KP & Jessie are the duo behind Inkpot Creative®, a queer-led Showit website design studio building unconventional, impactful brand and website experiences for photographers who are leading their industry by creating something different. They’re also the hosts of The Unexpected Entrepreneur Podcast, having *stumbled* into entrepreneurship and finding it to be their true passion: designing for boundary-pushing wedding pros like you.
When not working on their business, they can often be found hiking in national parks and taking in good views with no wifi.
KP & Jessie (both she/her)
Meet Your Hosts
Meet the Speakers
As a copywriter at What Sara Said, copy coach, and host of the Copywriter on Call podcast, Sara Gillis helps female creative business owners, especially photographers, stand out through words. After teaching writing for nearly a decade, Sara left education to help business owners show up authentically online by crafting website copy that's word-magic for their ideal clients.
Sara shares practical advice to infuse creative businesses with storytelling and heart. Sara coaches her clients to do the work to show up confidently in business and being fearless in pursuing passions and communicating value.
Services That Sell: Website "Services" Page Must-Haves
Sara Gillis (she/her)
Kayla Dean is a copywriter and brand messaging strategist for creative entrepreneurs at The Literary Co. She has worked with 150+ clients over the six years she's been in business, including wedding planners, photographers, and florists. She holds a BA and MA in English Literature and has had her writing featured in national publications.
Convert more clients with a client-attracting homepage: expert website copywriting tips for wedding pros
Kayla Dean (she/her)
Nadine Nethery is an audience-driven copywriter and customer experience strategist for savvy online business owners who want to intentionally attract, retain and wow their dream customers.
Her signature LEAN copy method turns every brand touchpoint into genuine connections that drive sales, celebrate loyalty and create brand advocates who happily do the word-spreading for you.
Portfolios that Sell: How to Showcase Your Best Work So It Lands You High-Paying Wedding Clients
Nadine Nethery (she/her)
Colie James is a Disney-loving Client Experience Systems Strategist, family filmmaker, and the host of the Business-First Creatives podcast. Based in Denver Colorado, her heart pumps in helping photographers & creative service providers automate their sh*t, reclaim their time and get back to living! She believes “if it does not bring you joy, automate that sh*t.”
With 12+ years in the creative space, Colie believes every creative deserves to build a business that is sustainable and profitable, and no one should quit their 9 to 5 only to work 24/7 [in their business].
The truth—automated systems can save us all from being overworked and overwhelmed.
When Colie isn’t building killer workflows and automations, you can find her spending some much needed time with her husband, James, daughter Chloe, or [you guessed it] at Disneyland.
From 'I Do' to Delivery: Crafting an Effective Offboarding Workflow for Wedding Photographers
Colie James (she/her)
Becca Pountney is the UK’s leading wedding industry marketing expert. Using her experience from owning her own wedding business combined with her previous career in media working for Endemol, BBC and Heart Radio, Becca now teaches business owners how to go from feeling invisible to totally irresistible and fully booked in their wedding business in her clear, down to earth, practical style.
Becca is no stranger to the events industry having built an award winning wedding blog and consultancy business from the ground up in 2016.
Becca is known for transforming the fortunes of businesses within the highly competitive wedding and events sector and has worked with over 1000 businesses through her courses, membership and speaking.
Becca’s mission is to inspire wedding professionals that it is possible to turn their passion into a profitable business doing what they love.
Get Connected and Book More Weddings
Becca Pountney (she/her)
Renée Dalo, founder of Moxie Bright Events and host of Talk with Renée Dalo, is a dynamic entrepreneur with 13 years of industry experience. As a certified Co-Active Life and Business Coach (CPCC), she inspires and educates event professionals, helping them build self-confidence, attract luxury clients, and grow their businesses. Renée is a sought-after speaker, having been the keynote at Wedding MBA 2023 and set to return in 2024 for her seventh year. She has also keynoted NACE Evolve and regularly educates at The Special Event, Alt Summit, Be Sage, and other conferences. Recognized by Honeybook’s 20 On The Rise and BizBash’s Most Influential Event Pros, Renée is set to release her first book, "The Coordination Cure," in 2024.
Picture Perfect: What Wedding Planners Seek in Photographers for High-End Client Referrals
Renee Dalo (she/her)
Wedding Industry Ads is a boutique advertising agency specializing in paid lead generation on Google & Meta for wedding pros. Whitney is a former luxury catering sales pro based in the Austin, TX area. Daniela is an artist an entrepreneur in Lubbock, TX. Whitney & Daniela met in 2020 as they were both entering the online world of Facebook Ads Management and have been biz besties ever since. In addition to partnering on WIA, they’ve worked together inside DEJA, Daniela’s agency serving online coaches and course creators. Together, their mission is to make digital advertising more accessible to wedding pros through education & our done-for-you services.
How To Nurture Your Leads With $1 Per Day Instagram Ads
Whitney Hodges & Daniela Justus (she/her)
Brand Strategist, Website Copywriter, and Mega Marketing Nerd.
Alethea is a lover of extra, extra dirty martinis, the strategy behind storytelling, and brands that are the dead opposite of boring. As the founder of Copy with Spice, she spends her time helping other oddball brands develop their brand personalities and cook up copy that shows off their genius and sets them apart in their industry.
Don't Forget About the Big O Page (AKA Your Contact Page)
Alethea Tyler (she/her)
Steph is a Leadership + Visibility Coach and Speaker on a mission to help underrepresented folks amplify their impact beyond social media by confidently embracing their speaker identity.
You get to step into a reality where you get to go deeper into your core identity, your innate strengths, your values, your mission, and leverage speaking and community to create more reach and revenue without sacrificing rest. It’s a whole damn vibe.
Beyond the business, you can find her embracing her own version of a whole damn vibe lifestyle with a big glass of vino, watching Spanish Netflix shows, and dancing bachata.
UNPLUG POST-WEDDING SEASON WHILE MAINTAINING VISIBILITY
Steph Wharton (she/her)
NearlyWed Coaching is a Queer-Owned business offering Wedding Coaching, Premarital Coaching and Officiating services to NearlyWeds of all identities. Tirzah(She,Her) has made it her mission to encourage and help wedding pro’s implement authentic action steps to increase their inclusivity efforts within their business. In partnership with LGBTQ I Do, she provides inclusivity consulting and gender 101 training to support wedding vendors and teams be the change Queer NearlyWeds need and deserve as they navigate the heteronormative wedding industry.
Beyond the Rainbow: Why Inclusivity Matters
Tirzah Stein (she/her)
Andréa Jones is the social media strategist helping brands with bold personalities, bold opinions, and bold ideas make bold moves towards elevating their thought leadership and growing their business using the power of social media.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, I DO: SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO MAGIC FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Andréa Jones (she/her)
Hi, I’m Cinthia Onines, the founder of Boda Bliss. With a background in business management and eight years of hands-on experience in the wedding industry, I’m passionate about helping wedding pros like you streamline and elevate your businesses. I’ve had the honor of being a wedding planner featured in Vogue and Chicago Weddings Magazine, which was an incredible journey. Now, I focus on offering OBM, systems strategy, and VA services to photographers, venues, florists, officiants, planners, and bakers. Based in Chicago, I’m here to make your business run smoothly so you can focus on what you love. My goal is to be your friendly expert, guiding you to step confidently into your role as the CEO of your business. I can’t wait to share my insights and help you thrive!
Creating Bulletproof SOPs, Workflows, and Emergency Plans to Enhance Client Experience
Cinthia Onines (she/her)
Jainé Kershner, Wedding Photographer, Educator, and Podcast Host
In 2018, Jainé Kershner Photography launched Tea with Jainé to directly educate wedding photographers with honest answers, actionable steps, and tangible tips to successfully grow and create a profitable photography business.
Jainé Kershner is the hosts of “Tea with Jainé” podcast, where she chats with wedding industry insiders who share their knowledge, experience, and expertise directly with her audience. Jainé is a dedicated educator who offers submission curations services for wedding photographers, wedding planners, and Submission Support which is a monthly subscription email community.
The Power of Submissions to Attract the Higher-End Wedding Client
Jainé Kershner (she/her)
OFD Consulting owner, Meghan Ely combines in-the-trenches event experience with a love of wedding PR to empower her clients to take their businesses to new heights. Her team’s publicity efforts are regularly honored by the Public Relations Society of America, and more recently, Eventex named her one of the most influential Wedding Professionals in the Industry.
A long-time industry speaker and writer, she is a WeddingPro educator with The Knot + WeddingWire. She has regularly earned clients press in such outlets at the New York Times, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, People, Bridal Guide, Architectural Digest and Style Me Pretty, among many others.
Meghan is a past national president WIPA and is a member of the Allied Council for the National Society of Black Wedding and Event Professionals.
The Intersection of Luxury + Wedding Publicity
Meghan Ely (she/her)
As a former wedding professional and current agency owner who has served over 250 vendors around the world, Adrienna is a sought-after thought leader in the world of wedding marketing and strategy. After spending many years as a bridal boutique owner, wedding planner, and florist, she intimately understands the challenges that vendors face in the always-changing digital world and how important it is to stand out from the rest. With a unique blend of real-world experience and a signature step-by-step process that is always backed with data, Adrienna knows how to simplify marketing so that wedding pros can confidently grow and scale their business.
Winning Marketing Strategies for Every Couple
Adrienna McDermott (she/her)
Heidi Thompson is the best-selling author of Clone Your Best Clients and the wedding business coach & marketing strategist behind Evolve Your Wedding Business where she helps wedding professionals book more ideal clients and craft a business that gives them the income, life, and freedom they want.
Standing Out From Your Competition Without Discounting
Heidi Thompson (she/her)
Julie Fried is the go-to systems strategist for Wedding Professionals. With a background in luxury wedding planning and ops management, she has a unique perspective to help wedding professionals create memorable client experiences through streamlined systems.
'Til Death Do Us Part...Then What?
Julie Fried (she/her)
Rhea Whitney is an international wedding photographer, podcast host and business coach for creative entrepreneurs who want to run a profitable photography business. In the last 10 years, Rhea has consistently driven her business to six figures by putting client service first, establishing a constant brand presence, collaborating with top vendors and sponsors + implementing strategic marketing that works!
Recently, Rhea was named one of the world’s top wedding photographers of 2020 & 2021 by BRIDES magazine; and has also been featured in many other national publications. She is most passionate about collaborating with local sponsors and vendors for events, styled shoots, and content creation. To date, Rhea has helped over 100+ creatives build a revenue-generating business through 1:1 coaching + her digital education platform PhotoBomb Academy™.
Stand On Your Style
Rhea Whitney (she/her)
Kathy Loiselle is the owner and primary wedding photographer at Simply K Studios, located between Newport, RI and Manhattan, NY. Within the past few years, Simply K Studios has photographed multiple international destination weddings in addition to weddings across the northeastern United States. Kathy's work has been published both in print magazines and online wedding blogs, highlighting her attention to detail and documentary moments captured with a bit of editorial flair.
Showcasing Elegant Details: Level Up Your Brand
Katherine Loiselle (she/her)
Andrea Shah works with seasoned wedding pros who want copy that matches their high-end branding and client experience. In a previous life, she worked in an agency, where she learned everything she knows about SEO, brand voice, and buyer psychology. She firmly believes that a party without cake is just a meeting.
The (Unspoken) Questions Your About Page Should Answer
Andrea Shah (she/her)
Susan Stripling is a wedding and portrait photographer based in NYC and has been featured in publications such as Town and Country, Martha Stewart Weddings, and more. She is obsessed with SEO planning and execution, houseplants, reading, all things theatre, and her kids, dogs, and cats.
Marrying SEO and ChatGPT for optimal results
Susan Stripling (she/her)
Tiffany, CEO and founder of Bastian Accounting, has over two decades of experience in the accounting field. As an IRS-Certified EA with an MBA in Accounting, she brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Founded in 2013, Bastian Accounting focuses on helping US-based photographers achieve financial clarity, confidence, and calm. We take complex accounting, tax, and business topics and break them down into easy-to-understand concepts. Our mission is to empower photographers to take their business to the next level, ensuring they have the financial knowledge they need to succeed. We're approachable and committed to providing the support photographers need, believing that positive and empowering guidance leads to better outcomes. At Bastian Accounting, we build lasting relationships and strive to make finances simple and manageable for photographers.
Sales Tax 101 for Wedding Photographers
Tiffany Bastian, MBA EA (she/her)
Sandra Henderson is a systems strategist, HoneyBook Educator, photographer, and host of the Keeping It Candid podcast. As a neurodivergent entrepreneur who navigates chronic illness life, she takes a unique approach to utilizing systems, workflows, and automations to help her run two different businesses while still being able to give her mind and body what they need. Her goal is to use that same approach to help photographers and wedding pros create strategic systems for their businesses so they can continue to thrive no matter what life throws their way.
On a personal note, she loves tacos, afternoon naps, all things Bravo, 90’s music, travelling, and spending time at home with her husband, step-son, and two cats!
Beyond The Basics: Automating Inquiries Into High-End Bookings
Sandra Henderson (she/her)
Jamar Diggs is a YouTube Consultant for experienced professionals and brands. He helps industry-leading brands attract and retain customers on YouTube without increasing ad spend. He takes his corporate marketing experience from working in large marketing departments like Homes.com and Forrent.com to help his clients build an audience overflowing with repeat buyers and lifetime advocates who love spreading the word about their brand.
how to create a low-lift marketing plan with YouTube
Jamar Diggs (he/him)
Amanda Shuman is a designer, marketing strategist, podcast host, and keynote speaker specializing in the wedding & creative industries. As the founder of Carrylove Designs, she's helped hundreds of creative service-based businesses reach six figures and beyond through intentional branding. Her marketing efforts have helped her clients change their lives by quitting their full-time jobs to pursue their passions, buying the homes of their dreams, and scaling their teams. She is passionate about design and believes pairing a beautiful brand aesthetic with an intentional website strategy is the cornerstone for success and booking clients effortlessly. As a native Texan, she enjoys warm days with a cold drink in hand while exploring new places with her husband and their two kids.
Set Yourself Apart By Crafting Your Signature Offer
Amanda Shuman (she/her)
Cathy O’Connell is the CEO and Creative Director of COJ Events, a Luxury Destination Event Design & Planning studio based in La Quinta, CA, with a thriving 20-year history.
COJ Events weddings have been featured in numerous publications, including Vogue Magazine, The New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, People Magazine, The Huffington Post, “My Fair Wedding” with David Tutera, and “Say Yes to The Dress”.
Cathy is a sought-after industry speaker and the founder of Impact with Cathy O’Connell, where she coaches event creatives in business sustainability, sales and marketing, best practices, and client relationship management.
Cathy and her wife Dorry help individuals and organizations develop passion and success in their businesses and lives. Self-proclaimed hotel junkies, they travel often for business and fun and love creating joyful experiences wherever they go. They love their desert life in La Quinta, CA, with their canine and feline children!
Elevate Your Craft: Mastering the Art of Exceeding High-End Client Expectations
Cathy O'Connell (she/her)
Braden is a California licensed attorney and tax professional. His tagline is your gay best friend here to help you get your legal, tax, and financial shit legit. Braden works primarily with online and creative small business owners through his law firm, the Not-Your-Average Law Firm and his online programs and membership.
Braden hosts the Unf*ck Your Biz podcast and is the author of a book by the same title. When not doing business things, he is an avid runner, triathlete, CrossFit enthusiast, and home cook. When not doing those things, he's probably taking naps on his patio in San Diego, or watching shows with his husband and three dogs.
