Take It Personally

Maddie Peschong
  • 4.9 (95)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Take It Personally, hosted by professional brand photographer Maddie Peschong, shares advice to help you grow your personal brand to stand out from the noise and thrive, even in the most saturated markets. Episodes feature business and marketing advice, branding expertise, and real stories and inspiration from creative professionals all over the world.

  1. 3D AGO

    What Social Media Platforms Should I Be On?

    I’ve got a short and sweet episode for you today based on a question I hear all the time: what social media platforms should I actually be on? This comes up a lot, especially for brand photographers who are working B2B. Suddenly you’re wondering… should I be on LinkedIn? Is Instagram enough? What about TikTok? Am I missing something if I’m not everywhere? In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I decide what platforms make sense for my business and how you can use the same thought process to decide what makes sense for yours (without adding more to your plate or burning yourself out). We’re talking: How to decide what social media platforms are actually worth your timeThe Venn diagram test I use to choose where I show upInstagram vs. LinkedIn vs. TikTok (and why the “right” answer is different for everyone)When it makes sense to add another platform and when it really doesn’tWhy doing one platform really well beats trying to be everywhere If you’ve ever felt pressure to show up on all the platforms, or you’re second-guessing whether you’re doing enough, this episode will help you simplify your strategy and feel way more confident in where you’re focusing your energy. Links & Resources 📸 Grab the Ultimate Personal Brand Session Shot List: maddiepeschong.com💻 Join Behind the Shot: my course that teaches you how to price, plan shoot, and deliver brand sessions that attract more dream clients:📝 Blog: Discover more branding tips and marketing tools to grow your brand photography business💬 Episode ideas?! Connect with me on Instagram! Let’s Connect: Website: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: @maddiepeschong If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear. 🎙️✨

    11 min

  2. FEB 5

    This is Why Marketing Feels Hard

    I’ve been thinking a lot about why marketing feels hard, even for photographers who are incredibly talented at what they do. So many of my clients are amazing photographers. They’re skilled, experienced, and really good at their jobs… and yet marketing still feels uncomfortable or frustrating. And the more I’ve sat with that, the more I’ve realized: if marketing feels hard for you, that actually makes a lot of sense. In this episode, we’re not talking about hacks, trends, or quick fixes. Instead, I’m offering a reframe that I hope feels grounding, especially if you’ve ever felt like you’re “failing” at marketing or stuck in perfectionism. We’re talking about why marketing is one of the only skills in your business that requires visibility before mastery and how that reality creates so much tension for photographers who are used to being experts. In this episode, I’m breaking down why marketing feels so uncomfortable, how to detach your self-worth from your results, and how to start approaching your content as data instead of a performance. We’re talking: Why marketing feels harder than photography, editing, or workflowsThe difference between private practice vs. public learningWhy marketing requires visibility before masteryHow perfectionism keeps photographers stuck and hiddenWhy marketing should be treated as an experiment, not a verdictThe real order of growth: action → data → refinementHow confidence in marketing is built after you start, not before If marketing has ever felt like a public rough draft, or you’ve caught yourself thinking “once I feel more confident, I’ll post,” this episode is for you. Listen in for a mindset shift that will help marketing feel lighter and a lot more sustainable in 2026. Links & Resources 💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12-month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients and build confidence in their marketing📱 DM me your questions about Rebrand. Doors recently closed, but I'd love to get you inside our community if you're looking for this support (plus get marketing/copy support from our co-coach inside of Rebrand!)📝 Blog: Discover more branding tips and marketing tools to grow your brand photography business💬 Episode ideas?! Connect with me on Instagram! Let’s Connect: Website: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: a...

    20 min

  3. JAN 22

    Should My Instagram Be More Aesthetic?

    I’ve really loved the direction my content has gone over the last year… but if I’m being honest, I haven’t always loved the look of my Instagram feed. And as a brand photographer, that feels complicated. Because on one hand, we know the content that performs best right now is more organic, in-the-moment, camera-roll style content. But on the other hand, we’re literally in the business of selling aesthetics. So where’s the balance? In this episode, I’m breaking down the push-pull between wanting your Instagram to look good and wanting it to actually work for your business, plus how to stop letting perfectionism get in the way of consistency and conversions. We’re talking: Why organic content often outperforms overly polished posts (even for brand photographers)The uncomfortable tension between selling an aesthetic and posting content that convertsHow to mix curated and organic content without your feed feeling chaoticSimple posting patterns that still look good on the gridWhy consistency and messaging matter more than chasing the “perfect” aestheticHow perfectionism quietly stalls your marketing and what to do instead If you’ve ever found yourself not posting because it doesn’t feel good enough, press play 🎧 to hear how to navigate aesthetics without letting it derail your momentum. Links & Resources 📱Double Your Inquiries Masterclass: January 27th at noon CST - Learn the content system that fills your calendar with premium clients. Sign up at maddiepeschong.com/masterclass💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12-month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients📝 Blog: Discover more branding tips and marketing tools to grow your brand photography business💬 Questions or episode ideas? DM me on Instagram! Let’s Connect: Website: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: @maddiepeschong If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear. 🎙️✨

    14 min

  4. JAN 15

    My Ground Beef Metric for Instagram—and Why it Matters

    At the end of 2025, I shared two podcast episodes breaking down my best and worst Instagram content from the year. And when I teased those episodes on Instagram, I got a lot of questions about how I actually decide what makes a post “good” or “bad.” The obvious answer is data. I look at analytics, engagement, and performance. But the deeper answer (and the one that’s mattered way more for the long-term growth of my business) is that there’s a metric I care about even more than what Instagram shows me. For years, I’ve relied on what I call my ground beef metric to gauge whether my content is actually doing what it’s supposed to do: building connection, trust, and relationships that eventually lead to inquiries and bookings. In this episode, I’m breaking down what my ground beef metric is, why vanity metrics don’t tell the full story, and how to tell if your Instagram content is actually working, even when the numbers feel confusing or discouraging. We’re talking: Why Instagram metrics matter (but shouldn’t control your emotions)The real reason posts sometimes don’t perform, even when they’re goodWhat the ground beef metric is and how to use it to gauge audience connectionWhy Instagram Stories play such a big role in building trustHow connection compounds over time into inquiries and bookingsWhat to focus on if you want Instagram to feel easier and more fun again If you’ve ever felt frustrated looking at your Instagram analytics, questioned whether your content is “working,” or wondered why posting feels so emotional sometimes, this episode will give you a totally different way to measure success. Links & Resources 📱 Join my free Instagram Consistency Challenge: maddiepeschong.com/ig💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12-month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients📝 Blog: Read more tips and tools to grow your brand photography business🔄 Listen to my Best & Worst Instagram Content episodes (and how I evaluated them)💬 Questions or episode ideas? DM me on a href="https://www.instagram.com/maddiepeschong/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    13 min

  5. JAN 8

    Making Your Content Go Further in 2026

    I’m going into 2026 with the goal to scale my business. And that means I’m creating a lot of content. Not just to create more content, but because I know, from years of data and experience, that when my content is done well, it actually moves the needle in my business. For most people who end up working with me, their journey starts on Instagram and then leads to my podcast. That tells me everything I need to know about how important content is. The problem is that creating more content can feel overwhelming fast, especially when you’re already wearing all the hats. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to repurpose content as a photographer so your content can go further in 2026 without burning you out. We’re talking: What content repurposing actually looks like for photographersHow to create one primary piece of content and break it into more pieces of contentWhy long-form content is the foundation of a strong content strategyThe biggest mistakes I see photographers make with micro contentHow often you should really be posting and emailing If content has ever felt like a hamster wheel, or you’ve found yourself staring at Instagram wondering what to post, this episode will give you a much clearer, more sustainable way to approach it. 🎧 Press play to learn how to make your content work harder for your business in 2026. Links & Resources 📱 Join my free Instagram Consistency Challenge, starting January 5: maddiepeschong.com/ig💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12 month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients (and get access to Rebecca - a customGPT to help with content!)📝 Blog: More tips and tools to grow your personal brand photography business🔄 Learn about the Vicious Visibility Cycle (Apple podcast; blog)💬 Questions or episode ideas? DM me on Instagram! Let's Connect: Website: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: @maddiepeschong If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.

    28 min

  6. JAN 1

    Why Your Business Needs a Marketing Monday

    It’s easy to feel like you’re constantly behind on your marketing, especially during busy seasons of life and business. When client work piles up, marketing often becomes the thing you promise you’ll “get back to later”… until later never comes. In this episode, we’re talking about why your photography business needs a real marketing system and how something as simple as a weekly Marketing Monday can completely change the way you show up, attract clients, and create momentum in your business. Marketing Monday is a dedicated, non-negotiable block of time each week to work on your business, not just in it. It’s the system that helps you stop panic-marketing, stay consistent even when life is chaotic, and build demand year-round instead of reacting when inquiries slow down. We’re talking: Why relying only on referrals eventually stops workingHow weekly marketing time keeps your pipeline fullWhy consistency matters more than doing “all the things”What actually counts as marketing (even when you’re not posting)How to reduce decision fatigue and mental load around contentWhat to do during a Marketing Monday (and what not to stress about) If you’ve ever felt stuck in a feast-or-famine cycle, struggled to stay consistent, or wished marketing felt simpler and more sustainable, this episode is for you. Links & Resources 📱 Join my free Instagram challenge, starting January 5: maddiepeschong.com/ig💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12 month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients📝 Blog: More tips and tools to grow your personal brand photography business💬 Questions or episode ideas? DM me on Instagram! Let's Connect: Website: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: @maddiepeschong If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.

    22 min

  7. 12/25/2025

    2025 Wrapped

    I almost didn’t record this episode.. not because I didn’t want to reflect on the year, but because I was making it bigger than it needed to be. So instead of overthinking it, I sat down with a post-it note and recorded a simple, honest 2025 wrapped: brand photography edition! This episode isn’t data-driven or trend-heavy. It’s a real reflection on what actually defined my year as a brand photographer, educator, and coach - including what worked, what changed, and what I’m carrying with me into 2026. Before you plan for what’s next, you have to understand what just happened. This episode walks through the three things that shaped my business in 2025, why returning to the basics made everything easier, and how slowing down created more clarity and capacity. We’re talking: The three things that truly defined my brand photography business in 2025Why I intentionally booked fewer brand sessionsHow prioritizing profitability changed the way I make business decisionsWhat hiring more intentionally unlocked in my businessWhy my content worked better than expected this yearWhat I’m leaving behind in 2025 as I look ahead to 2026 Links & Resources: 📱 Join the free 14-Day Instagram Challenge (starts January 5): maddiepeschong.com/ig📸 Learn more about working together in Rebrand or Behind the Shot: maddiepeschong.com📝 Explore free resources for brand photographers: maddiepeschong.com💬 DM me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway from 2025 Let's Connect: Website: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: @maddiepeschong If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.

    26 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    My Worst Instagram Content From the Year

    We all love talking about what worked on Instagram, but what about the posts that totally flopped? In this episode, I’m breaking down my “worst” Instagram content from the year, what those posts had in common, and why I’m actually not upset about any of it. This is the second part of a little two-episode series - last week I walked through my best content and this episode is taking a looking at my worst performing content. Spoiler: a lot of my “worst” content is also some of the most important for building trust, deepening relationships, and growing my brand long-term. We’re talking: Why my lowest-performing posts are almost all talking head reelsHow longer, more thoughtful content can still be wildly valuable even with low reachThe difference between content creator goals and business owner goalsHow I’m using my Consistency Cure series, even though it’s not topping my analyticsPractical ways to improve “bad” posts without scrapping the idea completelyHow to look at your own worst-performing content without making it personal Links & Resources: 📉 See my "worst" performing content stats: on the blog🎧 Check out last week’s episode on my best Instagram content from the year📱 Connect over on Instagram: @maddiepeschong💻 Learn more about twelve month program for brand photographers who want to attract and book more clients: Rebrand Let's Connect: Website: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: @maddiepeschong If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.

    19 min
See All (203)

4.9
out of 5
95 Ratings

About

Take It Personally, hosted by professional brand photographer Maddie Peschong, shares advice to help you grow your personal brand to stand out from the noise and thrive, even in the most saturated markets. Episodes feature business and marketing advice, branding expertise, and real stories and inspiration from creative professionals all over the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Maddie Peschong
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    203
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Maddie Peschong
  • Show Website
    Take It Personally

You Might Also Like