Revisiting Our podcast with Melody Joy
Practical Tips for Wedding Creatives
We recently revisited our podcast episode with the amazing Melody Joy, and it’s packed with advice that’s perfect for wedding photographers and videographers looking to grow their business while keeping a healthy work-life balance. Melody’s strategies focus on using your time wisely, sharpening your skills, and marketing yourself strategically—all essentials for success in the wedding industry.
What We Covered: Key Takeaways
1. Breaking Into New Markets
Melody has nailed the art of running her business across two cities—Chicago and Edinburgh—while staying consistent with her brand. She shares how she’s expanded to new markets without losing momentum, making her tips invaluable if you’re thinking about branching out to another city or even a new country.
Try This Out:
Start by researching the new market you’re eyeing. Reach out to local vendors and plan a styled shoot to build relationships and showcase your style. As Melody puts it, “Networking with vendors and doing shoots is a huge part of what I do when I’m in Edinburgh.”
2. The Power of Marketing
Melody dedicates significant time to marketing, calling it “a huge part of the pie of owning your own business.” She stays consistent with content creation, networking, and keeping her brand visible, even during the off-season.
Your Move:
Set aside one day a week just for marketing. Whether it’s updating your portfolio, posting on social media, or reaching out to collaborators, make it a habit. Consistency is everything—your marketing should reflect the same high standards as your work.
3. Balancing Creativity and Business
Melody’s smart about how she handles her workload. She books most of her weddings in the U.S., where the market is stronger financially, and uses her time in Scotland for creative and marketing projects. This gives her financial stability while still nurturing her creative side.
What to Do Next:
Take a look at your schedule and block out time for specific types of work. Focus on higher-paying jobs during busy months and leave space for creative projects that might not pay as much but can boost your brand and artistic growth.
4. Improving Your Craft
Melody’s photography is all about capturing authentic moments and paying attention to details that make her work stand out. She keeps shooting during transitions to catch those in-between moments, explaining, “I do high continuous [shooting] throughout the day, which is why I kind of overshoot, but it’s great because I get moments in between.”
Why Not Try:
Next time you’re on a shoot, experiment with high continuous mode on your camera. Don’t just focus on the posed shots—keep snapping during the quiet transitions and see what unique moments you can uncover.
Putting Melody’s Tips into Action for Your Business
Let’s dive into how you can apply Melody’s advice to your own work and start seeing results.
1. Expanding to a New Market
Thinking about branching out to a new location? Start by connecting with vendors and creatives whose style complements yours. As Melody says, “I’ve worked with a handful of people over here... it’s just about rekindling those friendships and creating new ones.” So, skip the cold emails—get out there, grab a coffee with someone, or attend local industry events to build real connections.
Give This a Go:
Make a list of 10 vendors in your target market and start reaching out. Instead of just asking for work, offer something of value—maybe a collaboration on a styled shoot or sharing each other’s content on social media.
2. Boosting Your Business Through Marketing
Melody’s success across two cities comes down to her marketing. She puts effort into creating content and networking, making sure she’s always top-of-mind for potential clients. “Marketing is a huge part of my business,” she says, and it’s clearly working for her.
Why Not Try:
Create a content calendar that supports your business goals. Map out your social media posts, blog updates, and any collaborations you want to pursue. Staying consistent will ensure your marketing keeps working for you, even when things get hectic.
3. Balancing Creative Work and Client Projects
Melody carves out time for marketing and creative projects to avoid burnout and keep her business thriving. She explains, “I try to do all my work where it’s like, okay, I’m set for the year financially in the States, and then anything else I book abroad is just more for pure [love of the craft].”
Next Move:
Take a look at your schedule and see where you can carve out time for creative projects. Maybe it’s worth turning down a wedding or two to focus on a passion project that could open new doors.
4. Refining Your Photography or Videography Skills
Melody focuses on capturing authentic, unposed moments and spends a lot of time in post-production to ensure her work has a clear focal point. “I want there to be a focus or I want... the person looking at the photos [to] focus on one thing,” she explains.
Your Turn:
At your next shoot, pay attention to the moments between the poses and experiment with guiding the viewer’s eye during editing. Play around with contrast, sharpening, or composition tweaks to make your images really stand out.
Wrapping Up
Relistening to our chat with Melody Joy reminded us how important it is to be both strategic and creative in this industry. Whether it’s breaking into new markets, mastering the art of marketing, or honing your craft, Melody’s approach offers a blueprint for success that still leaves room for a balanced life.
So, take some of these practical tips and implement them in your business. Whether you’re in the thick of wedding season or planning for the future, there’s always something you can tweak or improve. And as Melody would say, don’t forget to enjoy the journey while you’re at it!
If you found this blog helpful, consider joining us on YouTube and Instagram @perspectivebycinemate and feel free to reach out for support. Together, we can navigate these challenges and continue creating awesome work!
Stay positive, keep creating and in the meantime… ENJOY YOUR LIFE!
Simon
Cinemate
