The Shoot Booking Secrets Podcast with Clare Stephens Clare Stephens

A lot of photographers are struggling right now.  Maybe you’ve just come out of lockdown. Maybe you have just gone back in.

Maybe life is starting to get back into a semblance of normal again.

Regardless of where you are or how you’ve been affected, we’ve all been thrown into some level of uncertainty. Especially with our businesses.

You might have heard yourself say things like

“Noone has money right now”

“I feel like I am being insensitive if I market my business right now”

“People will think I’m slimy or scammy if I try to sell to them at the moment”

“I can’t sell anything because we don’t know when we can do the shoot”

Maybe you had a fully booked calendar and you’ve heard yourself say things like

“All my shoots have cancelled so I have no money coming in”

“I’ve just had to refund thousands of dollars”

Or maybe you’re at the beginning of your photography business journey and you’ve heard yourself say things like

“I was just about to start my business, but now I will just wait now until things go back to normal”

Hands up if you’ve said anything of these recently??

Here’s a preview of this episode:


[02:38] -  First you need to understand these 3 types of buyers

[05:47] -  If you started your business in the last 10 years, this might be your problem

[06:28] - The fundamental shift in buying mentality in 2020

[07:58] - For photographers to make sales in this new economy without being insensitive, tone deaf or salesy, focus on this

[08:25] - 4 steps to connect with your Second Tier Buyers

[13.30] - Your responsibility as a photographer

[14:44] - What it really means when a potential client says “not right now”

[15:08] -   If you are a family photographer...

[16:27] - If you are a wedding photographer...

[18:17] - If you are a newborn photographer...

[18:45] -If you are a pet photographer...

[19:14] -If you are a branding or commercial photographer...

[19:58] - If you are a landscape photographer...

[20:17] -  If you sell online photography courses

[21:05] -If you cannot do photoshoots right now due to health or lockdowns...

[22:11] -Some of the extraordinary results photographers have gotten during 2020 (even when they couldn’t leave the house)

[25:24] - How to make $29,745 in 14 days in the middle of lockdown.


Read the Show Notes to this episode and download the transcript at www.clarestephens.com.au/how-to-get-more-clients-in-2020

Download the F/STOPS Framework Blueprint at https://shootbookingsecrets.com/fstops

And make sure you subscribe so you know when new episodes are released.

-- To your success!

Clare x

I have LOTS of amazing stories about my clients getting extraordinary results.

And such as $9,200 in her first month in business when she had never done a paid shoot before.

Like $29,437 in 2 weeks in the middle of lockdown.

And like $17,202 in one month when her usual months were $3000-$4000.

Like $75,000 in just 3 days.

These fast and big results might seem impossible for you right now, however here is a simple rule that I have followed ever since I worked as for Deloitte as a graduate straight out of uni.

“Success leaves clues” Tony Robbins

When you find someone who has succeeded before, you just need to model what they do.

And ALL of the success stories of photographers I share with you have followed one specific framework:

My 6 Step F/STOPS Framework™ for Bookings and Shoots on Autopilot

Today I’m sharing this framework - which is usually part of my paid program, the Photography Business Accelerator, but as an early listener of the SHoot Booking Secrets podcast, you get to learn this system for free!



Here’s a preview of this episode:


[01:45] - A simple rule to increase your chances of success in business

[03:40] - Download the 6 Step Framework Blueprint [PDF]

[04:01] - How to stay motivated and driven, no matter what is happening in the world

[05:45] - How to attract your ideal clients and avoid awkward conversations

[08:03] - A MAJOR operational risk to your business.

[09:33] - A shift in your client’s mindset since Covid, and how to stop the “now is not the right time” objection”

[11:34] - The biggest mistake photographers make when trying to find clients and grow their business

[13:01] - The difference between the amateurs and the pros

[13:31] - The most overlooked step that is preventing photographers from success

[16:59] - [Summary] 6 Step F/STOPS Framework™ for Bookings and Shoots on Autopilot

[19:39] - [Q]  “Im a landscape / wedding / glamour / newborn photographer, will it work for me?”

[20:23] - [Q] “I’m just getting started, will it work for me?” or “I’m an established photographer, do I really need this?”

[21:38] - [Q] “There’s another software that is cheaper (or free), will this still work for me if I can’t afford to invest in the systems you suggest?”

[23:08] - [Q] “Do I have to invest in paid advertising for this to work for me?”


Read the Show Notes to this episode and download the transcript at www.clarestephens.com.au/6-steps-to-automated-shoots-sales

Download the F/STOPS Framework Blueprint at https://shootbookingsecrets.com/fstops

And make sure you subscribe so you know when new episodes are released.

-- To your success!

Clare x

This is Part II of How to Eliminate the Competition with Two Simple Questions. If you haven’t listened to Part I yet, I recommend you go and do that first before listening to this episode, so it makes much more sense!

Having clearly defined answers to these two simple questions are VITAL to the success of your photography business.

Here’s a preview of this episode:


[01:54] - the second quote that completely changed my perspective

[03:30] - After a loss, all we have left are memories… and photos

[05:40] - If you’re struggling with being valued as a photographer, this will help

[07:02] - The second question you need to communicate to eliminate the competition

[08:29] - Why you MUST know the answer to this second question


Read the Show Notes to this episode and download the transcript at www.clarestephens.com.au/find-clients-saturated-market-photography

And make sure you subscribe so you know when new episodes are released.

-- To your success!

Clare x

There are two foundational questions that every business owner needs to define and be able to easily communicate before they even THINK about promoting their photoshoots.

If photographers skip asking themselves these questions, this is what usually happens:

They feel overwhelmed, they feel unmotivated, they say they don’t know what to write about in social media, they struggle with knowing what niche to focus on, they feel like their market is saturated - and the biggest problem - no one is buying from them.

Here’s a preview of this episode:


[01:43] - What happens if you skip asking yourself these two simple questions

[02:57] - A quote that completely changed my perspective

[03:37 - The realisation that gave me the confidence to stop even looking at the competition

[05:35] - When you can communicate this ONE thing you will attract ideal clients

[08:11] - The first question you must be able to communicate to eliminate the competition

[10:06] - Why your clients REALLY buy from you

[12:14] - Examples of how I would answer this first question

[09:38] - The 4 fundamental elements to communicating what you sell

[16:11] - How you can download the formula


Read the Show Notes to this episode and download the transcript at www.clarestephens.com.au/find-clients-saturated-market-photography

And make sure you subscribe so you know when new episodes are released.

-- To your success!

Clare x

Today we’re covering why the amount of time, money, effort and energy required to create a website, is disproportionate to the impact and results of that time, money, effort and energy. And I share a better, faster, easier and more effective way to convert enquiries into clients.

If photographers aren’t using this alternative way - either in addition to or instead of your website, then the odds of success in today’s online climate are pretty slim.

Here’s a preview of this episode:


[01:58] - The definition of a website

[02:25] - When photographers decide they need a website, what happens usually is this:

[03:58] - The biggest problem with relying on a website to find clients

[05:40] - The number one reason photographers think they need a website

[07:13] - The sheer effort required to get someone to your website in the first place

[09:50] - You might get people click to your website, but do you know how many stick around?

[11:39] - Surviving in business in 2020 requires accounting for your potential customer’s buying psychology and behaviour

[11:39] - How many sales a photographer can expect to get with just a website and 1000 Facebook fans on their page

[15:16] - The better, faster, easier and more effective alternative to convert prospects into clients

[16:59] - The best news

[18:18] - $23,437 in her first 3 months in business without a website, using this alternative system

[19:10] - 10 other reasons besides money to use this alternative to a website


Read the Show Notes to this episode and download the transcript at www.clarestephens.com.au/best-websites-for-photographers

And make sure you subscribe so you know when new episodes are released.

-- To your success!

Clare x

You know those people who seem to just be REALLY good at making money?
You know the ones — it seems like everything they touch turns to gold.

I’m going to share a secret today about those people. Because there is just one simple rule you need to follow to be good at making money.



Here’s a preview of this episode:


[02:51] All the blocks I had about creating my podcast
[07:39] The secret to achieving ANYTHING (and especially how to be good at making money)
[11:58] How long it takes you to reach your goals depends on this one thing
[12:39] Some actionable tips to become good at making money in your photography business in 2020


Read the Show Notes to this episode and download the transcript at www.clarestephens.com.au/make-good-money-from-photography

And make sure you subscribe so you know when new episodes are released.

-- To your success!

Clare x