PODCAST · business
Focused AF
by Focused AF
Focused AF is a (fun) business-focused podcast for wedding creatives, co-hosted by award-winning husband-and-wife wedding photography teams Ben & Karis, and Jenn & Ro, where we help fellow wedding creatives with their sales & marketing, with laid-back conversations and real talk with some of our most favorite people in the universe.
Episodes
-
S4E58 - Jason Vinson - Finding Your Style in an Oversaturated Industry
Every photographer hits a point where they wonder: How do I make my work look more like me and less like everyone else? Jason Vinson joins us for a conversation on creativity, growth, and building a body of work that stands out in an increasingly crowded industry. In this episode, we cover: How…
more -
S4E57 - Chris "DJ O" Obando of SCE on Timing, Burnout & Saying Yes When It Actually Matters
Have you ever been in that phase where you’re doing the responsible thing, but also building something on the side, and both are starting to fight each other. One is paying your bills, the other one is quietly telling you this is the thing, and you don’t know when to pull the trigger. That’s this...
-
S4E56 – WPPI 2026: What’s Changing in the Photography Industry (and What Actually Matters)
After a six-month break, we’re back—and catching up on everything from life updates to what we saw at WPPI 2026. This year felt different. More focus on content creation, social media, and business education than ever before, along with a new wave of voices entering the industry. In this episode,...
-
Episode 055 - Sausages, Etsy Witches & Sparkler Bans: Behind the Scenes at Indian Trail Club
Ever wish you could sit down with the people who actually run the venues - and ask what they really think about us? In this episode, the Focused AF crew talk with Debbie and Dana from Indian Trail Club, who’ve seen everything from rain dances to rogue vendors. They share candid (and hilarious)...
-
Episode 054 – From High School Teacher to Full-Time Photographer with Alexandra Peterson
When she wasn't teaching high school Spanish and French, she spent nights and weekends photographing weddings, blogging, and slowly building a brand from scratch. Eventually, Alexandra Peterson left the classroom behind and turned her side hustle into a full-time photography business with an...
-
Episode 053 - From Brooklyn to Santorini: Joshua Dwain on Luxury Weddings, Travel Drama & Creative Growth
In this laugh-out-loud, real-talk episode, we sit down with acclaimed Brooklyn-based wedding and editorial photographer Joshua Dwain — and it’s a ride. From navigating high-end weddings and dramatic destinations to dodging border patrol in Canada, Joshua pulls back the curtain on what it's really...
-
Episode 052: Wedding Contracts, Legal Red Flags & Pandemic Lessons with Leah Weinberg
In this episode, we sit down with Leah Weinberg—former wedding planner turned attorney and founder of Weinberg Legal—to dive deep into the wild legal landscape of the wedding industry. From pandemic cancellations and vendor scams to real-life contract horror stories, Leah shares her unique...
-
Episode 051 - Nicole Hoffman Talks About CRMS
In this episode of The Focused AF Podcast, Ben, Jen, and Ro sit down with the incredible Nicole Hoffman – a wedding photographer, educator, and CRM expert – to talk all things business, systems, and sustainability in the photography world.Nicole shares her inspiring journey from law school…
more -
Episode 050 - Rabih Madi
What happens when talent, passion, and humility collide? You get Rabih Madi — an award-winning wedding photographer from Montreal and the guest on this week’s episode! Rabih isn’t just capturing weddings; he’s creating art that’s turning heads on international stages. Fresh off a major win at…
more -
Episode 049 - Jessica Rodriguez Hanselman of Crossed Keys Designs
This week, we’re diving deep into all things weddings, florals, and conference life! We kick off with a full WPPI recap — sharing our experience staying at the newly renovated Rio, the highs and lows of conference events, and why the value you get is what you make of it. Then, we sit down with…
more -
Episode 048 - Kelly Sea
While we can all admit that 2024 (and even 2025) have been unusual years for the wedding industry, there are several outliers who've been bucking this trend of doom & gloom that seems to be everywhere you look. In today, episode, we interview one of those outliers: Kelly of Kelly Sea Images. Not...
-
Episode 047 - John Branch IV
John Branch IV is a father, husband, photographer, and educator - but most importantly, he's a fellow gear head and YouTuber! Learn how he maintains his work-life balance amidst his busy work & travel schedule, as well as his impressive content creation workflow. You can check out John Branch IV...
-
Episode 046 - Stephen Capone of Pearl Paper Studio
Everybody wants to know how to grow an associate team - but what if you're on the other end of that coin? What if you simply wish to photograph gorgeous weddings on the weekends for other studios? As a veteran associate lead photographer of Pearl Paper Studio for over the past 11 years, Stephen...
-
Episode 045 - 2024 Year End Wrap Up
What did we accomplish this year? What do we hope to accomplish in 2025? Today's drink is an Apple Cider Old Fashioned - 1 oz bourbon - 2 oz apple cider - splash of bitters - garnish with cinnamon stick
-
Episode 044 - Struggles, Mistakes & Lessons Learned
When people see you at the top of your game, they oftentimes don't see the blood, sweat, and tears that go into building a profitable business. It's a common theme that you hear with success stories - this concept is neither new (nor inspirational, for that matter). However for better or worse,...
-
Episode 043 - BONUS EPISODE | Ask Us Anything
We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to answer viewer questions about sales, marketing, and business. Side note: we may/may not have strayed off topic to talk about silly things going on in our personal lives!
-
Episode 042 - Christopher Stiles & Jennifer Zapatka Lens & Light Summit
One of the best things your favorite podcast cohosts have ever done for our businesses was attend conferences, both here at home and abroad. Hands down, it's one of the quickest ways to level up your skills, build your portfolio, and grow your professional network - all the key ingredients to...
-
Episode 041 - Brielle Uszenski of I Do Wedding & Event Planning
Brielle Uszenski of I Do Wedding & Event Planning stops by the studio to chat about managing client expectations, creative personalities, and all the crazy shenanigans when nobody listens to her professional advice. You can check her out here: https://www.ido-planning.com/ IG:...
-
Episode 040 - Jason Nelson
If you think that trying to make a living through wedding photography is hard, try being a musician! The Essential Jason Nelson joins us in the studio and shares how he's been able to niche down, leverage social media, and create a thriving brand that most of us can only dream of. You can check…
more -
Episode 039 - Scott Wyden Kivowitz
You might know Scott as the community manager of a very well known AI post-production company, but he's also a husband, father, mental health advocate, podcaster, musician, expert on all things NJ, and of course - the occasional photographer. His path to where he is today was not an easy one, as...
-
Episode 038 - Amanda Hudes of Smiling Through Chaos
Contrary to popular opinion, there's more to wedding planning than just the fun, creative parts and building the dream team that will bring a vision to life; there are also countless hours of firefighting, budgeting, and coordination that goes on behind the scenes to make all these things happen…
more -
Episode 037 - Fabio Miglio
As full-time professionals in the wedding industry, it's easy to attribute our hardships and struggles to a flailing economy, the quality of our work, our (lack of) sales & marketing skills, or even national politics. But as we learn from Fabio Miglio (named 2021 Europe's Best Wedding…
more -
Episode 036 - Kelly Seca of Gifted Events
In this day in age of countless online resources and tools at our fingertips, do engaged couples still need a wedding planner? And if you're a wedding creative, what are wedding planners looking for when they're building their creative team to help bring their clients' vision to life? Kelly Seca…
more -
Episode 035 - Andre Brown
How do you start your business when you've got no portfolio, no industry connections, and you find yourself in a market that's just overflowing with talent? Andre Brown of the Bokeh Photo Summit knows a thing or two about starting from the ground up, and is now one of the most decorated,...
-
Episode 034 - Ben Davis
"Some people are so consumed and pre-occupied with their product, that they forget the EXPERIENCE is a part of that product." Our good friend Ben Davis dropping GOLD on this episode with the Focused AF crew. Learn how he attracts and serve his high-end luxury clients, while juggling his VERY busy...
-
Episode 033 - Ideal Client Profiles
The secret to getting more bookings isn't being everything to everyone. As you'll learn in this episode, we all have an ideal client that our brands are best equipped to serve. And if you can be everything to just a few select customers in your market, this secret alone should keep you busy,...
-
Episode 032 - Jonathan 4k Weddings
If you think that being a wedding photographer in this day in age is hard, try being a wedding filmmaker! We won't argue it's been a strange year for most of us, where it's easy to blame the economy and newbies racing to the bottom of the barrel. Despite this, Jonathan of 4k Wedding Films…
more -
Episode 031 - Taylor Jackson
Taylor Jackson is a husband, dog-dad, world-traveler, photographer, educator, and pizza-connoisseur. In this episode, we learn how he keeps his creative energy up, year-in and year-out, even after having done over 1000+ weddings in his career. You can check him out here: IG: @taylorjackson…
more -
Episode 030 - Angela Shae
"I never signed up to be an influencer." "I never signed up to be a content-creator." "I signed up to create pretty things....and that's it." When you signed up to be a business owner in the wedding industry, you signed up to do whatever it takes to get people to fall in love with your work, your...
-
Bonus: Focused AF & Go-Getting Creative (LIVE) - Pt 2
On this episode, we continue to share some of our sales & marketing tips/strategies that have allowed us to attract/book new clients during an otherwise slow(er) year.
-
Bonus: Focused AF & Go-Getting Creative (LIVE) - Pt 1
On this episode, the Focused AF cohosts join Ben on his weekly live, to talk about their recent influx of inquiries and bookings. We share some tips/strategies that have helped our brands continue to book clients during this otherwise strange time for other business owners.
-
Episode 029 - Fernando Serrano
Managing a wedding business that does 400+ events a year is no small feat; but that is exactly what Fernando Serrano and his partner do at Blanc Noir Event Group. Learn how he leverages his time, charm, and relationships to maintain one of the busiest and most successful entertainment companies…
more -
Episode 028 - Andrew "Fundy" Funderberg
"Fundy Designer software saves marriages, one photographer at a time." That's our story, and we're sticking with it. As longtime users of Fundy's software, as well as patrons of his infamous Fundy parties in Vegas, we're incredibly honored to now consider Fundy a colleague and friend. In today's...
-
Episode 027 - Gricel Rivera
It's not easy being a full time mom, wife, and full time wedding photographer. As a way of reclaiming some work-life balance back to her growing family, Gricel Rivera transitioned to studio work during the pandemic and never looked back. In this episode we talk about: How she transitioned from...
-
Episode 026 - Focused AF Summit Recap
When Ben & Karis decided to host a summit, we knew it wasn't going to be easy nor perfect. In this episode, we recount all the lessons and victories that we picked up along the way, and how they're going to improve their next conference.
-
BONUS: 2023 Recap
Here's a look back at some of our fave moments in 2023.
-
Episode 025 - Leandro Da Silva
Some of the most talented photographers we know are perpetual students of their craft; they never stop learning, even when they're at the top of their game. Despite having won dozens of industry awards in his career, Leo continues on his quest to become a better photographer every single day - by...
-
Episode 024 - Sam Hurd
When you're as busy guy like Sam Hurd, you embrace all the nifty tools you have at your disposal that help you become a lean, green, creative machine. In today's episode, we learn a little bit more about Sam's backstory and journey to the present day, as well as all the exciting ways he's…
more -
BONUS HOLIDAY EPISODE - Year End Wrap-Up and 2024 Goals
No season would be complete without a boozy, ugly-sweater party to wrap up our first year as podcasters! In this episode, we recount some of our favorite moments this year, and what we've got planned for next year. With that being said, are you guys Focused AF for 2024? Sound off in the comments...
-
Episode 023 - Ken Pak
Ken Pak is an industry veteran who injects his special brand of humor and perspective in life, photography, and everything that he does. Learn about his life-long journey to finding his voice as an artist, how industry awards have shaped his trajectory over the years, and why you should always be...
-
Episode 022 - Tori Kelner
Tori Kelner is a branding expert who shares with us how her personal brand has allowed her to attract her dream clients on autopilot, and how she leverages this branding in her business. We also learn about her love of Britney Spears, Harry Potter and fluffy socks (all the stuff we love as…
more -
Episode 021 - Andrea & Richard Flores
In today's episode, learn how Andrea & Richard Flores grew their little photography passion into a full-fledged, full-service photography studio, allowing them maximize their revenue-per-client and balancing a hectic home life with 3 kids and 50 chickens! Today's drink is a salted-caramel apple...
-
Episode 020 - Wedding Planning Tips for Couples & Vendors (Part 2)
We continue our talk about finding/hiring the perfect photographer, the power of print, and how we can pro-actively get ahead of venues/bridal attendants who go rogue!
-
Episode 019 - Wedding Planning Tips For Couples & Vendors (Part 1)
This episode is for all the brides & grooms! (and also the vendors who love 'em). These are all the tips that you're not going to find on TheKnot, WeddingWire or a Google search. In this episode, we talk about finding the perfect: Venues Hair & Make-Up Artists Videographers What are some of the...
-
Episode 018 - Marvin Flavien
If you're not leveraging video in your marketing, you're missing out on a HUGE opportunity to reach your audience in a powerful and impactful way - and Marvin Flavien tells us why. Marvin will also be sharing the stage with us at the Focused AF Summit next January 11th, and you can get tickets...
-
Episode 017 - Let's Talk Pricing!
"How much should I charge?" It's one of the most commonly asked questions, especially for newcomers and transplants alike. As we discuss in today's episode, sometimes it's not so simple as seeing what others are charging in your market, and then simply going from there. When it comes to pricing...
-
Episode 016 - Nikisha King
In today's episode with Nikisha King, we talk about the importance of having the right people around you, having the right mindset, and having the right systems and processes in place to help you succeed in your business, while serving your clients (and others around you) in a meaningful way....
-
Episode 015 - Serving Your Customers
Remember that moment during the initial consultation where you promised the clients that you'd always go "above-and-beyond" for them, and that your customer service is probably the best thing since sliced bread? Did you really mean it when you promised them all those things? Or do you find…
more -
Episode 014 - Let's Talk About Traffic & Bookings
How's everyone doing with their inquiries and bookings? In today's episode, we get into some real talk about what's been working for us and the 4 photography brands that we have between us. As you'll learn - not only do we all get our inquiries in very different ways, our clients book us for all...
-
Episode 013 - Prioritizing Your Clients Over Your Portfolio
Every time you snap a photo, ask yourself this (and be honest): are you doing it for the clients, or are you doing it for yourself, your brand, or your portfolio? As artists and business owners, we all have our own reasons for doing things the way we want to do them. But at the end of the day…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Focused AF is a (fun) business-focused podcast for wedding creatives, co-hosted by award-winning husband-and-wife wedding photography teams Ben & Karis, and Jenn & Ro, where we help fellow wedding creatives with their sales & marketing, with laid-back conversations and real talk with some of our most favorite people in the universe.
HOSTED BY
Focused AF
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Focused AF have?
Focused AF currently has 63 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Focused AF about?
Focused AF is a (fun) business-focused podcast for wedding creatives, co-hosted by award-winning husband-and-wife wedding photography teams Ben & Karis, and Jenn & Ro, where we help fellow wedding creatives with their sales & marketing, with laid-back conversations and real talk with some of our...
How often does Focused AF release new episodes?
Focused AF has 63 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Focused AF?
You can listen to Focused AF on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Focused AF?
Focused AF is created and hosted by Focused AF.
URL copied to clipboard!