Episode 180 - Standing Out

Ready to shake up your photography business? In this episode of Get Your Shoot Together, Kira and Mary explore creative ways to stand out from the crowd. From playful marketing promises (think “If we don’t knock your socks off, the socks are on us!”) to the power of video content and even the idea of launching a podcast, they’re brainstorming all the fun ways to engage clients. Plus, Mary is gearing up to revamp her business for 2025, and she’s sharing all the juicy details. If you’re looking for fresh ideas with a sprinkle of humor, this episode is a must-listen!

This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced by Kira Derryberry and edited by Joel North.

Transcript

**Kira Derryberry:**  
This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at RetouchUp. RetouchUp—work smarter, not harder. Welcome to Get Your Shoot Together, the photographer's podcast where we discuss studio business, life, and keeping it all in line. I'm Kira Derryberry.

**Mary Fisk-Taylor:**  
And I'm Mary Fisk-Taylor, and we're just two chatty gals chatting it up on a very rainy Thursday here.

**Kira:**  
We always record like the week ahead, we try to anyway.

**Mary:**  
A little rainy here too. I think you guys already had this storm, Debbie, which is funny because my mom's name is Debbie. Every time I hear about her, I’m like, “Oh, Debbie, Debbie, Debbie.” Did you guys do okay?

**Kira:**  
It was fine. It landed in Florida, but it was coming straight for Tallahassee and then veered off to the right, so some other poor bastards got hit. We were okay. I lost a couple of plants, though, which I’m pretty bummed about.

**Mary:**  
Yeah, that’s a bummer.

**Kira:**  
But yeah, that’s just the way it is. Actually, it kind of worked out because everyone was prepared to take the day off, and then nothing really happened. So, we all kind of had a snow day, you know? The whole city did.

**Mary:**  
You had power and everything?

**Kira:**  
We lost power for a bit, but a stiff breeze will knock out the power over here, so it wasn’t that bad. But guess what I did this morning?

**Mary:**  
What?

**Kira:**  
I took baby Lucy to high school orientation.

**Mary:**  
That is insane. When we started this podcast, was she in fifth grade? She was in elementary school.

**Kira:**  
Yeah, for sure. She was in third or fourth grade. We started pre-pandemic, so she would’ve been in second or third grade. Can you believe we've been doing this that long?

**Mary:**  
I know, right? Time flies. And now she’s in high school? That’s crazy.

**Kira:**  
Yep, today was just orientation. It’s a huge high school—the oldest high school in Florida, actually. The Student Government Association hosted the orientation. They had drummers, pom-poms, and kids in grass skirts and costumes, welcoming everyone. The mascot was there too, booty bumping with people. It was really cute.

**Mary:**  
That’s adorable.

**Kira:**  
Yeah, Lucy was like, "This is more energy than I was expecting." But she’s in chorus now, so she got to see them perform. They sang the Star-Spangled Banner and the alma mater song. The band came out too, though they looked half asleep while drumming. But it was still cute.

**Mary:**  
High school—football games, dances, clubs. It’s a whole new world.

**Kira:**  
I wasn’t prepared, emotionally or mentally. We even had to go through security measures on campus, and they told us not to order DoorDash for the kids. I wouldn’t have even thought of that, but apparently, it’s a big enough issue that they had to address it.

**Mary:**  
Wow, times have changed. I mean, I could see sending lunch if you forgot, but DoorDash? That’s wild.

**Kira:**  
Yeah, but lunch is free here, so at least we have that. They also mentioned that when the bell rings, 2,000 students go to lunch at the same time. I’m a little worried, but we’ll survive.

**Mary:**  
Of course you’re worried—it’s a big change. But, you know, she’s going to do great. And speaking of changes, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I’m structuring my business for 2025. I feel like I need to do a bit of a restructure.

**Kira:**  
Oh, really? What kind of changes are you thinking about?

**Mary:**  
Well, I spent a lot of time last weekend working on my website—keywording images, rewriting copy, adding new photos, the whole shebang. I even tackled Google Analytics and Ads after getting certified. My Google rep said I hadn’t been in there since 2018, which was true. But now my performance is up 93%, which feels amazing.

**Kira:**  
Wow, that’s impressive! I think a lot of us are guilty of not paying enough attention to our Google dashboard.

**Mary:**  
Absolutely. And that’s just part of it. I also need to get better at video content. I’ve been putting it off for years, but I’m finally ready to tackle it. I just need to plan and create the content, and then I’m going to hire a VA to handle the editing and posting. There’s no way I can do it all myself.

**Kira:**  
I hear you. Video content is so important, but it’s also so daunting. And I hate the idea of making those cringy videos where people are just pointing and dancing.

**Mary:**  
Same! But I’m thinking more about creating content that showcases the client journey or highlights what we do. Maybe even start a podcast—who doesn’t have a podcast these days, right? But something that could serve as both a long-format piece and be chopped up into smaller bits for social media.

**Kira:**  
I like that idea. It’s more about sharing valuable content rather than just following trends.

**Mary:**  
Exactly. And I think it’s time to get creative with our marketing. I’ve been toying with the idea of leading with a promise or guarantee at the top of the funnel—something that really grabs attention.

**Kira:**  
Like what?

**Mary:**  
Well, I’m still figuring that out, but it could be something like, "If you don’t love your headshot, I’ll buy you a steak dinner." Something that’s bold and makes people pay attention.

**Kira:**  
That’s an interesting approach. It definitely would stand out.

**Mary:**  
Right? It’s all about getting people to stop and take notice in this noisy world. I’m excited to see where this goes.

**Kira:**  
Me too. You’ve got my wheels turning now. But let’s take a quick pause for our sponsor, and we’ll be right back.

**[Ad Break]**

**Kira:**  
Alright, and we are back.

**Mary:**  
Here we are, awesome, here we are.

**Kira:**  
Before we sign off, just a reminder that Imaging USA is coming up in February, right outside of Dallas. Registration is open, and you can even get a discount on Delta flights if you book now.

**Mary:**  
Absolutely. And don’t forget about the pre-con classes—Kira is teaching one on using Chat GPT that’s going to be amazing.

**Kira:**  
Yes, definitely check it out. And Mary will be on the main stage on Tuesday, so you don’t want to miss that either.

**Mary:**  
Oh, and one more thing! The Professional Photographers Podcast by PPA is live, and Kira was the first guest. It’s full of business insights, so be sure to give it a listen.

**Kira:**  
Thanks, Mary! And with that, we’re going to wrap this up. You guys can follow us on Instagram at Get Your Shoot Together, follow us on Facebook at Get Your Shoot Together, and email us at girl@getyourshoottogether.com. Subscribe to us everywhere podcasts are played, and we will see you guys next time.

**Mary:**  
Thanks, y’all!