Episode Description:

As photographers, it’s easy to think upgrading for a new year means buying new gear. But after years in business, Kate has learned that smoother workflows and better systems matter just as much — if not more.

In this solo episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate walks through the core systems and base gear she relies on to keep her business running smoothly heading into 2026. From client management and galleries to backup camera bodies and versatile lenses, this episode focuses on reliability, simplicity, and reducing stress — not chasing trends.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the “must-have” recommendations out there, this episode will help you refocus on what actually supports your work and your clients.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why systems matter more than shiny new gear

• The client management tools Kate uses for bookings, contracts, and questionnaires

• Website, gallery, and financial systems that reduce friction

• Why upgrading doesn’t always mean replacing

• Base gear every photographer should consider for reliability

• Why having two camera bodies matters

• Versatile lens choices that cover most photography needs

• Simple lighting solutions like speedlights

• The importance of extra batteries and SD cards

• How to think intentionally about upgrades for 2026

Key Takeaway:Upgrading your business isn’t about having more — it’s about having fewer points of failure. Strong systems and reliable base gear create confidence, consistency, and ease.

Mentioned in This Episode:

VSCO: https://workspace.vsco.co/join/kate-decoste-photographyXERO: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6em3r8aysbyoPHOTOBIZ: https://landing-page.photobiz.com/behind-the-lensPIXIESET: https://pixieset.com/a/katedecoste

🎧 Some tools mentioned include affiliate links that may offer a discount. Kate only shares tools she genuinely uses and trusts.

✨ Subscribe to The One Behind the Lens for honest conversations about photography, business, and building systems that support your life.

🎙️ The One Where Photographers Build a Business They LoveClient Experience, Confidence & Connection with Rachel Larsen WeaverIn this episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate DeCoste sits down with photographer and educator Rachel Larsen Weaver for a deep, honest conversation about what it really means to build a photography business you actually love.Rachel shares how she’s created a body-affirming, deeply welcoming client experience — and why making people feel safe in front of the camera often matters more than perfect lighting or flawless posing. From saying “yes” to a glass of water to shifting sessions from transactional to relational, this episode is packed with practical ways to create connection, comfort, and confidence for your clients.You’ll hear about:

• How client safety and body confidence change the way people show up on camera
• Building a portfolio that feels like a true invitation (not a closed door)
• Creating long-form, experience-driven sessions instead of cookie-cutter shot lists
• Using writing and storytelling as part of your photography marketing and brand voice
• What it means to make your business feel aligned, sustainable, and creatively fulfilling

If you’re a photographer who wants to attract better-fit clients, build stronger relationships, and create work that feels meaningful — this one’s for you.

🔗 Connect with RachelWebsite: rachellarsonweaver.comInstagram: @rachel.larson.weaverEducation & Workshops: Available through her website (including The Words Workshop and photography education waitlists)

🔗 Connect with KateHost: Kate DeCosteInstagram: @katedecosteWebsite: www.katedecostephotography.comKate’s website is packed with resources for photographers, including education, business tools, and creative guidance for building a photography brand that feels aligned, confident, and sustainable.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Recording jitters & the awkward art of podcast intros

01:30 – “Creator of moments”: blending art, parenting, and teaching

04:25 – What “a damn good time” actually looks like in a session

07:45 – Why saying “yes” to water changes the client experience

09:50 – Building a fat-affirming, welcoming photography business11:15 – The industry advice that made Rachel double down on doing it differently

13:20 – Why your portfolio is an invitation (and who feels excluded when it’s not)

15:55 – The “20-pound myth” and why waiting for photos keeps people invisible18:20 – Social media, representation, and curating what you see

29:45 – Marketing in your own voice (and why writing matters)

32:45 – What long-form photography sessions really look like

36:30 – Co-creating a “best day” instead of a shot list38:00 – How body safety changes the way clients show up on camera

42:30 – Trust, comfort, and why hands matter more than you think

47:10 – How photographers can start creating more affirming work

48:55 – The power of self-portraits for building connection and trust

52:50 – The Words Workshop & using writing as a creative practice

57:00 – Rapid fire: underrated skills & creative style

59:40 – Photo Confession Booth: “the puppy ate the roll of film”

1:01:40 – Where to find Rachel & stay connected

💬 Shutter Squad Quote Board

“Your portfolio is an invitation. If people don’t see themselves in it, they won’t think the invitation is for them.”

“Saying yes to the water isn’t about the drink — it’s about shifting the energy from transaction to relationship.”

“Comfort is contagious. When someone feels safe in their body, everything in the photo softens.”

“Don’t wait to lose 20 pounds to take the picture. This moment still matters.”

🎙️ About the Show The One Behind the Lens is a podcast for photographers and creatives who want to grow their business without losing their voice, values, or love for the craft. New episodes drop regularly — subscribe for conversations about photography, creativity, marketing, and the real human side of running a creative business.

In this solo episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate DeCoste dives into one of the most overlooked (and most powerful) parts of building a sustainable photography business: repeat clients.

This isn’t about luck, magic, or chasing constant new inquiries. It’s about what happens after the gallery is delivered— and how the way you communicate, follow up, and make people feel turns one-time bookings into lifelong cheerleaders who come back, refer you, and trust you as your business grows.

From real-world referral stories to simple, human follow-ups that actually build loyalty, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using right away.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why repeat clients are easier to book, easier to raise prices with, and more likely to refer you

• How trust and experience beat SEO and ads when it comes to long-term growth

• Why people come back because of how you made them feel — not just how the photos look

• How to plant the seed for future sessions without being salesy

• Simple follow-up habits that turn clients into long-term relationships

• How to shift from “one-off sessions” to serving people through seasons of life

  
  

  ⏱️ Episode Timestamps

  00:26 – Why repeat clients don’t happen by accident

  02:15 – The referral story: how trust travels through past clients

  05:00 – Stop treating sessions like one-offs

  07:30 – Why people really come back (hint: it’s not the poses)

  09:45 – Communication, trust, and what silence feels like to clients

  12:10 – Planting the seed for future work without being salesy

  14:30 – Follow-up that feels human, not automated

  16:00 – The big takeaway: how you want people to remember working with you

  
  

  💬 Shutter Squad Quote Board

  “Repeat clients don’t happen by accident. They’re built long after the gallery is delivered.”

  “Good photography is expected. Connection is what creates loyalty.”

  “People don’t come back because you nailed every pose. They come back because of how you made them feel.”

  “Every client you photograph is in a season of life. That season doesn’t end when the session does.”

  “Repeat clients don’t feel like they’re on a mailing list. They feel remembered.”

  
  

  🔗 Connect with Kate

  Host: Kate DeCoste — Photographer, Educator & Host of The One Behind the Lens

  🌐 Website: www.katedecostephotography.com

  📸 Instagram: @katedecoste

  Kate’s website is packed with resources for photographers, including business tools, education, and creative guidance for building a photography brand that feels aligned, confident, and sustainable.

  
  

  🎧 About the Show

  The One Behind the Lens is a podcast for photographers and creatives who want to grow their business without losing their voice, values, or love for the craft. New episodes drop regularly — subscribe for conversations about photography, marketing, creativity, and the real human side of running a creative business.

  
  

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