Today on the show, we have a former Life.Church photographer joining us. We discuss preparing shot lists, favorite gear, and photographer etiquette. Plus, we share creative ideas for capturing baptism photos without damaging our cameras - hint: think fish tank!

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Show Notes:

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- SocialSermons: https://socialsermons.com/

- Bravingbird: https://www.bravingbird.com/

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Today, we're tackling your questions: How to handle new church issues? Does a small-town setting alter social media strategies? This is The May 2024 Mailbag.

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Table of Contents:

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0:00 - Intro

0:55 - What is your opinion on Sora's impact on church content?

10:03 - What do you do when you face a new problem?

18:27 - Advice on creating backup posts for emergencies?

24:03 - Hardest thing about entrepreneurship?

32:40 - Advice for a social team with an IG account that is blowing up. 

36:49 - What do you say to Christians who lack critical thinking?

51:37 - How to enhance sermon clips with limited resources?

56:05 - What's going to be your summer fragrance this year?

01:10:30 - Why did Cornerstone Church create a second YouTube channel?

01:13:40 - Ninja Creami; what recipes have worked for you?

01:21:09 - Advice for a workplace balancing religious advocacy and vocational responsibilities.

01:30:00 - What are the fashion trends you're rocking for warm weather this year?

01:41:37 - Does town size effect tech adoption?

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Show Notes:

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- Sora | OpenAI: https://openai.com/sora

- CRTVCHURCH: https://www.crtvchurch.com/

- Growing Young: https://bit.ly/4aNJb3z

- How Churches Are Really Reaching Young People with Dr. Kara Powell: https://youtu.be/v6O0USRnwbY

- Modern Church Connection Cards Examples (With Template): https://prochur.ch/44oIwTZ

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Who is behind the successful podcasts of Tim Ross and Lecrae? Join us as we chat with the Creative Director of B-Side App, the studio behind these hit shows. Learn about their episode ideas, set design, and the gear they swear by.

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Show Notes:

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- Hector Guerrero IG: https://www.instagram.com/hectoralexguerrero/

- B-Side App: https://www.bsideapp.com/

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

There is a step-by-step plan that has already brought 10,000 new people to churches this year. How did that happen? We’re joined by paid ads expert Brady Sticker to demystify online advertising for your church and learn how this happened. We talk about ad targeting, creative, budgeting, and more.

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Show Notes:

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- ChurchCandy: https://churchcandy.com/

- Brady Sticker IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradysticker/

- ChurchCandy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradysticker/

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

The most religious cities in America are places you might suspect. However, there’s a weird addition here - a city in California where nearly 30% are monthly attenders. What city is that? And which cities are the least religious in the country? To help us break it all down we have the preeminent source on data and faith - Ryan Burge from Graphs About Religion.

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Show Notes:

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Which Cities are the Least Religious? | Ryan Burge: https://prochur.ch/3Q0xTk5

From Bible Belt to Sunbelt | Darren Dochuk: https://prochur.ch/3vPaivS

The End of White Christian America | Robert P. Jones: https://bit.ly/3UcK7IK

Canadian Social Survey: https://bit.ly/4awUQ6A

David Speed | The Religious Studies Project: https://bit.ly/3vDWnZH

Ryan Burge: http://ryanburge.net/Ryan Burge | Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ryanburge

Graphs about Religion: https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

On today's episode, we're answering your questions about improving your church’s photography when faced with less than enthusiastic expressions and whether each ministry requires its own branding. Additionally, we'll touch on our reflections on the recent Elevation episode and its online impact. This is The April 2024 Mailbag. Let’s dive in.

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Table of Contents:

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0:00 - Intro

1:57 - Can you post too many Reels?

7:39 - Thoughts on the reaction to your Elevation episode?

32:28 - Favorite recent tech trend?

41:31 - Tips for how to do social as a worship night ministry?

47:25 - How do you get more diversity in your photos on Sundays?

50:22 - Is it worth changing our church website domain?

56:27 - Why are we getting low views on our Instastories?

58:21 - Average time for church tech tasks?

01:00:39 - Where to place faith formation/religious education on a site?

01:07:59 - How do you maintain a singular visual identity?

01:10:28 - Should church doctrinal beliefs be on a website?

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Show Notes:

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- Social Media Trends 2024 | Hootsuite: https://bit.ly/3xpoxbk

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

It's our quarterly look at the social media landscape. What's changing, what's staying the same, and how does it affect your church? One specific design trend is cooking in Spring 2024. Church sermon clips are showing no signs of slowing down - and there's one reason for this that you've probably never thought of. Plus, a new Instagram trend taking the platform by storm. Let's dive in.

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Table of Contents:

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0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Vertical video: Same specs, diverse platform cultures.

9:57 - Churches' 'fly on the wall' perspective is becoming more valuable

17:30 - SEND IT BACK: Stop adding audio and decorative trim to your sermon clips

19:56 - High contrast, simple text branded carousels keep winning

30:00 - TikTok's global impact beyond potential bans

36:00 - DM Automation

40:56 - The definition of social media expanding: the old era is dead

47:03 - Social feeds for education

55:04 - CALL YOUR SHOT: Summer Prediction

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Show Notes:

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- Start your 30-day free trial (no credit card required) of Nucleus here: https://www.nucleus.church/

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Gen Z, also known as Zoomers, born between 1996 and 2010, are the first generation to grow up in the smartphone era. Here are 10 stats about Gen Z that churches shouldn't ignore.

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Table of Contents:

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0:00 - Intro

2:04 - Bringing Back 90s And Early 00s Fashion Trends And Listening To The Era’s Tunes

6:24 - Interest In Environmental Issues Has Decreased 11% Year-On-Year

13:13 - On Track To Be The Best-Educated Generation Yet

17:26 - Roughly 20% Of The U.S. Population

20:07 - More Racially And Ethnically Diverse Than Previous Generations

27:07 - Least Religious Generation in American History

31:48 - Becoming Less Religiously Identified As Each Year Passes

34:07 - Spends 24-48 Hours Per Month On Tiktok

49:16 - More Likely Than Other Generations To Report Having A Mental Health Condition

58:54 - 98% Of Gen Z Worldwide Own A Smartphone

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Show Notes:

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Gen Z and Religion in 2022 | Religion in Public: https://bit.ly/3vY3VWS

What We Know About Gen Z So Far | Pew Research Center: https://pewrsr.ch/4abDzQr

U.S. population share by generation 2022 | Statista: https://bit.ly/3x669Uw

24 Gen Z Statistics That Matter to Marketers in 2024 | Hootsuite: https://bit.ly/4auUmgX

Gen Z | GWI: https://bit.ly/4cxUbTQ

The State of the Culture | Ted Gioia: https://bit.ly/43DgfIY

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

In just four years, a previously unknown church went from 0 to 100,000 YouTube subscribers. Over the past ten months, they've added another 100,000 subscribers, despite their pastor's anonymity. Their remarkable online impact, leading to significant in-person transformations, prompted us to delve deeper into their strategies, with the church generously sharing behind-the-scenes insights.

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Show Notes:

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- vidIQ: https://vidiq.com/

- TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/

- An Unfiltered Conversation With Mike Todd's Social Media Advisor: https://youtu.be/dUbVt0ec6oQ

- Cornerstone Fellowship with Pastor Allen Nolan: https://www.youtube.com/@allennolan

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Connect With Brady:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Katlyn Hovland is the creative mind shaping brands like VOUS Church, Maverick City, and more. Today we're talking church branding, typography, colors, logos, photography, and more with her. Let's dive in.

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Show Notes:

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- Katlyn Hovland IG: https://www.instagram.com/kayhov

- Monarch Collective: https://www.monarchco.studio/

- Brand Your Church: https://www.brandyourchurch.co/

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Connect With Brady:

=============================

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

We’re doing things a little differently on this episode, as we’re not in our usual studio in Niagara Falls. Instead, we are poolside in the Dominican Republic on our company retreat. With mojitos in hand - this is Bro Church Pools.

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Table of Contents:

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0:00 - Intro

1:19 - Are churches and ministries using social media inline with how people consume it? Can social media realistically fulfill goals like gaining new members, or is it primarily about raising awareness and building email lists?

12:40 - What's your workout routine? Tips for people starting out?

18:04 - Why do some posts randomly fail?

22:00 - What are 3 non-church podcasts you enjoy most?

29:50 - What advice do you have for experiencing negative feedback from Christians for the first time?

33:27 - What are the top 3 countries you've visited and which one would you choose to live in?

40:18 - Can you expand on borrowing trends from other sectors for church social?

50:50 - Favorite poolside drink?

55:10 - We want to update the camera we use - do we go broadcast or cinema?

01:00:12  - What’s your go-to jeans brand?

01:03:35 - Any tips on how to make reels from live stream footage and have good image quality? 

01:07:35 - Fashion advice for men’s swimwear?

01:10:25 - How do you guys go about email formatting?

01:19:10 - Swimming pool, tidal pool, or open beach?

01:20:55 - Best tips for starting a church podcast?

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Show Notes:

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- Plain English with Derek Thompson: https://apple.co/4bUvjWb

- The Big Picture with Sean Fennessey: https://apple.co/49Vv4sg

- The Town with Matt Belloni: https://apple.co/3P4W9Rx

- The MeatEater Podcast: https://apple.co/42ZPIF8

- Walk A Little Slower with Tanner Olson: https://apple.co/42ZlvWJ

- Liturgies for Parents with Kayla Craig: https://apple.co/3V7kt98

- Best Church Cameras 2024: https://prochur.ch/cameras-2024

- Sony FX3: https://bhpho.to/49vYi0C

- Sony FX30: https://bhpho.to/3SD0jkP

- Blackmagic Pocket 6K: https://prochur.ch/48E1eYf

- Blackmagic Studio 4K: https://bhpho.to/4bzlWLq

- Blackmagic Studio 6K: https://bhpho.to/4buRUIR

- ConvertKit: https://convertkit.com/

- Beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com

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Connect With Brady:

=============================

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer

The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast