The Say Less Podcast

029 - How to Stand Out in Your Industry When Everyone Looks the Same

• Alex & Grace • Episode 29

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0:00 | 37:29

We are exploring how creative entrepreneurs can break free from industry sameness by leaning into what makes them uniquely them. They share practical tips to cultivate authenticity, avoid copying trends, and harness your personality to truly stand out. 

In this episode:

  • The dangers of industry sameness and the trend towards copying
  • How starting out can lead to unintentional replication and loss of authenticity
  • Practical methods for auditing your portfolio and social presence to spark joy
  • The importance of leaning into your personality instead of buzzwords or industry stereotypes
  • Why creating from inspiration rather than online trends fuels genuine creativity
  • The impact of following accounts that inspire or second-guess you, and how to unfollow to foster originality
  • Using client feedback questions to discover what makes your work truly your own
  • The significance of storytelling and evoking emotion to connect authentically with your audience
  • Embracing community outside your industry for fresh creative perspectives
  • A new segment: What's your current creative obsession? Plus, a challenge to post something undeniably you this week!

Thanks for tuning in! Remember, your work should tell your authentic story—post what makes you you! And don't forget to share a piece of your spark joy this week. Until next time, keep creating with passion.

Send us burning questions, topic ideas, and things you’re loving about the podcast!

Connect with Alex & Grace:

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Must-Have Systems

Arisa Haus Creative Marketing Agency

Grace & Andrew Cacho provide clarity to businesses and personal brands by means of Brand Message Clarity, Audits, Brand Strategy, Content Creation, Photo & Video, Web Design, and Social Media Management.

SPEAKER_02

They're so well known and so talented. But the reason that they're even like blowing up is personality. It's just they're being who they are. That can be a conversation for another day about like how you show up. Yeah. Yes. Aside from just showing your work. But when you get to this certain place of like, okay, a lot of people know who I am, it's almost like you have to do the trends in order to keep up. So kind of take it as a luxury being able, especially if you're beginning in business, take it as a luxury that you get to like really dive deep into who you want to show up as. You're allowed to to just get a little bit more clarity. Like, did I lose my way? Do I need to unfollow a few people? But definitely like take it slow.

SPEAKER_00

100%.

SPEAKER_02

If you don't have 10,000 followers, good for you. Good for you. You have a really probably dedicated audience to your work, and your reach may not be like thousands upon thousands, but you can be a lot more intentional, I think that way. I wanted to start a podcast for creative entrepreneurs. So I asked Alex to join me. And I said, say less. I'm in. Welcome to the Say Less podcast, where we actually say a lot more about motherhood, creativity, photography, business ownership, and everything in between.

SPEAKER_01

We are your host, Alex and Grace. And this is a space for creative women building something meaningful. Whether you're raising babies, raising your rates, or just trying to figure out your next move.

SPEAKER_02

We talk about all the real stuff. What's working, what's not, what we're unlearning, what nobody tells you about building a business that has to fit inside a real life. The pivot, the pressure, the sustainability, and all of the seasons.

SPEAKER_01

If you've ever felt like you're creating in the margins of your time, your energy, or your confidence, you're not alone here. So stay lost. Let's get into it. Hi guys, welcome back. I am excited to dive in today. I actually titled this in the notes in the notes app, which hates to see us coming with Grace. I titled this one podcast episode 727-39492 because I just lost count. I've lost count. And I could have gone to look like on Spotify. Like how many episodes do we have? Like, where are we at with the, but it's like we also have so many recorded that we have like set aside or that we've like recorded? We don't know which one this will be. Like, I think we have like exactly. Like I think like 226 or so on Spotify. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I'm saying. Then I think we have three or four extras recorded. So we're like in the 30s. So I'm like, I just don't know. So this is podcast episode 727-39492. It reminds me of Lelo and Stitch. And today, no, I know, um, 727.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

627 is just 626. I was like, no, 626. Travis and I like get into the vocal stem of 626 or into 2319. 2319. You've got a 2018. You know, like we get like totally like caught up in that. That's like such a weird thing. I don't know why I just did that. I'm excited because this episode, yeah. I'm like, I just had to get that. That's my vocal stem to get it out. Literally had to clear it out of my system so then I can like be professional from here on out. Like sometimes the lack of sleep is just showing through like weirdness. It's like I start going down these rabbit trails and I I can't find my way back because I'm like, my brain fog is like, no, you can't, you're not gonna make your way back. What's today's episode about? Oh thanks. Thank you. Thank you. I'm like, let me get into it. I'm wanting to talk about sameness in the industry and the reason, the reason why I've been like wanting to discuss this. The last episode you and I recorded, we were talking about my rebrand for my 10-year anniversary. And we kind of started talking about um if you did not listen to the last episode where I was discussing, we were talking about the business state of the union, kind of what's going on in our businesses and what we're working on, and kind of just our general state of overwhelm and all the things that we're going through. I was talking about how when I decided to do this rebrand, I started in a trend. I literally was like, I want it to have like the old money feel and the red wine color that's so popular and the old money fonts and just that like whole general luxurious feel that like people are like teetering towards. And I was like, I'm gonna do that. And then in the midst of designing it all and looking at it and not being completely satisfied with it, I was like, the reason I'm not completely satisfied is because it's not me. Yeah. It's like literally has nothing to do with me. And I'm this like bright and bold and like exuberant and passionate and colorful rainbow type of girl. And I'm like designing this like black and white and like red wine, which I love it. I love it. And that's why you're fine because it was so beautiful, and I like really could have gotten it done in like two hours and been like, this is perfect, and it's done. But it isn't me. Yeah. But it isn't me. And so, like I said, if you didn't listen to the last episode, the general what I came to is I'm redoing it. It's still a work in progress. It's coming this month. So working on a new website, new logo, going under the new name Taylor Wedding Collective. So I'm going towards more of a feel that feels like me. And I just am wanting to talk about that specifically because the sameness in the industry and the way that people are teetering towards the trends and trying to do what other people are doing is like becoming an epidemic, in my opinion. And I'm like, for not throwing rocks. I'm not throwing rocks to my glass house because I'm just admitted to doing it. Like I just did it myself and had to like reel myself back in. And it's like, I know, like I want to go and I want I want my business and I want what I'm presenting on social media and my website to be like this is her. And I feel like everyone needs to do that. Yeah. Right? Yeah. No, I feel like the issue is the issue too is like if you're starting out in your business, you don't really know who you are. You don't know who you are again as an entrepreneur. Yeah. And so then you're like, I like this that this person's doing. So let me kind of like use it as inspiration, which actually kind of ends up in being like, let me like replicate it. Yeah. Not meaning to, right? You're like not meaning to do the same thing, but it is that. And it's like it comes down to this question is your work recognizable? Yeah. Or is it looking like some video that people have seen before? Yeah. Yeah. And I what I think too, and I'm like about to step off my soapbox and hand this back over to you for a second because I'm on a ramble. I had too much caffeine already, and I'm also just on a ramble. My issue with it is that like the copying and all of that, and I I but it's different from like Reels trends. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Of like because even then it does make those super unique. You can make those super unique.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. Yeah. You can make them, yeah. So I'm like, I'm not saying like using a trending sound, or like I literally just posted like the photographer's grip. And I've been seeing like social media grip and like marketing expert grip and like mom grip. And it's like you're holding all this stuff at it. And I don't mean that. I don't mean that. I don't mean, you know, like you can't do some of the cute, trendy stuff. I just mean seeing other photographers or other creative entrepreneurs work and being like, I'm going to replicate that with small change and put my name on it.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. That's somebody's that's somebody else's creativity at the end of the day. Like you're borrowing from somebody else's creativity. And it's like if you stay there, it's like not super authentic, in my humble opinion.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I think that my issue with it, because like I said, I know that you know, business owners that are starting out like need somewhere to start, right? So they're like looking for stuff and whatever. I feel like my issue with it is it like is stifling the creativity. So if you're not, and I know you talked about this on one episode, and I like loved it so much that you were saying like it was like the rise of AI, like when everyone was using AI big time. So, you know, a few months ago when we were talking about this and you were like decided to sit down with pen and paper. I was just thinking about that. Yeah. I have to it was just so revolutionary to me because I feel like with just how like social media and I don't know if people still use Pinterest. I still use Pinterest. I know it's been oged down with ads and people have been complaining about that, but like I'm still doing it. But I do struggle with if I'm looking for inspiration of any sort, if I'm hosting a party or my kids' birthdays or holidays or photography stuff, like I'll immediately go to social media to Instagram, to TikTok, to Pinterest, and I'm searching these, you know, the buzzwords of it of Fourth of July holiday food or whatever and looking for idea. Whereas instead of just thinking, like, what do I love to make and how could I like create that to like kind of be with the holiday, taking pen to paper, which really was just like it really resonated with me when you said it, but tying that into the point, that's my issue, is I feel like when people are looking for, you know, I want to make a viral post or I'm looking for wedding content, or I'm about to shoot my first bridal session, I need to see some posing instead of taking pen to paper. Yeah. Metaphorically. I mean clearly, but also metaphorically. You're getting my point. Instead of taking paper, they're like searching online for inspiration, but accidentally kind of replicating it.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And that's just stifling the creativity.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. I think that can come from a couple of things, like a lack of one education. There are just there are things like rule of thumb visually that people are appealed to, and you can study those things and you can like learn them and like the rule of threes and like all these different things that you can just know in like certain lighting situations and and then just like being creative, like taking the time and like unplugging. And like as a as a music girly, it's still in my bones, but I had a teacher tell me one time, you like for for vocals at least, like when you're training classically, vocally, um, you can't help but start to not replicate, but like adapt habits, healthy habits, or not healthy habits from whoever you're listening to. And so if I'm listening to mainstream pop like 24-7, but I want to sing like classical music, I'm not gonna sound like I'm it's gonna not translate. But if I start filling my ears with music and and things and techniques that I want to be able to accomplish this goal, it's going to just inherently start moving that direction. And so I think the a byproduct, whether good or bad, of like even consuming online is like whatever is in front of your eyeballs, you might start to just create those types of things. And so that's gonna happen naturally sometimes. Like you, so like with even with your stuff, I remember you telling me, you showing me, and I was like, wow, super trendy. And you're like, wait, this is trendy. And it's just because it's in front of our eyeballs all the time. It's in front of our eyeballs all the time. And so I think it's just like the plight of like being a creative and online also all the time. And so I think what you're like clocking into is just an awareness that we have to have as creatives. It was like, okay, is this truly me? Like, let me look introspectively. Is this like really me and unique to me? Or did I just create something because I was on, you know, whoever's Instagram all day looking and studying and whatever? So they're like, yeah, it's just a really fine line to walk. But I think the second it turns into just like straight up copying because you're trying to bypass creativity, that's when, yeah, that's when it gets a little bit of a slippery slope.

SPEAKER_01

So I'm not a music girly. Yeah, I have like literally not a musical, yeah. I'm like not a musical boat in my body, can't sing, can't play a single instrument, can't read music. And rabbit hole. I'm like rabbit, or what is it? Rabbit trail, rabbit trail, but I'm not gonna go that far. Is that rabbit hole? Then like that is one thing that Travis, you know, rabbit hole, Travis and I really want to like instill that in our children. Like, we want them to be musically inclined. And like, if they're not good at it, it doesn't matter. But just like yeah, being able to have skill, yeah, is something that I like do wish that I had. Okay, but do you watch American Idol?

SPEAKER_02

I don't uh not consecutively like shows. I'll watch like Facebook clips. Don't hate me.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, no, I don't hate it. I used to as a kid, but not currently. Travis and I talk about this all the time because like American Idol, they like sing covers, right? And so like they come in and audition, and sometimes they'll do like original songs, and sometimes it goes good and sometimes it doesn't. Like this last I know you've seen this. Everyone in the world has seen this. Um, if you've watched American Idol, you know that Hannah Harper and her string cheese song. Absolutely that was this season. So I love to watch it, but we really we don't get we don't get much further than like the auditions, but she came in and sang an original song, which was String Cheese, which I loved, loved. I'm like, I get goosebumps when I even think about it. Like it was just so good and relatable. It's literally made Carrie Underly cry. Like it was so good. But then she like gets into, you know, when you get more into the show, they sing a lot of covers. But the issue in this like people are comparing though, and thinking, like, okay, but like in comparison to yeah, Reba McIntyre, she didn't sound and it's like, well, of course she didn't sound as good compared to Reba McIntyre, you know? And like I love that you brought that up because it did make me think about that. But it's like, and that's the problem. Yeah, and that's the problem that I'm making. Because, you know, if you are trying to replicate someone else's work, and I'm not just meaning like using it as inspiration, but like you're just not gonna be Reba. Like nobody's as good as Reba. Sorry, I love Reba. I'm like, she has to be, she has to be my example today because I love Reba. So, but it's like that's what I'm saying, is like Reba like is herself. Dolly Parton like is herself. There's just no replicating it. And I'm not saying the photographer or the creative entrepreneur that you found on Pinterest or on Instagram or scrolling reels or TikToks is, you know, that level, but it's like they've done it and it's performing well, and that's the reason that you're seeing it and like replicating replicating it, trying to make the same is going to keep you invisible. Yeah. And it's hard because I do think that social media, you will know this. I mean, I have a marketing degree, but it's I feel like it's expired because it's been so many years since I've like worked in marketing. Yeah, I do. But I'm like, social media does it reward like the trends and the repetition, right? So it's like if you use their trending audio, if you're posting repetitively, I think you have experience with this on TikTok specifically, but like posting a lot, showing up online a lot, then you're gonna be rewarded by that. So it is hard to kind of stray away from the trends or not like post what you see other people posting because you're like, I just want to post as much as I can. My marketing degree is expired. And I just like haven't worked like full time in marketing in so long that I always kind of joke that mine's expired. Like, if I wanted to jump back into marketing, I just don't even know if it'd be relevant because so much has changed in the last like four years. And of course, I like use marketing as a photographer and like to find clients for my business, but I was working at a marketing agency full time. So yeah, was obviously keeping updated. I was taking like the Google certification tests and doing all that kind of stuff and like really deep into it. And now I'm not. But even being out of it, I know that like social media rewards following the trends, posting the trends, and like the repetitive posting. And I know you know this from TikTok, but the more you post and the more that you engage with content, the more like social media rewards you, which shows your videos to more people, which obviously like brings in more followers and all of that. So you get to the point where you're like, what am I supposed to be posting? And then that's where you start posting what other people are posting.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. Make it like personal to you, but posting exactly what they're posting, but it in a lot of ways keeps you invisible because it's not like differentiating your brand at all. And like I said, I'm not talking about like the reels and like posting like the cutesy stuff that other people are posting. Just like more so, well, I'm hopping on this trend. I hate that's one of my like icks right now. It's like I'm hopping on and like hopping on this trend, or like you're like okay, just hop on this train. Yeah, hop on and like hop right off. It's like bother it bothers me so bad. Like, I saw it so much when people were like using Chat GPT to make those little like caricatures of themselves and whatever. And it was like hopping on this AI train, and I was like, I'm sick, dude. I don't want to see it anymore. I don't want to see it anymore. But and still, and like I still want to separate that from what we're talking about because that's just like a cutesy thing that people were doing. Yeah, and I'm not talking about like the cutesy things, I'm talking about differentiating your brand. Yeah. And like posting content and creating art that is unique to you. And that's what I mean. And I I don't, I don't want to speak like I feel like in a lot of ways, I don't want to speak for you. I can be really vague on the podcast of being like, don't do what everyone else is doing, like be yourself. And then if you're a listener, if you're like a starting out business owner, I know we have so many listeners on the podcast that are new in their business and they're thinking, like, okay, but how? Okay, but how? Okay, like I hear you, but like, can I have some like practical advice? And I'm like, sure, I have it. I have it today. What I had to do when I was going through my rebrand and had made my new logo and all the things was really like audit it. And I really looked through old work and new work that really brought me a lot of joy. I was Marie Kond, I was Marie Kondoing my work. Do you know Marie Kondo? I love Marie. I yes, I love Marie Kondo.

SPEAKER_02

I we're a Marie Kondo.

SPEAKER_01

We like to purge everything often. Crap is makes me want to like set mine on fire and start over because I'm like, y'all's is so organized and clean. It's like shocking. And when I'm cleaning up all the crap that I have in this house, I'm thinking Grace doesn't have all this. And I know it. It's not true because I've been there.

SPEAKER_02

I have a couple closets that are filled to the brim.

SPEAKER_01

Well, just no, but it I I'll believe it. So when I see it and I come over, I want you to open it and I want to look in it. And I like that will make me feel better. I'm like, I literally want to see the inside of your closet. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you. Um no, so Marie Kondo, I really looked through like 10 years of work and said, like, what sparks joy? And what of this like feels like me? And can I like remember these moments where I felt like creatively inspired, where I felt like, and maybe I wasn't even leading it, but like the couple did something that I was like, I just loved this, and this just was me. And it just yeah, it sparked joy and it made me happy. And I just like I loved it. So I pulled from that while working on my rebrand of this spark joy. And I'm going to like bring that into my new website. I'm gonna use these photos that I feel like were really representative of who I am as a creative and an artist and a business owner. Another practical advice. I'm going through my practical advice. So I'm like, I will, you know, just jump in whenever you want. But like auditing everything was like a good start of what do I love and kind of like leaning into that. Stop following accounts that make you second guess yourself. Yes, I'm clapping on this one. Yep. Clap. Clapping. And I have talked about this from a motherhood perspective. And I I know I talked about this like in regards to when I had Georgia, who is my first child, I was following this creator unintentionally, but she was like really struggling and going through some postpartum depression and anxiety, unlike anything I've ever seen. And because it was so prevalent in my feed, I kind of like began to like adopt that of like, oh my god, my baby's like waking up in the middle of the night and like this is the worst thing ever. And like I'm gonna cry and like feel sorry for myself and blah, blah, blah. When like it wasn't deep down how I was feeling, but it was like how it was being modeled to me. And I was like, this is how I'm supposed to feel. Yeah. I know like sounds cuckoo, but I'm like, it doesn't these accounts that you're seeing. Okay, thank you. I'm like, these accounts that you're seeing that are making you second guess yourself, and maybe it's a photographer that's on a different timeline than you and you're wishing you could create this content. I've always followed photographers that post content on the beach in Mexico, and it makes me second guess myself because I'm like, oh, I'm like in a barn in Texas and you're like on the beach in Mexico creating art. And I wish I was on a beach in Mexico creating art. So I'm like second guessing my success and creativity because it like looks different than someone else's.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. When if you're sure, in front of your face, you might not be able to oh my gosh. Exactly. Yeah, like if it wasn't in front of your face all the time.

SPEAKER_01

I was about to say, like, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, then you wouldn't even have a second list of people.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. Like if you weren't like having to see it, like it just exactly. And I think just unfollowing those people, and there's I mean, on like a personal note, there's like influencers I've had to unfollow just because of like the my life is perfect and like I'm the best mom, and just like that whole bit of, and I know it's a highlight reel, so I'm not like thinking, but I'm like, there are some that are just like toxic with their positivity that I'm like, it just ain't like that all the time. And I just like can't see it because I'm like, I I just can't. And I'm like, I try to be transparent with the fact that like I love being a mom, I love being a photographer, I love being a creative entrepreneur, but like there's ups and downs. We've we've got um highs and lows. Definitely we've got brights and blues. I think that's the reality of it. And when I don't see that sometimes I'm like, oh, okay, I can't like handle that. I can't handle that. But the last like three kind of like all tie in together, practical ways to kind of stand out and like differentiate. And the whole point I'm trying to drive through is it's not so much about like your logo, but like if people are scrolling your social media, are they able to kind of like know that it's you? Or if they're scrolling social media in general and see a picture, I feel like I have gotten a point in my career where people like know when they see like an orange glow. Yeah, I know you know. I know, I know you know. You always say like classic signature glow. Yes. Like you can tell by the way.

SPEAKER_02

I don't even have to see that it was you, or if you post a reel of photos, like I know it's you. I know before I even see your name. I'm like, that's Alex's photo. I just know.

SPEAKER_01

I love that. No, I love that. And I'm like, I also like on a whole other segue of a conversation, I feel like in that way I'm getting clients that like know exactly what they're receiving. So I'm happy about that. Because I'm like putting out stuff that I love and that's like true to me, like true to my like stylistic process and like to my brand. And then when people are hiring me, they like know what they're going to receive. Because like made that prevalent and like the highlight of my page. But so good. I want to like encourage listeners, our creative entrepreneurs specifically, not just photographers, but anyone to find inspiration outside of your industry. And this is why we just talked about this. Grace and I were lucky enough to shoot a wedding together literally last week with Caitlin Hayes, who we've had on the podcast before, and we mention on the podcast all the time. But she was with us doing content creation, and we were just talking about community and that aspect of being creative entrepreneurs again. And I just feel like this is another reason why that's so important. Yeah. Being in community with other creative entrepreneurs and different avenues can inspire your creativity and what you're working on. Don't you think? Yeah, for sure. And I just feel like drawing from other people can help with you creativity, creatively. And I feel like I said creativity. Creativity. No, no, I made that word. I made a word up. Draw inspiration from me for the fact that I make my own words up. Literally, like creativitatively. Travis hates when I do that. Travis hates when I do that. He's like, that's literally not a word. And I'm like, to me, it is. I made it up. Your mom would agree with me on that. She would. She would have been. She's like the queen of making up words. That's what I'm saying. She would be like, I love it. And she would start using it. I'm gonna tell her it. I just made up a word like creativitatively. No, literally. It literally. Okay, I'm gonna let you talk about this next one because I wrote this one like thinking of you. Thinking of you. Another practical way to stand out would be leaning into your personality instead of trying to sound fill in the blank. And I'm like any type of buzzword instead of trying to sound or present yourself as professional or luxury or timeless or trendy or documentary, anything like that, leaning into personality. And you've been harping on this.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I've I think I've been harping on it because it's something that I genuinely struggle with. I I think, and we talked about this a little bit before, either last episode or a couple ago. But just being able to like meld to a room, and I feel like I can unfortunately do that in any aspect of life. I don't know what that is, but it's really hard because like I don't want to be a people pleaser, but I really could easily do that. Even just since Andrew and I started Arisa House, I feel like so much has happened in the last six weeks of a lot of self-discovery and like what do I really care about? Who who do I feel like I am personally and in business? Just having lots of in-person conversations like you were kind of hitting on. And seeing like what comes of it organically, like what are the things that are actually coming out of my mouth? And you know, what am I actually prioritizing in my work? I think the stuff that we do and say naturally speaks volumes to actually who we can show up as, like in our business and our brand and our work. And yeah, I think even just this past wedding that we worked together, it wasn't a super trendy wedding. Like there were a lot of people there. For sure. I feel like the couple did like what they wanted to do. But I feel like overall there just weren't a lot of trends, and it just felt very authentic. And like there were just parts of the day that were like, that was done a little bit differently, but it was refreshing. And so like even that challenged me and like, okay, why am I why am I spinning my wheels trying to be like trendy for everybody else? I'm I'm rabbit trailing now, but I think I just I harp on it a lot, like figure out exactly, you know, who you're talking to, um, who you are in your business, and like again, like what sparks joy or whatever um is important to you. Something else, when you were talking about your work and what sparks joy, um, that is not necessarily everybody's goal. Specifically in photography, when they're creating, some people want to evoke different emotions. And so thinking about who you are as a photographer, seeing somebody's photos and being like, there's so much joy in their photos, and then looking at somebody else, and it just evokes a different emotion, like romance, or I don't know, just like really, you know, I love that. I think of like the stark contrasts from like me and a super, super serious through their work photographer. Um, it's just more serious and editorial, and it's just like that's not me. We can sprinkle a little bit in here and there, but yeah, just like doing what what feels right to you, just because somebody that's trending has work that seems like more serious or editorial or even joyful if that's not truly how you are. Trying to force that through your work is is gonna show and in your client experience too. So I'm trailing.

SPEAKER_01

I don't really know where I'm going, but I'm obsessed with what you said about like evoking emotion. Like that's like so true. And I honestly hadn't like gone down that trail. Personally, I hadn't thought about that because I'm like, I always just hope that like my photos are like evoking happiness and whatever. But I'm like, a lot of people have different emotions about wedding days. And I I I do sometimes struggle with like the more intimate, quiet moments of the day is because like I'm not intimate and quiet. So it was really interesting that you said that. That's just the reality. That's just the reality. It was interesting that you said that. And it really leads into like the last practical way that like I wanted to advise our listeners to stand out is maybe asking clients why they chose you. If you make yeah, like a good connection with a client, you could potentially ask, like, what about me? And like I'm I'm not shy, but like I'm so like, I don't know if I could ask this to, you know, maybe like a client that I didn't get to know is better, as well as I get to know like other clients, clients that I like became friends with or something like that. I'd be able to ask, like, what about my work made you choose me? Because then you can like lean into that. Like their answer might reveal your brand to you in like a way that's better than you know, if you audited your own or tried to figure it out yourself, like this may reveal it to you.

SPEAKER_02

That's like such a vulnerable question, too.

SPEAKER_01

Cause I don't know what the answer is gonna be. And like I think it in a lot of ways it would be easy for my clients to be like, because you shot there so many times, or like I was a bridesmaid in a wedding that you shot, and I just liked how you worked. But I'm like, if you're trying to get like a real feel of your work of, oh, well, like if I know you just said, but because of my like signature glow, and I'm like, I don't know if a client's really gonna say that if they're not, you know, a creative entrepreneur or have that aspect. But I think yeah, it can still like reveal to you the certain aspects of your work that are going really well. Of like, what did you see with mine that made you be like, I'm booking her? I think that would be a great place to start. Yeah. I just think I'm getting ready to book this up. If you're getting ready to recognize up, yeah, no, that's great. I I just feel like people, okay, on trying to differentiate like their style and their brand and kind of stray away from like the sameness in the industry. It's like you don't need to be louder. Like you just need to be more recognizable. And I it doesn't mean like visually unique. Yeah. Like just recognizable in that you're creating stuff that feels true to you, brings sparks joy, Marie Kondo style. And it kind of just makes you stand out. And I feel like that's why I wanted to share those practical ways of um, I don't think there's a right way to do it. I don't think that I could tell you exactly what you need to be doing to like make yourself stand out. I don't think I could give you one certain trend that's gonna go viral, but I just think that leaning into stuff that makes you happy and that feels like you is going to make you stand out and in the same way give you that like success, like personal success. And I'm not saying like making the most money or getting the most followers, but like rewarding, like rewarding yourself by putting out work that is more meaningful, right?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, for sure. I even look at some of the I'm thinking of two specific people in my head, photographers specifically. I won't say their names, but just big names in the social media. But I don't know if if it were for social media, if I would know who they were, but interesting. They're so well known and so talented, but the reason that they're even like blowing up is personality. It's just they're being who they are. That can be a conversation for another day about like how you show up. Yeah, yes, aside from just showing your work. But when you get to this certain place of like, okay, a lot of people know who I am, it's almost like you have to do the trends in order to keep up. So kind of take it as a luxury being able, especially if you're beginning in business, take it as a luxury that you get to like really dive deep into who you want to show up as. And if you are not new in the industry, any or whatever, take a breath to reassess. You're allowed to to just get a little bit more clarity. Like, did I lose my way? Do I need to unfollow a few people? But definitely like take it slow.

SPEAKER_00

100%.

SPEAKER_02

If you don't have 10,000 followers, good for you. Good for you. You have a really probably dedicated audience to your work and your reach may not be like thousands upon thousands, but you can be a lot more intentional, I think that way.

SPEAKER_00

So yeah, that's all.

SPEAKER_01

What you said just made me think like, um, no, it was good. And what you said just made me think like, haven't you heard people talk about like when you're starting like looking for a church or something like that? And people are saying, like, people sometimes feel nervous, like in smaller churches because they feel like they're being seen. And it's like you feel nervous. What's like in a in a mega church, like you're kind of just one of many, and you kind of like are are hidden in, and like there's totally pros and cons of it, you know. And like I I don't obviously want to go down like the church aspect of it, but making the point of if you have 10,000 plus followers, like you're one of many. And I think it's easy for your work to get buried under, you know, the thousands of people that followed you, maybe based on a viral post, versus being in like a smaller intimate setting, like in the local church that just popped up in your art center or whatever, and be having less followers, having like less numbers, and just like kind of being able to speak to an audience that you know is gonna be listening that's get to know you a little bit better, right? Yeah. Like I it's kind of like an off-the-wall reference, but I feel like it like totally relates to this topic. But yeah, I I want to, I'm gonna, I wanna end with two things. I want to end with a challenge to our listeners and then a new little second idea I had, which I'll kind of like introduce and then we'll use going forward. But I just want to challenge people, our listeners, our creative entrepreneurs specifically, to post something this week that feels undeniably you. That just it, and I don't just mean like an introduction post and saying that you love margaritas and sunsets, me, by the way. But I'm like, I want you to post something and work that maybe you've been shying away from because you're not sure how it's gonna perform, but it is undeniably you. And if it doesn't get the likes and the reach that you want, don't delete it. Leave it. Because I I I want to encourage, leave it. I want to encourage more showing up on social media that is work and creative stuff that's sparking joy that is you. Yes. And I'm standing on business with that. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. New segment idea how we're ending our episodes. Either I'm gonna have a question for Grace, Grace is gonna have a question for me. She does not know the question, and I just want to like end with like a funny little fun, a funny little fun. And so your question this week is what's your current creative obsession?

SPEAKER_02

Do we have context for this? Like getting super specific. Uh, creative obsession. Okay, so this isn't necessarily a creative obsession, but it does spark creativity. So I'm gonna say it. And I've said it before and I'll say it again. Um, I love writing things down. I will just have like a vision date with myself, and I will take pen to paper and I'll just like write down all of my hopes and dreams, even if they're like super wild crazy, and I don't throw it away. I don't tuck it away. I like save it where I can see it often. And even just writing those things down, getting them out of my head, can spark a little bit of creativity. And then I've been shooting a lot for fun. I've been doing lots of styled shoots just to like create whatever concepts I want to. Yeah. I think living in the same town and photographing the same people and for the same reasons, you don't necessarily get into a rut. I'm so thankful for the work, same locations, and then you like you're waiting for somebody to like ask you to do a cool shoot, and you're waiting and waiting and waiting, and you feel more stifled and stifled. And so I've just tried to like get out of my box a little bit and just shoot creatively, and also my kids. I love that. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Cute. Okay, that was a three-prong. Yeah, it was pretty. Yeah. I love it. Yay. That was a perfect way to end it. And please, to our listeners, resonate with the challenge, with the encouragement, and figuring out what your creative obsession is. Love it. I love it. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. Thank you for listening. Fun, exciting announcement to also end on. We're now on YouTube Shorts. So if you're scrolling YouTube, you may end up seeing a clip or two from us. So just send all your positive thoughts and vibes because we're hoping to have more reach there and more reach with this podcast.

SPEAKER_02

Because there's some my current creative obsession. Yeah. I know. There's some meanies over there on YouTube.

SPEAKER_01

So podcasts.

SPEAKER_02

I know it's bad.

SPEAKER_01

Not so far. Not for us. The podcast is my current creative obsession. Yeah. And so I just want more attention to it because it deserves it, in my opinion. And maybe I'm biased. But I don't care. Thank you guys. Until next time. Bye.