If you’re a photographer who’s passionate about your craft but struggling with the business side of things, you’re not alone. Photography is an art, but running a photography business? That’s an entirely different skill set—one that many photographers never get proper training in.
That’s why we created The Photography Business Academy—a comprehensive education suite designed exclusively for photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable, and stress-free business that allows them to create the life they want to live.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for years, this program gives you the tools, strategies, and systems to transform your photography business into a well-oiled machine.
Why The Photography Business Academy Exists
Most photographers get into the industry because they love capturing moments, telling stories, and creating beautiful images. These are phenomenal things, and what led even myself into this industry!
But the reality of running a business often looks more like:
- Struggling to book enough clients
- Feeling stuck on pricing and finances
- Spending hours on marketing without results
- Getting ghosted by leads
- Feeling overwhelmed with admin work
- Worrying about inconsistent income
The Photography Business Academy is designed to eliminate these struggles by giving you a proven roadmap to build a business that works for you, not the other way around.
This is something that’s easy enough to write out, but let’s be clear – this has been painstakingly created over the course of several years, with feedback from it’s creators (competitors turned business partners!), a large focus group helping inform the direction of the course, and insight from many industry leaders, professionals, and an abundance of business resources both in-and-outside of the photography industry.
How We Teach: An Immersive Learning Experience
We set out to create an education experience that simulates a real classroom—but better.
Instead of overwhelming you with long, hard-to-digest lectures, we focus on short, structured videos that make learning easy. Each course is broken into clear, topic-based modules, so you can tackle the content one step at a time.
Within each module, we use three types of videos:
- Lecture Videos – Talking-head style, introducing concepts and providing high-level explanations.
- Walkthrough Videos – Step-by-step walkthroughs (including PowerPoint presentations and screen recordings) that show you exactly how to implement what you’re learning.
- Discussion Videos – Conversations between Marshall and Chris, diving deeper into key topics, sharing real-world experiences, and inviting you to join us in the community to continue the discussion!
This multi-layered approach ensures you’re not just passively watching—you’re actively learning and applying each concept to your own business.
In addition to this video content – the full Photography Business Academy includes a wide range of custom created resources (over 250+ in fact!). These resources compliment the course materials and includes things like worksheets, spreadsheets, guides, and other types of resources.
What’s Inside The Photography Business Academy?
This isn’t just a course—it’s a full suite of 9 in-depth courses covering every critical aspect of running a photography business.
Business Foundations for Photographers
Why This Matters: Many photographers start their business with no real plan, pricing guesswork, and unclear goals. Without a strong foundation, businesses can quickly become chaotic, leading to burnout and financial instability. This course helps you build your business intentionally so it can grow in a way that actually works for you.
This course is included for FREE with any purchase since it’s themes are referred to regularly throughout the other courses!
What You’ll Learn:
- How to think like a business owner, not just a photographer
- The Business Hierarchy of Needs—a framework to help you grow your business step by step
- The biggest mistakes new photographers make and how to avoid them
- How to create a Milestone Achievement Plan (MAP) that helps you set goals and track progress
- How to structure your business to support your ideal lifestyle
📌 Includes: Business Hierarchy of Needs Worksheet, Business Goal Setting Workbook, and more!
Branding for Photographers
Why This Matters: Branding is more than a logo—it’s how potential clients perceive you. If your branding isn’t clear, compelling, and aligned with your target client, you’ll constantly struggle to book the right people.
What You’ll Learn:
- The key elements of a strong, recognizable brand
- How to create a brand story that emotionally connects with clients
- The psychology behind brand trust and pricing perception
- How to craft a consistent brand across all platforms
📌 Includes: Client Persona Worksheet, Brand Clarity Worksheet, Visual Identity Guide, and more!
Learn more about Branding for Photographers
Websites for Photographers
Why This Matters: Your website is often the first impression potential clients have of your business. If it’s not designed to convert, you’re leaving money on the table.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to structure your website to turn visitors into inquiries
- The essential pages every photographer’s website needs
- How to write compelling copy that guides clients toward booking
- SEO basics to help you get found on Google
📌 Includes: Website Audit Checklist, Website Blueprint Guide, Website Copy Wireframe
Learn more about Website for Photographers
SEO & Blogging for Photographers
Why This Matters: Social media comes and goes, but search engines drive consistent, high-quality leads to your website over time. SEO is one of the most effective long-term marketing strategies for photographers.
📌 Includes: Blog Post Outline Template, SEO Keyword Research Guide
Learn more about SEO & Blogging for Photographers
Financial Management for Photographers
Why This Matters: A successful photography business isn’t just about making money—it’s about keeping and managing it.
📌 Includes: Pricing Calculator, Financial Health Checklist
Learn more about Financial Management for Photographers
Client Experience for Photographers
Why This Matters: A seamless, high-end client experience leads to more referrals, better reviews, and higher prices.
📌 Includes: Email Templates for Client Communication, Client Experience Workflow
Learn more about Client Experience for Photographers
Marketing for Photographers
Why This Matters: Marketing is the lifeblood of your business. Without a solid marketing strategy, even the most talented photographers will struggle to book clients consistently.
📌 Includes: 90-Day Marketing Plan Template, Social Media Content Calendar
Learn more about Marketing for Photographers
Sales for Photographers
Why This Matters: Selling doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable. When done right, sales conversations feel natural, easy, and even enjoyable.
📌 Includes: Sales Call Script, Pricing Objection Handling Guide
Learn more about Sales for Photographers
Systems & Processes for Photographers
Why This Matters: The more organized your business is, the less stress you’ll have and the more time you’ll save.
📌 Includes: Workflow Templates, Automation Setup Guide
Learn more about Systems & Processes for Photographers
Join Our VIP Community
When you enroll in The Photography Business Academy, you’re not just getting courses—you’re joining a private community of photographers who are on the same journey as you.
Inside the VIP Community, you can:
✔ Ask questions and get direct feedback
✔ Connect with fellow photographers
✔ Join discussions on each module topic
✔ Stay accountable and inspired
How to Get Started
The Photography Business Academy gives you a step-by-step roadmap to build a successful photography business.
Inside the Academy, you’ll get:
✔ 9 in-depth courses covering branding, marketing, sales, pricing, client experience, and more
✔ A structured, easy-to-follow learning experience with short-form videos, walkthroughs, and discussions
✔ Templates, worksheets, and resources to help you implement what you learn
✔ Access to the VIP Community for ongoing support and connection
You can enroll in the full Academy for the most comprehensive transformation, or you can purchase individual courses based on your needs.
👉 Learn more and enroll today at Shoot and Thrive