E12: Being the Vendor We Wish We Had: From Two Brides to Queer Advocates

E12: Being the Vendor We Wish We Had: From Two Brides to Queer Advocates

Happy Pride Month 🌈 Every June, wedding vendors rush to add a few rainbow photos to their feed. But real inclusivity? That goes so much deeper than a once-a-year portfolio refresh. In this episode of Emotionally Booked Out, I’m joined by Ali of A Ray of Light Videography - a queer wedding videographer, advocate, and bride herself. Together, we unpack what it actually feels like to plan a wedding as a queer couple, the emotional labor that comes with constantly assessing whether a vendor is truly safe, and why representation still has such a long way to go in the wedding industry. Ali shares what she wishes more wedding pros understood, how vendors can move beyond performative allyship, and what it means to create spaces where couples feel genuinely seen, celebrated, and cared for. We also get into one of the wildest wedding-day stories I've ever heard - featuring a rogue DJ, a timeline nightmare, and an unauthorized Facebook Live that left everyone asking, "How did this happen?" Whether you're a wedding vendor committed to serving people better or a couple trying to find your place in an industry that wasn't always built with you in mind, this conversation is packed with perspective, honesty, and practical ways to do better. Connect with Ali: Website: arrayoflightvideography.com [https://arayoflightvideography.com/] Instagram: @arayoflightvideography [https://www.instagram.com/arayoflightvideography] Resources Mentioned: https://arayoflightvideography.com/lgbtq-resources [https://arayoflightvideography.com/lgbtq-resources] Equally Wed by Palladino Safe Zone Initiative (Business Training)

E11: Friendship, Survival Mode & Getting the Fuck Out with Mallory Himmel

Unlike other episodes, this one takes the form of what it feels like to sit in on a FaceTime call between my best friend, Mallory, and me since high school. She’s one of the few people who got a front row seat to my journey, who knew me before McKenzie Bigliazzi Photography. This episode is hard to summarize, but this is my best: Two best friends from central Illinois sit down and accidentally unpack how wildly different life looks when you finally stop settling. From bad relationships, survival mode, and feeling stuck, to building businesses, finding healthy love, cleaning up your community, and realizing you actually can change your life, if you’re delulu enough. TBH, this episode is basically one long unfiltered conversation about figuring it out as you go. It’s messy, funny, honest, a little chaotic, and probably the closest thing to overhearing us at dinner. If you’ve ever felt behind, stuck, surrounded by the wrong people, or scared to make a change, this one’s for you.

E10: The Workshop Conversation Everyone’s Avoiding with Milly Baine

Two photographers. One very honest (unfiltered) conversation about why workshop culture feels so weird right now. When did “education” turn into: * fighting 20 people for the same shot * shooting styled couples with zero story * attaching yourself to photographers with huge followings * and leaving with content… but no actual growth In this episode, I sit down with photographer and educator Milly Baine from The Rose Reflective to talk about the explosion of content days, influencer-led workshops, creative burnout, neurodivergence in education spaces, and the fuckery of the education space in general. We absolutely rip to shreds: * overpromising and underdelivering in the education space * how to actually vet a workshop before investing * why community matters more than follower count * storytelling vs. “pretty pretty pretty” wedding content * slowing down creatively instead of fighting for content * what photographers really need from education right now Also: possum cakes, Tumblr-era party photos, and the phrase “we’re just serving pasta” becoming a life philosophy. You’ll understand once you listen to the episode lol If you’re curious about workshops, scared of workshops, or had a disappointing experience with workshops… you’re not alone.  Follow Milly: https://www.instagram.com/therosereflective/ [https://www.instagram.com/therosereflective/] Yelp for Retreats and Workshops: https://www.instagram.com/soocdirectory/ [https://www.instagram.com/soocdirectory/]

E9: Outgrowing Your Brand or Finally Trusting Yourself? with Launch Your Daydream

Business has been feeling… off lately? You’re not alone. I’m sitting down with Kelsey from Launch Your Daydream (aka the reason I look cool on the internet), and we’re getting into the real, unfiltered side of running a business. Not the “do this and you’ll make more money” version.The actual experience - you know, the shit that no one talks about but truly affects all of us. We’re talking about: * outgrowing your business * identity shifts and pivots that don’t make sense yet * the messy middle where nothing feels clear * why niching down isn’t always the answer * and how to trust yourself when nothing external is validating it yet This isn’t a strategy episode (those are boring anyway). This is about intuition. Alignment. And building something that actually feels good to wake up to. If you’ve been burnt out, disconnected, or lowkey questioning everything… this one’s gonna hit.“Ditch the shoulds and do what feels good.” Also… something kind of wild came out of this conversation. Kelsey and I are officially teaming up. We are combining brand clarity + website design into a limited experience for business owners who are ready to actually book more aligned inquiries. If you want in, join the waitlist here! [https://forms.gle/oBejVg11F7tf5cLU7]

E8: What I’d do if I had to start my business over in 2026

HAPPY ONE YEAR PODCAST ANNIVERSARY! I'm so stoked you've been here with me - I can't believe it's been one whole year. If I lost my entire business tomorrow and had to start from scratch, no audience, no referrals, no portfolio, here is exactly what I would do. This is not a fluffy “go viral” episode. This is not about posting every day or chasing trends. In this episode, I break down: * What I would ignore completely (and why it is keeping people stuck) * The biggest mistakes I made in my own business * What actually leads to bookings, not just likes * How I would rebuild trust, reputation, and demand from the ground up We talk about the industry noise, the obsession with vanity metrics, and why most advice online is burning people out instead of helping them grow. If you feel like you are doing everything and still not seeing results, this episode will probably slap. Also, Emotionally Booked Out is turning one year old. Thank you for being here, for listening, and for building this with me. Send me a DM and tell me what you want to hear next.