Sophie Kietzmann is a New York based fashion and portrait photographer who has worked with Vanity Fair, GQ, Glamour & Vogue Italia. Working across high-end fashion and editorial spaces, they create bold, inclusive imagery that challenges traditional beauty standards and elevates underrepresented voices.

In this episode, Sophie joins Mike to unpack one of the biggest unspoken issues in the creative industry… why so many photographers feel stuck, overworked and still struggle to make money. They dive into the toxic hustle culture that glorifies burnout and unpack the “starving artist” mindset that keeps photographers playing small. Sophie shares how learning business completely changed their career and the real reason creatives feel guilty charging for their work.

This is a conversation about identity, money, fear and what it actually takes to build a sustainable photography career, without losing yourself in the process. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not getting ahead, this episode will challenge the way you think about success, creativity and what it really means to make it as a photographer.

Say Hi to Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiekietzmann/

Sophie's Website: https://www.sophiekietzmann.com/

In this episode we also talk about: - Why photographers feel guilty charging for their work - The starving artist mindset in photography - Why photographers overwork and burn out - Overcoming fear of rejection as a photographer - Why photographers feel stuck in their business - The mindset shift photographers need to grow - Why talent alone won’t make you successful as a photographer

Thanks again for watching and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to Subscribe and leave a Comment to let us know you were here!

Check out the Podcast in Audio form at https://www.mikejeffrey.co/podcast

Mike's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikejeffreyphoto/ Mike's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejeffreyphoto/

Editing and Post Production by Mossy Heart Media https://www.mossyheartmedia.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/

Music Created by JWPATON https://www.instagram.com/jwptn/

No guest this week, just me and a bunch of questions every photographer needs to reflect on at some point. Some of them are going to feel a bit confronting. Some of them you'll laugh at because you'll recognise yourself in the answer. But hopefully a few of them might just change the way you think about where your photography career is heading.

Starting with inversion thinking. Basically, what would you have to do to guarantee your photography career failed? And look, the answers are kind of obvious. Never post your work. Never reply to enquiries. Make it impossible for people to book you. Surround yourself with people who are comfortable staying average. Pretty obvious stuff, right? Until you sit there and go, hang on, I'm actually doing some of these things right now. From there we get into some bigger questions. What would you do if you knew the outcome was guaranteed? Do you actually like your own work or do you just hope other people will? And who are the five people you spend the most time with, and are they growth minded people or are they quietly keeping you exactly where you are?

This episode is for photographers who are just starting out and those who have been at it for a few years and have that nagging feeling that something needs to change. The answers are already in you. Sometimes you just need someone to ask the questions out loud.

Thanks for tuning in and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to leave a Rating or Review on your platform of choice.

Check out the Video Podcast on YouTube

Mike's Instagram | Mike's TikTok

Kenny Macieira is the Host of Kickin It With Creatives Podcast. In this episode he chats with Mike about one of the most underrated marketing strategies, starting a podcast. Kenny didn't come from a podcasting background. He stumbled into it through a client then spent months watching others record in the studio he was running until he eventually had no excuse not to start his own show. In a world where attention is everything, podcasting might just be the most valuable marketing tool a creative business owner has ever had access to but most people won't start one. In this episode, Kenny pulls back the curtain on what the first year of podcasting really looks like. The random Instagram DMs, the inconsistency, the self-doubt and why pushing through it anyway is exactly what separates the creatives who grow from the ones who don't.

Grab the FREE Podcasting Cheat Sheet: mikejeffrey.co/podcast-cheat-sheet

Say Hi to Kenny on Instagram

Check out Kenny's Podcast - Kickin It With Creatives YouTube | Spotify | Instagram

In this episode, you'll learn: - How to start a podcast with no audience and no experience - Ways to find your first podcast guests when nobody knows who you are - What equipment you actually need to start a podcast - How to grow a podcast on YouTube and Instagram - How to stay consistent with your podcast when motivation runs out - Secrets for structuring a podcast episode that keeps people watching - How to pitch yourself to guests and actually get a reply

Thanks for tuning in and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to leave a Rating or Review on your platform of choice.

Check out the Video Podcast on YouTube

Mike's Instagram | Mike's TikTok

Editing and Post Production by Mossy Heart Media https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/

Music Created by JWPATON