August 26, 2025 ⢠36 mins
đ§ Episode Summary:
What happens when you trade the safety of corporate life for the creativity of entrepreneurship? In this inspiring conversation, award-winning portrait photographer Suszi McFadden shares how she transformed her lifelong love of photography into a thriving business that empowers women to feel strong, beautiful, and unstoppable. From her leap out of tech to her signature, client-centered portrait experience, Suszi shows us that photography is about so much more than imagesâitâs about confidence, presence, and boldly showing up in the world.
⨠What Youâll Learn in This Episode:
- How Suszi pivoted from tech marketing into full-time photography.
- The bold decision that sparked her entrepreneurial journey.
- Why professional photography is about experience as much as the final image.
- How Suszi creates a safe, empowering environment for women in front of the camera.
- The role of community and creativity in sustaining joy as a business owner.
đ ď¸ Actionable Tips from Suszi:
- Donât underestimate the power of professional photosâtheyâre an investment in your visibility and confidence.
- Build an experience around your service, not just a transaction.
- Step onto the other side: try being a client yourself to learn what it feels like and how to improve your own process.
- Surround yourself with community and collaboratorsâyou donât have to do it all alone.
đ¤ Memorable Quote:
"If I can make women leave my studio with images that say âheck yeah,â then Iâve accomplished something." â Suszi McFadden
đĽ Bold Moment of the Episode:
When Suszi chose to leave behind the security of her tech marketing career after layoffs and go all-in on photographyâa leap that completely transformed her life and career.
đą Connect with Suszi McFadden:
Website: https://www.suzmcfaddenphoto.com/
Instagram: @suzmcfaddenphoto
đ Join the Bold and Brilliant Podcast Community:
Stay connected, get inspired, and discover how to take BOLD action in your own life and business by visiting The Gather Community.
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Your host,
Tracie Root
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Are you ready to take boldaction and live a life of
brilliance?
Welcome to the Bold andBrilliant podcast, where women
leaders share inspiring storiesabout daring decisions that
shape their businesses, theirlives, and their careers.
Today I'm with the fabulous andamazing Suszi McFadden.
(00:23):
Suszi McFadden is anaward-winning portrait
photographer based in Sunnyvale,California.
She strives to make her clientsfeel strong, powerful, and
beautiful the moment they walkin the door and hold onto that
feeling long after they leave.
Suszi specializes in beautyportraits and in headshot and
(00:45):
brand photos, and her work hasbeen displayed in galleries,
published in internationalmagazines, and included in New
York Times bestselling books.
Still her most gratifyingrecognition is from her happy
clients.
As we talk, you'll hear Suszishare her journey of
entrepreneurship, including onebold decision that created her
(01:09):
path of what was next.
Her story of resilience, risktaking, and transformation will
inspire, encourage, and supportyour personal and professional
growth.
Please join me in welcoming Suzyto the bold and brilliant
podcast.
Tracie (01:30):
Suszi, I'm so excited to have you on the podcast.
Welcome.
Suz (01:34):
Thank you.
I'm excited to be here.
Tracie (01:36):
Yay.
Okay.
I am super stoked because we'vebeen connected for a couple of
years and I'm realizing becausewe all have rich lives, I'm
realizing that there's thingsabout you becoming who you are
now.
I know some of the story, but Idon't know all of the story.
So for people who've never evenmet you, let's go back a little
(01:57):
bit.
Okay.
And talk about who is Suszi?
Where did you start out?
Like, where did you grow up?
And maybe how you got intophotography.
Suz (02:09):
I love it.
Great.
You want me to just jump in andstart ing?
Tracie (02:14):
Yeah.
Tell me, tell me a story.
Suz (02:15):
Fantastic.
I.
Live in Sunnyvale, Californianow.
Took me a while to get here.
I grew up in SouthernCalifornia, suburb of Los
Angeles, and came up to go touc, Berkeley when I was straight
out of high school, I guess.
Mm-hmm.
And fell in love with Bay Area.
(02:37):
Called my parents after threeweeks and said, I'm never coming
home.
Tracie (02:40):
Never coming home.
Suz (02:41):
Which is like now that all of my friend's kids are going to
college.
I'm like, oh my God.
I didn't even think about howthat would sit with my parents.
I got here and went, I am aNorthern California girl.
I am done staying here.
Never coming home.
Tracie (02:55):
How was it different from where you grew up in
Southern California and SouthernCalifornia has, you know, the
entire gamut, soup to nuts ofall of the different
opportunities.
How was the Bay Area different?
Suz (03:05):
So I grew up in a suburb that I felt like every, I knew
everybody since I was five.
Tracie (03:13):
Yeah.
Suz (03:13):
And I was just ready to get out.
I was ready to be kind of my ownperson.
There's a Bay Area vibe and Ijust don't know how to
articulate that for people whodon't know the Bay Area.
But I came up here and it wasjust freer and looser and.
More casual and a little morehippy dippy.
(03:33):
And a lot of it, like if Ireally think about it, a lot of
it was it's where I became anan, an adult.
Sure.
Right.
So I could have gone anywherequite possibly and said, okay,
this is me.
Yeah.
For forging my own path and Ilove it here.
Tracie (03:49):
You were ready to create this adult identity for
yourself, right?
Suz (03:53):
Yeah.
And I knew from a very young ageI wanted to go to Berkeley, so
it was just one of those.
Kind of, I got there, I was verylucky.
It's harder, it's much harder tobe a, a high school senior right
now than it was back in my day.
And I got to go there and it waseverything I wanted it to be.
And I just fell in love with theBay.
So I lived in East Bay for anumber of years and graduated
(04:19):
from college with a liberal artsdegree.
Didn't know what I wanted to do.
Got very lucky that.
A company looked at myextracurriculars and I got hired
as an event planner.
Okay.
And the timing worked in such away that it was right around
the.com boom.
So I was able to kind of getinto tech as an event planner
(04:42):
back when companies werethrowing these big events.
And through my career inmarketing for tech people fi
figured out I could write basedon my, you know.
College education, all of that.
And I wound up getting intostrategic marketing for a
software company.
I always did photography kind offor fun, but I, I was never a
(05:05):
film girl.
I never did the Dark Room.
It was always dropping off myfilm to get double prints.
Right.
And hoping they came out.
Tracie (05:12):
Oh my gosh, yes.
Suz (05:14):
Right at which I still have, I need to go through those
and purge a little bit.
Ooh, that would be fun.
I was with the same tech companyfor years in their marketing
department and made a name formyself there.
So as the years went on, Idecided I wanna do this kind of
a little less and focus onphotography.
(05:35):
And the way this came about ismy sister had kids and they got
to an age where they were toofast for my point and shoot.
And so I looked at my husbandand said, I wanna get a good
fast camera.
And we know a lot of photographywonks in our circle.
And his response was, not aproblem.
(05:56):
Let's do this.
I just don't want you to become,turn into one of those lens
people.
Tracie (06:01):
Oh, right.
I've heard this part before.
Suz (06:03):
Fast forward,
Tracie (06:04):
what that means.
Suz (06:05):
Fast forward now we have the lenses, we have the studio
lights, we have the, you know.
All of the whole thing.
So I was doing half and half.
My company very graciouslyallowed me to go to halftime.
That was not policy, but again,I had been there a long time.
I had made a name.
And in tech, as we know, layoffsare kind of part of the culture,
(06:29):
sadly rollercoaster and, a a, around of layoffs was announced
and I said, okay, I'm, I'm gone.
I'm halftime my champion, mychampion has left the, the
building.
I haven't met the new VP yet.
Like there's, and it did nosurprise to anyone and I was
really kind of lucky to be ableto say, okay, now what do I want
(06:51):
to do?
Do I wanna go back into this?
Do I wanna get another corporatejob?
Do I wanna focus on thephotography that I've kind of
been doing half cocked for anumber of years and I was really
lucky and privileged and I countmy blessings that we were in a
place where I was able to say,let's see if we can make this
work.
And I haven't looked back.
Tracie (07:13):
Awesome.
And how long ago was that?
How many years ago?
Suz (07:17):
Getting close to 10.
Since I was, just, since I,since it became all that I'm
doing.
Tracie (07:22):
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
And how fortunate, like, so itwas before all the COVID stuff,
that was five years ago.
Suz (07:29):
Yeah.
Tracie (07:29):
And so you were able to kind of make that decision, get
established, have your situationfigured out before everything
went wonky.
Crazy
Suz (07:40):
ish.
I am not gonna claim that I hadmy situation figured, figured
out that quickly.
It's a very different experienceto go from working for someone
else.
Tracie (07:51):
Yes.
Suz (07:51):
To working for yourself.
Yeah.
And I was in marketing.
I should know how this works.
Right.
Marketing yourself is a very,very different thing
Tracie (08:01):
Yes.
Suz (08:01):
Than marketing.
A company
Tracie (08:03):
for sure, especially a corporation that has a history.
I mean, you'd, like you said,you'd been there for a long
time.
You know, in my corporate worldI was in facilities and so I
worked with the branding peopleand stuff to do signage projects
and all of that kind of stuff.
And this is why we get along sowell.
'cause I always thought mysecond chapter was gonna be in
marketing.
(08:24):
Okay.
Yeah, in corporate marketing andbranding.
Suz (08:26):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (08:26):
You know, you.
There's parameters and there'sguidelines and there's a
structure already created thatyou follow and update.
But when you're creating it foryourself, how much time do you
spend to create it?
You just kind of jump, right?
Yeah.
Suz (08:45):
And I know that photography isn't unique this way.
There's a lot of industriesright now where, you know,
people say, oh, I have a camera,hence I'm a photographer.
Mm.
Or I have a phone, hence I'm aphotographer, or I have an
online design membership, henceI'm a graphic designer.
(09:07):
Right.
So there's all of these kind ofdifferent things and I had to
learn what it meant to be aprofessional, high level
photographer.
Yeah.
And I found a photographyeducation platform that.
Changed my world really focusedon the way that I wanted to take
photos and did that.
(09:29):
Talked about pricing.
Pricing is hard when you'regoing out on your own, figuring
out the value and what you'reoffering and all of the things.
And I was actually very luckyand I got to do a lot of that
really focused during COVID.
You know, when I, when I firststarted in photography, I was a
shoot and burn photographer.
It was not a viable business.
Tracie (09:48):
Mm.
And what does that mean when yousay shoot and burn photographer?
What does that mean?
Suz (09:52):
A shoot and burn photographer is when you meet
with a client, it's a, it's at alow price point.
You give them all their digitalsand they go, that's the end of
it.
Tracie (10:04):
And that's the end of it.
Suz (10:05):
Okay.
And I realized that I wasn't.
Enjoying that kind ofphotography.
Tracie (10:11):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (10:12):
And I had this, you know, years long'cause when COVID hit,
I shut down like some more thanI think a lot of other people.
And you know, people were like,you can come out now.
I don't wanna and I reallydrilled down.
Into how to create a portraitexperience for folks when they
(10:32):
come into the studio and switchto being a studio photographer
and really niching down andsaying, I don't enjoy event
photography as much.
I don't wanna focus on thatanymore.
Mm-hmm.
And I was lucky in that thephotography education platform,
I had had so many wonderfulvideos and online courses and,
(10:54):
you know, I could keep busy foryears just kind of learning.
And I did.
'cause I couldn't, I was verymuch an in-person business and
could not do that for a numberof years.
I could not convert to video tozoom
Tracie (11:11):
right
Suz (11:12):
to virtual..
Tracie (11:13):
So talk about the, how you're saying you're learning
like these different ways Yeah.
And the experience cre decidingthat you wanna really focus on
the client experience Yes.
Part.
Talk about what that's like,like how are you differentiated
from what other people mighthave experienced from other
photographers?
Suz (11:31):
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, I will.
I will say straight off the bat,there is nothing worse than
standing by yourself.
In front of a camera, likewalking in the door saying, you
know, hi, my name is Suszi.
Go, go stand there and clicking.
Tracie (11:48):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (11:48):
As I'm talking to clients and to leads, I say, if you
remember when Facebook firstlaunched, every profile photo
was somebody where you couldvery visibly see, they'd cut
somebody else outta the photobecause.
That's when we're mostcomfortable, right?
We're being ourselves, we'rewith our friends, we're doing
our thing, and, and standing byyourself is, is hard.
(12:13):
And if you've got any sort of, Idon't like my this, or I'm not
confident or whatnot, it'stough.
I don't know what to do with myhands.
I can't tell you how many timesI hear.
I don't know what to do with myhands.
So I decided I wanted to createan environment where people walk
in the door.
And start to feel comfortablebefore the camera even comes
(12:33):
out.
Tracie (12:34):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (12:34):
While I do photograph men, the bulk of my clients are
women.
They're usually business owners,solopreneurs, fempreneurs,
people who know that showingthemselves to the world is a
critical part of marketing.
Yeah.
Their logos aren't gonna carrythe weight.
Right.
We're not one of those bigcorporate entities where we see
(12:57):
the logo or we see the colorsand say, we know what that is.
Tracie (13:00):
Yeah.
Suz (13:00):
And who have different channels that they use, social
media, blogging, podcasts, allof these things where they want
multiple photos that are onbrand, but that they're not
using the same photo foreverything so that people get,
get tired of seeing their faces.
So,
Tracie (13:17):
or even if we get tired of seeing our own faces.
Suz (13:19):
Own faces, yeah.
Seriously.
Tracie (13:21):
Which is probably more accurate even.
Right.
Suz (13:24):
Oh my God, seriously.
I, I, in fact, and we, we mightget to this a little later.
I, I need new photos.
Like mine are, you know, a fewyears old now and
Tracie (13:33):
mm-hmm.
Suz (13:33):
I've kind of come into my own brand a little bit more
since I got them taken and it'stime to upgrade.
I've created this experience formy clients where we meet
beforehand, we do a zoom, muchlike you and I are doing to talk
about them and what they'relooking for and what they wanna
do and, and how they wanna do itand what it means.
And then as part of of mysession offering, I offer a one
(13:56):
hour wardrobe consultation withan image consultant.
And that.
Shelly Golden, I'll give her ashout out.
She's an amazing stylist andimage consultant will go through
their closets with them and say,here are the colors that works
for you.
Here are the shapes that workfor you, and more importantly,
from my perspective, and here'swhat works on camera.
Tracie (14:19):
Yeah.
Suz (14:19):
Because they are not always the same thing, so they get that
opportunity.
Come in with multiple outfits.
We do multiple outfit changes,and when they arrive in the
studio, they get professionalhair and makeup.
So it is somebody really help.
And all of my branding clientsare like, I'm a little nervous.
(14:39):
I don't wear a lot of makeup.
I wanna look like myself.
And Michelle Montez, my makeupartist, who again, another shout
out, fabulous, fabulous talent,listens to that and creates.
A makeup look for them that isnatural, looks like them, but
again, translates to being oncamera.
I know you have theaterconnections, so you know,
(15:00):
theater, makeup, right?
Like it's a different
Tracie (15:03):
Right.
Well, and I've gone through thisprocess for photo shoots.
Yeah.
For, you know, hitch hopprojects as well.
And same thing, it's like Yeah.
The, way that a professionalstylist, makeup artist can see
you and know how to sh have youshow up.
As your best self.
Right.
Whether it's for an event or fora photography session, like it's
(15:25):
a different result.
It's a different process.
Mm-hmm.
But they have the tools and theexperience and the, the
perspective of a differentperson's point of view than what
you're used to seeing in themirror.
Suz (15:38):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (15:38):
Which I think is probably the biggest part of it,
which is the value of havingprofessional photos too.
Right.
Is, you know, we all takeselfies.
Right, and we know maybe how tomake.
How we are happiest with our ownselfies, but as soon as someone
else is taking pictures, we'relike feeling like out of control
(15:58):
and therefore uncomfortable.
Yes.
And so, but a professional,like, that's like at a party,
someone's taking pictures.
Right?
Right, right.
But when you go for professionalphotography, the having that
experience be from start tofinish, knowing that you have
professionals behind you theentire way culminating with
this.
Time in front of the camera fromyou, like there's nothing like
(16:22):
it.
Suz (16:23):
And one of the added bonuses, which isn't even part
of that whole thing, is thatwhile my clients are getting
their hair and makeup done, wecan just sit and chitchat.
Tracie (16:31):
Yeah.
Talk more.
Suz (16:32):
So we talk more, we get to know each other.
So before the camera even getsout, we're kind of hanging out.
We're having fun together.
It's not.
You're walking in and astranger's snapping photos at
you we're, you know, I, I, Iprovide an no,'cause it usually
goes over lunch, so before thelipstick we gotta, you know, get
a little, a little food ineverybody.
(16:53):
I've got that.
Something in you.
Yeah.
And we just kind of hang out.
We make it fun.
Tracie (16:59):
And you do like a one person a day.
Like it's not like you have abunch of clients in a row.
Right?
Right.
It's a whole like day or a halfday.
Right.
But in the middle of the daykind of experience.
Right,
Suz (17:08):
exactly.
As long as the client wants tobe there.
So the client drives the time.
I also I think, which I think,you know, I think we've talked
about this, I have a full studiowardrobe Yeah.
Of kind of fun dress upy kind ofthings.
And I offered that to all myclients.
Like, Hey, we took all yourbrand photos.
We've got those.
(17:29):
Do you wanna have fun?
Yeah.
Do you wanna play?
Some people take me up on it.
Some people are like, no, I'mjust here for the business.
Thank you very much.
Others are like, oh my God, lookat all that fluff and, and you
know, I wanna wear the feathersand I wanna wear the headpiece.
And we just have fun at the end.
Tracie (17:44):
Headpiece.
Oh my God.
Suz (17:45):
Oh my God.
I've got, I love headpieces.
Tracie (17:47):
How fun.
Suz (17:47):
Oh yeah.
And flowers and crowns and allof the things.
And then as the, at the end,once my client is getting back
into the clothes, they're gonnawear home, I am immediately
downloading all of their photosand we are going through them
together.
So before they leave, they arechoosing the ones they want.
Tracie (18:06):
Wow.
So fast
Suz (18:07):
and super fast.
And then we talk about how theywant to be retouched.
Okay.
Some people are like, I'm reallyinsecure about this eyebrow.
Right.
And some people are like,
Tracie (18:21):
it don't match.
Suz (18:21):
Right.
Right.
And some people are like veryminimal.
Every wrinkle, every spot.
This is who I am.
Leave it.
Tracie (18:29):
Yeah.
Suz (18:29):
Well, and so we talk
Tracie (18:30):
about that, right?
Like that might be a veryintegral part of, you know,
maybe you talk about healthyaging and Exactly.
You know, the anti-D dietculture or whatever, if that's
really important.
I was thinking, I'm thinkingabout someone specifically who's
a speaker and she recently hadnew pictures.
'cause I can tell,'cause I,they're very current.
(18:51):
Compared to, you know, fouryears ago.
Right.
Picture, I'm like, she looksdifferent.
She looks more wrinkly, but shelooks amazing because, and her
whole thing is about being, youknow, vibrant as you age.
Exactly.
So like, don't polish it toomuch, but then Exactly.
Folks who are just like this,right?
This.
Suz (19:11):
And it's funny how many people walk into my studio
saying, can you make me lookyounger?
Can you make me look thinner?
Yeah.
Shoot from above with the wholeyounger thing.
My first question is, do youreally wanna go back because I
was a hot mess when I wasyounger.
Like, own the fact that you'reprobably in a much better place
now and you don't, you know,like you don't wanna go back.
(19:32):
And for the folks who want tolook thinner, that's all about
posing.
There are poses that can kind ofhide and, and do the things and
other people come in going, thisis me, this is my body.
There is just no need to doanything.
I am comfortable in thatexperience.
Tracie (19:53):
Yeah.
I love it.
Suz (19:55):
And we talk about all those things and, and so that by the
time their final photos come tothem, they know.
They get exactly what they'reexpecting.
Plus, yeah.
And I offer all those photos indifferent sizes and different
formats and in banners and allof the things.
So that, that, that crosschannel, cross media usage is,
Tracie (20:15):
so you're doing, like a banner, someone might, you know,
have their photo kind of off toone side, but you're gonna send
them the banner whole like,correct.
Format size and everything.
Suz (20:25):
Every banner on every site is a different size.
All different sizes.
Tracie (20:29):
I know it's
Suz (20:29):
crazy, but I will send them a banner.
And then they can always come tome saying, I need this.
Can you resize it?
Yeah.
But you know, things like, to methat are like so super easy, you
know, ex extending a banner,that is something that people
who don't do photography, whodon't do design.
That could be really, reallystressful.
Yeah.
(20:50):
It's like, oh my God, that'lltake me three minutes.
Just send it me on this size.
It.
Tracie (20:53):
Did you, is that like your marketing background that
allows you to like comprehend?
Because I haven't heard of aphotographer who offers more
than just like, here's thephoto.
Suz (21:03):
It was a lot of what I learned.
Yeah.
Oh, okay.
And I also, you know, I talkedabout like what are some of the
bold decisions?
I made a bold decision that whenI wasn't necessarily feeling my
best, I went and had my ownphotos done, and I found a
mentor and a photographer that Ihad been following for years is
(21:24):
not in my state, but she wasgonna be at a conference I was
at and signed up to get the fulltreatment from her.
Awesome.
A terrifying.
Be super fun and c kind oflearned when she delivered to
me.
I'm like, that's brilliant.
(21:46):
I love how, you know, I love allthe ways I can use this.
And just learned so much aboutwhat it feels like to be on the
other side of the camera.
Yeah.
Oh, that's great.
And, and also what it feels liketo pay for a service.
And pay for an experience.
Yeah.
So as I went into this, I'mlike, wow, that, that, that's a
(22:07):
lot of money to spend on me.
Like I will spend that on otherpeople.
But for me to have a day likethat, that seems, Ooh, do I
deserve that?
Do I need it?
Can I justify it?
And I've done it a couple timesnow, and the first time I
justified it totally like, oh myGod, that was the best learning
experience.
(22:27):
I learned so much.
And then the second time I wentis.
I got great photos and I feelawesome and totally worth it
because people are seeing menow.
I'm putting myself out there andI am a part of my own brand.
Tracie (22:45):
Yeah,
Suz (22:47):
and that's one of the reasons I wanna update them.
I, I never got any photos takenin glasses and I'm a big glasses
girl.
I change them all the time, asyou know, like I need a bunch
that kind of just show me.
Going big and bold
Tracie (23:00):
right as you show up every day.
Yeah, right.
As opposed to just like perfector exactly whatever.
Yeah.
So that's on my to-do list.
Will you go back to the sameGalligan?
Suz (23:13):
Probably not.
Just because I am very, veryfortunate.
I know a lot of wonderfulphotographers.
You have a lot of community.
I have a lot of contacts herelocally that I can work with,
and that's actually.
I love the spirit of cooperationover competition.
So, you know, I don't marketmyself to be a photographer that
(23:33):
people travel to.
See.
I would much rather say, oh, youknow, you're in Asheville.
Don't come here.
I know a great, phenomenalphotographer in Asheville.
Let me give you, you know, letme give you her information.
Yeah.
So if I had the opportunity tobe in the same.
Place and time and city as Saraywho did my photos, who is just
(23:56):
amazing.
Absolutely.
I would go back to her in aheartbeat, but.
Again, since I'm not travelingfor that,
Tracie (24:03):
probably more likely a Bay Area based person somewhere.
Yeah.
And you've talked with mepersonally.
We've talked about thiscommunity of photographers that
you're connected with and you dothings together, and you have
days that you spend together andstuff.
And so talk about the community,you know, but as a photographer,
you have your support folks,Michelle, Shelly.
(24:24):
Mm-hmm.
But you are the delivery person,right?
And it sounds like you're doingnot only the photography, but
the after photography,everything yourself too.
You're not having someone doediting.
You're not having someone docreate the banners for you based
on the photos to give to yourclient.
You're doing it yourself.
Suz (24:42):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (24:42):
So with your.
Photography community that youhave.
Mm-hmm.
Talk about that value.
'cause I know the other thing wehaven't touched on is you do
branding photography, but youalso do kind of fine art
photography, for lack of abetter term.
Mm-hmm.
Is that the right term?
Or just creative photography.
I, creative photography.
Suz (25:00):
Fine art sometimes has a boudoir slash nudity.
Ah, gotcha, gotcha.
Depending on who you talk to.
It's one of those weird terms isYeah.
Tracie (25:08):
But creative based on the.
Have created.
Yes.
So talk about the communityfactor for you in what
photography means to you.
Suz (25:19):
Awesome.
Thank you.
Yes, I love it.
I'm one of those weirdphotographers, I love
retouching.
To me that is part of theartistry.
It's part of the creation.
Mm-hmm.
A lot of photographers outsourceand outsourcers.
You work with your outsourcer tomake sure that they know your
style.
Like it is a very, yeah.
You build that relationship,intimate relationship.
(25:40):
Yeah.
And so I do not belittle that atall, but I actually have fun
kind of doing that.
I, I enjoy it very much.
I, as you said, I have thiscommunity I that I started like
meeting through meetups of allthings where people would open
up their studio saying, I have amodel, I have a theme who, you
know, and multiple photographerscome in, pay to pay the model.
(26:02):
And so I did a number of thosethings.
I also got to do some creativephotography at the conferences I
went to and started saying, thisis somewhere where I can just be
my most creative.
Tracie (26:15):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (26:15):
When I'm taking brand photos.
If I were taking your brandphotos, I couldn't come to you
saying, and what if we did thiswith your makeup and then we did
this with your hair?
And that's not my role.
And so with creative, it'sentirely.
Collaborative Michelle saying,I'm thinking of this for makeup
and really bold colors andstreaks and, and things, and
(26:38):
the, the model saying, you know,either being a part of the
process for being, you know,just saying, Hey, whatever you
guys wanna do, kind of coming upwith, let's do this.
Look, what about this headpiece?
Or, I have this concept.
Great.
How do we find all of the.
Fabrics and things to bring thatconcept to life.
(27:00):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
And that is kind of what I dowhen I just need a creative
outlet.
Yeah.
And it is so fun and so gloriousand I have had the privilege of
showing my creative work.
I partnered with an abstractphotographer by the name of
Brandon Stauffer and we createda gallery show.
(27:21):
Where we paired one of myportraits with his abstract
photography.
Ooh.
To tell a different story.
And we showed that in a coupledifferent galleries here in the
Bay Area.
I'm hoping to find more but havenot had the time to go research
where we can, where we can show.
And it was so, it was just avery different way of.
(27:42):
Of exploring photography love,and that was super fun.
I love that.
Tracie (27:45):
Okay.
Well so a make sure you tell mewhen that happens, because I'm
there.
I will do, yeah, that soundsamazing.
And it reminds me of you know,in San Francisco they have that
like flower show where it's likethere's an piece of art and then
they make flower arrangements.
It's, it
Suz (28:00):
was almost, it was exactly like that.
Yeah.
And it sounds just like that.
We had a couple people make thatcomparison.
Tracie (28:06):
Oh really?
Suz (28:06):
Because, and his abstract work was phenomenal.
And I will say that he did.
The lion's share of kind oftaking my portraits and you
know, in most cases he wouldcreate an abstract to match it.
In some cases I would say, oh myGod, look at this.
They already match.
And in some cases I would colorgrade my photos to match his.
(28:28):
But yeah, super.
Tracie (28:31):
Yeah.
That's super fun.
And what, and having you talkabout this, and I'm glad that I
asked the question'cause havingyou talk about it just shows you
that, you know, many of us arereally passionate about the joy
that our work brings to us.
Suz (28:45):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (28:45):
And while your work, like client work isn't that
creative outlet, but it's, it'sall intertwined.
Suz (28:53):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (28:53):
Right?
You, you, it's the, it's the actof creating imagery.
Whether it's for a client thatyou can be proud of because you,
you know, help them show upversus for yourself or for the
model or for a gallery orwhatever.
Same thing though, it's you'recreating this image for this
(29:15):
purpose and it's sounds like youare just so joyful and like, so
fun.
And who wouldn't wanna work withyou?
Suz (29:23):
Oh, you are so kind.
I.
Absolutely love it.
And I will say, it always cracksme up because I'm a pretty
casual person and one of thestruggles I went through when I
launched this is I'm offeringthis experience.
It's very elegant, it's very,and and I am, I can think of a
lot of wonderful adjectives todescribe myself.
So this is not self-deprecatingin any way.
(29:46):
I am not elegant, I am notglamor.
Like that's just not my.
That's not my brand.
That's not who I am.
Yeah.
So here I am just Beau justworking with these women and
making sure that they feelbeautiful and at their best.
And I'm in overalls and a tanktop and I'm barefoot and,'cause
I'm, you know, I'm runningaround, I'm moving.
(30:07):
I'm, yeah, it's not about me.
Yeah.
And,
Tracie (30:09):
They're the ones that are supposed to look like Ggl,
but for a good reason.
Exactly.
And you're, I one,
Suz (30:15):
when I finally figured out that I don't need to welcome
them in, like they're welcome tomy studio, right.
That, that's not me.
Like, come on in, we're gonnahave fun.
And and it's, I'm just reallylucky.
I mean, that's really all I keepsaying when I, when I'm doing
this, is I'm just so lucky to dowhat I do.
(30:36):
And and to have had this kind ofsecond chapter opportunity to
focus on, on this.
And I meet so many fabulous,fierce, successful, just really,
really awesome women.
And if I can make them leave thestudio with images that say,
(30:57):
heck yeah, then I'veaccomplished something because,
and I've met so many wonderful.
People through it and lovefollowing their businesses and
their careers and have becomefriends with many of them.
Yeah,
Tracie (31:12):
I love it.
I love it.
And the, you know, being able tobe a piece of their development
and the next steps for them andlike you're, you know, as a
coach, I always said that, youknow, my goal is to help people
move forward, right?
Mm-hmm.
Coaching wise from where theyare, but.
I didn't realize when I startedcoaching that I wanted to change
(31:33):
the world.
And the reason that that's aworld changing act and what
you're doing is the same, isthat the more women we can help
uplevel themselves to reach morepeople, that those people can
uplevel themselves in whateverit is, whether it's a coaching
thing or just, or a product thatmm-hmm.
Helps someone bring joy tosomeone else.
(31:56):
Right.
The ripples of all of those.
Points of contact from you toyour client, to their clients,
to their, because if it's womenin business, this is how the
world changes.
Suz (32:08):
I love that.
I've never really thought of itthat way, so thank you.
That's a beautiful way of, ofkind of thinking about it and
you know, women have changed theworld, are changing the world
and will continue to change theworld.
Yep.
And the more we can kind of putourselves out there and empower
ourselves to do things is.
Tracie (32:27):
A hundred percent.
Suz (32:28):
It's exciting.
So,
Tracie (32:29):
yes, absolutely.
Well, I think that that'sprobably a great place for us to
wrap up.
We're changing the world andthat's just the way it is.
I love that.
Yeah.
This is the evergreen situation.
So what we know about you as aphotographer is that photography
is available whenever it is,that it is right for you to have
it.
So we'll make sure that peopleknow how to reach you, how to
(32:51):
find out more.
Get your website on there, yourportfolio of amazing women
behind there.
By the way, that picture ofMarie is amazing.
I don't know if I've seen thatone before
Suz (33:01):
Thank you.
I actually think you may bemixing somebody else up because
Really?
Yeah, it's not Marie.
I know which one you're talkingabout, but it is, that is
actually not Marie.
Tracie (33:09):
Oh, how funny.
Okay.
Well maybe it's just'cause I'mblind, but
Suz (33:12):
Well, and they're small behind you and you
Tracie (33:14):
know, so they're all lovely and I particularly like
the one where the hair is in herface because that's so
interesting and fun.
Suz (33:23):
I had so much fun with that one.
And as somebody who has.
Not as much hair as she mightlike.
When I have clients who have thehair, I'm like, come on, let's
play with it.
And I love it.
That was a great culmination.
That's a great example of we dida full brand shoot and at the
end said, let's do some that area little bit more.
Tracie (33:43):
Yeah, casual and fun.
Casual.
Casual water and artistic.
Yeah, I love it.
And so obviously not everyone'slistening on Zoom, but if you
check out on the YouTubechannel, you'll see Susziy's
background where she's got anumber of her clients on her
background, some of who I've metbefore and others who just are
amazingly beautiful.
And the whole thing is just allgreat.
(34:04):
So I'm so thrilled.
Thank that.
We had a chance.
Thank you so much to have thisconversation today, my friend.
And I can't wait.
You too.
And I'm so grateful
Suz (34:12):
to all that you do and in bringing the community together
and supporting the folks in yourcommunity.
And you are awesome, and I feellike I just blah all over this
today, but I really just lovechatting with you and you were
just so awesome.
Tracie (34:26):
Yay.
Well, that was the, that was thepoint is for you to come and,
and tell us all about you andbecause, you know, when we're
talking about women being boldand brilliant, like that's the
podcast, right?
Bold and brilliant.
Mm-hmm.
The.
The changes that you made, theway that you decided to adjust,
how you brought this service toyour clients, but just even the
(34:49):
whole, we all have this like.
Linear, semi linear, you know,path that we're on from who we
were to where we were, to thenwho we became and who we are
now.
And it's never straight line.
And it's always interesting.
And to have someone likeyourself who's clearly so.
(35:09):
Joyful about, it's just the wordthat keeps coming back because
your energy is so infectiouswhen you're talking about what
you do, that it's like you can'tdeny that it's the right place
for you.
And that makes be,
Suz (35:22):
ah, you're, you're wonderful.
Thank you.
I, as I said, I am, I blessed,grateful every day that I get to
do this and it's, it's a joy andworking with people.
Yeah.
As you know, bringing a wholecommunity together, right?
Just bringing fabulous peopletogether to have an experience
(35:42):
was, yeah.
Fantastic.
It was just everything.
Tracie (35:44):
Thank
Suz (35:45):
you.
Tracie (35:45):
Thank you.
And thank you again, and I guesswe're done.
Thanks, Suszi.
We'll talk to you soon.
Suz (35:51):
Okay.
Thank you.
Tracie (35:52):
Bye.
Thank you for listening to theBold and Brilliant podcast.
I'm your host, Tracie Root, andI wanna invite you to check out
the show notes, find out whereyou can connect with our guests,
find out more about what I andthe Gather community have to
offer you, and be sure tosubscribe to this podcast on
(36:13):
your favorite platform.
Thanks so much.
Are you ready to take boldaction and live a life of
brilliance?
Welcome to the Bold andBrilliant podcast, where women
leaders share inspiring storiesabout daring decisions that
shape their businesses, theirlives, and their careers.
Today I'm with the fabulous andamazing Suszi McFadden.
(00:23):
Suszi McFadden is anaward-winning portrait
photographer based in Sunnyvale,California.
She strives to make her clientsfeel strong, powerful, and
beautiful the moment they walkin the door and hold onto that
feeling long after they leave.
Suszi specializes in beautyportraits and in headshot and
(00:45):
brand photos, and her work hasbeen displayed in galleries,
published in internationalmagazines, and included in New
York Times bestselling books.
Still her most gratifyingrecognition is from her happy
clients.
As we talk, you'll hear Suszishare her journey of
entrepreneurship, including onebold decision that created her
(01:09):
path of what was next.
Her story of resilience, risktaking, and transformation will
inspire, encourage, and supportyour personal and professional
growth.
Please join me in welcoming Suzyto the bold and brilliant
podcast.
Tracie (01:30):
Suszi, I'm so excited to have you on the podcast.
Welcome.
Suz (01:34):
Thank you.
I'm excited to be here.
Tracie (01:36):
Yay.
Okay.
I am super stoked because we'vebeen connected for a couple of
years and I'm realizing becausewe all have rich lives, I'm
realizing that there's thingsabout you becoming who you are
now.
I know some of the story, but Idon't know all of the story.
So for people who've never evenmet you, let's go back a little
(01:57):
bit.
Okay.
And talk about who is Suszi?
Where did you start out?
Like, where did you grow up?
And maybe how you got intophotography.
Suz (02:09):
I love it.
Great.
You want me to just jump in andstart ing?
Tracie (02:14):
Yeah.
Tell me, tell me a story.
Suz (02:15):
Fantastic.
I.
Live in Sunnyvale, Californianow.
Took me a while to get here.
I grew up in SouthernCalifornia, suburb of Los
Angeles, and came up to go touc, Berkeley when I was straight
out of high school, I guess.
Mm-hmm.
And fell in love with Bay Area.
(02:37):
Called my parents after threeweeks and said, I'm never coming
home.
Tracie (02:40):
Never coming home.
Suz (02:41):
Which is like now that all of my friend's kids are going to
college.
I'm like, oh my God.
I didn't even think about howthat would sit with my parents.
I got here and went, I am aNorthern California girl.
I am done staying here.
Never coming home.
Tracie (02:55):
How was it different from where you grew up in
Southern California and SouthernCalifornia has, you know, the
entire gamut, soup to nuts ofall of the different
opportunities.
How was the Bay Area different?
Suz (03:05):
So I grew up in a suburb that I felt like every, I knew
everybody since I was five.
Tracie (03:13):
Yeah.
Suz (03:13):
And I was just ready to get out.
I was ready to be kind of my ownperson.
There's a Bay Area vibe and Ijust don't know how to
articulate that for people whodon't know the Bay Area.
But I came up here and it wasjust freer and looser and.
More casual and a little morehippy dippy.
(03:33):
And a lot of it, like if Ireally think about it, a lot of
it was it's where I became anan, an adult.
Sure.
Right.
So I could have gone anywherequite possibly and said, okay,
this is me.
Yeah.
For forging my own path and Ilove it here.
Tracie (03:49):
You were ready to create this adult identity for
yourself, right?
Suz (03:53):
Yeah.
And I knew from a very young ageI wanted to go to Berkeley, so
it was just one of those.
Kind of, I got there, I was verylucky.
It's harder, it's much harder tobe a, a high school senior right
now than it was back in my day.
And I got to go there and it waseverything I wanted it to be.
And I just fell in love with theBay.
So I lived in East Bay for anumber of years and graduated
(04:19):
from college with a liberal artsdegree.
Didn't know what I wanted to do.
Got very lucky that.
A company looked at myextracurriculars and I got hired
as an event planner.
Okay.
And the timing worked in such away that it was right around
the.com boom.
So I was able to kind of getinto tech as an event planner
(04:42):
back when companies werethrowing these big events.
And through my career inmarketing for tech people fi
figured out I could write basedon my, you know.
College education, all of that.
And I wound up getting intostrategic marketing for a
software company.
I always did photography kind offor fun, but I, I was never a
(05:05):
film girl.
I never did the Dark Room.
It was always dropping off myfilm to get double prints.
Right.
And hoping they came out.
Tracie (05:12):
Oh my gosh, yes.
Suz (05:14):
Right at which I still have, I need to go through those
and purge a little bit.
Ooh, that would be fun.
I was with the same tech companyfor years in their marketing
department and made a name formyself there.
So as the years went on, Idecided I wanna do this kind of
a little less and focus onphotography.
(05:35):
And the way this came about ismy sister had kids and they got
to an age where they were toofast for my point and shoot.
And so I looked at my husbandand said, I wanna get a good
fast camera.
And we know a lot of photographywonks in our circle.
And his response was, not aproblem.
(05:56):
Let's do this.
I just don't want you to become,turn into one of those lens
people.
Tracie (06:01):
Oh, right.
I've heard this part before.
Suz (06:03):
Fast forward,
Tracie (06:04):
what that means.
Suz (06:05):
Fast forward now we have the lenses, we have the studio
lights, we have the, you know.
All of the whole thing.
So I was doing half and half.
My company very graciouslyallowed me to go to halftime.
That was not policy, but again,I had been there a long time.
I had made a name.
And in tech, as we know, layoffsare kind of part of the culture,
(06:29):
sadly rollercoaster and, a a, around of layoffs was announced
and I said, okay, I'm, I'm gone.
I'm halftime my champion, mychampion has left the, the
building.
I haven't met the new VP yet.
Like there's, and it did nosurprise to anyone and I was
really kind of lucky to be ableto say, okay, now what do I want
(06:51):
to do?
Do I wanna go back into this?
Do I wanna get another corporatejob?
Do I wanna focus on thephotography that I've kind of
been doing half cocked for anumber of years and I was really
lucky and privileged and I countmy blessings that we were in a
place where I was able to say,let's see if we can make this
work.
And I haven't looked back.
Tracie (07:13):
Awesome.
And how long ago was that?
How many years ago?
Suz (07:17):
Getting close to 10.
Since I was, just, since I,since it became all that I'm
doing.
Tracie (07:22):
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
And how fortunate, like, so itwas before all the COVID stuff,
that was five years ago.
Suz (07:29):
Yeah.
Tracie (07:29):
And so you were able to kind of make that decision, get
established, have your situationfigured out before everything
went wonky.
Crazy
Suz (07:40):
ish.
I am not gonna claim that I hadmy situation figured, figured
out that quickly.
It's a very different experienceto go from working for someone
else.
Tracie (07:51):
Yes.
Suz (07:51):
To working for yourself.
Yeah.
And I was in marketing.
I should know how this works.
Right.
Marketing yourself is a very,very different thing
Tracie (08:01):
Yes.
Suz (08:01):
Than marketing.
A company
Tracie (08:03):
for sure, especially a corporation that has a history.
I mean, you'd, like you said,you'd been there for a long
time.
You know, in my corporate worldI was in facilities and so I
worked with the branding peopleand stuff to do signage projects
and all of that kind of stuff.
And this is why we get along sowell.
'cause I always thought mysecond chapter was gonna be in
marketing.
(08:24):
Okay.
Yeah, in corporate marketing andbranding.
Suz (08:26):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (08:26):
You know, you.
There's parameters and there'sguidelines and there's a
structure already created thatyou follow and update.
But when you're creating it foryourself, how much time do you
spend to create it?
You just kind of jump, right?
Yeah.
Suz (08:45):
And I know that photography isn't unique this way.
There's a lot of industriesright now where, you know,
people say, oh, I have a camera,hence I'm a photographer.
Mm.
Or I have a phone, hence I'm aphotographer, or I have an
online design membership, henceI'm a graphic designer.
(09:07):
Right.
So there's all of these kind ofdifferent things and I had to
learn what it meant to be aprofessional, high level
photographer.
Yeah.
And I found a photographyeducation platform that.
Changed my world really focusedon the way that I wanted to take
photos and did that.
(09:29):
Talked about pricing.
Pricing is hard when you'regoing out on your own, figuring
out the value and what you'reoffering and all of the things.
And I was actually very luckyand I got to do a lot of that
really focused during COVID.
You know, when I, when I firststarted in photography, I was a
shoot and burn photographer.
It was not a viable business.
Tracie (09:48):
Mm.
And what does that mean when yousay shoot and burn photographer?
What does that mean?
Suz (09:52):
A shoot and burn photographer is when you meet
with a client, it's a, it's at alow price point.
You give them all their digitalsand they go, that's the end of
it.
Tracie (10:04):
And that's the end of it.
Suz (10:05):
Okay.
And I realized that I wasn't.
Enjoying that kind ofphotography.
Tracie (10:11):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (10:12):
And I had this, you know, years long'cause when COVID hit,
I shut down like some more thanI think a lot of other people.
And you know, people were like,you can come out now.
I don't wanna and I reallydrilled down.
Into how to create a portraitexperience for folks when they
(10:32):
come into the studio and switchto being a studio photographer
and really niching down andsaying, I don't enjoy event
photography as much.
I don't wanna focus on thatanymore.
Mm-hmm.
And I was lucky in that thephotography education platform,
I had had so many wonderfulvideos and online courses and,
(10:54):
you know, I could keep busy foryears just kind of learning.
And I did.
'cause I couldn't, I was verymuch an in-person business and
could not do that for a numberof years.
I could not convert to video tozoom
Tracie (11:11):
right
Suz (11:12):
to virtual..
Tracie (11:13):
So talk about the, how you're saying you're learning
like these different ways Yeah.
And the experience cre decidingthat you wanna really focus on
the client experience Yes.
Part.
Talk about what that's like,like how are you differentiated
from what other people mighthave experienced from other
photographers?
Suz (11:31):
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, I will.
I will say straight off the bat,there is nothing worse than
standing by yourself.
In front of a camera, likewalking in the door saying, you
know, hi, my name is Suszi.
Go, go stand there and clicking.
Tracie (11:48):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (11:48):
As I'm talking to clients and to leads, I say, if you
remember when Facebook firstlaunched, every profile photo
was somebody where you couldvery visibly see, they'd cut
somebody else outta the photobecause.
That's when we're mostcomfortable, right?
We're being ourselves, we'rewith our friends, we're doing
our thing, and, and standing byyourself is, is hard.
(12:13):
And if you've got any sort of, Idon't like my this, or I'm not
confident or whatnot, it'stough.
I don't know what to do with myhands.
I can't tell you how many timesI hear.
I don't know what to do with myhands.
So I decided I wanted to createan environment where people walk
in the door.
And start to feel comfortablebefore the camera even comes
(12:33):
out.
Tracie (12:34):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (12:34):
While I do photograph men, the bulk of my clients are
women.
They're usually business owners,solopreneurs, fempreneurs,
people who know that showingthemselves to the world is a
critical part of marketing.
Yeah.
Their logos aren't gonna carrythe weight.
Right.
We're not one of those bigcorporate entities where we see
(12:57):
the logo or we see the colorsand say, we know what that is.
Tracie (13:00):
Yeah.
Suz (13:00):
And who have different channels that they use, social
media, blogging, podcasts, allof these things where they want
multiple photos that are onbrand, but that they're not
using the same photo foreverything so that people get,
get tired of seeing their faces.
So,
Tracie (13:17):
or even if we get tired of seeing our own faces.
Suz (13:19):
Own faces, yeah.
Seriously.
Tracie (13:21):
Which is probably more accurate even.
Right.
Suz (13:24):
Oh my God, seriously.
I, I, in fact, and we, we mightget to this a little later.
I, I need new photos.
Like mine are, you know, a fewyears old now and
Tracie (13:33):
mm-hmm.
Suz (13:33):
I've kind of come into my own brand a little bit more
since I got them taken and it'stime to upgrade.
I've created this experience formy clients where we meet
beforehand, we do a zoom, muchlike you and I are doing to talk
about them and what they'relooking for and what they wanna
do and, and how they wanna do itand what it means.
And then as part of of mysession offering, I offer a one
(13:56):
hour wardrobe consultation withan image consultant.
And that.
Shelly Golden, I'll give her ashout out.
She's an amazing stylist andimage consultant will go through
their closets with them and say,here are the colors that works
for you.
Here are the shapes that workfor you, and more importantly,
from my perspective, and here'swhat works on camera.
Tracie (14:19):
Yeah.
Suz (14:19):
Because they are not always the same thing, so they get that
opportunity.
Come in with multiple outfits.
We do multiple outfit changes,and when they arrive in the
studio, they get professionalhair and makeup.
So it is somebody really help.
And all of my branding clientsare like, I'm a little nervous.
(14:39):
I don't wear a lot of makeup.
I wanna look like myself.
And Michelle Montez, my makeupartist, who again, another shout
out, fabulous, fabulous talent,listens to that and creates.
A makeup look for them that isnatural, looks like them, but
again, translates to being oncamera.
I know you have theaterconnections, so you know,
(15:00):
theater, makeup, right?
Like it's a different
Tracie (15:03):
Right.
Well, and I've gone through thisprocess for photo shoots.
Yeah.
For, you know, hitch hopprojects as well.
And same thing, it's like Yeah.
The, way that a professionalstylist, makeup artist can see
you and know how to sh have youshow up.
As your best self.
Right.
Whether it's for an event or fora photography session, like it's
(15:25):
a different result.
It's a different process.
Mm-hmm.
But they have the tools and theexperience and the, the
perspective of a differentperson's point of view than what
you're used to seeing in themirror.
Suz (15:38):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (15:38):
Which I think is probably the biggest part of it,
which is the value of havingprofessional photos too.
Right.
Is, you know, we all takeselfies.
Right, and we know maybe how tomake.
How we are happiest with our ownselfies, but as soon as someone
else is taking pictures, we'relike feeling like out of control
(15:58):
and therefore uncomfortable.
Yes.
And so, but a professional,like, that's like at a party,
someone's taking pictures.
Right?
Right, right.
But when you go for professionalphotography, the having that
experience be from start tofinish, knowing that you have
professionals behind you theentire way culminating with
this.
Time in front of the camera fromyou, like there's nothing like
(16:22):
it.
Suz (16:23):
And one of the added bonuses, which isn't even part
of that whole thing, is thatwhile my clients are getting
their hair and makeup done, wecan just sit and chitchat.
Tracie (16:31):
Yeah.
Talk more.
Suz (16:32):
So we talk more, we get to know each other.
So before the camera even getsout, we're kind of hanging out.
We're having fun together.
It's not.
You're walking in and astranger's snapping photos at
you we're, you know, I, I, Iprovide an no,'cause it usually
goes over lunch, so before thelipstick we gotta, you know, get
a little, a little food ineverybody.
(16:53):
I've got that.
Something in you.
Yeah.
And we just kind of hang out.
We make it fun.
Tracie (16:59):
And you do like a one person a day.
Like it's not like you have abunch of clients in a row.
Right?
Right.
It's a whole like day or a halfday.
Right.
But in the middle of the daykind of experience.
Right,
Suz (17:08):
exactly.
As long as the client wants tobe there.
So the client drives the time.
I also I think, which I think,you know, I think we've talked
about this, I have a full studiowardrobe Yeah.
Of kind of fun dress upy kind ofthings.
And I offered that to all myclients.
Like, Hey, we took all yourbrand photos.
We've got those.
(17:29):
Do you wanna have fun?
Yeah.
Do you wanna play?
Some people take me up on it.
Some people are like, no, I'mjust here for the business.
Thank you very much.
Others are like, oh my God, lookat all that fluff and, and you
know, I wanna wear the feathersand I wanna wear the headpiece.
And we just have fun at the end.
Tracie (17:44):
Headpiece.
Oh my God.
Suz (17:45):
Oh my God.
I've got, I love headpieces.
Tracie (17:47):
How fun.
Suz (17:47):
Oh yeah.
And flowers and crowns and allof the things.
And then as the, at the end,once my client is getting back
into the clothes, they're gonnawear home, I am immediately
downloading all of their photosand we are going through them
together.
So before they leave, they arechoosing the ones they want.
Tracie (18:06):
Wow.
So fast
Suz (18:07):
and super fast.
And then we talk about how theywant to be retouched.
Okay.
Some people are like, I'm reallyinsecure about this eyebrow.
Right.
And some people are like,
Tracie (18:21):
it don't match.
Suz (18:21):
Right.
Right.
And some people are like veryminimal.
Every wrinkle, every spot.
This is who I am.
Leave it.
Tracie (18:29):
Yeah.
Suz (18:29):
Well, and so we talk
Tracie (18:30):
about that, right?
Like that might be a veryintegral part of, you know,
maybe you talk about healthyaging and Exactly.
You know, the anti-D dietculture or whatever, if that's
really important.
I was thinking, I'm thinkingabout someone specifically who's
a speaker and she recently hadnew pictures.
'cause I can tell,'cause I,they're very current.
(18:51):
Compared to, you know, fouryears ago.
Right.
Picture, I'm like, she looksdifferent.
She looks more wrinkly, but shelooks amazing because, and her
whole thing is about being, youknow, vibrant as you age.
Exactly.
So like, don't polish it toomuch, but then Exactly.
Folks who are just like this,right?
This.
Suz (19:11):
And it's funny how many people walk into my studio
saying, can you make me lookyounger?
Can you make me look thinner?
Yeah.
Shoot from above with the wholeyounger thing.
My first question is, do youreally wanna go back because I
was a hot mess when I wasyounger.
Like, own the fact that you'reprobably in a much better place
now and you don't, you know,like you don't wanna go back.
(19:32):
And for the folks who want tolook thinner, that's all about
posing.
There are poses that can kind ofhide and, and do the things and
other people come in going, thisis me, this is my body.
There is just no need to doanything.
I am comfortable in thatexperience.
Tracie (19:53):
Yeah.
I love it.
Suz (19:55):
And we talk about all those things and, and so that by the
time their final photos come tothem, they know.
They get exactly what they'reexpecting.
Plus, yeah.
And I offer all those photos indifferent sizes and different
formats and in banners and allof the things.
So that, that, that crosschannel, cross media usage is,
Tracie (20:15):
so you're doing, like a banner, someone might, you know,
have their photo kind of off toone side, but you're gonna send
them the banner whole like,correct.
Format size and everything.
Suz (20:25):
Every banner on every site is a different size.
All different sizes.
Tracie (20:29):
I know it's
Suz (20:29):
crazy, but I will send them a banner.
And then they can always come tome saying, I need this.
Can you resize it?
Yeah.
But you know, things like, to methat are like so super easy, you
know, ex extending a banner,that is something that people
who don't do photography, whodon't do design.
That could be really, reallystressful.
Yeah.
(20:50):
It's like, oh my God, that'lltake me three minutes.
Just send it me on this size.
It.
Tracie (20:53):
Did you, is that like your marketing background that
allows you to like comprehend?
Because I haven't heard of aphotographer who offers more
than just like, here's thephoto.
Suz (21:03):
It was a lot of what I learned.
Yeah.
Oh, okay.
And I also, you know, I talkedabout like what are some of the
bold decisions?
I made a bold decision that whenI wasn't necessarily feeling my
best, I went and had my ownphotos done, and I found a
mentor and a photographer that Ihad been following for years is
(21:24):
not in my state, but she wasgonna be at a conference I was
at and signed up to get the fulltreatment from her.
Awesome.
A terrifying.
Be super fun and c kind oflearned when she delivered to
me.
I'm like, that's brilliant.
(21:46):
I love how, you know, I love allthe ways I can use this.
And just learned so much aboutwhat it feels like to be on the
other side of the camera.
Yeah.
Oh, that's great.
And, and also what it feels liketo pay for a service.
And pay for an experience.
Yeah.
So as I went into this, I'mlike, wow, that, that, that's a
(22:07):
lot of money to spend on me.
Like I will spend that on otherpeople.
But for me to have a day likethat, that seems, Ooh, do I
deserve that?
Do I need it?
Can I justify it?
And I've done it a couple timesnow, and the first time I
justified it totally like, oh myGod, that was the best learning
experience.
(22:27):
I learned so much.
And then the second time I wentis.
I got great photos and I feelawesome and totally worth it
because people are seeing menow.
I'm putting myself out there andI am a part of my own brand.
Tracie (22:45):
Yeah,
Suz (22:47):
and that's one of the reasons I wanna update them.
I, I never got any photos takenin glasses and I'm a big glasses
girl.
I change them all the time, asyou know, like I need a bunch
that kind of just show me.
Going big and bold
Tracie (23:00):
right as you show up every day.
Yeah, right.
As opposed to just like perfector exactly whatever.
Yeah.
So that's on my to-do list.
Will you go back to the sameGalligan?
Suz (23:13):
Probably not.
Just because I am very, veryfortunate.
I know a lot of wonderfulphotographers.
You have a lot of community.
I have a lot of contacts herelocally that I can work with,
and that's actually.
I love the spirit of cooperationover competition.
So, you know, I don't marketmyself to be a photographer that
(23:33):
people travel to.
See.
I would much rather say, oh, youknow, you're in Asheville.
Don't come here.
I know a great, phenomenalphotographer in Asheville.
Let me give you, you know, letme give you her information.
Yeah.
So if I had the opportunity tobe in the same.
Place and time and city as Saraywho did my photos, who is just
(23:56):
amazing.
Absolutely.
I would go back to her in aheartbeat, but.
Again, since I'm not travelingfor that,
Tracie (24:03):
probably more likely a Bay Area based person somewhere.
Yeah.
And you've talked with mepersonally.
We've talked about thiscommunity of photographers that
you're connected with and you dothings together, and you have
days that you spend together andstuff.
And so talk about the community,you know, but as a photographer,
you have your support folks,Michelle, Shelly.
(24:24):
Mm-hmm.
But you are the delivery person,right?
And it sounds like you're doingnot only the photography, but
the after photography,everything yourself too.
You're not having someone doediting.
You're not having someone docreate the banners for you based
on the photos to give to yourclient.
You're doing it yourself.
Suz (24:42):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (24:42):
So with your.
Photography community that youhave.
Mm-hmm.
Talk about that value.
'cause I know the other thing wehaven't touched on is you do
branding photography, but youalso do kind of fine art
photography, for lack of abetter term.
Mm-hmm.
Is that the right term?
Or just creative photography.
I, creative photography.
Suz (25:00):
Fine art sometimes has a boudoir slash nudity.
Ah, gotcha, gotcha.
Depending on who you talk to.
It's one of those weird terms isYeah.
Tracie (25:08):
But creative based on the.
Have created.
Yes.
So talk about the communityfactor for you in what
photography means to you.
Suz (25:19):
Awesome.
Thank you.
Yes, I love it.
I'm one of those weirdphotographers, I love
retouching.
To me that is part of theartistry.
It's part of the creation.
Mm-hmm.
A lot of photographers outsourceand outsourcers.
You work with your outsourcer tomake sure that they know your
style.
Like it is a very, yeah.
You build that relationship,intimate relationship.
(25:40):
Yeah.
And so I do not belittle that atall, but I actually have fun
kind of doing that.
I, I enjoy it very much.
I, as you said, I have thiscommunity I that I started like
meeting through meetups of allthings where people would open
up their studio saying, I have amodel, I have a theme who, you
know, and multiple photographerscome in, pay to pay the model.
(26:02):
And so I did a number of thosethings.
I also got to do some creativephotography at the conferences I
went to and started saying, thisis somewhere where I can just be
my most creative.
Tracie (26:15):
Mm-hmm.
Suz (26:15):
When I'm taking brand photos.
If I were taking your brandphotos, I couldn't come to you
saying, and what if we did thiswith your makeup and then we did
this with your hair?
And that's not my role.
And so with creative, it'sentirely.
Collaborative Michelle saying,I'm thinking of this for makeup
and really bold colors andstreaks and, and things, and
(26:38):
the, the model saying, you know,either being a part of the
process for being, you know,just saying, Hey, whatever you
guys wanna do, kind of coming upwith, let's do this.
Look, what about this headpiece?
Or, I have this concept.
Great.
How do we find all of the.
Fabrics and things to bring thatconcept to life.
(27:00):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
And that is kind of what I dowhen I just need a creative
outlet.
Yeah.
And it is so fun and so gloriousand I have had the privilege of
showing my creative work.
I partnered with an abstractphotographer by the name of
Brandon Stauffer and we createda gallery show.
(27:21):
Where we paired one of myportraits with his abstract
photography.
Ooh.
To tell a different story.
And we showed that in a coupledifferent galleries here in the
Bay Area.
I'm hoping to find more but havenot had the time to go research
where we can, where we can show.
And it was so, it was just avery different way of.
(27:42):
Of exploring photography love,and that was super fun.
I love that.
Tracie (27:45):
Okay.
Well so a make sure you tell mewhen that happens, because I'm
there.
I will do, yeah, that soundsamazing.
And it reminds me of you know,in San Francisco they have that
like flower show where it's likethere's an piece of art and then
they make flower arrangements.
It's, it
Suz (28:00):
was almost, it was exactly like that.
Yeah.
And it sounds just like that.
We had a couple people make thatcomparison.
Tracie (28:06):
Oh really?
Suz (28:06):
Because, and his abstract work was phenomenal.
And I will say that he did.
The lion's share of kind oftaking my portraits and you
know, in most cases he wouldcreate an abstract to match it.
In some cases I would say, oh myGod, look at this.
They already match.
And in some cases I would colorgrade my photos to match his.
(28:28):
But yeah, super.
Tracie (28:31):
Yeah.
That's super fun.
And what, and having you talkabout this, and I'm glad that I
asked the question'cause havingyou talk about it just shows you
that, you know, many of us arereally passionate about the joy
that our work brings to us.
Suz (28:45):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (28:45):
And while your work, like client work isn't that
creative outlet, but it's, it'sall intertwined.
Suz (28:53):
Mm-hmm.
Tracie (28:53):
Right?
You, you, it's the, it's the actof creating imagery.
Whether it's for a client thatyou can be proud of because you,
you know, help them show upversus for yourself or for the
model or for a gallery orwhatever.
Same thing though, it's you'recreating this image for this
(29:15):
purpose and it's sounds like youare just so joyful and like, so
fun.
And who wouldn't wanna work withyou?
Suz (29:23):
Oh, you are so kind.
I.
Absolutely love it.
And I will say, it always cracksme up because I'm a pretty
casual person and one of thestruggles I went through when I
launched this is I'm offeringthis experience.
It's very elegant, it's very,and and I am, I can think of a
lot of wonderful adjectives todescribe myself.
So this is not self-deprecatingin any way.
(29:46):
I am not elegant, I am notglamor.
Like that's just not my.
That's not my brand.
That's not who I am.
Yeah.
So here I am just Beau justworking with these women and
making sure that they feelbeautiful and at their best.
And I'm in overalls and a tanktop and I'm barefoot and,'cause
I'm, you know, I'm runningaround, I'm moving.
(30:07):
I'm, yeah, it's not about me.
Yeah.
And,
Tracie (30:09):
They're the ones that are supposed to look like Ggl,
but for a good reason.
Exactly.
And you're, I one,
Suz (30:15):
when I finally figured out that I don't need to welcome
them in, like they're welcome tomy studio, right.
That, that's not me.
Like, come on in, we're gonnahave fun.
And and it's, I'm just reallylucky.
I mean, that's really all I keepsaying when I, when I'm doing
this, is I'm just so lucky to dowhat I do.
(30:36):
And and to have had this kind ofsecond chapter opportunity to
focus on, on this.
And I meet so many fabulous,fierce, successful, just really,
really awesome women.
And if I can make them leave thestudio with images that say,
(30:57):
heck yeah, then I'veaccomplished something because,
and I've met so many wonderful.
People through it and lovefollowing their businesses and
their careers and have becomefriends with many of them.
Yeah,
Tracie (31:12):
I love it.
I love it.
And the, you know, being able tobe a piece of their development
and the next steps for them andlike you're, you know, as a
coach, I always said that, youknow, my goal is to help people
move forward, right?
Mm-hmm.
Coaching wise from where theyare, but.
I didn't realize when I startedcoaching that I wanted to change
(31:33):
the world.
And the reason that that's aworld changing act and what
you're doing is the same, isthat the more women we can help
uplevel themselves to reach morepeople, that those people can
uplevel themselves in whateverit is, whether it's a coaching
thing or just, or a product thatmm-hmm.
Helps someone bring joy tosomeone else.
(31:56):
Right.
The ripples of all of those.
Points of contact from you toyour client, to their clients,
to their, because if it's womenin business, this is how the
world changes.
Suz (32:08):
I love that.
I've never really thought of itthat way, so thank you.
That's a beautiful way of, ofkind of thinking about it and
you know, women have changed theworld, are changing the world
and will continue to change theworld.
Yep.
And the more we can kind of putourselves out there and empower
ourselves to do things is.
Tracie (32:27):
A hundred percent.
Suz (32:28):
It's exciting.
So,
Tracie (32:29):
yes, absolutely.
Well, I think that that'sprobably a great place for us to
wrap up.
We're changing the world andthat's just the way it is.
I love that.
Yeah.
This is the evergreen situation.
So what we know about you as aphotographer is that photography
is available whenever it is,that it is right for you to have
it.
So we'll make sure that peopleknow how to reach you, how to
(32:51):
find out more.
Get your website on there, yourportfolio of amazing women
behind there.
By the way, that picture ofMarie is amazing.
I don't know if I've seen thatone before
Suz (33:01):
Thank you.
I actually think you may bemixing somebody else up because
Really?
Yeah, it's not Marie.
I know which one you're talkingabout, but it is, that is
actually not Marie.
Tracie (33:09):
Oh, how funny.
Okay.
Well maybe it's just'cause I'mblind, but
Suz (33:12):
Well, and they're small behind you and you
Tracie (33:14):
know, so they're all lovely and I particularly like
the one where the hair is in herface because that's so
interesting and fun.
Suz (33:23):
I had so much fun with that one.
And as somebody who has.
Not as much hair as she mightlike.
When I have clients who have thehair, I'm like, come on, let's
play with it.
And I love it.
That was a great culmination.
That's a great example of we dida full brand shoot and at the
end said, let's do some that area little bit more.
Tracie (33:43):
Yeah, casual and fun.
Casual.
Casual water and artistic.
Yeah, I love it.
And so obviously not everyone'slistening on Zoom, but if you
check out on the YouTubechannel, you'll see Susziy's
background where she's got anumber of her clients on her
background, some of who I've metbefore and others who just are
amazingly beautiful.
And the whole thing is just allgreat.
(34:04):
So I'm so thrilled.
Thank that.
We had a chance.
Thank you so much to have thisconversation today, my friend.
And I can't wait.
You too.
And I'm so grateful
Suz (34:12):
to all that you do and in bringing the community together
and supporting the folks in yourcommunity.
And you are awesome, and I feellike I just blah all over this
today, but I really just lovechatting with you and you were
just so awesome.
Tracie (34:26):
Yay.
Well, that was the, that was thepoint is for you to come and,
and tell us all about you andbecause, you know, when we're
talking about women being boldand brilliant, like that's the
podcast, right?
Bold and brilliant.
Mm-hmm.
The.
The changes that you made, theway that you decided to adjust,
how you brought this service toyour clients, but just even the
(34:49):
whole, we all have this like.
Linear, semi linear, you know,path that we're on from who we
were to where we were, to thenwho we became and who we are
now.
And it's never straight line.
And it's always interesting.
And to have someone likeyourself who's clearly so.
(35:09):
Joyful about, it's just the wordthat keeps coming back because
your energy is so infectiouswhen you're talking about what
you do, that it's like you can'tdeny that it's the right place
for you.
And that makes be,
Suz (35:22):
ah, you're, you're wonderful.
Thank you.
I, as I said, I am, I blessed,grateful every day that I get to
do this and it's, it's a joy andworking with people.
Yeah.
As you know, bringing a wholecommunity together, right?
Just bringing fabulous peopletogether to have an experience
(35:42):
was, yeah.
Fantastic.
It was just everything.
Tracie (35:44):
Thank
Suz (35:45):
you.
Tracie (35:45):
Thank you.
And thank you again, and I guesswe're done.
Thanks, Suszi.
We'll talk to you soon.
Suz (35:51):
Okay.
Thank you.
Tracie (35:52):
Bye.
Thank you for listening to theBold and Brilliant podcast.
I'm your host, Tracie Root, andI wanna invite you to check out
the show notes, find out whereyou can connect with our guests,
find out more about what I andthe Gather community have to
offer you, and be sure tosubscribe to this podcast on
(36:13):
your favorite platform.
Thanks so much.
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