481. Erin Blackwell - The Money Mindset Keeping You Stuck in the Middle Market

Mentorships with John: https://john-bunn.com/shop  What if the thing keeping you from charging more isn't your market, your work, or your clients? What if it's your own mindset around money? In this episode of Shifting Focus, I sit down with photographer and educator Erin Blackwell to talk about money blocks, pricing, premium clients, and what it actually takes to get unstuck from the middle market. Erin has been a professional photographer for more than 16 years. She started her business with a Canon 20D she bought with her tax refund while living in her parents' basement with three young kids. Over the years, she built a six-figure photography business, raised her prices, drastically reduced the number of sessions she shoots, and became one of the highest-priced photographers in the branding space. We talk about why creatives struggle so much with money, why you don't have to be able to afford your own prices, and why you have to stop deciding what your clients can afford before giving them the opportunity to decide for themselves. Erin and I also dig into the reality of moving into the premium market, why getting more "no's" can actually be a good thing, how knowing your numbers changes the way you sell, and why higher-paying clients can often be easier to work with than clients in the middle market. We also talk about positioning yourself as the expert. Premium clients aren't looking for someone who constantly asks them what to do. They want someone they can trust to walk into the room, take control, solve problems, and deliver an incredible experience. If you know your work is good but you still feel uncomfortable charging more, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH ERIN BLACKWELL Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamerinblackwell  GRAB THE FREE "CALLING YOUR SHOTS" GUIDE HERE: https://callingyourshots.com/    IN THIS EPISODE: • Breaking through your money blocks • Why you are not necessarily your ideal client • How to know when it's time to raise your prices • Why you need to stop deciding what clients can afford • Getting comfortable hearing "no" • The problem with being stuck in the middle market • Creating value instead of simply raising prices • Why premium clients can actually be easier to work with • Positioning yourself as the expert • Charging more while working less • Building a business around time freedom • Creating a sustainable business that can evolve with your life   👋 Join My Circle Community: https://shifting-focus-with-john-bunn.circle.so/  🎧 Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://bit.ly/4owsWiM  📱 Instagram: John Bunn - http://bit.ly/2AYTiE2  John Bunn Films: https://bit.ly/43S3866  Get in Touch: ✅ Brand deals, promotions, podcast info, etc., email john@johnbunnfilms.com Sponsors and Affiliates: ⭐️ Bride and Groom Video - John's Personal Editor for Video: https://bridengroom.video/johnbunn/  - $100 off the first project of $400, promo code JOHNBUNN100 ⭐️ Get 1500 Free Edits with Imagen.ai: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=johnbunn ⭐️ Vidflow - Deliver your films and photos with the best - Try it free here https://signups.vidflow.co/ref/johnbunn ⭐️ Musicbed - The Best Place to License Music: https://bit.ly/45HQjhC - 14 day free trial ⭐️ Inly - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/41Akxkf - 10% off with promo code JOHN ⭐️ Lemlii -  CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/45rhAnl Promo Code - JohnBunn25 (25% off any plan for 12 months) ⭐️ Multiply Media - https://bit.ly/46OdZCe - 15% off with promo code JOHNBUNN ⭐️ PlotLine Pro - AI Powered, Story First Filmmaking Tool - 3 Free days - https://www.plotline.pro/?via=john ⭐️ WedTrack - Timeline GENIE https://wedtrack.app/r/shiftingfocus ⭐️ Honeybook - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/4lmrKvf - 30% off ⭐️ Gamut - Color Presets and LUTs: https://gamut.io/product/luxe/?gamut=johnbunn ⭐️ Flodesk - Emails Made Easy: https://bit.ly/4md3ltE - 50% off ⭐️ Second Society - The best place to find second shooters https://my.secondsociety.io/signup?via=john-bunn ⭐️ Pic-Time 1 Free Month Annual Plan : https://johnbunnfilms.pic-time.com/referral   The Shifting Focus Podcast, all rights reserved. All links are affiliate links and result in a commission for John Bunn Films if used. I appreciate the support. Help me by supporting my sponsors. #weddingvideography #weddingphotography #shiftingfocuspodcast