASY steps. She shares the exact steps she uses to grow her clients' accounts as well as her own in DETAIL. It's exactly how she left her corporate job and quickly became a 6-figure business owner, and she says it can all be done in just 30 minutes a day using the 10:10:10 Method.
Want more? Join the free group and get an instagram self-audit checklist so you can optimize your listing now. The group is filled with driven creatives, free weekly trainings and lots of bonuses.
Did you know that there are actually just 2 simple steps to get everything you want?
These two steps are also the true foundation of building a successful business. In the newest episode of the Successful Creatives podcast, Erica will walk you through:
- what happens when you DON’T have these two steps implemented in your business
- how you can use them in both your creative business and your personal life to truly get everything you want
- her personal story of how she doubled her photography studio business in 12 months so her husband could leave his full time job and join her (they run their photography studio as a wife + husband team!)
- How one creative got clear and left behind feelings of overwhelm and failure after a simple 5-minute exercise!
Whether you’re already on your way to living the life you've always wanted, or you’re in a place where you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed or perhaps skeptical, then this episode is for you. By the end of this episode, you’ll have the formula to build the business and life of your dreams.
Erica interviews Caroline of Caroline Talbot Studios on her path from CPA to Wedding Photographer to Luxury Boudoir Photography. Caroline shares her top tip on how she knew she was financially ready and able to change directions AND how she's built a cult following of raving fans who are lining up to book with her. While pivoting your career and irresistible marketing SEEM like two vastly different topics, you'll learn the one common denominator to Caroline's success in this must-listen episode.
If you've been considering a change OR you want to learn a strategy to build a loyal customer base, with step-by-step directions, this episode is for you.
There are four major hurdles to entrepreneurial success. This episode addresses the first two that plague creatives - self doubt and lack of focus - and provides 3 practical and easy-to-implement tips to overcome them.
By Erica Ewing, a multiple six-figure Boston photographer + educator with over 10 years wedding + portrait experience and host of The Successful Creatives podcast. She's been teaching photographers and creative entrepreneurs how to create a business that supports a life they love for over 5 years, and her favorite thing is watching fellow creatives thrive.
The best creativepreneurs from LA to Boston share their perspective on what success means for their small creative business, and the best tips and tricks for someone who is looking to cultivate more success in their business.
- Jordan Zobrist, a fashion and advertising photographer and creative director based in Los Angeles
- Sarah and Rick Pendergraft of PenWeddings, a husband and wife destination wedding videography team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Roberta West, a digital marketer who provides the resources and training for creatives who want to sell their products and knowledge and services online
- Molly LaCroix of Molly Anne Photography, one of the best wedding photographers in New England
Let's make art AND money! Our small, creative businesses can bring so much joy and abundance to our lives, and the goal of this business and marketing podcast is to help get you there. You're not alone.
I'm your host, Erica Ewing. Welcome to the Successful Creatives podcast! Learn more at thesuccessfulcreatives.com
Erica Ewing explores the manifesting power of visualizing goals and creating vision boards. She explores common mistakes and why vision boards don't work, and the right way and use them. Self-improvement through positive mindset and intentional placement of vision boards in the home.
Improve the energy in your home through Feng Shui! This Our Fulfilled Life episode is an interview with Kerri Miller of Kerri Miller Consulting and FengShuiPathways.com of Massachusetts. Kerri covers the basics of Feng Shui and how women can incorporate Feng Shui into their homes to raise their vibration.
Money aside, what's the one thing you wish you had more of? I’m asking to push your perspective on the state of life at the moment. Before I dive into this idea, let’s state the Corona Virus is scary! But instead of living in fear, here's how can we thrive while maintaining social distancing. This quiet time might just be what you needed.