Episode Summary

This episode is a special one because sometimes the people behind the lens aren’t photographers… but they are absolutely part of how the magic gets made.

I’m sitting down with my longtime friend and college choir/theatre buddy, Patrick Clayton, the creative force behind Patrick J. Clayton Productions, a bi-coastal, full-service event production company creating large-scale branded experiences across the country.

We talk about growing up in Nebraska, finding your way to New York City, building a business from a spare bedroom, and what really goes into producing events that look effortlessly.

And yes… Patrick shares a confession booth story involving an 1,100-person event he thought was happening the next day. 😅

⏱️ What We Cover (Timestamps)

[0:00] Welcome & real-life check-inQuarter four sales, world chaos, and why “just do whatever you want” sometimes feels valid.

[2:24] How Kate and Patrick know each otherDoane College (and why it will always be Doane College), choir, theatre, and lifelong creative friendships.

[7:56] Studying business while living in the artsWhy Patrick didn’t have a master plan — and how a business degree plus creativity changed everything.

[9:50] The moment he knew it was time to leave NebraskaSupportive mentors, big conversations, and choosing a bigger world.

[11:16] Moving to New York CityFashion-focused business school, retail design, visual merchandising, and learning corporate life fast.

[12:54] Working for Pret A MangerNearly a million-dollar employee experience budget — and the only job Patrick ever loved while leaving.

[13:34] Discovering event productionCreative services, entertaining instincts, and realizing this could actually be a career.

[14:28] Starting a business with three months’ rent savedWhat it looked like in the beginning — and why that leap mattered.

[17:48] What a bi-coastal production company actually doesBranded events, PR activations, pop-ups, launches, charity dinners, and nationwide logistics.

[20:49] Growing from a spare bedroom to a full floor studioContainer Store shelves, flower district studios, wood shops, and gradual growth.

[24:08] Decorating the East Wing of the White HouseHow Patrick applied, what the warehouse looks like, replica doorways, Secret Service escorts, and why it still matters.

[29:31] Being asked back as a White House docentGuiding military families and accidentally ending up in national photos.

[32:25] Rising costs, tariffs, and hard conversationsWhy flowers, plywood, wire, and ribbon affect everything — and how creatives are pivoting.

[35:30] How cost pressure impacts creativityStaying inspired while still running a business and paying the bills.

[37:07] Patrick’s creative process, step-by-stepClient calls, budgets, decks, renderings, logistics, and the “fun things vs non-fun things.”

[40:32] Why behind-the-scenes content mattersWhat people don’t see — elevators, unions, freight access, and build timing.

[43:36] Photography relationships done rightRespecting boundaries, fees, shot lists, and choosing the right photographer for the job.

[47:17] Learning what you like as a clientHorizontal vs vertical, atmosphere vs people, and trusting the experts.

[51:14] Rapid Fire Questions• Florals vs planning vs set building• Must-have production tools• Dream location (Paris 👀)• Creative style as a movie genre (hello, dramedy)

[56:16] Event Confession BoothThe 1,100-person event… on the wrong day.

[1:00:35] Fix it first, feel laterWhy compartmentalizing emotions is a survival skill in creative work.

💬 Quotes to Remember

“We make pretty things… and we also buy plywood.”

“The client shows up at 3 PM and wants the same result.”

“I’m this kid from Nebraska, carrying ornaments to the East Wing of the White House.”

“It’s amazing how good a good box cutter is — and how bad a bad one is.”

“We get irrationally excited when an event is on ground level.”

🔗 Connect with Patrick

• • Website: https://www.patrickjclaytonproductions.com

• • Instagram: @PJCPROD

Episode Title:The One with the Studio Keys: Opening a Photography Studio – Lessons, Surprises & What I Would Do Differently

Episode Description:What is it really like to open your own photography studio?

In this solo episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate shares her 12-year experience of owning a studio — the good, the unexpected, and the honest lessons she’s learned along the way.

From indoor headshot sessions and client consultations to overhead costs and long-term sustainability, this episode is a grounded look at studio ownership without the hype. A studio can be an incredible tool — but it isn’t right for everyone, and that’s okay.

If you’ve ever considered opening a studio (or already have one), this episode will help you think more clearly about what a studio should support — and what it shouldn’t.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why Kate chose to open a studio and why she’s kept it for 14 years

• The benefits of having a dedicated indoor space for headshots and sessions

• How a studio changes the client experience before the shoot

• The importance of separating work life and home life

• The reality of overhead and ongoing expenses

• Surprising challenges of studio ownership

• What Kate would think through differently if she were starting again

• Why a studio should support your business — not define it

Key Takeaway:Owning a studio isn’t a milestone you have to reach — it’s a business decision. The right choice is the one that aligns with how you want to work, not what you think you’re supposed to do.

🎧 If this episode resonated, share it with a photographer navigating their next big decision.

✨ Subscribe to The One Behind the Lens for honest conversations about photography, business, and the real behind-the-scenes.

“A studio should support your business — not define it.”

The One Behind the Lens — Guest: Shayna Lloyd (Montana Diaries)

If you’ve been flirting with the idea of adding video to your photography business (but your brain is like… absolutely not), this episode is for you.

I’m hanging out with Shayna Lloyd from Montana Diaries, and we get real about what hybrid shooting actually looks like—without the tech-bro energy, without the pressure to become a full-time filmmaker overnight, and without turning your workflow into chaos.

We talk iPhone video add-ons, mindset shifts, how to tell better stories without forcing “storytelling moments,” and the 5-shot framework Shayna uses to make any session feel cinematic—whether it’s a wedding, seniors, or brand work.

Also: the Photo Confession Booth story at the end? I will never recover. 😂

What We Cover (Timestamps)

[2:19] Shayna’s origin storyYearbook kid energy, YouTube travel diaries, and how “Montana Diaries” accidentally turned into a business.

[7:03] Finding her style: “vlog meets indie film”Why trying to shoot like everyone else made her work worse—and what changed when she filmed weddings like she filmed vlogs.

[10:34] What “adventurous + laid back” actually meansFlexible couples, timeline lovers, and not posing your way through your own memories.

[12:25] The truth about becoming hybridIt wasn’t a cute “I followed my passion” story—Shayna built it with reps, practice, and saying yes before she felt ready.

[14:22] Myths (and fears) about adding videoThe fears are real—so Shayna breaks down what’s actually practical and what deliverables make sense.

[16:08] Why video is easier to sell now than everThe market is already educated. People get video. You’re not convincing them—it’s already everywhere.

[17:33] The simplest place to start: iPhone video add-onHow to add it to your pricing guide, test demand, and let one paid client push you into practice mode.

[18:00] Shayna’s iPhone add-on strategy (and why vendors go feral for it)100–200 raw clips in a folder, delivered fast, shared with every vendor, and your name stays in the conversation all year.

[20:29] How she physically shoots iPhone clipsNo fancy rig. iPhone literally resting on the lens. Five to ten seconds, then back to work.

[22:10] Senior photographers—this part is goldIntern Morgan’s graduation film idea: multi-season sessions + extra footage + premiere at grad parties = genius (and solves client churn).

[24:39] Storytelling without making your clients actStop “pulling story out” of people like they’re actors. Learn story structure and shoot it like a filmmaker.

[26:07] Shayna’s 5-shot storytelling frameworkWide shot, long shot, close-up/extreme close-up, detail shots, B-roll (and what B-roll is actually for).

[29:17] Hybrid shooting during time-sensitive momentsWhat to prioritize during first looks, ceremony, speeches—and how to communicate expectations so you’re not promising impossible moments.

[34:47] Hybrid Hangout: what it is + who it’s forShayna’s teaching style: dumb fun energy + real results. Plus a freebie you can grab right now.

[36:13] Rapid fire funPhoto vs video, favorite “gear,” underrated hybrid skills, dream locations (Italy + Greece), and her creative style as a movie genre.

[43:14] Work + family + travel (honest version)No perfect balance talk—just real life, seasons, and what actually makes it work.

[49:34] Photo Confession Booth (YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS)Shayna’s most chaotic wedding moment…and yes, it’s as shocking as it sounds.

Resources + LinksConnect with Shayna

• Hybrid Hangout (Free Video Upsell Starter Kit): https://hybridhangout.com

• Shayna Lloyd / Montana Diaries: https://montanadiaries.com

• IG: hybridhangout

💬 Quotes to Remember

“It’s easier to love something when you’re good at it — and the only way to get good is reps.”— Shayna Lloyd

“Professional doesn’t mean bland. It just means you deliver what you promised.”— Shayna Lloyd

“You don’t need to pull a story out of people. If you are, you’re probably directing a weird romance film.”— Shayna Lloyd