STOKED - The Adventure Elopement Photographer Podcast - Build a Six Figure Elopement Photography Business

Hosted by Megan MacPhail - Elopement Photographer and Business Coach

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162

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Mar 2026

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About the show

Do you dream of having a successful elopement photography business but don't know where to start? Welcome to STOKED, the go-to podcast for adventure elopement photographers at every stage—whether you're looking to book your first elopement or take your business to the next level. Imagine confidently raising your prices, filling your calendar with dream couples in breathtaking locations, and feeling truly stoked about your business, your life, and your bank account! I'm your host, Megan MacPhail. After photographing over 200+ elopements worldwide, I can tell you with certainty that your dream elopement photography business is 100% possible. Tune in every Thursday as my elopement videographer husband, Todd, and I share our experiences, strategies, and lessons learned. We also bring in successful elopement photographers and industry experts for fluff-free, actionable interviews that will help you book more elopements and grow a thriving business. We're the only podcast specifically for elopement photographers, making STOKED your go-to resource in this niche. Not sure where to begin? Start with Episode 82: "The Secret to Booking and Planning All-Day Elopements " Get ready to be STOKED about your elopement photography business, life, and bank account! Cover photo by the amazing Henry Tieu → https://www.henry-tieu.com/ Check us out at → https://www.meganmacphail.com

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60 recent

March 27, 202620 min

[REPLAY] Following Your Energy in your Elopement Photography Business

Have you built an elopement photography business that looks good on paper, but doesn't feel good to live? If you've been following all the "right" steps: booking clients, growing your business, doing what you think you're supposed to do, but still feel drained, stuck, or disconnected, this episode is for you. So many elopement photographers end up building businesses based on what they see others doing, instead of what actually lights them up. And over time, that leads to burnout, frustration, and a business that doesn't feel aligned with the life you want. In this replay from the early days of the podcast, we dive into a question you should be asking yourself when deciding what to focus on in your business: What actually makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning? When you start monitoring the things that drain you of energy vs. the things that light you up, it becomes very clear what you should be including more of in your life, and what you should be saying goodbye to. Tune in now to learn how following your energy can change everything in your elopement photography business. Apply now for the Dream Destination Workshop The 2026 lineup for the Dream Destination Workshop: Alaska: July 12-17, 2026 Iceland: August 2-7, 2026 Switzerland: August 10-15, 2026 Connect with Megan: 🔥 Join Stoked Academy! The only membership community for elopement photographers ready to hit six figures in their business without hustling on social media. All for less than the cost of a new memory card for your camera. 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.

March 20, 202633 min

[REPLAY] From Big Weddings to Intimate Elopements: How Nicole Weeks Made the Switch and Found Success

Are you questioning whether the path you're on to become an elopement photographer is still the right fit? In this replay, I sit down with Nicole Weeks, an elopement photographer based in upstate New York to talk about how she made the switch from traditional weddings to shooting elopements and hasn't looked back. Nicole shares what finally pushed her to make the shift, how she booked her very first elopement for $5000, and the mindset shifts that helped her stop saying "yes" to weddings that no longer felt right. She also talks about how community and mentorship made all the difference in her success. If you've been thinking about making a change in your photography business, this is your sign! Hit play now! Connect with Nicole: Website: nicoleweeksphotography.com Instagram: @‌nicoleweeksphotography Connect with Megan: 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com

March 13, 2026Episode 15220 min

152. Why Building an Elopement Photography Business Takes Time (And What to Expect)

If you've been working hard in your elopement photography business, but still not seeing the bookings you've been hoping for, it can feel really discouraging, especially when you see others post about the success they're having. The truth is, building a successful elopement photography business doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, repetition, and the willingness to push through the uncomfortable "messy middle" that every entrepreneur experiences. In this episode, we dive into the reality behind building a thriving elopement photography business and why the slow, foundational work most photographers overlook is actually what leads to long-term success. We talk about why finding success as an elopement photographer takes longer than most people realize, why what's happening behind the scenes in your business is setting you up for success, and how pushing through the uncomfortable stages of growth leads to a business that eventually feels easier and more sustainable. Press play now to learn why the slow, steady work you're doing today is planting the seeds for a thriving elopement photography business tomorrow. Connect with Megan: 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.

March 6, 2026Episode 15131 min

151. Elopement Photography Marketing: Why Your Pricing Isn't the Problem

Do you ever say to yourself, "I should probably lower my prices because I'm not getting booked. It must be the economy." What if I told you it wasn't your pricing that's impacting your elopement photography business, but rather your marketing? In this episode, we unpack one of the biggest myths in the elopement photography industry: that pricing is the reason photographers struggle to book clients. In fact, there are couples who are investing $6k-$10k for their elopements right now! We dive into why it's your marketing and not your pricing that's hurting your business, how your sales funnel, including visibility, website conversions, and sales calls, directly impacts your bookings, and what successful elopement photographers are doing differently to attract couples who are excited to invest in their experience. Press play now to stop second-guessing your prices and start understanding what actually drives bookings in your elopement photography business. Connect with Megan: 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.

February 27, 202619 min

[REPLAY] 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When You Want to Quit Your Elopement Photography Business

Are you at that point where you're wondering, "Is elopement photography even for me?" This replay episode is super relevant because this is the time of year when people start questioning if this is the right path for them. We've been there, but that's the last thing we want you to do. Before you decide to end your business completely, we want you to pause and ask yourself 5 important questions that will give you clarity. These questions will remind you why you should keep going and not give up. We're sharing our own answers to them and some actionable tips to help you with each one. Save this episode in your back pocket for when you're having a bad day, week, or even month. Remind yourself why you're doing this, that you're strong, and you've done hard things before. You're going to get through it and you're going to be just fine. Apply now for the Dream Destination Workshop The 2026 lineup for the Dream Destination Workshop: Alaska: July 12-17, 2026 Iceland: August 2-7, 2026 Switzerland: August 10-15, 2026 Connect with Megan: 🔥 Join Stoked Academy! The only membership community for elopement photographers ready to hit six figures in their business without hustling on social media. All for less than the cost of a new memory card for your camera. 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.

February 20, 2026Episode 15035 min

150. How to Get Started as an Elopement Photographer

Curious as to what it truly takes to become an elopement photographer? If you've been thinking about breaking into elopement photography, but not exactly sure where to start, this episode is a pretty awesome roadmap. This week, we're sharing the full audio from Todd's 2025 presentation at Elopement Con, one of the most requested talks of the year: How to Get Started as an Elopement Photographer. In this episode, Todd breaks down the real path to getting started as an elopement photographer, including the must-have gear, the systems you should have in place, the mindset traps that trip most people up, and why focusing on one location to start can actually get you success faster. Hit play now and take your first real step toward becoming an elopement photographer. Apply now for the Dream Destination Workshop The 2026 lineup for the Dream Destination Workshop: Alaska: July 12-17, 2026 Iceland: August 2-7, 2026 Switzerland: August 10-15, 2026 Connect with Megan: 🔥 Join Stoked Academy! The only membership community for elopement photographers ready to hit six figures in their business without hustling on social media. All for less than the cost of a new memory card for your camera. 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.

February 13, 202626 min

[REPLAY] Tips to Successfully Pivot From Wedding Photography to Elopement Photography

Are you starting to get burnt out from shooting weddings every weekend? What if you could ditch the stress of long wedding days, get your weekends back, and have deeper connections with your couples? In this episode, are diving into how to make the leap from weddings to elopements, and why it could ultimately be the best decision for your business and life. We share the freedom elopements can give you, the mindset shifts you need to make to confidently transition to being an elopement photographer, and the best ways to market yourself to potential elopement couples. Ready to build an elopement photography business that fuels your passion and gives you more freedom? hit play now to get started! Apply now for the Dream Destination Workshop The 2026 lineup for the Dream Destination Workshop: Alaska: July 12-17, 2026 Iceland: August 2-7, 2026 Switzerland: August 10-15, 2026 Connect with Megan: 🔥 Join Stoked Academy! The only membership community for elopement photographers ready to hit six figures in their business without hustling on social media. All for less than the cost of a new memory card for your camera. 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website: www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.

February 6, 2026Episode 14921 min

149. From Overwhelm to Action in Your Elopement Photography Business

Do you feel like your to-do list keeps growing, the pressure is continuing to pile on, and you're finding yourself frozen instead of moving forward in your elopement photography business? If so, you're not lazy or failing, you're overwhelmed. This is actually something almost every elopement photographer experiences at some point, especially when everything feels urgent and important at the same time. In this episode, we are breaking down what overwhelm actually is, why it sends your nervous system into freeze mode, and how to break out of paralysis by taking small, low-pressure actions that build momentum Hit play now to quiet the overwhelm, and once again enjoy your elopement photography business. Apply now for the Dream Destination Workshop The 2026 lineup for the Dream Destination Workshop: Alaska: July 12-17, 2026 Iceland: August 2-7, 2026 Switzerland: August 10-15, 2026 Connect with Megan: 🔥 Join Stoked Academy! The only membership community for elopement photographers ready to hit six figures in their business without hustling on social media. All for less than the cost of a new memory card for your camera. 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com

January 30, 2026Episode 14829 min

148. Behind the Scenes of a $100k Elopement Photography Business with Macayla Lott

What if you could more than double your income and finally feel confident, free, and fully yourself as an elopement photographer? In this episode, I sit down with Utah and PNW elopement and wedding photographer, and mastermind member Macayla Lott, who went from making $40k in 2024 photographing anything and anyone to hitting $104k in 2025 photographing elopements in the Pacific Northwest with couples who feel like friends. Macayla shares how the mastermind completely changed her life, what she did to more than double her income in just one year, and how the biggest shifts weren't just financial, but in her confidence, clarity, and trust in herself. Hit play now if you're looking for proof that building an elopement photography business can change your life, not just your revenue. Connect with Macayla: Instagram: @macaylalottphoto Website: macaylalottphotography.com Apply now for the Dream Destination Workshop The 2026 lineup for the Dream Destination Workshop: Alaska: July 12-17, 2026 Iceland: August 2-7, 2026 Switzerland: August 10-15, 2026 Connect with Megan: 🔥 Join Stoked Academy! The only membership community for elopement photographers ready to hit six figures in their business without hustling on social media. All for less than the cost of a new memory card for your camera. 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.

January 23, 2026Episode 14726 min

147. How I Built an Elopement Photography Business During the Hardest Season of My Life

Have you seen the "Where were you in 2016?" trend on Instagram? I've been seeing it everywhere, and when I look back at that year, it's literally the year that changed everything for me. In this episode, I open up about what 2016 looked like for me, which was the year I launched Hazel & Lace Photography and the same year my life was completely derailed by a serious car accident, chronic pain, burnout, and a ton of medical debt. When everything else felt uncertain, photography became the one thing that gave me purpose. This conversation is for anyone building a business while life is throwing curveballs, whether it's working a demanding job, navigating health or financial stress, or feeling like you're behind everyone else. It's an honest reminder that success is rarely linear and that building something meaningful often happens alongside hardship, not after it. If you're questioning your timeline or wondering if it's worth continuing, this episode will remind you why you started in the first place. Apply now for the Dream Destination Workshop The 2026 lineup for the Dream Destination Workshop: Alaska: July 12-17, 2026 Iceland: August 2-7, 2026 Switzerland: August 10-15, 2026 Connect with Megan: 🔥 Join Stoked Academy! The only membership community for elopement photographers ready to hit six figures in their business without hustling on social media. All for less than the cost of a new memory card for your camera. 🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️. If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts. You can also connect with me on my website:www.meganmacphail.com STOKED with Megan MacPhail guides entrepreneurs in scaling their elopement photography business to achieve six-figure income, financial freedom, and adventure-filled travel while growing their photography career.