The Volume Vault | A Podcast for Volume Photographers

What It Really Takes to Add $140,000 to Your Photography Business

What does it really take to add $140,000 in revenue to your photography business? In this episode of The Volume Vault Podcast, Emily sits down with Jan Scurfield of Scurfield Photography in Northern California to unpack the decisions, mindset shifts, and calculated risks that helped her grow from $110,000 to over $250,000 in annual revenue. Jan shares her journey from overwhelmed photographer to true CEO, including hiring a studio manager before she felt ready, building a team she can trust, and embracing the kind of action-taking that creates real momentum. Together, they dive into why most photographers stay stuck, the hidden cost of waiting, and how accountability can accelerate growth faster than information alone. If you've ever wondered whether coaching is worth the investment, struggled with hiring, or felt like you're carrying the weight of your entire business on your shoulders, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: • How Jan grew her business from $110K to $250K+ • Why hiring before you're ready can be the key to growth • The mindset shift from photographer to CEO • How accountability creates faster results than more education • The risks Jan took—and why she'd make them again • What separates successful coaching students from everyone else • The real ROI of investing in yourself and your business This isn't a story about luck. It's a story about making decisions, taking action, and building a business that serves your life instead of consuming it. If you're ready to stop waiting and start growing, this episode is for you. Want to work with Emily? 📸 Learn more about The Volume Vault Coaching Program at thevolumevault.com [https://www.thevolumevault.com] 🎟️ Get your VIP ticket [https://www.thevolumevault.com/challenge] to the next Booked Solid Challenge 📖 Buy the book [https://a.co/d/9FjcLPO] The Best Kept Secret in Photography

June 27-28: The Do It Different Workshop is back!

In this episode of The Volume Vault Podcast, Emily Davis is joined by fellow photographer and educator Rose Coleman to talk all about their upcoming Do It Different Workshop and what photographers can expect when they attend. We're pulling back the curtain on why we created this workshop, what makes it different from typical photography education, and how we're combining hands-on shooting, lighting instruction, and real business strategy to help photographers create images that stand out and build more profitable studios. You'll hear what we'll be teaching, how the workshop is structured, and why we believe photographers need to start doing things differently if they want to stand out in today's market. If you've been thinking about attending the workshop—or you're just curious about how we approach lighting, shooting, and building a standout photography business—this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at what's coming. Join us as we share the vision for Do It Different and what photographers will walk away with after two days of learning, shooting, and leveling up their craft. See more at www.doitdifferent.co [https://www.doitdifferent.co] Workshop Dates & Location: June 27-28, 2026 at Emily's Studio in Krum, TX

Let's Talk Websites: What Actually Matters for Photographers

Stop treating your website like a portfolio — and start using it like a strategic business tool. In this value-packed episode, Emily sits down with Katie Lepore, founder of Emberlyn, to talk about how photographers can build websites that do more than look good — they communicate value, attract the right clients, and actually drive inquiries. Emily & Katie break down what photographers really need on their websites (and what they don't), how to design with clarity instead of overwhelm, and why so many photography websites fail to convert — even when the work is good. You'll learn: * What your photography website should be doing in the first 5 seconds * The biggest website mistakes photographers make (and how to fix them) * How to structure your site to guide the right clients to inquire * Why "pretty" websites don't always equal profitable ones * How to simplify your website so it supports growth instead of creating friction If your website feels outdated, confusing, or like it isn't pulling its weight — or if you've been relying on referrals because your site isn't converting — this episode will help you rethink your website as a sales and scaling tool, not just an online gallery. Follow Katie on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emberlynco] - Inquire about website design with Emberlyn Co. [https://www.emberlyn.co] Want to work with Emily? 📸 Learn more about The Volume Vault Coaching Program at thevolumevault.com [https://www.thevolumevault.com] 🎟️ Get your VIP ticket [https://www.thevolumevault.com/challenge] to the next Booked Solid Challenge 📖 Buy the book [https://a.co/d/9FjcLPO] The Best Kept Secret in Photography

Let's Talk Digitals: Pricing for Profit in Volume Photography

Stop underpricing your digitals — and start running your studio like a profit-first business. In this value-packed episode, Emily sits down with Carinna Boatwright, owner of SMAX Photography, to talk about what it really means to price for profit and sell all digitals with confidence in a volume photography business. Emily & Carinna break down how to strategically sell all-digitals packages using PhotoDay, how to structure price lists that guide parent behavior, and why selling digitals the right way can actually increase your average order value—not decrease it. You'll learn: * How to price all digitals packages (without guilt or fear) * The mistakes photographers make when selling digital galleries * How parent buying behavior actually works in volume photography * How to use PhotoDay features to support higher-value orders * The mindset shifts required to move from "photographer pricing" to CEO-level pricing If you've been undercharging, second-guessing your prices, or avoiding selling all digitals because you're afraid it will hurt your business, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a smarter strategy moving forward. 📸 Learn more about The Volume Vault Coaching Program at thevolumevault.com [https://www.thevolumevault.com] 🎟️ Get your VIP ticket [https://www.thevolumevault.com/challenge] to the next Booked Solid Challenge 📖 Buy the book [https://a.co/d/9FjcLPO] The Best Kept Secret in Photography

Wealth Loves Speed: How Fast Decisions Create Exponential Growth

In this episode, Emily shares how "Wealth loves speed" isn't just a mindset — it's a business strategy. Discover how fast, confident decision-making can completely change the trajectory of your volume photography business in 2026. You'll learn how to move with clarity, build momentum, and stop losing opportunities to hesitation and perfectionism. 📸 You'll Learn: * Why speed creates momentum (and revenue) * The real cost of slow decision-making * How to make confident decisions quickly * What "refine in motion" looks like inside a growing studio 📸 Learn more about The Volume Vault Coaching Program at thevolumevault.com [https://www.thevolumevault.com] 🎟️ Get your VIP ticket [https://www.thevolumevault.com/challenge] to the next Booked Solid Challenge 📖 Buy the book [https://a.co/d/9FjcLPO] The Best Kept Secret in Photography