Advertise on podcast: The Retake

What does returning to your work actually look like after becoming a mother? Wedding and family photographer Mari Trancoso gets into the messy, honest reality of building a photography business alongside motherhood — shifting capacity, rethinking pricing, outsourcing, and what "balance" genuinely looks like when you're in it. We also get into everything that sits outside the invoice: the mental load, the invisible labour, the constant recalibration that shapes the creative work you can make. If you're a photographer navigating motherhood, burnout, or a season of change — this one's for you.     📸 Instagram @mari.trancoso 🔗Links maritrancoso.com    If you’re looking for an episode about motherhood photography, check this one out: Building Trust & Connection in Motherhood Photography with Maggie Rechkemmer If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your photography business, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Grad photography gets overlooked a lot in the wedding world - treated as filler work between bigger bookings, or a stepping stone to something more "serious." In this episode, James Wolf breaks down what actually changes when you start treating grad sessions as real rights of passage - from how you draw out genuine personality on a shoot to how you build a grad offering that feels intentional and creatively fulfilling. We talk about the difference between photographing high school and college grads when it comes to identity and confidence, how small styling choices can elevate a session without overcomplicating it, and why "just because it's a grad shoot" doesn't mean it has to feel like lesser work. If you're trying to figure out how grad photography fits into your business - creatively and commercially, this episode will help you think it through    GET $50 OFF ANNUAL Unscripted is running a rare $50 off annual sale just in time for busy season.* Grab the deal here. *For new subscribers only, live until 12 May 2025   📸 Instagram @jameswolfphotography 🔗Links www.jameswolfphotography.com    If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your photography business, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Film photography gets talked about a lot in wedding photography — especially when it comes to pricing. In this episode, Daniel Kim breaks down what actually changes when you start shooting film, from how you approach exposure and decision-making to how you structure your packages and charge for your work. We talk about whether film should be an add-on or part of your brand, how to price film without undercharging, and why “just because it’s on film” isn’t enough to justify higher rates. If you’re trying to figure out how film fits into your photography business — creatively and commercially — this episode will help you think it through.     📸 Instagram @danielkimphoto 🔗Links danielkimeducation.com Get 10% OFF Daniel’s film course with the code UNSCRIPTED    More episodes on pricing for your deep dive: Your Pricing Isn’t the Issue Pricing, Pivoting, and Pushing Through How to Succeed at Pricing If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your photography business, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Wedding content creators are becoming a regular part of the vendor team — but what exactly do they do, and how does the role differ from photography or videography? In this episode, we talk with Chandla Manning, director of Socially Wed, a wedding content creation company known for capturing weddings using a mix of iPhone and digicam. They explore how wedding content creation is emerging as its own creative practice, why couples are drawn to the immediacy of phone footage, and how content creators are changing the dynamics of the wedding day. If you’re a wedding photographer navigating this shift in the industry, this conversation offers insight into where content creation fits — and where it might be headed next.   📸 Instagram @sociallywed.au 🔗Links sociallwedau.com    If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your photography business, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Wedding photographer and fine art creative Koko King doesn’t believe in “just showing up.” In this episode of The Retake, we unpack what it actually means to bring editorial energy to a wedding day — from sculpting light and building sets, to planning portrait windows with intention and knowing when to push a concept further. Koko shares how her unconventional path — from tattoo artist to bodybuilder to makeup artist — shaped her eye for texture, movement, and form. We talk about reinvesting in the wedding experience, refusing to shoot on autopilot, and creating editorial wedding photography that feels cinematic, cohesive, and built to outlive the day itself. If your wedding photography has started to feel repetitive — or if you’re craving work that feels more artful, intentional, and creatively alive — this conversation will challenge how you think about the wedding day.     📸 Instagram @koko_king_photo 🔗Links kokokingphoto.com Sign up for a mentorship with Koko If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your biz, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Wedding and elopement photographer Marcella Laine on why presence, preparation, and adaptability are no longer optional in wedding photography. In this episode of The Retake, we break down shooting in unpredictable outdoor and destination environments, reading landscapes and light in real time, and designing client experiences that don’t fall apart under pressure. If your work — or your energy — has started to feel brittle, this conversation offers a smarter, more sustainable way forward.   📸 Instagram @marcellalaine 🔗Links Shop Marcella's Resources Subscribe to Marcella’s Education Get on the waitlist for Making Photos Get 20% off with code “UNSCRIPTED”*  *not applicable to subscriptions    If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your biz, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Who should lead posing on a wedding day — the photographer or the videographer? We sit down with two wedding photographers (Georgia & Micah) and a wedding videographer (Kristin) to unpack the real dynamics of working together on a wedding day. From sharing space and pacing long timelines to managing ego, energy, and communication, this conversation gets honest about what actually makes collaboration work. We cover: who should lead posing (and when it depends)how photographers and videographers can support each other under pressurewhy kindness, communication, and teamwork matter more than controlhow keeping the focus on the couple changes everythingIf you shoot weddings and want smoother days, better collaboration, and a stronger client experience — this one’s for you.     📸 Instagram @georgiaandmicah @firsttwinfilms 🔗Links Georgia & Micah’s Presets Kristin’s Website Want to keep the conversation going? Join our Facebook group for The Retake. It’s where you can swap takeaways with other listeners, throw in your own questions for future guests, and get a peek behind the scenes of the podcast. If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your biz, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Family photographer and educator Brooke Schultz shares how to create emotive family mini sessions without sacrificing heart, even in the busiest season. We break down her story-first approach, how to quickly build trust, and why families crave images that feel real. If you’re offering family minis this year, this episode gives you the tools to stand out and book clients who value your work. 🚨Don’t miss this!! We’re doing a live Q&A with Brooke Schultz in the Facebook group on Dec 4 at 9am Sydney time — Dec 3 at 3pm PST / 5pm CST / 6pm EST for the US crew. Bring your questions, your mini-session chaos, your curiosity — Brooke will be there answering everything in real time. 📸 Instagram → @brookebschultz Get Brooke's free training for how to prep your clients for a lifestyle family photo session: https://brookebschultz.com/insiders Brooke’s Love Soaked Family Photography course: https://brookeschultz.kartra.com/page/48hrsls If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your biz, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Learn how to sell your photography services without the awkward pitch. In this episode, Rachel Traxler shares how to build a sales funnel that feels personal, converts better clients, and protects your creative energy. We cover automation, pricing confidence, and how to serve clients with authenticity instead of pressure. Perfect for photographers ready to grow their business with clarity and heart. Follow Rachel:   📸 Instagram → @racheltraxler  Website → racheltraxler.com Want to keep the conversation going? Join our Facebook group for An Unscripted Podcast for Photographers. It’s where you can swap takeaways with other listeners, throw in your own questions for future guests, and get a peek behind the scenes of the podcast. If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your biz, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Weddings are weird — and that’s what makes them beautiful. Melbourne photographer Oli Sansom joins us to talk about paying attention, resisting content culture, surviving chaos, and why the images that matter most often feel quiet, awkward, or unimportant at the time. We get into the absurd, the intimate, the theatrical — and what it means to shoot like a flâneur. Follow Oli:   📸 Instagram → @olisansom @briarsatlas  Website → briarsatlas.com Want to keep the conversation going? Join our Facebook group for An Unscripted Podcast for Photographers. It’s where you can swap takeaways with other listeners, throw in your own questions for future guests, and get a peek behind the scenes of the podcast. If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your biz, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

A lot of photographers dream about teaching one day, but most hold back because they don’t feel “ready.” In this episode, Summer Grace returns to the podcast to talk about why waiting might be the wrong move. We get into how explaining your process can sharpen your own craft, what gaps she wishes had been filled when she was starting out, and why building community matters more than chasing follower counts. It’s not a step-by-step on how to sell a course — it’s a conversation about the why behind education, and why you might already have more to share than you think. Follow Summer Grace:   📸 Instagram → @summergrace.photo  Website → summergracephoto.com Want to keep the conversation going? Join our Facebook group for An Unscripted Podcast for Photographers. It’s where you can swap takeaways with other listeners, throw in your own questions for future guests, and get a peek behind the scenes of the podcast. If you’re ready to save time and show up as your best self in your biz, The Unscripted App for Photographers is your secret weapon. Think: curated poses, easy gallery tools, and resources that actually support your growth. Download for free today.

Your portfolio doesn’t need to be bigger — it needs better curation. In this episode, Cam from LENSEL shares why your taste is your most powerful asset as a photographer, how to make the most of the work you already have, and what it means to curate with intention. A must-listen for photographers ready to refine their voice and attract the right clients. Follow LENSEL:   📸 Instagram → @lenselworld  Website → lensel.com Want to keep the conversation going? Join our Facebook group for An Unscripted Podcast for Photographers. It’s where you can swap takeaways with other listeners, throw in your own questions for future guests, and get a peek behind the scenes of the podcast. Try The Unscripted App for Photographers —  the easiest way to curate your favorite poses, build intentional galleries, and show up with a clear, creative voice. Free to download.

Freddie Öst from world-class branding agency SNASK joins us to talk about branding, imperfection, and what photographers can learn from design. We dig into “pink lies” and the art of faking it till you make it, how to build trust by showing your human side, and why imperfection is often more powerful than polish. If you’re ready to stand out in a crowded industry, this conversation will change the way you see your brand. Follow SNASK:   📸 Instagram → @snasksthlm  Website → snask.com Try The Unscripted App for Photographers for free —  save poses to shoots, create fave lists, and share them with your clients before the session.

Todd Smith joins us to unpack the hidden costs of people-pleasing and why highly sensitive people struggle with boundaries. We explore how self-abandonment shows up in creative work, what aligned decision-making actually feels like, and how to stop overthinking every choice. If you're a photographer, creative, or chronic “nice person,” this one's for you. Follow Todd:   📸 Instagram → @hspcoachtodd  Website → trueinnerfreedom.com    Try The Unscripted App for Photographers for free —  save poses to shoots, create fave lists, and share them with your clients before the session.

Lauren Ashley Grenda shares how life’s hardest moments — from premature motherhood to personal tragedy — shaped her artistry and drive. In this candid conversation, she reveals how compassion born from her lived experiences fuels her work as a destination wedding photographer. Hear how she built the business of her dreams while staying true to herself and her clients. Follow Lauren Ashley:   📸 Instagram → @laurenashleystudios  Website → lauren-ashley.com Try The Unscripted App for Photographers for free —  save poses to shoots, create fave lists, and share them with your clients before the session.