More Than Photos

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by photographer and artist Sophie Lin Berard.

Known for blending documentary honesty with editorial sophistication, Sophie’s work draws from a wide range of influences including street photography, fashion, commercial work, architecture, and fine art. In this conversation, we explore what it actually takes to become a versatile photographer and why some of the most important skills are developed far away from a wedding day.

Sophie shares her unconventional path into photography, from photographing sneakers for a local retailer to working in editorial fashion, commercial photography, and eventually weddings. We talk about building confidence through repetition, why preparation creates freedom, and how learning multiple disciplines has shaped her ability to adapt and create in real time.

Beyond photography, we also dive into burnout, ambition, boundaries, and what it means to define success on your own terms. From technical mastery to creative curiosity, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for photographers looking to grow their craft and build a sustainable creative life.

What We Cover:
Why great photographers develop skills outside of weddings
How commercial, fashion, and street photography shaped Sophie’s voice
The case for becoming a “jack of all trades”
Why preparation creates confidence and creative freedom
How Sophie approaches documentary and editorial photography
The role of personal projects in developing your eye
What burnout taught her about boundaries and success
Defining your “enough number” and creating a more sustainable career

Connect with Sophie:
Website: https://sberard.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sberardweddings/

Connect with Us:
Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings:
Instagram: @bradandjeneducation

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Sophie Lin Berard

(03:00) From sneaker photography to commercial work

(08:00) Why being a jack of all trades matters

(13:00) How different creative disciplines shape your photography

(19:00) Preparation, timelines, and creative freedom

(25:00) Building confidence through technical mastery

(33:00) Developing your eye outside of weddings

(38:00) Documentary versus editorial photography

(45:00) High-profile weddings, planners, and staying true to your voice

(48:00) Burnout, boundaries, and redefining success

(57:00) Gratitude, social media, and protecting your creativity

(01:10:00) What success looks like now

Keywords:

wedding photography, documentary photography, editorial photography, creative growth, photography education, artistic voice, commercial photography, film photography, wedding photographer, photography business, creativity, confidence, personal projects, photography workflow, burnout, creative process

AI is changing the way we work, create, and communicate, but what if the most important response isn’t learning how to use AI better? What if it’s becoming more human?

In this episode, Jen shares 3 simple skills she’s intentionally investing in during an AI era. Skills she believes they’reare becoming increasingly rare, and therefore increasingly valuable.
Books Mentioned
Theo of Golden - Allen Levi
Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
Key Takeaway
When everyone else is relying on automation, your ability to think deeply, communicate clearly, and connect genuinely may become your greatest advantage. The future may belong to those who remain unapologetically human.
Episode Chapters
(00:00) Why this conversation matters
(02:00) How Brad & Jen use AI in their business
(03:10) Skill #1
(06:45) Skill #2
(08:45) Skill #3
(10:15) Why Skill #3 matter more than ever
(13:00) Building your human superpowers

Links & Resources
Purpose & Profit: https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course

Keywords
AI and creativity, photography business, storytelling, discovery calls, writing, reading fiction, human connection, creative growth, wedding photography, communication skills, entrepreneurship, artist development, purpose and profit.

This week Brad is sitting down with Kate Thompson for a conversation about creativity, parenthood, burnout, ambition, and the discipline of protecting the parts of yourself that make meaningful work possible in the first place.

Over the last several years, we’ve watched Kate intentionally refine her work and her business, but what surprised us most in this conversation wasn’t hearing about “leveling up” or entering the "luxury market"... it was hearing what happened underneath all of it.
Kate shares openly about navigating postpartum depression during the pandemic, learning to detach her self-worth from success, and the tiny daily habits that slowly helped her rebuild her creativity, confidence, and joy.

We also explore:
her background in speech pathology and linguistics
working alongside her sister at Palindrome Creative Co.
creating personal work in seasons of limitation
simplifying her business and refining her editing process
why curation matters
and how learning to quiet outside noise helped her trust her own artistic voice again

This episode was so special and is a refreshing and honest look at what it takes to sustain a creative life over the long haul.

In This Episode
Protecting your creativity in a noisy industry
Tiny habits, self-care, and rebuilding after burnout
Motherhood, surrender, and creative ambition
Detaching self-worth from success
The role of personal work and bookmaking
Learning to trust your artistic intuition
Simplifying your business and editing process
Working in both weddings and commercial photography
Creating meaningful work in real-life seasons

Quote Worth Remembering
“I had to create this fortress to protect my internal fire of inspiration. I had to redefine what success looked like for me. And for a while, success just meant staying inspired.”  

Books Mentioned
North Woods — Daniel Mason
I Cheerfully Refuse — Leif Enger

Connect with Kate
Kate Thompson Weddings
Palindrome Creative Co.
Connect with Brad & Jen

Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings
Apply for the Mastermind Program
Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Previews. Sneak peeks. Whatever you call them… this conversation keeps coming back around.

In this episode, we unpack why so many photographers feel stuck in the tension between artistry and expectation and why the question “should I do previews or not?” might actually be the wrong place to start.

Instead of giving a formula, we invite you into a different way of thinking. One rooted in ownership, clarity, and building a business from your own philosophy...not just reacting to industry pressure. If you’ve ever felt torn between what’s expected and what feels aligned, this episode will help you rethink how you make decisions… not just about previews, but about everything.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why the previews debate isn’t actually about previews
- The hidden pressure photographers feel (and how it shapes decisions)
- The difference between reacting vs. building from conviction
- What previews are really doing for your clients and your business
- How to think through tradeoffs without defaulting to industry norms
- The power of communicating your philosophy to your clients
- How to redefine previews in a way that feels aligned to you

Links & Ways to Connect
Apply for the Mastermind Program:
https://learn.bradandjen.com/mastermind-coaching
Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings:
https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course
Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Episode Chapters
(00:00) The DM that sparked the conversation
(01:30) The pressure photographers feel around previews
(03:40) Why “should I do previews?” is the wrong question
(05:00) Building conviction vs. outsourcing decisions
(07:10) The parenting story (and decision-making framework)
(10:30) Why previews exist (and what they actually do)
(13:50) The tension: connection vs. artistic integrity
(15:30) Two different approaches that both work
(18:50) Questions to ask instead of defaulting to trends
(20:10) The tradeoffs of both paths
(22:10) Finding your own way (and redefining previews)

Quotes Worth Remembering:
“Don’t just ask what works. Ask what you believe—and build from there.”

“Neither option is wrong… but neither is free.”

Keywords:
wedding photography, sneak peeks, previews, photography business, client experience, artistic integrity, decision making, photography marketing, creative business, wedding photographers

Hey everyone! This week on the podcast we’re joined by photographer, educator, and artist Anni Graham for a conversation that goes far deeper than photography, pricing, or building a luxury brand.

What began as a conversation about growth, reinvention, and moving into a higher-end market quickly became something much more honest - about the inner life of being a creative, the private tensions many photographers carry, and what it takes to keep believing in yourself through seasons of doubt, ambition, motherhood, and change.
Anni speaks candidly about the emotional rollercoaster of creative work, the mindset work underneath business growth, why so many photographers try to build on a fractured foundation, and what it looked like for her to make bold shifts before she had evidence they would work.

We also talk about motherhood, moving to Costa Rica, redefining success, and the surprising freedom that comes when you begin building a career around the life you actually want.

This one is personal, practical, and deeply encouraging.

What We Cover:
• Why the hardest work in photography often has little to do with photography
• The mindset battles many creatives quietly carry
• Building a business from identity, not insecurity
• What Anni learned moving from elopements into the luxury market
• Why she doubled her prices before she had proof it would work
• Risk, reinvention, and trusting yourself before you have evidence
• How motherhood reshaped her definition of success
• Protecting creativity, nurturing energy, and tuning out the noise
• Why experimentation and personal taste matter more than most strategy

Connect with Anni:
Anni's New E-Book: https://anni-graham.myflodesk.com/free-e-book
Website: https://www.annigraham.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annigraham

Connect with Us:

Apply for the Mastermind Program: https://learn.bradandjen.com/mastermind-coaching
Join Purpose & Profit – A Roadmap to 10k Weddings: https://learn.bradandjen.com/purpose-and-profit-course
Instagram: @bradandjeneducation @bradandjen

Chapters:

(00:00) Why this conversation felt different

(04:10) Life in Costa Rica and redefining success

(11:45) The inner battle many creatives don’t talk about
(22:30) Mindset, insecurity, and building on a strong foundation

(36:10) Protecting creativity and trusting your artistic voice

(49:20) Motherhood, ambition, and what success can cost

(01:02:15) Making the leap into the high-end market

(01:16:30) Identity shifts, pricing, and finding aligned clients

(01:29:00) Risk, reinvention, and making bold moves before proof

(01:40:20) Final thoughts on courage, trust, and building a life

Keywords:
wedding photography, photographer mindset, creative growth, luxury wedding photography, artistic identity, entrepreneurship, self doubt, creativity, motherhood and business, pricing mindset, personal growth, photographer education, creative courage, reinvention