Podcast Episode 3 - From “ Just a Shoot ” to a Life - Changing Experience: The Power of Transformation
Welcome to the Photography Breakthrough Podcast.
If you're just finding us, welcome, welcome. This is where we turn photography into a deeper calling, a steady business, and an unforgettable experience for both you. And for your clients.
I'm photographer Matthew Jordan Smith, and today we're diving into one of the most important shifts you can make in your photography business. How to move from offering just a photo shoot to creating a life changing experience. If you've ever felt like your work was just getting lost in the noise, if clients treat you like a service instead of like an artist, if bookings feel transactional instead of transformational, this episode is just for you.
Here's the truth. We live in a world overflowing with pretty pictures. There are more pictures today than at any point in the history of photography. Anyone can take a decent photo now.
Phones have portrait mode. Filters are everywhere. AI can retouch better than most people. So if we're only selling pictures, we're competing with everything and everyone. But here's what you can't automate, filter, or copy. The way you make people feel in your presence, the way you make them see themselves.
We're talking about an emotional shift that happens when someone steps in front of your lens and walks away forever changed.
Let me just paint a picture. Your client walks into your space. They're nervous. They're thinking about their flaws. They're hoping they don't look awkward.
They're quietly bracing for judgment, but instead they're met with warmth, curiosity, calm. You ask real questions. You show that you care. You create safety. You help them breathe.
All this happens before you ever raise your camera. When you finally lift your camera to your eye, you're not just looking for flattering angles, you're looking for their truth. You are photographing their energy, not just their face. Later when they see their images, something clicks,
no, let's back up. Before they ever see their images, they feel something during the shoot. It's hard to put it into words, but if you master this, you can feel it. And so can everybody in the room. When they finally see their pictures, they say things like, I've never seen myself like that. That's how I want to feel every day.
You didn't just take my picture, you gave me something special. That's not just a shoot that my friend is transformation.
Now, when you create transformation, not just deliverables, your business changes, you change clients. Remember you. They talk about you, they refer you, not because they need photos, but because they want their sister, their friend, their mother, to feel what they felt. Your pricing, that becomes less of a question.
Your calendar feels more steadily. Your work feels meaningful again.
And here's the most important part, the most beautiful part. You don't need to sell anything because the experience becomes the product.
Maybe you're asking, okay, Matthew. How do I start this? You don't need to change everything overnight.
Just start here before your next shoot. Ask yourself, how do I want this person to feel about themselves before they leave? This is not about you, it's about your clients. Then build everything around that feeling. Your prep, your energy, your words, your pace, your editing. Transformation doesn't come from what you do, it comes from how you do it.
So. If you've been feeling like just another photographer, if you're craving more connection, more meaning, more steady bookings, the path forward isn't louder. Marketing, it's deeper experiences. This is what we're building here together.
When you do that, clients feel special. And yes, during the photo shoot they may shed a tear, not because they're sad, but because they're filled with joy and that joy just overflows through their tears. I've had these experiences over and over again in my shoots. And I want you to experience that too because it is magical.
This is a deeper experience and this is what we're building here together.
You see, you were never meant to just take pictures. You were meant to change lives, starting with your own. Thank you for listening. You're not alone.
This is the Photography Breakthrough Podcast.
. If this episode resonated with you and you want more people to discover this kind of support, here's how you can help.
Please take a moment and rate and review the podcast. Leave a five star review if you found it valuable. It truly makes a difference in helping other photographers find this work and feel less alone. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss a new episode. We drop a fresh one every single week. Full of clarity, strategy, and encouragement, and come connect with me on Instagram.
You'll find behind the scenes thoughts, live, encouragement, and many more tools to help you thrive. Find me at Matthew Jordan Smith on Instagram. I'd love to hear from you. Until next time, always dream big. Bye for now.
WEBSITE’S
Matthew’s latest book: Aretha Cool – On Sale at Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1GC6JXY
Matthew Jordan Smith Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/matthewjordansmith
