The Wedding Frame
Welcome to The Wedding Frame, a podcast for wedding photographers who want to elevate their craft and build a successful business. I’m Lisette Gatliff, a Southern California wedding photographer sharing real lessons, creative insights, and business tips. From starting your photography journey to refining your creative style, everything you need to know is covered one frame at a time.
Episodes
25 episodes
How Diversification Built a Thriving Wedding Photography Business for Nicole Back
In this episode of The Wedding Frame, Lisette Gatliff sits down with photographer and filmmaker Nicole Back of Nicole and Photo to talk about how diversification has shaped her wedding career, from starting in corporate construction management ...
How to Spot Red Flags in Wedding Inquiries
Some wedding inquiries tell you everything you need to know, you just don’t realize it until later. In this episode, I get into the subtle cues that show up early on and what they can reveal before you ever book the wedding, from price only ema...
How Helena Wong Scaled Her Wedding Photography Business to $400K Per Year
In this episode of The Wedding Frame, I sit down with wedding photographer and educator Helena Wong of @helenawongphotography to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable, profitable photography business in today’s industr...
When My Hair Caught on Fire - Mishaps and Lessons Learned
In this episode of The Wedding Frame, I’m sharing a couple of mishaps that happened while I was working recently. One involves photographing a birthday party with open flame candles and accidentally catching my hair on fire. The other ...
The Complete Guide to Wedding Day Posing
I'm going deep into the world of wedding day posing. I know posing can sound boring, but it’s actually one of the biggest factors in making wedding photos feel alive, authentic, and full of connection. I break down my approach to guided posing ...
From Disposable Cameras to Celebrity Weddings: Jenny Garrett’s Photography Journey
I’m so excited to have Jenny Garrett on the podcast this week! We dive into her journey from picking up her first camera as a kid to shooting her first wedding at 18 and everything in between. She shares how her background in teaching shaped th...
Mastering Detail Shots on a Wedding Day
In this episode, we’re diving deep into wedding details—the little things that make a gallery feel complete and take your work to the next level. From invitation suites and personalized seating charts to tablescapes, florals, and the perfectly ...
Why I don't use off-camera flash for wedding days
We're going back to gear talk, and this time we're talking about flash and why I choose not to use off-camera flash on wedding days and instead rely on a speed light mounted directly on my camera. Using on-camera flash allows me to stay ready w...
Wedding Photographer Red Flags That Get You Quietly Avoided
This episode looks at the quiet behaviors that shape a wedding photographer’s reputation and long term success, reminding us that talent alone rarely determines who lasts in this industry. The way photographers speak about clients, collaborate ...
Work-Life Balance Beyond Hustle Culture
Running a wedding photography business can feel like a constant tug of war. I talk honestly about work-life balance as a wedding photographer and what it really looks like behind the scenes. Between editing, client communication, travel, and fa...
When Exposure Isn’t Worth It
In this episode I talk about how to evaluate opportunities without burning out or losing sight of your worth. Early in my career, I said yes to far too many things because I thought that was how you proved yourself. This conversation is a...
Mentorship and Building a Wedding Photography Career with Nicole Truong
I sit down with my good friend and fellow photographer, Nikki of Nicole Michelle Photography, to talk about her journey into wedding photography and what it really takes to grow in this industry. W...
How Gen Z Is Changing Weddings and What Photographers Need to Know
Gen Z couples are changing wedding culture in ways that feel refreshing and healthy, especially for photographers. I share what I’m actually seeing on real wedding days and why this generation values intention, comfort, and presence over rigid ...
Hot Takes in the Wedding Industry
I share my thoughts on various "hot takes" in the wedding industry. I discuss how Pinterest shot lists can stifle creativity and why having more gear doesn't necessarily mean better photography. I also touch on the inefficiency of overshooting ...
From Courtrooms to Cameras: How My Mom Inspired My Path
My mom joined me on this special episode to discuss the lessons that influenced my journey into photography and self-employment. We talk about resilience, leading with calm under pressure, discovering creativity later in life, and how her quiet...
A Year in Frame: My 2025 Recap
I’m recapping my year in wedding photography and reflecting on what 2025 really looked and felt like for me. It was a busy year filled with weddings, social events, networking, creative challenges, and some big personal milestones, including ge...
The Power of Supportive Relationships, Overcoming Comparison, and Work-Life Balance with Camila Margotta
In this episode of The Wedding Frame, I sit down with wedding photographer Camila Margotta to talk about the power of supportive relationships in the wedding photography industry. We dive into Camila’s ...
Inspiration and Insights from Engage! Santa Barbara
Let me take you on a journey through Engage Summits, a premier three-day conference for luxury wedding professionals. As I navigate through inspiring sessions and networking opportunities, I share ...
Navigating Weddings with Videographers and Content Creators
I discuss how photographers, videographers, and content creators can work together smoothly on a wedding day. After getting my own wedding video back, it really made me think about how much collaboration matters and how much the industry has ev...
Inside My Editing Process: From Photoshop Beginnings to AI Workflows
I talk about my love for editing and how my workflow has grown over the years. I share my journey from learning Photoshop to embracing Lightroom and AI tools like Aftershoot, which save me time while still ...
Sales Strategies Unveiled with Alvaro Ruiz
I had the pleasure of sitting down with my husband, Alvaro, to delve into his extensive experience in sales. Alvaro has been in the sales industry for nearly two decades. Our conversation focused on the challenges wedding photographers face wit...
The Gear Episode: What Really Matters and What Doesn’t
I'm diving into wedding photography gear—what you need, what’s optional, and how your kit evolves as your career grows. I share my own journey, starting with my first DSLR, moving through upgrades to full-frame and mirrorless systems, and my ap...
Entry-Level to Luxury: Where Do You Fit?
We're breaking down the different markets in the wedding industry and how couples spend their money. I discuss entry-level, mid-range, and luxury weddings, highlighting how your role as a photographer shifts depending on the type of wedding and...
From Photographer to Bride: Insights from My Own Recent Wedding
I share my perspective as both a bride and a wedding photographer, reflecting on my recent intimate wedding. I talk about planning a smaller, more personal celebration, working with trusted vendors, and navigating the day while being on the rec...
What I Wish I Knew Before Shooting my First Wedding
In this first episode of The Wedding Frame, I share my journey into wedding photography, from discovering my love for capturing moments after my first child was born, to shooting my very first wedding. I talk about the lessons I’ve lea...