138 - Hustling as a Photographer: How to Build Influence and Maintain Success

As photographers, we know that talent alone isn't always enough - you have to get in the room where the decisions are made. Whether it's landing that dream client, getting your work in front of an editor, or securing a high-profile gig, the hustle to be seen and heard is real. In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, we dive into the strategies photographers use to break through barriers and position themselves for success. From networking tips to making the most of every opportunity, we'll explore how to turn connections into career-changing moments. If you've ever wondered how to get past the gatekeepers and into the conversations that matter, this episode is for you. Let's start making moves! Episode Promos This episode contains promos for: Elementor Wordpress Website Builder - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/elementor Narrative AI Culling, Editing, and Publishing - https://narrative.so/select?affiliate=casey2746 Siteground Website Hosting - https://www.siteground.com/go/nerdy Backblaze Cloud Backup Services - https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup/personal#afc32p Support The Nerdy Photographer Want to help The Nerdy Photographer Podcast? Here are a few simple (and mostly free) ways you can do that: Subscribe to the podcast! Tell your friends about the podcast Sign up for the newsletter - https://nerdyphotographer.com/newsletter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CaseyFatchett Buy a print from the print shop - https://caseyfatchettphotography.pic-time.com/art Follow on Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenerdyphoto Follow on Threads - https://threads.net/@thenerdyphoto Follow on BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/thenerdyphoto.bsky.social Follow in Tiktok - https://tiktok.com/@thenerdyphoto Get some Nerdy Photographer merchandise - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/nerdy-photographer If you're feeling extra generous, check out our support page - https://nerdyphotographer.com/support-nerdy-photographer/ About My Guest Karen Williams is a keynote speaker, course creator, and creator of Black Visual Queen, a company that is working to bring diversity to the professional photography industry. She has worked in the industry for over 15 years as a Photo Editor. She is in charge of hiring photographers for clients like Wired, Masterclass, Square, and AARP. She is the decision-maker sitting in fancy rooms with top people debating which photographer to hire and why, and has had a hand in visual stories for dozens of iconic brands. She is also a photography thought leader on LinkedIn, sharing industry knowledge. She knows what it takes for a photographer to get hired, and her mission is to help people get access to the information and resources they need to succeed in commercial photography. You can learn more about Karen on her website or on Instagram You can also purchase Karen's new book, The Photo Hustle, on Amazon - https://amzn.to/44fzGd6 About The Podcast The Nerdy Photographer Podcast is written and produced by Casey Fatchett. Casey is a professional photographer in the New York City / Northern New Jersey with more than 20 years of experience. He just wants to help people and make them laugh. You can view Casey's wedding work at https://fatchett.com or his non-wedding work at https://caseyfatchettphotography.com    If you have any questions or comments about this episode or any other episodes, OR if you would like to ask a photography related question or have ideas for a topic for a future episode, please reach out to us at https://nerdyphotographer.com/contact