Giving your clients a good experience is key to growing your business and word-of-mouth referrals. But, what are some simple ways to elevate the client experience without selling your soul or working 24 hours a day? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about some simple tips to elevate your client's experience in a manageable way.

About our guest:

Behind the lens of Lynne Reznick Photography, Lynne Reznick is an educator-turned-photographer on a mission to share her knowledge and lessons learned from nearly a decade of industry experience. A lifelong learner at heart, Lynne combines her passion for training and mentoring with a unique teaching approach grounded in proven educational practices.

As the founder of The Wedding Client Experience Academy, Lynne offers an easy-to-digest online curriculum based on four fundamental pillars. The result establishes deeply rooted trust with clients, streamlined systems for the busiest workflows, and empowers pros to create bespoke moments for their couples.

In addition to providing ongoing mentoring and coaching intensives, Lynne shares several complimentary resources on her site’s educational hub-including the Styled Shoot Planning + Timeline Spreadsheet and The Manual Mode Pocket Guide.

A sought-after expert in her field, Lynne’s insight has been recently published with Rangefinder Magazine, the Rising Tide Society, SpecialEvents.com, and the Knot.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Lynne's background and how she got into the wedding and event industry after being a teacher
• How proactive communication is a key to giving your client's a good experience
• Using automation to schedule communication with clients
• Tips for making email templates sound more personal
• Ideas for connecting with clients both before, during, and after their wedding
• Lynne's "Wedding Client Experience Academy" course

Want to connect with Lynne?

• Online: https://www.lynnereznickphotography.com
• Instagram: @lynnereznickphoto
• Facebook 

Getting your work published in a wedding magazine or blog is an aspirational goal for many. But with fewer publications out there, it's more competitive than ever. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about best practices for finding the right publications to submit to, getting your work published, and following up.

About our guest:

Jainé Kershner is a wedding photographer based in New York. Jainé Kershner Photography was handpicked as one of NY’s best wedding photographers to know by BRIDES and has been featured in several publications including Martha Stewart Weddings, BRIDES, Style Me Pretty, and The Knot.

In 2018, Jainé launched "Tea with Jainé" to directly educate wedding photographers with honest answers, actionable steps, and tangible tips to successfully grow and create a profitable photography business. She hosts her weekly podcast “Tea with Jainé” where she chats with wedding industry insiders who share their knowledge, experience, and expertise directly with her audience. Jainé is a dedicated business coach who offers one-on-one sessions along with submission curations services for wedding photographers. 

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Jainé's background and how she got into the wedding and event industry
• Finding the right publication match for your work
• The benefits of print vs. online publication
• What publications are looking for in terms of images
• When to submit based on wedding seasonality
• Jainé's suggestions for following up once a wedding has been submitted

Want to connect with Jainé?

• Online: https://www.jainekershner.com/
• Instagram: @jainekershner
• Tea with Jainé podcast for wedding photographers

Many wedding industry entrepreneurs overlook Pinterest as a marketing tool, but it's still around and still generating leads. In fact, proper use of Pinterest can even help your work get noticed by search engines like Google. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a Pinterest strategist about the platform, how it's changed in recent years, and the basics for getting the most out of it.

About our guest:

Gabby Pinkerton is an adventurous Wedding Planner, Pinterest Strategist, Youtuber and Wedding industry speaker. Her YouTube channel aims to help wedding pros grow their business by using Pinterest and targeting their ideal clients.

During the Pandemic, she launched a Pinterest Strategy company, Gabby Pinkerton Co. that focuses on helping wedding pros attract their ideal clients on Pinterest. She and her team offer done-for-you Pinterest Management as well as a robust, no-fluff Pinterest course for those who want to tackle it themselves. 

Gabby is a recurring speaker at the Wedding Summit Series, Book More Weddings Summit and participates in several wedding bundles offering Pinterest mini courses. She has taken the stage at the National Association of Catering and Events, The Rising Tide Society and virtual gatherings over the last few years.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Gabby's background and how he got into the wedding and event industry
• How Pinterest has changed in the last two years
• The new "Idea Pins" on Pinterest and how their similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels

Want to connect with Gabby?

• Online: https://gabbypinkerton.com/ 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/U0NN-Enorqk
• Instagram: @gabbypinkerton and @causewecanevents

Growing a team requires you to take on a new title – boss. But for so many entrepreneurs, being a boss is uncharted territory. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry entrepreneur with 60 team members all about being a better boss, including some best practices and things to avoid.

About our guest:

After Graduating from Grambling State University and leaving his home state of Louisiana, Chris Harmon moved to Dallas, Texas to start his business Harmland Visions.

Harmland Visions is a Production and Entertainment company that specializes in Videography, Photography, DJ, AV, Lighting, Photobooth, and Special Effects within the Weddings and Events, Corporate and High School markets. Chris has 60 team members that focus on different aspects of the business while he remains the lead videographer and owner of the company.

Chris has taken on leadership positions in several local organizations and currently serves as the Treasurer of the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the National Association for Catering and Events. After winning several awards within the Dallas Fort Worth area from various event organizations, Chris’s biggest accomplishment is the success of his teammates. He has been known to train and produce top talent stars, helping them to achieve their goals.

Outside of the wedding industry, Chris also owns several companies that bring smart, residual income to his family. This includes a real estate business focusing on Airbnb properties and an RV rental business.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Chris's background and how he got into the wedding and event industry
• The importance of getting to know your team and what motivates each of them
• Giving feedback to employees
• Finding different ways to recognize employees
• Lessons learned from leading a team

Want to connect with Chris?

• Online: http://www.harmlandvisions.com/ 
• Instagram: @chrisharmonfilm

Where do you want your business and life to take you? People from Oprah to Deepak Chopra believe in manifesting their future with the use of vision boards. But what is a vision board, how do you make one, and what can it do for you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about vision boards and how to use them to design the life and work that you love.

About our guest:

A life-long learner with nearly a decade behind the lens.

Rosy is self-taught in her chosen medium of film and digital photography. She thrives on the incredibly special moments her clients invite her to be a part of, sharing - “You know something’s coming, but you don’t know what it’s going to be until you get it”, and adding that her clients feed her creative soul while making her feel alive.

More than just a wonderful and gifted photographer, Alba Rose's clients mention time and time again how much of a wonderful human Rosy is.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Rosy's background and how she got into the wedding industry
• What a vision board is and how to create one
• How often you should make a vision board and when to add to it or change it
• Using vision boards for both personal and business goals

Want to connect with Rosy?

• Online: https://albarosephotography.com/
• Instagram: @albarose.co

It's true what they say – it's all about who you know. And in the wedding and event industry, that could not be any more true. From knowing your clients to the vendor team you're working with on the event day, it's all about relationships. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about the best ways to build relationships with both clients and vendor partners as well as tips for maintaining them.

About our guest:

Sacia Matthews is a destination wedding photographer based on the East Coast.  Sacia focuses her work around artistry and intention, merging her signature style of honest editorial documentation. She is a former high school English teacher that is translating those skills to coaching creatives. Her zone of genius is helping strategize and cultivate businesses that coexist with the owner's dream life. She believes in the power of relationship-building in all that you do.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Sacia's background and how she went from being a high school English teacher to a destination wedding photographer and educator
• Tips for connecting authentically with both your fellow vendors and your potential clients
• Using social media to stay continuously connected with clients and vendor partners
• The importance of sustaining your relationships over time
• Suggestions for working with wedding planners when they are the conduit to the client

Want to connect with Sacia?

• Online: www.saciamatthews.com
• Instagram - @saciamatthews

Is confidence something you're born with or something you can learn? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about confidence and doubt and breaking patterns of negative stories we tell ourselves.

About our guest:

Rocky knows firsthand how difficult it can be to identify what makes us unique on our own. We get caught in insecurities and fears. We tend to spend too much time looking outside, comparing ourselves to what others project, and say about us.

Rocky's childhood tells a tale of having moved 10 times and having to make new friends at every new school. He ended up spending more time trying to impress or please everyone else; going from one extreme of the pendulum by sailing along on charisma to the other end by living a life of self-sacrifice. No matter how hard he worked, nothing seemed to make sense and he was never able to see his real value or worth. That is until he took a step back and had a long hard look at WHO he was, not just WHAT he did. 

After graduating with a communications degree from Texas A&M University, Rocky has spent the past 15 years walking alongside thousands of individuals at Sky Ranch Summer Camp as Director and counseled and supported hundreds while on the pastoral staff at Chase Oaks Church. Now, as a top keynote speaker and culture consultant, he has taken thousands through the Identity Mapping™ process. As a result, they have all been led to understand the most vivid picture of who they are and how they operate best as individuals.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Rocky's background and how he went from the wedding industry to coaching and consulting entrepreneurs and corporate leaders
• How clarity and confidence go hand in hand
• How our protective nature and defense mechanisms can affect our confidence
• How what we've been told by others can create doubt, even if those stories are not true
• Rocky's Book, "Be Confident: A Pocket Guide to Killing Doubt and Building Conviction"

Want to connect with Rocky?

• Online: https://rockygarza.com/
• Instagram - @rockygarza
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rockygarza
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ 

We all know that Instagram is a powerful social media tool for the wedding industry, particularly since it's so visual. But are you using Instagram as a sales tool as opposed to just a portfolio? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about how you can use Instagram to promote your business well beyond pretty pictures.

About our guest:

Maria Oliva is the CEO & Founder of SMS Media, a social media coaching business for wedding vendors in the DC area. Maria's main goal is to change the way wedding vendors approach Instagram and have fun while they're at it. She has a passion for teaching wedding vendors how to build sustainable Instagram strategies that work around their schedule & feels good for THEM. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has been in the Digital Marketing world for over 7 years!

Her sassy & badass personality is what sets her apart from everyone else. She will always tell it how it is and doesn't like cutting corners for anyone, especially her clients (it's the Puerto Rican in her). She is changing the wedding industry, one account at a time!

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Maria's background and how she became interested and involved in the wedding industry
• Using a variety of content pillars as the foundation for your Instagram posts
• Promotional posts and ways you can use them without being pushy
• How to niche down your hashtags, including the ideal number of hashtags to use

Want to connect with Maria?

• Instagram - @sms_mediaPR

Small businesses definitely need policies, procedures, and contracts in order to stay organized and to set boundaries. But when is it ok to be flexible and make an exception? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about exceptions, when to (and not to) make them, and some things to think about as you're making the decision on bending your rules.

About our guest:

Our guest today is Jennifer Trotter, the owner and principal artist behind one of Dallas/Fort Worth's top bridal beauty teams, Lip Service Makeup. Known for flawless looks, a diverse portfolio and impeccable customer service, Jennifer and her team provide hair and makeup for a variety of projects, including major motion pictures, Dateline NBC, commercial and media clients, tv and film projects with Oxygen, Netflix and others, as well as beautifying around 175 brides each year. This beauty pro also happens to be a communications expert with a background that includes stints in PR, corporate training and serving for nearly 10 years as the Program Director for the Make A Wish Foundation. Through articles, coaching sessions and speaking engagements, Jennifer uses her communications background to help business owners skillfully navigate the awkward conversations and stressful situations that we all face. She not only knows how to manage the occasional bridezilla, she's passionate about sharing proven techniques to create strong relationships with clients and other vendors while reducing conflict.  

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Jen's background and how she got into the wedding industry
• Reasons that business owners may want to break away from their "rules" and make an exception
• The one reason you should absolutely not make an exception
• Saying no, but still making it a positive conversation
• Questions to ask yourself as you're deciding to make an exception or not
• The importance of having Standard Operating Procedures in your business

Want to connect with Jen?

• Online: https://www.lipservicemakeup.com/ 
• Instagram - @lipservicemakeup

We're all busy. But are you just staying busy? Or are you actually moving things forward in your business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about the differences between action and motion, and how simply doing the preparation isn't necessarily moving the ball forward. Listen in as we chat with a return guest about some tips for making that busy work actually work for you and your business.

About our guest:

With a background in producing and directing live and recorded television for the better part of 10 years, Wendy is the definition of “quick on your feet.” She prides herself on being a solution-oriented problem solver—which has served her well in her 12 years of planning and executing flawless events. Wendy’s passion to create and execute original ideas for each of her couples’ weddings means that in addition to running smoothly, they are a fun, enjoyable, memorable, and tangible pieces of fine art.

With a straightforward approach, Wendy builds a rapport with her clients. She believes that the more she gets to know her couples, the better (and more personal) the wedding will be.  Birds of a Feather Events was named a Top Wedding Planner and Event Designer by Martha Stewart Weddings as well as a Best Planner in America by BRIDES.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Wendy's previous podcast episodes – Episode 99: How to End a Client Relationship and Episode 163: Turning Your Volume-Based Business Into a Value-Based Business
• The difference between action and motion
• How procrastination plays a role in moving from motion to action
• Accountability groups and how they can help move things forward
• How fear of failure plays a role in being stuck in a cycle of motion
• Profit First book and how it has helped Wendy, Annie, and Kimberly

Want to connect with Wendy?

• Online: http://birds-of-a-feather-events.com/
• Instagram - @birdsofafeatherevents

Pricing in the wedding industry is admittedly all over the board. Not only do various vendors charge in vastly different price ranges, but even the pricing strategies are all over the board (flat fee, packages, percentages, oh my!) In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about pricing your art, and the necessarily mindset shifts that are needed in order to get the price you deserve and work with the clients who believe in you and your art.

About our guest:

Matthew Wengerd makes holy shit stationery for brave and daring clients under the name A Fine Press. His work with couples, individuals, and brands blurs the line between function and form, inspiring and engaging at least as much as it informs.

More importantly, Matthew's clients are an incredible group of people who seek to be known and remembered by their people. They bring open hearts and boundless trust to the process - allowing themselves to be known and seen and reflected in the work.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Matthew's background and he went from jazz musician to the wedding industry
• Matthew's previous podcast episode Getting Clients to Trust You
• Matthew's process in the sales consult, booking, and creative process
• How trust is the most important factor in the client/vendor relationship
• How your own mindset about money can affect your view of your pricing
• How turning away work that you're not passionate about can make your business thrive

Want to connect with Matthew?

• Online: https://www.afinepress.com/
• Instagram - @afinepress