Episode 30 - How to build a Six Figure Business with Jayleigh Flood
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It’s julia here! Today’s episode is gonna slight different because Toni is out of town this week so I’m going to be taking over the podcast today! We’re sure most of you know of the amazing Jayleigh Flood, but we’re just so excited to have her on todays podcast. Jayleigh is an incredible destination wedding photographer, entrepreneur, educator, mom & more. She built her business from the ground up in multiple locations. Today we’re gonna chat about how she grew her business from home and turned it into a successful six figure earning career. We’re also gonna be chatting about things like passive income, money mindset, meeting our goals, earring a full time income, as well as just chatting about life, travels, and everything in between. So if you’re as excited as i am to hear all of Jayleigh’s wisdom, let’s get right into it!
Julia: Tell us about yourself, how you got into photography, etc?
Jayleigh: I’ve been doing photography for 7-8 years now which is so crazy! I’ve been a photographer in many different areas from South Florida, Hawaii, California, and now North Florida. I got into photography not really knowing what I was going to do with my life. I was 18 trying to figure it all out, and ended up getting pregnant with my son. I was forced to grow up really fast during that time. I ended up getting a family session done by a friend, and thought “THAT is her job?! That’s so cool!”. That’s how I got my initial spark for photography and wanted to dive into it as a career.
Julia: What’s it been like moving your business to multiple different states?
Jayleigh: I think a lot of photographers might start in a smaller town, and are curious about how to shoot in areas that aren’t as scenic. One of the best things I did was move out of my hometown and find myself somewhere new. Before I moved to Hawaii, I got creative. I booked my first couple of Hawaii weddings from a website called Thumbtack, and as soon as I moved to Hawaii I started reaching out to as many people as I could. I hit the ground running and tried to be as present in that town as soon as possible with every move I’ve had.
Julia: Although, there’s so many photographers out there, is it still possible to grow your business and earn a six figure income?
Jayleigh: Absolutely! Any creative business right now is thriving- I coach photographers who just start out and then within the next year, they are booked out! The wedding industry is huge- and each photographer can really only have 30-40 weddings a year so there is so much work to go around. There are so many ways new photographers can set themselves apart, whether it be film, a social media focus, etc.
Julia: For our listeners, if that’s a goal of theirs how can they achieve that goal?
Jayleigh: When I started, I was working as a secretary at a hotel. It’s the norm to make the amount I was making in a week within a session. I realized that it was financially feasible. I didn’t grow up with an entrepreneurship mindset so I didn’t have that background. I would start by saying “how can I replace what I am currently making per year with being a photographer?”. It helps to reverse engineer it.
Julia: Is it possible to make what you want to make but not get burnt out?
Jayleigh: Trust me, I have been burnt out SO many times. There are so many times that I have had such bad anxiety during my destination weddings because I wasn’t prioritizing the things that fill my cup. You have to know your priorities, know your why, and set your business up for success. I started to set business hours and setting expectations with clients to help with burnout. You also need to have systems to help support you, such as outsourcing or an organization tool.
Julia: Do you think passive income is important & what are some practical ways to earn passive income?
Jayleigh: I think passive income is so important and I think we realized that during the pandemic. Since everything was during a standstill during that time, I had to learn that I have to have other streams of income. There are income streams I have that are super small and passive, and then there are things such as albums, prints, affiliate marketing, or store partnerships that are bigger.
Julia: Can we chat a little bit about money mindset and what that means to you/ having a healthy relationship with finances? At the end of the day, money isn’t everything/ the key to success.
Jayleigh: I had to redevelop a relationship with money after watching my mom work really hard to make an income. I equated money with the idea that you have to work nonstop, and I’ve learned that’s just not true. I had to learn that God is going to provide no matter what.
We hope that this episode inspires you (whether you are an inspiring entrepreneur or are currently a business owner)! We loved the wisdom that Jayleigh gave us, and we hope you did too!
