STOKED with Megan MacPhail Megan MacPhail

As an elopement photographer, you’re probably at least somewhat familiar with the Leave No Trace principles. However, you may not fully know the controversies that surround them.
 
One of the biggest issues I see when it comes to these principles is the “Leave No Trace police.” These are people who publicly shame others online for not perfectly following them. In fact, one of my mastermind students received a one-star review from someone who had never hired him, just because his photo didn’t fully adhere to the principles.
 
And this bothers me because public shaming can impact someone’s livelihood. It’s important to remember that everyone is learning. Nobody is perfect, and making mistakes is part of the process. Yes, you should follow the principles to the best of your ability but also remember to be kind and considerate to others.
 
In this episode, we chat about:
The 7 Leave No Trace principles Why public shaming is not okay The impact these principles have made on Indigenous communities Staying kind and giving others grace ‌
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Leave No Trace website: https://lnt.org/
Article: How Not To Be a Bullying Bitch in the Outdoors
‌
If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts.
You can also connect with me on my website: www.meganmacphail.com

Making a career shift in the middle of your life is definitely a terrifying endeavor. However, my guest today has been able to navigate this challenge with a ton of success. I’m so excited to chat with Erica Swantek, an elopement photographer based in the Pacific Northwest, serving Oregon and Washington.
 
Erica started her career in forestry but realized the lack of creativity wasn’t for her. After picking up a camera and photographing landscapes, she found her passion for photography. Erica shares this journey of transitioning from forestry to photography at 38 years old, and the challenges that came along the way.
 
She opens up about the fear of not finding success when taking a new path and the mindset shifts she needed to make in order to get to where she is now. For those passionate about pursuing a career in photography, Erica shares this advice: even if you are scared, just do it. If you follow your heart and what brings you joy, you will figure it out.
‌
In this episode, we chat about:
Erica’s journey from forestry to elopement photography and changing careers at 38 years old Why she pivoted from traditional weddings to elopements The challenges Erica faced when switching to strictly elopements How her life has changed just from 1 year ago Advice for those who want to make the pivot to elopement photography, but have fears ‌
Connect with Erica:
Website: ericaswantekphotography.com
Instagram: @‌ericaswantekphotography
‌
If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts.
You can also connect with me on my website: www.meganmacphail.com

As elopement photographers, we do everything we can to make sure our couples feel incredible on their wedding day and in their photos, but how can we continue to help them look amazing throughout their day? That’s where elopement adventure stylists come into play, and my guest today is here to share exactly what this looks like.
 
Crystal Gillis is a backcountry hair and makeup artist based in Colorado with 20 years of experience in the beauty industry. After working as a traditional wedding stylist, she decided to transition to working specifically with adventure elopement couples.
 
Crystal shares her experience being a backcountry stylist, and the unique needs of adventure elopement couples. She also talks about the differences between a traditional stylist and an elopement stylist. She gives tips for couples who are considering adventure elopements and explains what it looks like to work with her, including hiking right alongside couples to make sure they look perfect throughout their day.
 
Crystal offers a very special for couples who are planning adventure elopements. For anyone looking to have an adventure elopement, having someone like Crystal can seriously make all the difference!
‌
In this episode, we chat about:
Crystal’s transition from being a traditional wedding stylist to an adventure stylist A typical elopement day for Crystal The difference between traditional and adventure elopement styling Tips for brides considering adventure elopements The best way for photographers to talk to their couples about this type of service ‌
Connect with Crystal:
Email: crystal@wildbridesbackcountry.com
Website: wildbridesbackcountry.com
IG: @‌wild_brides_backcountry
‌
If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts.
You can also connect with me on my website: www.meganmacphail.com

How can you streamline your workflows in your photography business to make life easier AND more profitable? My guest today, Karen Castor, an Arizona-based elopement photographer, shares her approach to automation, which has allowed her to work only a few hours a day while maintaining a six-figure income.
 
She shares her experience pivoting to elopement photography, balancing motherhood, and the importance of workflow optimization and automation. We also talk about the benefits of focusing on one specific location and how automating repetitive work can help to not only grow in your business but also maintain a healthy work-life balance.
‌
In this episode, we chat about:
How Karen pivoted into elopement photography with a newborn and a toddler at home The moment Karen almost completely quit her business Automating and streamlining your planning process Karen’s advice on creating a workflow and writing emails Karen’s methods for client tracking and management The benefits of focusing on one location and how it can help you profit more ‌
Connect with Karen:
Photography Instagram: @‌karencastorphoto Photography Website: karencastorphotography.com/ Photography Education Instagram: @‌karencastorr Photography Education Website: karencastorphotography.com/photographer-education ‌
If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts.
You can also connect with me on my website: www.meganmacphail.com

Curious about how I get such great results for my students and the members of The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️? It’s all because of Google ads. I honestly think a lot of educators are proud of the fact that they do all of these things that don’t involve paid ads, but I’m here to tell you that paid ads are freaking amazing!
 
They don’t require any hustling, or chasing people down, or dancing on reels. You can literally pay $10-$20 a day in Google ads, get to the first page of Google, and book a good $100K worth of elopements.
 
And while I used to hold this information close to my heart, I decided to offer it more freely because I want more people to learn just how powerful Google Ads are. So, we are unpacking why all things Google ads and why you shouldn’t be afraid of them.
 
In this episode, we chat about
Some changes regarding the podcast How the effectiveness of Instagram has gone down over the years for short-term bookings, and why Google ads are the way to go The potential of ROI with Google ads The importance of long-term strategies, including SEO and Pinterest Having a strong online presence and a well-optimized website The impact of Google ads on driving website traffic Tracking website traffic and inquiries ‌
If you need more information on running Google Ads, then be sure to check out my free workshop, Cheap and Easy Google Ads.
 
If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts.
 
You can also connect with me on my website: www.meganmacphail.com

Having an all-or-nothing mindset is a common challenge for so many. It can make you feel like you must achieve perfection all the time otherwise whatever you’re doing is not worth trying. If you are currently struggling with this type of mindset, whether in your life or in your business, it can eventually lead to burnout and missed opportunities.
 
During this episode, Todd and I share our personal experiences where we have struggled with the all-or-nothing mindset, as well as ways to overcome it. When you’re working on things, it’s essential to look at them as a staircase, taking one step at a time. When you can focus on the smaller, more manageable tasks, it helps make the process a lot less overwhelming and more achievable.
 
Additionally, focusing on consistency rather than intensity and celebrating the small wins can help build momentum and lead to significant long-term results.
‌
Nobody is perfect at anything immediately. It’s all about continuing to improve and enjoying the journey along the way.
 
In this episode, we chat about:
The all-or-nothing mindset and what it is How it can impact us negatively Ways to overcome the all-or-nothing mindset Focusing on taking things one step at a time and celebrating the small wins  
If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts.
You can also connect with me on my website: www.meganmacphail.com