Focused AF

Focused AF

Focused AF is a (fun) business-focused podcast for wedding creatives, co-hosted by award-winning husband-and-wife wedding photography teams Ben & Karis, and Jenn & Ro, where we help fellow wedding creatives with their sales & marketing, with laid-back conversations and real talk with some of our most favorite people in the universe.

  1. Episode 055 - Sausages, Etsy Witches & Sparkler Bans: Behind the Scenes at Indian Trail Club

    10/16/2025

    Episode 055 - Sausages, Etsy Witches & Sparkler Bans: Behind the Scenes at Indian Trail Club

    Ever wish you could sit down with the people who actually run the venues - and ask what they really think about us? In this episode, the Focused AF crew talk with Debbie and Dana from Indian Trail Club, who’ve seen everything from rain dances to rogue vendors. They share candid (and hilarious) stories from decades in hospitality - along with rare insight into how venues choose who they trust, refer, and love working with. If you’ve ever tried to build stronger venue relationships or land that elusive “preferred vendor” spot, this episode might change how you approach every wedding from here on out. Follow The Indian Trail Club on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/thelakehouseitc/ Today's drink is the Honey Deuce: Ingredients: 1 ¼ oz Grey Goose vodka 3 oz fresh lemonade (store-bought works, but fresh-squeezed makes a difference) ½ oz Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) Honeydew melon balls, for garnish Instructions: Fill a highball glass with crushed ice (not cubes — that’s key for the texture). Add the vodka and lemonade. Gently drizzle in the Chambord, which will float slightly and create that pink ombré effect. Garnish with three honeydew melon balls on a skewer — they’re meant to look like little tennis balls. Serve immediately while icy-cold.

    1h 37m
  2. Episode 054 – From High School Teacher to Full-Time Photographer with Alexandra Peterson

    09/02/2025

    Episode 054 – From High School Teacher to Full-Time Photographer with Alexandra Peterson

    When she wasn't teaching high school Spanish and French, she spent nights and weekends photographing weddings, blogging, and slowly building a brand from scratch. Eventually, Alexandra Peterson left the classroom behind and turned her side hustle into a full-time photography business with an associate team, a studio space, and a website that ranks all over Google. In this episode, we dive into: How she shot 15 weddings while still teaching full time The $200 SEO course that completely changed her business Why she erased all mention of her “husband and wife team” branding The feedback process she uses to train her associates (without burning bridges) If you're trying to go full time, grow a team, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how real businesses scale - this one's for you. Check out her work here: https://www.idaliaphotography.com/ Follow on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/idaliaphotography

    2h 3m
  3. Episode 053 - From Brooklyn to Santorini: Joshua Dwain on Luxury Weddings, Travel Drama & Creative Growth

    07/23/2025

    Episode 053 - From Brooklyn to Santorini: Joshua Dwain on Luxury Weddings, Travel Drama & Creative Growth

    In this laugh-out-loud, real-talk episode, we sit down with acclaimed Brooklyn-based wedding and editorial photographer Joshua Dwain — and it’s a ride. From navigating high-end weddings and dramatic destinations to dodging border patrol in Canada, Joshua pulls back the curtain on what it's really like building a luxury wedding brand with your spouse, traveling with 20K in camera gear, and staying creatively fulfilled. Whether you're a photographer, a creative entrepreneur, or just here for the stories (and Josh has stories), this episode delivers on humor, honesty, and hard-earned insight.

    1h 32m
  4. Episode 052: Wedding Contracts, Legal Red Flags & Pandemic Lessons with Leah Weinberg

    07/14/2025

    Episode 052: Wedding Contracts, Legal Red Flags & Pandemic Lessons with Leah Weinberg

    In this episode, we sit down with Leah Weinberg—former wedding planner turned attorney and founder of Weinberg Legal—to dive deep into the wild legal landscape of the wedding industry. From pandemic cancellations and vendor scams to real-life contract horror stories, Leah shares her unique perspective as someone who's worked on both sides of the aisle. We cover red flags to watch for in contracts, why ChatGPT shouldn’t be your lawyer, the right (and wrong) ways to handle creative disputes, and how to protect your business without being a jerk. Whether you're a planner, photographer, or any wedding pro who’s ever wondered, "Can I cancel this contract?", this episode is your legal wake-up call—with a lot of laughs along the way.

    1h 27m
  5. Episode 051 - Nicole Hoffman Talks About CRMS

    06/02/2025

    Episode 051 - Nicole Hoffman Talks About CRMS

    In this episode of The Focused AF Podcast, Ben, Jen, and Ro sit down with the incredible Nicole Hoffman – a wedding photographer, educator, and CRM expert – to talk all things business, systems, and sustainability in the photography world.Nicole shares her inspiring journey from law school graduate to full-time photographer and team member at Táve, a powerful CRM for creative professionals. You'll hear how she transitioned careers, built a thriving photo business, and why she’s so passionate about helping photographers streamline their workflows through automation and organization. We dive into: ✅ Why every photographer should be using a CRM (and how Táve saved Ben from a near-wedding disaster) ✅ Nicole’s behind-the-scenes setup and favorite automations for client communication ✅ How email templates and follow-ups boost bookings ✅ Insights on client behavior, sales cycles, and modern buying habits ✅ How to set clear expectations, avoid client confusion, and reduce post-shoot chaos ✅ Tips for using AI and tools like ChatGPT to improve copywriting, emails, and content creation ✅ Why early adoption of systems and data tracking can save your sanity laterWhether you're just starting out or years deep into your business, Nicole brings clarity, humor, and tons of practical wisdom to help you stay organized, proactive, and profitable. 🔗 Connect with Nicole: https://nicoleklym.com  / nkpandco   Receive TWO free months of Tave, on us!: https://tave.app/join/benlauphotography 🍹 Drink of the Day: A classic mimosa — because automation and good vibes are worth celebrating! LET'S BE FRIENDS:▸ Wanna share some of your stories with us? Write us here: hello@focused-af.com ▸ Website: https://focused-af.com ▸ Instagram: https://instagram.com/focused.af ▸ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/focusedafpodcast

    1h 27m

  6. 05/19/2025

    Episode 050 - Rabih Madi

    What happens when talent, passion, and humility collide? You get Rabih Madi — an award-winning wedding photographer from Montreal and the guest on this week’s episode! Rabih isn’t just capturing weddings; he’s creating art that’s turning heads on international stages. Fresh off a major win at WPPI, Rabih joins us to share how he went from assistant gigs and dinosaur Photoshop edits to producing grand award-winning work that’s as meaningful as it is visually stunning.In this episode, Rabih gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his creative evolution, his love for clean, emotion-driven storytelling, and why simplicity and intentionality win over flashy trends every time. He opens up about navigating cultural traditions in weddings and how these challenges often spark his most creative work. The hands-only portrait that won him WPPI’s Grand Award? He tells the full story behind it — and it’s one you don’t want to miss.We also dig into how competitions like WPPI shaped his growth, the importance of thoughtful critique, and what it really takes to develop a style that stands the test of time. Plus, we all share some laughs about industry trends (Dutch angles, anyone?) and finding the balance between chasing awards and serving your clients first.Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, Rabih Madi’s journey is packed with inspiration, honesty, and plenty of practical gems. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay creatively grounded while still pushing boundaries, this one’s for you. Hit play — you’ll walk away feeling recharged and ready to shoot with purpose. You can check out Rabih here:  / madiphotography  https://www.madiphotography.com/ Wanna share some of your stories with us? Write us here: https://focused-af.com/contact▸ Website: https://focused-af.com▸ Instagram:   / focused.af  ▸ Facebook Group:   / 3546659235657977

    1h 28m
  7. Episode 049 - Jessica Rodriguez Hanselman of Crossed Keys Designs

    04/28/2025

    Episode 049 - Jessica Rodriguez Hanselman of Crossed Keys Designs

    This week, we’re diving deep into all things weddings, florals, and conference life! We kick off with a full WPPI recap — sharing our experience staying at the newly renovated Rio, the highs and lows of conference events, and why the value you get is what you make of it. Then, we sit down with Jess from Crossed Keys Estate, a family-owned wedding venue that has grown from a rustic tent site to a high-end luxury destination. Jess shares her journey running the in-house floral design division, Crossed Keys Designs, managing 100+ weddings a year, balancing business with motherhood, and hosting VIP events — including a wedding attended by Beyoncé and Jay-Z! We get real about the behind-the-scenes labor of wedding florals, industry trends for 2025–2026, shifting client expectations, and how adapting your brand over time is key to long-term success. Whether you're a vendor, creative, or business owner in the wedding world, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss. You can check out her work here: Website: https://crossedkeysdesigns.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossedkeysdesigns/

    1h 28m
  8. Episode 048 - Kelly Sea

    03/10/2025

    Episode 048 - Kelly Sea

    While we can all admit that 2024 (and even 2025) have been unusual years for the wedding industry, there are several outliers who've been bucking this trend of doom & gloom that seems to be everywhere you look. In today, episode, we interview one of those outliers: Kelly of Kelly Sea Images. Not only is she single-handedly photographing nearly triple digits of weddings every year (on her own, without an associate team!), and doing all the post-production work without the help of AI, she is also highly sought-after in the luxury market. She also dispels all the pervasive myths in the industry, and is living proof that: A human being can shoot more than 15 weddings a year, or even 50, for that matter.High volume shooters aren't necessarily cheap.Keeping your work, systems, communications and workflows simple is the key to success. https://www.instagram.com/kellyseaimages/ https://www.kellyseaimages.com/weddings/

    1h 50m
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Focused AF is a (fun) business-focused podcast for wedding creatives, co-hosted by award-winning husband-and-wife wedding photography teams Ben & Karis, and Jenn & Ro, where we help fellow wedding creatives with their sales & marketing, with laid-back conversations and real talk with some of our most favorite people in the universe.

Information

  • Creator
    Focused AF
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Focused AF
  • Show Website
    Focused AF