Creativ Rise Podcast
A weekly podcast focused on helping creatives grow their businesses to six-figure revenue. Each episode delivers practical business strategies tailored for artists, designers, and other creative professionals. The show is hosted by Joey and Christy Speers, who share insights from their own entrepreneurial journey. Listeners can find additional resources at www.creativrise.com.
Episodes
10 Ways To $10k/Mo (Real Examples From Real Creatives)
10 creatives. 10 niches. 10 strategies that are producing real money right now.Sometimes growth comes from learning a new tool or a new trick. And sometimes the fastest thing you can do is look over the shoulder of someone a step ahead of you and see exactly what's working for them today.Most growth advice stays vague. Post more, stay consistent, raise your prices, good luck. So you end up tes
Giveaway Announcement - We Gave Away The Camera 45,000 Creatives Asked Us For
47,382 of you entered. One of you is getting a camera today.We read through as many of those comments as we could. Not just the Canon vs Sony vs Fuji arguments (though those were elite). The other ones. The people telling us what they'd shoot if they won.So many amazing projects and dreams inside this community!If that was you, we hope this whole week nudged you closer to it.Book the shoot.Sen
Are Your Cheaper Packages Killing Your Bigger Packages As A Creative (Here’s The Fix)
Get Your Ticket For The $10k/Mo Creator Workshop - www.creativrise.com/workshopYou've got the portfolio. You've got the reviews. So why does it feel like pulling teeth to get someone to say yes to your biggest package? 👀We asked a room full of creatives to put a hand up if selling their core offer felt hard. Almost every hand went up.The problem isn't the price. It's the position t
How Louelle Made A Year's Income In 60 Days Shooting Photo & Video
Would you raise your prices if you knew it would get you more inquiries, not fewer? 👀Most creatives price from fear.You look at your number, imagine the client's reaction, and shave a few hundred off before you ever send the guide. It feels like you're removing an obstacle.You're actually adding one.Louelle Adanza was charging $1,700 for a full wedding video and $500 for an entire bran
How to Get Clients to Pre-Sell Themselves Before They Ever Inquire (Full Funnel Breakdown)
This week Christy and I are pulling back the curtain on something we've never fully explained before: the exact reason some inquiries go quiet right when things should be heating up. ⚡️If you're a photographer, filmmaker, content creator, or social media manager running your own creative business, this is the pinned post and content funnel we've personally used for over a decade.A client goes cold
4 Things We Do When Life Falls Apart (But the Business Can't)
In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, Christy and I are getting real about something we don't usually talk about publicly: what it actually looks like to run a creative business through a genuinely hard season of life.If you're a photographer, filmmaker, content creator, or social media manager and you've ever felt like you're falling apart personally while still being expec
Never Get Ghosted On An Invoice Again: The System We Use To Get Paid
In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, I'm breaking down exactly how Christy and I collect payments on time and in full, without chasing clients or hoping they eventually pay. If you're a photographer, filmmaker, content creator, or social media manager running your own business, this is the payment system, contract clause, and late payment policy we actually use. 👀Go to our IG and s
How To Get Hired For Your Brain, Not Just Your Camera (We Made $14K In The Last 14 Days)
In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, Joey and Christy break down how to go from $500 day rates to $10K-$15K months as a photographer, filmmaker, content creator, UGC creator, or social media manager. After booking $14,000 across two projects in just 14 days, they're sharing the 4 specific shifts that took their pricing, and their clients' trust, to a completely different level.Most creativ
They Live In a Van and Make $25K/Mo as Photographers - The Story of Adam & Clara
What if the problem wasn't your work... but the way you're pitching it?After learning a new outreach strategy, Adam and Clara sent 71 pitches, received 57 responses, and generated over $38,000 in revenue in the last few months while living and working from the road in Australia.Adam and Clara are travel photographers and creators from Australia who went from living in a self-converted bus
I Ran a Giveaway Funnel for 7 Days & Got $50,000 in Photography Inquiries (Here's The Exact Funnel)
Get Your Spot In The Live Workshop - Book Your Next Client in 7 Days With a 7 Day Giveaway Funnel™ - Limited to 10 SpotsIn this episode, Joey and Christy are breaking down the exact giveaway funnel strategy that generated $50,000 in inquiries in 7 days, and how photographers, filmmakers, content creators, and social media managers can use it to book more clients without a massive following.Most cr
From $500 Videos to $25K Months at Age 20 w/ Will Latham
In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, Joey sits down with 20-year-old filmmaker Will Latham of LumaWorks Video. Will graduated high school two years ago, skipped college, and has been building his video business full time ever since. In the six weeks of the Creativ Rise Mastermind alone, Will closed $73,000 in contracts, including his first five-figure deal and a 12-month retainer, going fr
How to Win The Deal Even If You're More Expensive - What Creatives Can Learn From Luxury Hotels
In this episode, Christy is breaking down why creatives lose deals to cheaper, closer, or more experienced competitors - and the exact middle funnel strategy that flips that around, even when you're the most expensive option in the room.Most photographers, filmmakers, content creators, and social media managers focus almost entirely on portfolio content and conversion content. What gets skippe
The Difference Between Outdoor Photographers Who Make It And Those Who Don’t w/ Ross Bernards
In this episode, Joey sits down with Ross Bernards, an adventure and outdoor lifestyle photographer from Fruita, Colorado, who tripled his business in 18 months and had two $20K months in the same year after years of feast-or-famine cycles and scattered strategy.Ross had tried everything. Ads, outreach, tips from other photographer friends. Nothing was connecting because none of it was a system. H
"Sorry, It's Out Of Our Budget" — Reply With This To Win The Deal
In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, we’re breaking down how to handle pricing objections as a photographer, filmmaker, content creator, or social media manager. If you've ever heard "this is too expensive," "we don't have the budget," or "we found someone cheaper," this episode gives you a step-by-step playbook for responding without dropping your pri
Should You Put Prices On Your Website? (The Honest Answer)
In this episode, Joey and Christy are breaking down one of the most asked questions in the creative business space: should you put your pricing on your website? 👀It sounds like a simple yes or no. But the real answer depends on exactly where your business is right now, and getting it wrong is costing creatives either bookings or time.For photographers, filmmakers, social media managers, and other
Something Is Happening Inside The Creative Industry
In this episode, Joey and Christy are breaking down what just happened inside Round 15 of the 6 Week Creativ Rise Mastermind, where 37 creatives booked $611,407 in just 6 weeks, and more importantly, what you can learn from it as a photographer, filmmaker, social media manager, or content creator trying to grow your business.This isn’t a one-off result or a lucky round. This is a pattern. Across 1
We Shot Coachella for a Brand… Here’s What We Learned As Creatives
In this episode, Joey and Christy are breaking down their full behind-the-scenes recap of shooting Coachella 2026, including the date mix-up that almost cost them the job, the 5 a.m. wrap time at the Neon Carnival, and the exact lessons every commercial photographer, filmmaker, and content creator needs to hear about pitching and shooting major brand events. 🫣Most photographers, filmmakers, social
The Best $750 We Spend Per Year - 5 Subscriptions My Creative Business Can't Live Without
In this episode, Joey is breaking down the exact five software tools he and Christy use every year to run their photography and filmmaking business - and the total cost is just $750 a year.Most photographers, filmmakers, content creators, and social media managers are either overspending on tools they barely use, or piecing together a free-tool workflow that's quietly costing them in missed client
If You Feel Stuck, These 4 Things Might Be Why
In this episode, Joey and Christy are breaking down the mindset blocks that are quietly keeping creative business owners stuck, undercharging, and playing small before they even give themselves a real shot.Most creatives don't realize how much of their stagnation is self-inflicted. It's not the market. It's not the economy. It's not a lack of talent. It's the stories they tell
How to Fix Underpricing Your Work
In this episode, Joey and Christy are breaking down the most common pricing questions they get from creatives in the wedding and brand space - and their answers might flip how you think about pricing entirely.Here’s the key: pricing is branding. What you charge signals who you are, what you're worth, and whether clients can trust you before they ever respond to your quote. Most creatives obses
The Ultimate Pricing Strategy For Photographers, Filmmakers & Social Media Managers In 2026
BIG UPDATE: The brand new 2026 Creativ Rise Pricing Calculator is here! As always: completely for free! If you’re a photographer, filmmaker, content creator or SMM & struggle with how to price your work - start using this tool here.What is your pricing strategy?If it’s merely based off the photographer down the street, a low day-rate, or just going with your gut and hoping for the best - this
Why You’re Stuck With Low-Paying Clients (And How to Fix It)
You've probably heard the advice a hundred times: "just find clients with more money." Cool. Super helpful. But if that were all it took, you wouldn't still be sending $500 invoices.Here's the truth nobody talks about: the size of your paycheck has almost nothing to do with the size of the company you're working with. It has everything to do with the size of the problem y
Hard Work Doesn't Always Mean Growth - A Wake-Up Call For Creatives
Most creatives think the answer is just working harder. More hours, more shoots, more hustle. But if your business looks the same as it did a year ago, the problem isn't your effort — it's what you're doing with it.In this episode, we're breaking down the real reason creative businesses stay stuck, and it has nothing to do with talent. We cover three shifts that actually move the needle — why you
275. The UGC Playbook: How Jessie Made $13K Last Month With Just an iPhone
Would you believe us if we told you you can make $13,500 in one month creating content - entirely shot on an iPhone. 👀If you’re a photographer, filmmaker, content creator, or social media manager who’s been curious about UGC but unsure how people are actually getting paid (and paid well) for it, this episode will open your brain in the best way.In this episode, we sit down with Jessie Bull, a Whis
274. 6 Decisions That Took Us to Six Figures As Photographers & Filmmakers (You Can Copy These)
In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the six business decisions that took us from guessing our way through freelance work… to building multiple six-figure creative businesses as photographers, filmmakers and brand builders.These aren’t “work harder” tactics. These are real decisions we made inside these areas of business:Offers & PricingBrandingNetworkingMarketingSalesScalingFrom turning a
$10k/Mo Creator Workshop - Full Replay
Hundreds of creatives joined us for the $10k/Mo Creator Workshop to learn & implement proven strategies to build to $10k/mo as a photographer, filmmaker, SMM and content creator!In this jam packed workshop, Joey & Christy broke down:The four stages every creative business moves through on the way to six figuresHow to build offers that scale to $10K+ per monthThe 6 Figure Pricing Strategy a
272. The 4 Business Models Behind Consistent $10K+ Months For Photographers & Filmmakers
If you’re still bouncing between $500 jobs, $800 gigs, and random custom proposals… and you’re wondering why $10K months feel out of reach… this episode is for you.Because hitting consistent $10,000 months is not about grinding harder. It’s about operating in the right business model.Our businesses & the creatives we’ve coached who consistently hit $10K, $15K, even $30K+ months all have one th
271. 400 Cold Calls Built Their 6-Figure Retainer Filmmaking Business - Jack & George, Agrippa Creatives
What if the only thing standing between you and a 6 figure year was 400 cold calls?In this episode, we sit down with George and Jack of Agrippa Creatives, a brand strategy and filmmaking duo who launched their agency in mid-2025 and built predictable retainer revenue in just six months.Before the Mastermind, there was no real structure - just stacking $500 projects to stay busy but never stable.Af
270. She Went All In and Hit $200K in Her First Full-Time Year as a Wedding Photographer
From getting laid off right before Christmas to making $200K in her first full-time year as a wedding photographer, this episode with Kenna Hiskey proves how fast things can change when you fully commit.Kenna breaks down what actually shifted between “side hustle” and a multiple six-figure, sustainable wedding business — from pricing and positioning to systems that allowed her to grow without burn
269. Getting Paid to Shoot in Hawaii (How to Pitch Brand Trips)
What if getting paid to travel and shoot projects wasn’t luck, but a repeatable framework? Good news, it is! Over the last decade we’ve shot paid projects in the US, Canada, Mexico, NZ, AUS, Iceland, Greece, Italy, France, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and more - using a repeatable pitching framework.In this episode, we break down exactly how we pitch brand trips that tur
268. He Quit Day Rates — And His Business Changed Completely (JD’s Story Explained)
JD first moved to LA in 2012 to pursue his dream of working as a filmmaker in the music industry - what happened in the following years was more than he dreamed of. Usher, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Miley Cyrus and Will I Am are a few of the artists he’s been on set with..But what happens when an industry shifts and it’s all you know? That’s JD’s story - a story of shifting his focus from the music v
267. How To Build a Career as a Model & Creator, Why UGC Is Taking Over + Paid Trips w/ Taylor Hayden
In this episode, we sit down with our friend Taylor Nicole Hayden to break down what it actually looks like to build a sustainable creative career - across modeling, content creation, photography, producing and UGC.Taylor shares how she went from small-town Indiana to working with brands like Free People, Billabong, and global lifestyle companies - without niching herself into a single box.Inside
266. How Creatives Should Deliver Pitches in 2026 To Get Their Next Yes
In this episode, we break down why pitch delivery matters just as much as the pitch itself. You can write a great pitch and still get ignored. We share how to get your pitches seen, when and how to follow up, and the small delivery shifts that help photographers, filmmakers, content creators and SMMs land more responses in 2026.Get the Pitching Masterclass - Use Code: 2026 for $50 Off www.creativr
265. How Creatives Can Fix Their Pitch in 10 Minutes (3 Changes That Work)
If you’re a photographer, filmmaker, social media manager, or creative who wants better brand deals in 2026, you need to get better at pitching.In 10 minutes, Joey & Christy break down pitching in a highly actionable way - covering 3 simple shifts that can dramatically increase your pitch response rate.Inside the episode, we cover:Why brands don’t care about you until you show you care about t
264. 2026 Pricing Strategy To Make More Money As A Photographer & Filmmaker
In this episode, we break down the exact pricing framework we use to price our work sustainably and have confidence when it comes to raising your rates. This isn’t about copying competitors or guessing what clients will tolerate. It’s about math, value, and building offers that actually support the life you want in 2026.Inside the episode, we cover:How to calculate a real pricing floor (and why gu
263. Our Most Personal Episode Yet: A $100K Month, Hard Business Lessons, and a Major Life Update
This is our most honest episode we’ve done in the last 6 years. We reflect on what really went into a $100K month, the hard business lessons that shaped our 2025 year, and the decisions we’d do differently. We also share a major personal update and talk honestly about navigating loss and purpose at the same time.If you feel encouraged to join our community as we feed 100 kids in 2026 so these 100
262. 5 Questions That Can Double Your Creative Business in 2026
If you’re wanting to double your business in 2026, it’s going to take looking back at 2025 with a strategic eye.One of our new favorite quotes is: life is lived forward, but it’s only understood backwards.Most creatives end the year asking how they feel about their business.Successful creative business owners end the year asking what actually happened.In this episode, we walk through the five ques
261. How To Create A Sale That Drives New Business For You On IG
Get the Giant 5 Course Bundle for 60% Off - Use code SANTAISCOMING at https://www.creativrise.com/coursebundle. Offers ends on Dec 10. Discount limited to the first 50 creators to use the code: SANTAISCOMINGThis week Joey & Christy discuss strategies for maximizing holiday style sales opportunities, like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Holiday sales. We emphasize the importance of understanding
260. She Built a $140K Wedding Photography Business at 24 - The Full Story w/ Danielle Michelle Photo
In this episode, Danielle from Danielle Michelle Photo shares how she went from making $35K as an associate photographer to building her own wedding photography business doing $140K in 2025.She opens up about the challenges, mindset shifts, and pivotal moments that helped her break free from insecurity and step fully into running her own business.We talk about authentic branding, booking dream cli
259. Taxes 101: Mastering Tax Season for Self-Employed Creatives
In this episode, Joey Speers breaks down the complexities of taxes for self-employed creatives - offering practical strategies to manage finances effectively and reduce how much you owe on taxes or, even worse, getting caught off guard when the tax bill comes. The episode covers the importance of understanding profit versus revenue, the benefits of business expenses, the advantages of different bu
There Are 37 Business Days Left In 2026.. Here’s How To Maximize Them
The clock’s ticking: there are 27 business days left until 2026. In this episode, Joey & Christy show you how to turn year-end chaos into 2026 momentum as a self employed creator.You’ll learn:How to choose the one action that unlocks 2026Three smart buckets: Revenue / Relationships / ResetA simple system to beat end-of-year resistance (and actually enjoy the holidays)To join the Round 15 (comi
257. $500,000+ In 42 Days From 36 Creatives.. Here’s What Happened
This round of the Creativ Rise Mastermind broke every record we’ve ever had.Over 6 weeks, 36 creatives made $510,364.25 — an average of $14,176 per person.That’s almost double what the average freelancer makes… in half the time.Here’s what’s crazy:We didn’t focus on teaching people how to be more creative.We focused on helping them run their creative business like a business.In this episode, we br
256. If There’s One Skill In Sales You Need To Master, It’s This..
Free Tools & Trainings:→ Pricing Calculator: creativrise.com/pricingcalculator→ Productivity Course: creativrise.com/productivity→ $10K/Mo Creator Workshop Replay: creativrise.com/workshop→ Money Management Training: creativrise.com/moneytrai
255. 3 Ways We Deal With Discouragement While Being Self Employed Creatives (real Stories)
Feeling stuck in the gap between where you are and where you know you could be?This week, Joey and Christy unpack the danger of discouragement - why it slows your inputs, kills momentum, and what to do today to flip it. You’ll hear real stories (Christy almost quit for a year, the Airbnb pitch that finally hit on follow-up #5, and a creator who pitched North Face 50+ times) plus fresh wins from Ro
254. 2 Pricing Strategies To Grow Your Creative Business Without Working Any Harder
If you’ve been losing deals, getting ghosted after sending your pricing, or working more but not making more — your pricing structure might be the problem.In this episode, Joey and Christy share 2 game-changing pricing strategies that help photographers, filmmakers, and other creatives close more deals and increase income — without adding extra work.You’ll learn:How to use Price Anchoring to make
253. What to Charge for Licensing Your Work as a Photographer and Filmmaker (Hot Take)
This might be a hot take, but if your usage terms are longer than a single sentence, they’re overcomplicating your process and making you less competitive.We’ve seen too many creatives get caught up in the messy details of licensing terms - ****terms that didn’t need to exist in the first place. We’ve simplified our process completely, and it doesn’t only save us headaches - it saves us clients.Wh
252. How To Reduce Revisions
If you’re constantly getting revision requests from clients and it’s driving you nuts.. it might be time to ask yourself why.In creative work, revisions are normal but often they get out of control and eat away all the profit from the job because of the exuberant amount of time spent to make the client happy.Without an intentional pre-production and content review strategy, revisions are the norm.
251. 6 Reasons Potential Clients Are Ghosting You & How To Close The Deal
Most creatives assume that getting ghosted means the client wasn’t really interested - which feels especially confusing when they sounded so enthusiastic on your call...So what happened between your delivery and their decision to leave you hanging?It’s easy to convince yourself that they were just being polite on your call - that they didn’t really like your work or your pricing or your personalit
250. Why The Photo, Video & SMM Industries Are Exploding.. In A Good Way (Explained)
The average industry grows 2–3% a year… but the creative industries? They’re growing over 22% annually.This episode gives you proof that there has never been a better time to be a photographer, filmmaker, or social media manager.In fact, the data shows:✅ The global wedding photography market is projected to jump from $25B → $44B by 2032 (growing over 10% every single year).✅ The wedding video indu
249. The $100K+/Year Social Media Manager: How Taylor Raised Her Prices by 275%
Meet Taylor Caruso of Caruso & Co Media - she built a 6 figure Social Media Management business in her first year of business and now hits consistent $10k+ months, has built a team, etc. She’s crushing it not only in the content + SMM space, but has also starts a Wedding Content Creation business that is thriving. You’ll love this real & inspiring episode with Taylor!Follow Taylor - https:
248. The Journey To A $40k Month As A Photographer w/ Matt Ortlieb
Are $40k months possible for you?Photographer & Content Strategist Matt Ortlieb had hit a breaking point in his business. He was tired of over-committing to low-paying clientele and knew there had to be a better way. He shifted from just being the “go-to content guy” to a content strategist. He implemented tools, systems and frameworks into his business that changed everything for him.Enter: h
$10k/Mo Creator Workshop Replay - The Blueprint To Hit $10K/Mo As A Photographer, Filmmaker or Social Media Manager
Inside, we cover the exact strategies that have helped us and our community consistently break past $10K months (and scale far beyond).In this workshop, you’ll learn:How we hit our first $100K month in our photo, video & brand agencyHow to build, price and market 6 figure offersGoing from $1500 brand shoots to $10K+ brand campaigns w/ Daygin PrescottHow to reposition your brand to move from $5
247. She Almost Quit… Then Doubled Her Business in 6 Months w/ Amber Moon Photo
6 months ago, Amber Moon was ready to quit her photography business.As a busy mom of two offering $400 family sessions, her “good months” felt more like “good luck.”Her income was unpredictable, the business side confusing, and she feared nothing would change. If she had walked away, her story would’ve ended in burnout, not success.Fast forward to today, and Amber:✅ Hit her first $10k month✅ Doubl
246. Justifying Premium Pricing & Selling Your Value w/ Creative Director & Filmmaker Tobiah Lui
Ever wondered what the creatives pulling in $10k, $20k - even $30k+ a month are doing differently?How they justify the premium prices they’re charging - and how their clients have no problem paying them? 🧐For a lot of photographers, filmmakers, and social media managers, consistent 5-figure months feel completely out of reach…And if they do happen, they’re one-off, exhausting, and unsustainable.Th
245. $10k Months Explained: How 10 Creatives Scaled (And How You Can Too)
Working harder doesn’t always lead to better results.In fact, late nights and weekend grinds often just highlight broken systems - not progress.The difference between creatives who stay stuck and those who hit consistent $10k months? They’re working hard on the right things.In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, we break down 10 great business offers from 10 ambitious Mastermind grads - and
244. $10K Months: Why Selling Strategy Beats Stunning Photos w/ Brand Photographer Victoria Mae
How do you go from $700 shoots to selling $2,750 premium packages - and hitting your first $10K month?For photographer and strategist Victoria Mae (@victoriamaephoto), it wasn’t about adding more shoots to her calendar, it was about transforming the way she works.Victoria’s secret? Aside from the fact that she is her ideal client (and she has the coolest client base…), she strategically positions
243. How a 2-Man Video Agency Landed Major Global Clients - Scaling With Upsells & Working As Best Friends w/ Alex & Bailey of Dreambird
Does working with big brands feel out of reach?Are you a small team and feel like you need a massive crew to get the big jobs?We caught up with the two-man team from Dreambird, Alex & Bailey Martin, about how their lean team went from shooting weddings in the summer to landing global brands around the world like Genesis & Hyundai (oh, and in just a couple years).We cover how to:Offer the u
242. The Price-Raise Conversation You Probably Should’ve Had by Now (Step-By-Step)
Got a current client that’s priced way too low?Let’s talk about how you might be avoiding everyone’s least favorite conversation:The Price Raise Convo.Uh oh - feeling the nervousness already?You know what we’re talking about… does the client come to mind? The one you signed a couple years ago that you now dread because you’d charge way more now than you did back then.Or when the past client reache
241. How To Pitch A Trip To A Brand As A Photographer / Filmmaker
Are your socials flooded with creatives getting to travel the world with your favorite brands, making you think, “how on earth is everyone scoring these unreal brand trips?”You don’t need a massive following to get your favorite brands to work with you. You don’t even need to settle for comp’ed product only (aka: actually get paid).To get on bucket list trips with bucket list brands, you need deli
240. 4 Non-Negotiables of a 6-Figure Creative Business [Live Event Announcement]
6-figures is hard work, but it shouldn’t be an uphill battle. If it feels like one, you might be overcomplicating things.In this episode, we break down the 4 foundational pillars every creative business needs to scale sustainably to 6 figures.We’ll cover:1️⃣ How to craft a dialed-in offer that practically sells itself2️⃣ How to consistently generate leads that convert to ideal clients3️⃣ How your
239. The Photographer's 4-Step Social Funnel Formula to Book More Clients (Even If You Struggle to Book Now)
Hope isn’t a booking strategy. If you’re posting “Book now!” and getting crickets, it’s probably not because your work isn’t good enough…but you don’t have a dialed Social Funnel yet.In this episode, we break down the Social Funnel we use in our own businesses that consistently brings in new leads like clockwork:👉 How to get hyper-specific with your offers so people instantly understand what you’r
238. Real Life Stories of Angry Clients & How To Deal With Them As A Photographer & Filmmaker
Ever had a client give you feedback on your work and it stings? The pit in your stomach is real.. but what you do next is the most important thing. How you respond to tough feedback or angry clients can make or break your business reputation. Today, Joey & Christy walk through real stories and what we did to navigate the chaos!Missed Round 13?→ Join the waitlist for Round 14: creativris
237. Can a Photography Side Hustle Out-Earn Your 9-5? It Did for Brodie McDowell (NZ Wedding & Brand Photographer)
Brodie McDowell is a NZ based Wedding & Brand Photographer who still considers his business a side hustle.. even after making more than 6 figures a year with it.In this episode, Brodie shares how he got started, how he landed a $6,000/mo photo retainer, booking weddings, shifting his pricing, how he’s buying a house as a self employed creative — all while working a full time job.📌 Follow Brodi
236: 14 Day Rule - How Faster Delivery Gets You More Clients, More Referrals, and More Money As A Photographer / Filmmaker
What if delivering your work faster actually made you more money?In today’s episode, Joey & Christy break down The 14-Day Rule—the strategy we use to deliver full galleries and brand projects and videos in two weeks or less… and why that speed has booked us more clients, increased referrals, and even led to surprise tips.Most creatives believe that quick delivery looks “lazy” or “less valuable
235. The Strategic Shift That Took Angeli From $6K to $14K Months in 90 Days As A Small Business Marketing Agency
Angeli went from charging $500 retainers to building a boutique social agency serving small businesses—with over $14K/month in recurring revenue… and she’s on track for her first $20K month.In this episode, she shares how she shifted her pricing, rebuilt her offers, and started closing deals confidently on sales calls —all while raising a family. If you’re tired of undercharging or want to build a
234. Christy’s Story - Building A 6 Figure Wedding & Brand Photography Business (Real Talk)
In this episode of the Creativ Rise Podcast, Joey interviews Christy Speers (formerly Christy Johnston) about what it really looks like to build a thriving, 6 figure wedding and brand based creative business — and why she almost let fear keep her from the life she has now.They unpack:✅ How Christy built a business with 7-year long retainers✅ Her pivot from international weddings to working with gl
233. How Joey Built a 6-Figure Content Agency (Rapid Fire - Real Talk)
A different type of episode this week - we put Joey on the hot seat. 👏 In this episode, we’re firing off the realest, rawest questions about what it actually takes to build a 6-figure content agency from the ground up from the age of 14 and all the other questions we want to ask Joey, no holds barred. 👊Joey went from shooting videos solo to running a brand and content agency — and today, he’s spil
232. Cracking the Crocodile Brain: Strategies for Pitching & Winning the Room w/ CJ Alvarado
Ever felt like you're doing great creative work… but still getting overlooked? In this episode, we sit down with CJ Alvarado—founder of Bamboo Creative and the mind behind the Win the Room framework—to unpack tips and tricks of 15+ years of leading a successful agency and working with top brands. CJ shares insights on why hard work isn’t enough, and how upgrading your “operating system” is the
231. From "Just Another Freelancer" to A Multi-6 Figure Agency – Laura & Brian’s Breakout Year
Laura and Brian went from scattered freelance projects to building a luxury creative agency with over $14K/month in recurring revenue — all in under a year. In this episode, they break down how they landed $5K/month retainers, built offers that scale, and stopped being “just another freelancer” in a crowded industry.Whether you're freelancing, burned out, or ready to scale, this is your roadma
230. Shut Up and Sell: The Sales Call Secret Every Self Employed Creative Needs
Are your sales calls falling flat? You might be talking too much.In this episode, we're breaking down why silence is the most powerful sales strategy creatives overlook — and how learning to pause can lead to bigger clients, better projects, and faster closes.You’ll learn:✅ Why over explaining kills trust✅ How to use silence as a pressure-free closer✅ When to shut up (and when to speak up)✅ Th
229. $413,000 of Proof That You Can Succeed As A Self Employed Creative - The Story of Round 13
$413,172 in just 6 weeks.Not a typo. That’s what our latest round of the Creativ Rise Mastermind (36 businesses) generated by making a few key shifts in their creative businesses.Most creatives are stuck — great at what they do, but missing the strategy, systems, and sales confidence to scale. In this episode, we break down what helped Round 13 creatives go from:→ burned out to booked→ dreaming to
228. When To Go Full Time Freelance/Self Employed - It’s Time To Quit Your Job
Should you quit your job and go full-time in your creative business? Going full time is one of the biggest—and scariest decisions you’ll ever face. But here’s the truth:It’s not an emotional decision. It’s a logical one.In this episode, Joey & Christy break down the exact framework they’ve used (and taught hundreds of creatives) to confidently know when to leap—and how to avoid the 3 biggest m
227. How To Price Yourself As A Photographer or Filmmaker in 2025
Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, designer, or content creator, pricing your services *correctly* is one of the hardest parts of running a creative business. In this episode, we're breaking down **real pricing strategy** for 2025 and beyond.On this episode, we sit down with good friends and team over at Socality to chat pricing. Chloë and Jonathan from Socality interview us for a d
226. 2025 Economic Depression? How To React As A Self Employed Creative
Is 2025 the start of a modern-day Great Depression? The headlines are wild, the markets are shaky, and economic uncertainty is all over us. What does this mean if you're a self-employed creative—photographer, filmmaker, social media pro, or content creator? This episode covers why you cannot afford to sit back and worry. This episode covers the 5 must-do strategies to keep your business lean,
225. From Starbucks Barista To Celebrity Wedding Photographer - How To Get More Inquiries Using Instagram, Blogs & Pinterest w/ Beba Vowels
Beba Vowels went from pouring coffees at Starbucks to becoming one of the most recognizable names in the Wedding Photography Industry. In this episode, Beba shares how she got started as a wedding photog before even owning a camera, how she leverages Instagram & Pinterest to get dream clients, and how you can scale your photography business with styled shoots, outsourcing, and even a team. Beb
224. Struggling to Book Clients? Avoid These 5 Pricing Mistakes As A Creator
Struggling to book premium clients at premium prices? Don't make these 5 mistakes we've both made over the last decade as photographers & filmmakers. We have some amazing wins from Week 1 of the 6 Week Creativ Rise Mastermind! Throughout Week 1, the 36 businesses in the Round 13 Community focused on 3 things:- building their 6 figure offers- pricing those offers to get paid for their v
223. How To Save $10,000/yr With This Self Employed Tax Strategy w/ Hooman Radfar - CEO of Collective
Taxes can feel overwhelming—especially for us photographers, filmmakers, and social media pros.. But what if you could save up to $10,000 per year just by structuring your business the right way and following a clear tax savings plan - less headaches, more money in your pocket.In this episode, Joey sits down with Hooman Radfar, CEO of Collective, to break down the exact tax strategies self-employe
222. Why Avoiding The “Pricing Question” Is Sabotaging Your Creative Business
Is getting ghosted when you have to share your pricing your new reality? Even worse - do you have raging pricing anxiety when you get asked the question “what do you charge?” In today’s episode we cover how you handle the question “What Do You Charge,” especially when it catches you off guard. Get Access To The Creativ Rise Pricing Calculator - https://www.creativrise.com/pricingcalculatorMissed R
221. The 6 Pillars of A $100,000/yr Photo or Video Business + Mastermind FAQ
Applications End Sunday For Round 13 of the Creativ Rise Mastermind - Apply Here - www.creativrise.comThere's 6 pillars that make up any 6 figure business and they all have to be optimized to:Continue growingConsistently hit 5 figures monthsNot burn outToday's episode breaks down all 6 pillars in hopes that you realize what pillar you might need to improve to optimize your own photo, video
220. Booking $10,000+ Destination Weddings, Building A Brand & Investing In Yourself w/ Rebekah Soto @soullikethesun
Hold the phone (seriously, hold that thing tight) because this episode with Rebekah Soto from Soul Like The Sun was NEXT LEVEL.If you want to book $10-15k weddings, this is for you.If you want to start booking Italian weddings, this is for you.If you want your brand to not just whisper but scream to your clients, this is for you.If you want to laugh at possible rejection rather than cower from it,
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