EP. 26 Why Most Photographers Quit — and How to Make 2026 the Year You Don’t

You can take beautiful photos and still have an empty calendar. In this episode, Leonie (Surfgirlnz) and Nami (Nami Creative) talk about the business side of photography that nobody teaches you. They cover how to price your photography for profit, how to market your photography business so it brings in real enquiries, and how to build a signature style that gets you booked and referred. A good marketer will outbook a good photographer. If that stings a little, this one’s for you. This episode is for you if: You have paying photography clients, but your bookings are inconsistent You feel awkward saying your prices out loud You post on Instagram and hope someone enquires You’ve done a photography workshop or course and want to know what comes next In this episode, we cover: Why talent isn’t what’s holding most photographers back Pricing for profit, not just bookings, and why undercharging leads to burnout and resentment Knowing your costs, your time and your capacity, because vague goals bring vague results How to say your price with confidence Moving from “post and hope” to a simple marketing system using Instagram, Google Business Profile and SEO together Why going viral rarely turns into bookings, and how to turn views into paying clients Following up on enquiries, which is where so many bookings get lost Creating a signature photography style and a premium client experience that gets people referring you

Starting a photography business and not sure where to begin? In this episode of The Female Soulpreneurs, Leonie and Nami share 13 things they did on their photography journey that they recommend to every beginner photographer. They cover pricing, bookings, mindset, money and how to get your first clients. This episode is for you if: You’re a new photographer and don’t know where to start You keep talking yourself out of opportunities because you don’t feel “qualified” yet You’re not sure what to invest in for your photography business You’re struggling with photography pricing, bookings or burnout You want to turn photography into a real business, not a hobby that makes a bit of money Weekly recap: Sunshine, waves and that first summer feeling. Our Raglan photography workshop is officially sold out, and there are only 2 spots left for our Noosa workshop. Plus Nami’s latest shoot with Jaya, and Leonie’s unexpected house move after her place flooded. 13 photography business tips for beginners: Say yes to opportunities that scare you. Leonie’s first surf shoot at Single Fin Mingle, and why she sent the photos to Surfline anyway. Her rule: if you’re talking yourself out of something, do it. If you’re talking yourself into something, don’t. Reinvest in your photography business. Websites, subscriptions, camera gear, mentorship. Even the questionable investments taught us something. Ask yourself: does this bring me closer to the life I want? Work on your mindset. Being self-employed is hard, and so is working for someone else. Choose your hard. Community makes a huge difference. Don’t overcharge at the start. Our hot take on photography pricing: your nervous system needs time to catch up with your worth. When resentment creeps in, it’s time to raise your prices. Track your bookings in a spreadsheet. Build in breathing room for editing and to protect your energy. Do shoots just for fun to keep your creativity and inspiration alive. Reach out to influencers. Nami’s golden formula for collaborations. Send a questionnaire before every shoot. Show up online and be authentic. Connect with other photographers and creatives in the industry. Find or create a preset that matches your style. Consistent editing means clients know exactly what they’re booking. Ask for reviews. Google reviews are great for SEO and for getting found by new clients. Focus on the tasks that make you money. If you’re not making money, you don’t have a business yet. Whether you’re a beginner photographer, a surf photographer or a creative turning a passion into income, this episode will help you build a photography business that lasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✨ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Noosa (Australia) workshop in November here

Not sure which camera lens to buy first? In this episode of The Female Soulpreneurs, surf photographer Leo and portrait photographer Nami talk about the one lens every photographer should start with: the 50mm f/1.8, often called the "nifty fifty." It's affordable, lightweight and great in low light, and it's the only lens Leo uses for her surf photography. This episode is for you if… You're a beginner photographer and don't know which lens to buy first (or you don't want to spend thousands) Your photos struggle in low light and you can't get that dreamy, blurry background (bokeh) You shoot surf photography, portrait photography, or both and want one lens that does it all You keep thinking new camera gear will make you a better photographer You want to travel light and keep your photography kit simple

Struggling to know what to share on your Instagram stories as a photographer? In this episode of The Female Soulpreneurs, Leonie (Surfgirlnz) and Nami share 10 Instagram story strategies that help photographers build trust, increase story views and create a real connection with their audience, so followers turn into fans and, eventually, clients.

How to Create Strong Client Galleries | Photography Business Tips Struggling with how many photos to put in a client gallery? In this episode, we break down exactly how to build client galleries that showcase your range as a photographer — without overwhelming your clients or burning hours on editing. We cover: ✔️ Why variety beats volume (and how to mix wide shots, close crops, candids, and posed portraits for a gallery that tells the full story) ✔️ The 70/30 colour-to-black-and-white ratio that keeps your galleries feeling balanced, emotional, and timeless ✔️ How many photos to actually include in your packages — and why over-delivering (even a little) makes clients feel taken care of ✔️ The simple, affordable gallery delivery tool we use to send professional client galleries without a big monthly spend Whether you're a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, or surf photographer building your own gallery delivery system, this episode gives you a practical framework you can use on your very next shoot.