Alora 0:00

Welcome back to the Wedding at podcast. I'm so excited to have some of my first six figure alumni with me, Emily Rodin Hauser, and I've talked about her story so many times because she was the mom that made six figures in a year with a newborn in NICU booking calls, landing the sales five figure days. So I just wanted to bring Emily back on to talk about her journey, what it looked like, you know, before joining wedding ga, but also. life has been like after. So, Emily, can you just refresh us and take us back to of like what your business was like in the beginning?

Emily Rodenhauser 0:40

Yeah, so when I started the program, I did not have a brand. I was very like trying to fit in the boho niche that was like popular, but not me at all. And I. Had a couple years of experience in the wedding game. I knew I wanted to do it full time. I just did not have any experience when it came to like selling myself for weddings or marketing, anything like that. Did not have a brand. I think I was charging like maybe $2,500 yeah, it was. It was insane. I look back and I'm like, girl, no wonder like. I mean, and it's just speaking of babies, no, you can talk to AOR later. He's like peering over the top of the dining room table like.

Alora 1:34

I'm back. I'm the star.

Emily Rodenhauser 1:36

Yeah. Oh, he very much is he, we call him our nosy NICU baby because

Alora 1:41

really funny.

Emily Rodenhauser 1:43

he gets FOMO for everything. Like he always has to be in the know. But yeah, no, looking back to, gosh, it was two, three years now, just a complete, like 180 to where I am now, I feel like I am so confident in my branding and who I am as a photographer, and now, I mean, I just booked a three hour elopement for $3,000 and it's like I was doing full day weddings for less than that.

Alora 2:14

Oh my gosh, that's so full circle.

Emily Rodenhauser 2:17

And I think like my biggest takeaway I think is being able to like take my personal life back.

Alora 2:23

Mm.

Emily Rodenhauser 2:24

before it was like the hustle, hustle, hustle, and still being broke, still having to dedicate every weekend, every day to the job. Now it's like I can actually take off a weekend, like I have two weekends off this month while still making money

Alora 2:43

Love it.

Emily Rodenhauser 2:44

and it's like, I love it. Complete 180. It's like even now, like when I see other photographers and I'm like, Hey guys, let's go out, let's plan something. And they're like, girl, I don't have a weekend open until November. And I'm like. God, that was me.

Alora 3:00

would you say those are like your peers or just like the photographers, in your area

Emily Rodenhauser 3:04

Like my peers and yeah, like a lot of 'em, like we have a pretty strong group of girls in the area that we all like hang out and everything. And once it gets to like busy season, it's just like nobody has time, nobody can do anything. But it's like now that I am. Kind of found myself at this level where it's like I don't have to overbook myself in order to make money. It's like I wanna go do stuff, and I'm like, everybody else is still overbooked.

Alora 3:37

No. That is so crazy to think. I'm trying to like look at when you joined Exactly. Because I feel like it was only two years ago, but it feels so much longer.

Emily Rodenhauser 3:48

I wanna say like beginning of 2023.

Alora 3:51

Mm-hmm.

Emily Rodenhauser 3:52

like that December before the new year, I think.

Alora 3:56

It's crazy could change in like two years and like you bought the lifetime pass, so you're like, that's why you're still here. FYI, everyone's

Emily Rodenhauser 4:01

Oh yeah. And I mean, to me that was a no brainer because I'm like a firm believer you can never know enough. And I think that plays a big role in your growth, is like not getting comfortable where you're at. Always striving for more. And with me and like the course, it's like. The fact that you even keep it constantly updated and refreshed with like the wedding industry. Now, for me it was a no brainer to do the lifetime pass because I was like, this is gonna be relevant two years ago, this year, next year. Like we're already talking trends and what's happening, like no brainer.

Alora 4:42

Yeah, I know, and I remembered we did our Instagram class and then you guys just started playing around and getting inquiries like crazy.

Emily Rodenhauser 4:50

Yeah.

Alora 4:51

Is so fun. I feel like for you, you learned your pricing. I mean, you kind of have the whole business makeover was because you didn't know you're just doing the boho. I feel like everyone who came was Boho Babe, and then they was like, oh, wait, pause.

Emily Rodenhauser 5:05

yeah, I feel like it was that if you started and like. The late, like after 2015 era,

Alora 5:13

Yeah.

Emily Rodenhauser 5:14

was like you jumped in and you felt like you had to be boho in order to like be relevant. And I just remember when we like sat down to do my branding and you were like, oh, okay, your colors are like pink and yellow or those your favorite. And I was like, no, I actually hate the color pink.

Alora 5:31

Are they?

Emily Rodenhauser 5:32

I know it even. And now I look at my website and I'm like, that's me. Like that is me to a T Elevated, and I love it.

Alora 5:42

Yeah. I remember we looked at your brand board when you were putting stuff together and I was like, Emily, this does not you're like, no, this is like who I really am. I just didn't know. I didn't know who I was. I was just like, do you feel like it's kind of hard in the industry when you first start out. You're just looking at what you're supposed to do or you think you're supposed to do instead of looking within yourself. You know what I mean?

Emily Rodenhauser 6:02

I think so. I feel like because imposter syndrome is such like a big play in it and in this day and age of like social media and influencers and being relevant, I think people get lost in the chaos of like. Trying to do the next best thing, the next big thing, trying to be on the same level. And I think that's why we see a lot of newer photographers when they come into the game, they're trying to, I don't wanna use the word like copy, but like mimic other brands, the wedding trends, what's new and hot this year. And I think there's just this kind of sense of like. Blending in so that you hopefully stay relevant, but also that way you don't stand out

Alora 6:56

Mm-hmm.

Emily Rodenhauser 6:57

and like through this course, I really realized that standing out is what makes people want to book you. Like even I have people like on Instagram that will message me and be like, oh my gosh, like I loved your work, but like I followed you because of who you are as a person and what you post and your values. And it's like, I tell people all the time, I'm like, don't be afraid to put yourself out there because people wanna connect with you, not just pretty photos.

Alora 7:28

Yeah, and I feel like that's what makes people get price shopped all the time because you don't look any different. You sound the same. You look the same. What's the difference between you and someone else who charges the exact same as you, with the same style and no personality?

Emily Rodenhauser 7:43

Oh, 100%. And I mean, especially when I feel like there's just so many photographers nowadays, it's like you have to stand out or you will be on the back burner.

Alora 7:57

Yeah. I feel like it's the scariest thing to do, but it is the secret sauce, like once you lean into it. But do you feel like too, Emily, that you're so much more fulfilled than when you were doing the boho and the pink and the yellow?

Emily Rodenhauser 8:09

Oh, definitely, definitely. Like I feel like that even goes into like the couples, I was book, like the families, the couples, the clients, wonderful people. Lovely people, but it just, we weren't I don't wanna say vibing, but it was very like surface level. It was you need a service. I have the service to give. That was it. Whereas now it's like my clients value me not only as a photographer, but also as a person outside of the job. And it's like. I now get couples that I'm like excited to shoot because like I love their style. They love my style. Before it was like, you know, showing up barn, wedding burlap, all that good Ohio wedding stuff. If you know you now. And I remember like telling my husband, I'm like, I never wanna see another piece of burlap again. I hate it. I'm like, it is not me. I'm like, love Ohio. Born and raised. But like, I don't, I'm like, it's, I can't do it anymore. Like I can't do, I can't do it. And my husband's like, then. You need to stop doing it. Like, like he's like, you have the power to like say no, to like

Alora 9:35

Yeah.

Emily Rodenhauser 9:35

the people you mess mesh with. And I think that it's like now every single wedding I get, every booking I get, I'm excited. I'm not like dreading to go to a shoot. Like I know so many people where they're like, oh, I really don't want to shoot like this engagement tonight or this couple. And it's like, I never feel that way anymore. It's every single session. I'm like, let's go. My creative cup is full. I am excited. It's complete. 180.

Alora 10:04

Oh my gosh, that is actually a huge flex. You're like, actually, I attract people I love and I'm obsessed with.

Emily Rodenhauser 10:11

Just the other day. I mean, somebody was like, man, don't you just like dread some weddings? And I was like, no. Haven't in a while.

Alora 10:20

Actually, no, I love my business. Thank you. Wow. I mean, I guess I never thought about it like that because, you know, yes, you may have people that aren't a good fit and that might happen, but I mean, imagine if a majority of the inquiries. not all the couples you work with are the right fit. And I feel like too, Emily, you show up a lot like as yourself, so people kind of know like where you stand, what you do, who you are, you're a mom, you have kids, but you love photographing family. So they already know, oh, I'm gonna get married, we're gonna hire Emily for the family shoot. Like everything is already out there. Did you feel like you were nervous to do that at first, or do you feel like you just wanted the permission or wanted to know what was missing?

Emily Rodenhauser 11:01

Oh, definitely nervous. If you would've said two years ago, I would've either shown my face in like an Instagram story or a reel. I specifically remember one of the first calls we ever did and you were saying like, yeah, every six or so posts needs to be of your face on your thi. And I remember scrolling back on my Instagram and I was like, oh, I've never shared a photo of myself on here.

Alora 11:26

Am I.

Emily Rodenhauser 11:27

And it's like, now it's like I show up on my stories, I make reels. For the past couple months, I'm over on TikTok. Like it's just a complete 180. It's been like such a confidence booster too. Like I feel like because I, who I am and I'm now confident in my brand. I'm not worried about getting on here and being like, oh, do I blend in with everybody else because I don't want to,

Alora 11:54

Ooh. I love that. I love it. She's like, I'm not even tempted to shapeshift, like I'm just me. So what happened is, we came in, you had to figure out who you were. Then we launched a rebrand, and then we raised your prices.

Emily Rodenhauser 12:07

Yes,

Alora 12:08

okay.

Emily Rodenhauser 12:09

yes. I was charging, I think it was like 2,400 for 12 hour wedding days.

Alora 12:14

my gosh, Emily,

Emily Rodenhauser 12:16

Yeah. I look back and I'm like, that wasn't me.

Alora 12:20

who's that girl? I don't know her.

Emily Rodenhauser 12:22

I'm like, if you knew me back then, you don't.

Alora 12:25

Okay. Do you remember then what we changed it to immediately? Because I could feel myself passing out right now.

Emily Rodenhauser 12:32

I think like immediately we changed to that like three to 5K range, I wanna say.

Alora 12:39

Yeah.

Emily Rodenhauser 12:40

And that did like really good for me. And now I'm in that like five to like seven and a half K range. So. It's definitely like I still sometimes when I have a couple that books, I'm like, wow.

Alora 12:54

Yeah, I mean, essentially you've tripled your prices then since.

Emily Rodenhauser 12:59

Yeah,

Alora 13:00

not doing 12 hour days.

Emily Rodenhauser 13:02

and I don't even do 12 hour days anymore. I only do 10.

Alora 13:05

I feel like too, like as a mom, that was my non-negotiable. I didn't know that I could do that. Like, oh, everybody has to charge, you know, this amount and then have 10 to 12 hour days. But, 10 hours was my cap, and my couples were fine with it and I was fine with it.

Emily Rodenhauser 13:19

Yeah, and I mean, now it's like I'm at the point where I take at least one weekend off a month, like I don't have to have anything booked. I remember that was. The turning point that made me join this program.

Alora 13:34

Mm-hmm.

Emily Rodenhauser 13:35

I joined, I wanna say that December and it was that fall before then. I was so overbooked. I did not even have a weekend to like take my kids to the pumpkin patch.

Alora 13:45

Oh.

Emily Rodenhauser 13:46

And I remember like telling myself, I'm like, that was my tipping point. I'm like, something has to change. Like your kids are only this young once. I don't wanna be spending their milestones and. Vacations and all that fun stuff at a wedding or at a shoot or

Alora 14:03

Yeah.

Emily Rodenhauser 14:04

know, not being able to do it. And so like now it's October busy season and I can afford to take two weekends off.

Alora 14:12

Okay. So yeah, you blocked off October and you're like, I'm not accepting any bookings because I am taking my kids to the pumpkin patch this year. I remember that.

Emily Rodenhauser 14:21

Yeah, and It's just been so like, I don't even have the word to describe it, like, so just fulfilling that I get to do what I love, but then also be present in my personal life. I think is like my biggest takeaway from it.

Alora 14:38

And I feel like for moms, that's a luxury. Like I get to make really good money,

Emily Rodenhauser 14:43

Oh, definitely.

Alora 14:44

Get to raise my children and I get to take off weekends as many as I want.

Emily Rodenhauser 14:49

Yeah. Well, and I feel like in this day and age people, it's like either you have to be like the stay at home mom, have no career, or you have to be this CEO. Always busy, always booked. Don't have time for anybody. And it's like with this, it's the best of both worlds. I get to be home with my kids all day. I get to have these memories with them on the weekends, but then still have a job where I make as much, if not sometimes more than my husband love him. But I do remind him of that from time to time.

Alora 15:25

No, seriously. I remember thinking that too. Like when I had my son, that was my second child, and we'll talk about Jonah's journey in a minute, but like that I could just, I had so much money and it was like winter season. I was booking, he was sleeping in the next room in his Moses basket that I paid for with weddings and I'm just like, is this the dream? Like really have it made, you get to have it all literally.

Emily Rodenhauser 15:50

Yeah.

Alora 15:51

Which leads me to Jonah. 'cause I remember you were like, Hey guys, so this is fun. I'm pregnant. And I have a wedding around the time that he was born and then he came early, but you were still able, that was the year you made six figures actually

Emily Rodenhauser 16:04

Yeah, that was my, to this day is like my highest gross year,

Alora 16:10

insane.

Emily Rodenhauser 16:10

I spent almost six months of it in a hospital.

Alora 16:14

Oh my gosh. Wow, didn't know it was six months.

Emily Rodenhauser 16:18

Yeah, I was there. the appointments started in June and then from July until November, we were in the NICU with him.

Alora 16:27

Wow.

Emily Rodenhauser 16:28

And even after we came home, I feel like those first couple months it was appointment after appointment and, but yeah, that's why I tell people, I'm like, If you're willing to put in the work to do it, the results are possible for sure. I mean, I did it in the waiting room of a hospital.

Alora 16:45

That was like a life first like switch for you was like, because of this, now I can put my life first because of weddings. I remember you said, yeah, I booked a wedding and how are you gonna celebrate? You put, I'm paying off one of Jonah's hospital bills. amazing.

Emily Rodenhauser 17:00

Yeah. Like I'll never forget the time. It's like I booked, I think it was three weddings in like one day while he was in the nicu.

Alora 17:09

Oh my

Emily Rodenhauser 17:09

And I remember just like getting onto the portal and was like, Hey guys, like Jonah's made great strides. 'cause I feel like he was like the Internet's baby for a hot second. And then I was like, oh, and by the way, I booked three weddings today. And you were like, girl, wait a minute.

Alora 17:24

In the hospital, where are you?

Emily Rodenhauser 17:26

I am like, yeah, I'm actually like sitting in the lounge room right now, chilling.

Alora 17:29

Oh my gosh. How did that feel?

Emily Rodenhauser 17:32

Oh. I mean, especially at that point in time when I feel like there was just so much uncertainty

Alora 17:39

mm-hmm.

Emily Rodenhauser 17:40

Jonah and his stay, and, medical bills, travel, all that. Bringing in quite literally 15 grand of income in one day was wild. Like I still look back at it and I'm like, wow, that's actually crazy.

Alora 17:58

That is incredible. Yeah. To know. I don't know. I just, I, I think about your story all the time. I was like, I honestly dunno how you did it. Like mentally you just kind of kept going. But do you feel like your business kind of like distracted you from the chaos of what was going on too? Like,

Emily Rodenhauser 18:13

Oh, I tell people all the time, like, I don't think I would've made it through those months without my business. And this community, especially the girls inside. I mean, they were there for me just cheering on like milestones that Jonah hit, day to day. Like if I was like, Hey guys, I'm bouncing this and also need to do this. what are your thoughts? I think like the community in the program is unmatched 100%.

Alora 18:44

Biggest compliment in the world. Honestly though it was great. And you would post photos of Jonah and like, whether it was a costume or a onesie, we were just like, yes, Jonah

Emily Rodenhauser 18:53

I joke all the time. I'm like, he is the photography industry's baby. Because even to this day, people are like, I haven't seen Jonah on your story in a while. Is he doing good?

Alora 19:04

we need bring the baby back. We need him.

Emily Rodenhauser 19:07

I joke that I occasionally have to like post him on Instagram to like give the people what they want.

Alora 19:11

Cause we were so scared, like there was just so much uncertainty and just like to actually see you through that whole journey. And then seeing him, I'm always just like, double tap, double tap. Like thank God he's here. I mean, yeah, as a mom too, of two, and you were busy and it just, it kept you going. You just, you did it, you tripled your prices. you kind of like rebranded your entire business and then boom, everything fell into place perfectly to support you. It was just wild. So your business has changed as a creative, because I feel like we did that Instagram class and we were talking about new strategies. You know, you taught a masterclass on selling in stories and like how you sell out all of your portrait sessions, the switch from mini sessions to portrait sellouts, do you feel like gave you the creativity and the confidence to kind of just do things your own way? You know what I mean? Like to just not do what everyone was doing.

Emily Rodenhauser 20:03

I feel like, again, just being so sure in my brand and who I am as a creative. It's, especially when it comes to like mini sessions. I hate mini sessions. I'll be the first to say it. But it always felt like they were something you had to do. Like everybody does fall minis, so you of course have to do fall minis if you want people to book with you in the fall. And I just, I'm somebody I like to connect with my clients on a. Deeper than surface level. So for me, like getting to meet somebody and like form that connection in 15 minutes just was not it. It was like, I wanna know you. I wanna know like what you're wanting. I wanna know about your family. I wanna know like your kids', hobbies, stuff like that. And just mini sessions just weren't it. And I. Low-key. Hated like booking a whole weekend with like 10 shoots in them. Like I look at that and I'm like, whoever decided that that was like a good idea for us, I think lied because even now, like my friends will like do their mini sessions and then they're like, oh my gosh, like I have to get 12 shoots done and edited this week. And I'm like, that sounds awful. So like once I switched I started doing like my creative sellouts for like full sessions and it's like now it's sessions I want to do. They fill my creative cup, I can actually post them to my social medias, because before it's like, I'm not gonna make my Instagram grid like 20 beach sessions.

Alora 21:44

Yeah.

Emily Rodenhauser 21:45

just, it doesn't make sense. And now it's like. Oh, these are sessions I wanna post that I want to shoot with couples and families I enjoy and that I actually get to know. So for me, it was like a no brainer. And I think that was like one of the big things that changed not only with my confidence, but with like the course itself. Because beforehand I had no marketing plan. I will admit that. So hand on the Bible, like Yeah, like you could be like, oh, like what's your marketing plan for the next quarter? And I'd be like a quarter. I don't even know what I'm posting next week. Like, hang on a second. And it's like, now I have a whole marketing game plan that I update every month and quarter. I actually have my huge wall of like calendars mapped out and it's like I already know what I'm doing for January and February of next year. Like, yeah,

Alora 22:50

so proud. I'm literally so proud.

Emily Rodenhauser 22:52

you've made me a little type a

Alora 22:54

Yes, yes. Just a little bit. So then you can be type B. That's my whole thing. Type A now. So you could be type B later.

Emily Rodenhauser 23:02

I like to joke that I'm Type C I'm like a little bit of both.

Alora 23:05

Well, I saw type C on TikTok and I was like, Ooh, actually that might be me. 'cause I'm kind of a mess. But also it's gonna get done. Like we don't know when, you know,

Emily Rodenhauser 23:13

that's me. I always joke that I'm actually type A with a DHD because I'm like, I wanna have it all together guys. I do. I just can't.

Alora 23:23

I always say like I'm Type A with my business and then I'm like Type C with my life,

Emily Rodenhauser 23:27

100%.

Alora 23:29

Always on the way. Don't know when I'm gonna get there.

Emily Rodenhauser 23:31

That's my husband and I joke about that because I like, even the way I have my SD cards organized, it's like buy shoe in their own little cubby with a label of when they're due by and, and he's like, but why are there dirty clothes on the floor? Like, put 'em in the hamper. And I'm like, listen. I unfortunately can only focus on one thing at a time.

Alora 23:55

I'm not superwoman. That is so relatable. Literally me looking at laundry next to me. Okay. I mean, oh my gosh, Emily like even looking back, I didn't know you charged 2,400 for 12 hours. I thought you were at three K. So you have doubled, tripled, and you're on the way to quadrupling your prices since joining, which is insane. But I love this journey for you. I mean, I don't even know, like what would you say was the biggest takeaway or even something you have to say for somebody who's thinking about joining?

Emily Rodenhauser 24:26

If I could tell like anybody who is looking at your website, your page and is like thinking, is this course right for me? I would tell them, if you are willing to put in the work to get there, then this course is for you. Because to me it's like, this course is like the secret formula, but it's like, you as the business owner are the chef. Like you do have to put in the work or you're not gonna get the results. But if you are somebody that is. Ready to know who you are in the industry. I think this course, I mean, I tell everybody about it. I'm like, people will be like, oh my gosh, I love this. I'm like, thanks. It's, it's Laura's doing.

Alora 25:15

I love that for us. You are just the biggest example of like. If I was a mom or if I was planning on being a mom, I would be like, okay, Emily's story guys. She did it. You don't have to do the work like as traumatically as it had to be done, but in a sense it can be done and you are reaping the

Emily Rodenhauser 25:33

I.

Alora 25:34

of it. And you having open weekends and be like, who wants to hang out? And everybody's like, we can't, Emily, we're stressed and broke.

Emily Rodenhauser 25:40

No, literally that has been the past two months. I'm like, let's all get together. And they're like, I have a shoe, I have a wedding. And I'm like, do you guys not have a day off? And they're like, no. And I'm like, but also I'm like, that used to be me. So I get it.

Alora 25:53

Emily. Thanks for coming on and just sharing with us your journey and just to see your journey like. In real time and reflect like you've come so far and I just can't wait to see how you're gonna grow your business some more. 'cause I know you're probably thinking of like additional income streams now that you have all these ideas,

Emily Rodenhauser 26:09

I'm already excited for the new year, and it's not even October

Alora 26:14

well you already have content planned till February, so, oh, thanks for coming on and everybody, we

Emily Rodenhauser 26:20

of course.

Alora 26:21

the next episode. Bye.