The Portrait System Podcast

The Portrait System Podcast

Join in as Nikki Closser, a mentor in the Sue Bryce Education community, interviews photographers who manage successful portrait photography businesses from around the globe using the business model Sue Bryce teaches. Subscribe to hear stories that will fast track your success and transform you as a photographer and business owner.

Episodes

August 10, 2026 • 75 mins

Drew Forsyth is an award-winning portrait photographer and director based in the North West of England, working with commercial and advertising clients across the UK and internationally. His work centres on people who've given everything to be extraordinary at what they do — from dancers with English National Ballet and musicians of the BBC Philharmonic and the Hallé Orchestras, to Nobel Prize-winning scientists, politicians,...

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Caroline White has been a professional photographer for 21 years — starting as an actress shooting headshots on the side before a burglary wiped out her equipment and pushed her into photography full-time. Since 2011 she's averaged six figures a year shooting personal branding for women entrepreneurs and coaches, and more recently has pivoted into a passion project: underwater portrait photography.

In this episode, Caroline an...

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What happens when a portrait photographer stops thinking like a freelancer and starts thinking like a CEO? Jaren Collins did exactly that — and built JCi Creatives, a nationwide creative agency specializing in conference and event storytelling, with clients including AT&T and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

In this episode, Jaren breaks down:

  • How he quit his corporate job (with almost nothing saved) and matched his ...
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In this episode of The Portrait System Podcast, Nikki sits down with photographer and educator Meg Loeks to talk about how she built a photography business rooted in storytelling, color, and creativity. Meg shares how she went from a corporate marketing job to running a thriving portrait business, and how life circumstances eventually led her to focus fully on photography education.

They talk about building momentum through social m...

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In this episode of The Portrait System Podcast, Nikki sits down with South Africa–based photographer Simone Dorfman to talk about real-life marketing strategies that actually work. Simone shares how she built a photography business with a $2,000 average sale in a small town by offering personal branding photography, product photography, and content creation services for small businesses.

They discuss:

• Photography marketing st...

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Most photographers don’t fail because of their photography, they fail because of pricing and marketing. In this episode of The Portrait System Podcast, Nikki sits down with Vanessa Joy (working photographer + educator, in business since 2008) to talk about what it really takes to keep a photography business profitable and sustainable.

In this conversation, Vanessa breaks down:

  • Why “I need more leads” is usually ...
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Taxes don’t have to be the thing you avoid until April. In this episode of The Portrait System, Nikki sits down with Heather Leicy (tax prep educator + bookkeeper + working photographer) to break down photographer tax deductions, year-round tax prep, and the biggest “can I write this off?” mistakes.

You’ll learn:

  • What to do monthly so you’re not scrambling at tax time
  • A simple system for setting aside...
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What does it really take to photograph celebrities and musicians and build a photography career that actually lasts?

In this episode of The Portrait System Podcast, Nikki Closser sits down with Jim Wright, a renowned photographer who has worked with iconic musicians, A-list celebrities, and major publications. Jim pulls back the curtain on the real business of celebrity and music photography - beyond the glamour.

You’ll learn:

<...
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    Get a FREE Posing eBook from The Portrait System here: https://the-portrait-system.lpages.co/podcast-pose-funnel/

    Today, on The Portrait System Podcast, our guest is portrait & lifestyle photographer Damien Carter. Listen in as host Nikki Closser interviews Damien about how he built his business for success in less than a year after being laid off from his full-time job. Damien tells us all about how he keeps his prices hig...

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    Get a FREE Posing eBook from The Portrait System here: https://the-portrait-system.lpages.co/podcast-pose-funnel/

    On today's special re-release of The Portrait System Podcast, our guest is portrait photographer Ivan Weiss. Listen in as host Nikki Closser interviews Ivan about his process, his business and how he infuses creativity and uniqueness into his headshot sessions. If you're looking for inspiration this week, then this ...

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    Get a FREE Posing eBook from The Portrait System here: https://the-portrait-system.lpages.co/podcast-pose-funnel/

    Today, we have a very special re-release of the Portrait System Podcast! In this episode, host Nikki Closser interviews photographer/author/activist and body image expert Teri Hofford, who tells us about how she managed to expand her brand with body positivity. Listen in as Teri shares the ups and downs of her ...

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    Get a FREE Posing eBook from The Portrait System here: https://the-portrait-system.lpages.co/podcast-pose-funnel/

    To end the year off on a strong note, we are re-releasing a very special episode of The Portrait System Podcast! Host, photographer and educator Nikki Closser interviews Stephanie Ewens who tells us all about her amazing inspiring story. Stephanie went from being a shoot and burn photographer with a $300 sales avera...

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    Today on this special re-release of The Portrait System Podcast, Vancouver-based boudoir and empowerment Michele Mateus is our guest. Listen in as Michele tells us all about her business journey and how she has achieved a $3k+ sales average. Don't miss out on this exceptional episode!

    PODCAST LISTENER SPECIAL!! If yo...

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    Today on the Portrait System Podcast, host, photographer and educator Nikki Closser interviews personal branding photographer Elle Yeon. Starting from zero and within a year and half, Elle built a 6 figure photography business and went from charging $0 to now $3000 a session. Listen in as Elle walks us through how s...

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    Get a FREE Posing eBook from The Portrait System here: https://the-portrait-system.lpages.co/podcast-pose-funnel/

    Today on this special re-release of Portrait System Podcast, host, photographer and educator Nikki Closser interviews Dallas-based maternity photographer Danielle Jenkins. Danielle tells us all about her business journey and how she markets and prices herself to achieve an over $4000 sales average.

    PODCAST LISTENER S...

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    Today's guest on this special re-release of Portrait System Podcast is Yagazie Eguare who runs a studio with a team of photographers in Lagos, Nigeria. Yagazie has a $2500 sales average, and this episode, she goes in depth about her journey and her business. If you want to learn about her unique story and get educat...

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    Today, on this special re-release of The Portrait System Podcast, host Nikki Closser interviews California-based photographer Nadine Sachiko Hsu. Nadine is a former race car driver turned photographer and went from doing $150 photoshoots to running a 3000 sq ft studio where she builds sets for her clients. Listen in...

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    Today on this special re-release of the Portrait System Podcast, host, photographer and educator Nikki Closser interviews New Hampshire-based photographer Sunshine White. Sunshine grew her business as a single mom with her studio in the basement of her home, and within her first year in business, brought in over $10...

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    Today on this special re-release of the Portrait System Podcast, host Nikki Closser interviews North Carolina-based photographer Amy Head. Listen in as Amy tells us all about her self-value journey and how it transformed her business. Don't miss this inspiring episode!

    PODCAST LISTENER SPECIAL!! If you want to get st...

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    Today, on this special re-release of the Portrait System Podcast, host Nikki Closser interviews Nashville-based photographer Judith Hill. Judith left her job in the corporate world, and she tells us all about how she did it and managed to create a portrait business that brought her a 6 figure income within the first...

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