In this episode of Oh Shoot, Cassidy Lynne and Maegan Grendell talk about her experience being a full time photographer for a year, how to find & make your photography creative process, and answer some of your advice submissions.
Hello everyone, welcome back to another Oh Shoot! This time, I sat down with my friend (and creative genius) Maegan Grendell to talk about finding your creative process, what it’s really like going full-time, and the very real struggles of running a photography business in an oversaturated space. Whether you’re in your first year of full-time photography or just trying to get inspired again, this one’s packed with practical tips, honest convos, and the kind of advice you’d get from two photographers on a couch with coffee in hand. Let’s get into it.
Your Story (ft. Maegan Grendell)
Cassidy: Okay, so Maegan is one of my pals I met through our mutual friend Alex (shoutout, Photo Camp fam). I weirdly realized she’d never been on the pod, which made no sense because she’s such a creative and thoughtful photographer. So we had to change that!
Maegan: Hi guys! I’m Maegan, I’m originally from Washington state but now living in Utah. I moved here for school but ended up dropping out and going full-time with photography. I’m almost 23, and honestly I’m just vibing with this full-time creative life.
Cassidy: Maegan went full-time a year ago, so she’s had a full season to reflect and honestly, her insight is gold. Her journey started with her parents letting her borrow their camera as a kid. Then she got a point-and-shoot, eventually upgraded to a Canon T7 in high school, and the rest is history.
Maegan: I started off with the cheesy senior pics of my friends, but by 16 I was taking things a little more seriously. After high school, I went to Utah Valley University to study art and photography, but I realized I was already doing what I wanted to do, so I took a break from school and focused on growing my business. I juggled three jobs at one point, but finally in January 2024, I made the leap to full-time and haven’t looked back.
Cassidy: You didn’t get into this super deeply on the pod, but for anyone wondering, Maegan’s been a Canon shooter since the beginning.
Let’s Walk Through Your Photography Creative Process
Cassidy: One of the reasons I wanted to talk to Maegan specifically is because she’s such a creative soul. Like, if you’ve ever seen her work, you know it’s got this gorgeous blend of documentary-style storytelling and intentional detail. I was like: HOW?? Tell me everything.
Maegan: Aww. So my style leans documentary and candid but in a real, emotion-forward way. I find inspiration everywhere: Pinterest, music, movies, books. If I’m in a creative rut, I’ll literally just listen to a song that gets me in the mood before a shoot.
Cassidy: The cinematic vibes are strong in your work.
Maegan: Yeah, that’s what I aim for. I also try to incorporate my clients’ personalities into every session, I ask them to bring personal items like maps, instruments, records, whatever feels like them. It helps each session feel totally unique.
Cassidy: That’s such a good reminder. Creativity isn’t just about what happens in front of the camera, it’s in the email you send before the shoot, the items you ask them to bring, the energy you bring to the space, the way you edit… it all builds into your creative process.
Posing with Maegan: What It’s Like & Her Tips
Maegan: My posing style is all about movement and connection. I don’t get a ton of shots of people just looking at the camera, I’d rather capture real smiles, soft touches, a moment that feels like a memory.
Cassidy: And if you’ve ever shot with Maegan, you know the vibes are 10/10. It’s fun, it’s playful, it’s intentional. She makes you feel safe and seen in front of the camera, and that’s what brings those storytelling photos to life.
Maegan: I think one of the biggest tips I’d give is just: don’t underestimate how much posing and composition can change a photo. You can shift your whole style by experimenting with angles, focal lengths, or even shutter speed. And cropping? That’s one of the most underrated tools in editing.
Cassidy: If you missed it in the episode, we gave you homework: take one wide image, duplicate it 10 times, crop it 10 different ways, and look at how many different stories you can tell with just one photo.
Maegan: It really helps you break out of creative ruts and start seeing things differently, both while shooting and editing.
Listener Advice Corner
Time to dive into some of the incredible questions you all submitted!
Q: “Why is red SO HARD to edit?! I have a green gallery and the client wore a red dress 😩”
Maegan: Red is just… tricky. It shows up differently on every camera, lighting changes it, and against green it’s even more intense. Use the HSL sliders, especially the red hue and saturation. You can also mask just the red dress and adjust that alone if needed.
Cassidy: Also, important to remember: your client chose to wear red. Don’t erase it completely. It may be hard to work with, but it’s what she wanted in her photos.
Q: I want to book more weddings! I have done a ton of second shooting, and I have shot a few weddings where I am the lead. However, I also have a lot of proposal clients. I want to market for BOTH proposals and weddings on my socials. Do you think it makes sense to keep these on the same pages or make a separate IG account for marketing for weddings? (Also disclaimer: I want to turn my proposal clients to wedding clients but many of them are traveling into NYC from other places. Others who are in the NYC area just have picked other photogs for their weddings.) help please!
Maegan: Nooo, that sounds like way too much to manage! Weddings and proposals go together keep them on one page. The goal should be to turn proposal clients into wedding clients anyway.
Cassidy: Exactly. If you want to book more NYC weddings but your current clients are mostly travelers, you need to create NYC wedding content. Style your own shoots, second shoot more, and pitch yourself! People need to see what they can book you for.
Q: there probably isn’t a golden answer to this, but how do I book clients? My followers/friends tell me my work is good and such, but I have yet to get one booking. I need your advice, haha!
Cassidy: Okay first, I love that your friends are hyping you up. But also… sometimes friends aren’t your ideal clients. If you’re not booking yet, it’s time to hustle: shoot for free, do model calls, reach out to businesses, and build that portfolio.
Maegan: Yep. I did that when I moved to Utah. I didn’t know anyone, so I offered free shoots to build up content and connect with people. It worked, and people from those shoots started referring me and booking me later on.
Q: How to get more clients in an over saturated area. I’ve posted model calls, discounted sessions, and commented when people post looking for a photographer.
Maegan: Utah is SO oversaturated. Like truly, every other person here is a photographer. But there are also so many clients. The key is setting yourself apart.
Cassidy: Think of your Instagram as a menu. If someone wants to book you for couples sessions but all you post are seniors, they’re going to book someone else. You’ve got to show what you want to be hired for.
Maegan: Also, stop comparing yourself to photographers in a different season of life or business. Do your thing. Own your style. Keep going.
Q: Hi! Thank you for all your help and inspiration towards the photography community! Love the podcast. I am curious about price bumping. I currently average $2.9k-$3.9k per wedding depending on the package and add-ons. Would really love to break into the $5k range but am so nervous to not book enough to still make money. I’d like to work less weddings and make the same amount or even keep grinding and make more money with a price increase. Just nervous to test it out and not book anyone. I live just outside a large city and the market is heavily saturated with wedding photographers in the $2-4k range. So what stops potential clients from laughing at my higher prices and booking with the next photographer in line for less?
Cassidy: Here’s the thing: If you’re booked solid at $3K and turning people away, you can raise your prices. That’s your sign.
Maegan: You can also offer more value at a higher price, add more to your package. Or try flexible payment plans to ease the booking barrier.
Cassidy: And remember, your pricing isn’t just about what you think people will pay. It’s about what your time, energy, and experience are worth.
Bonus: Maegan’s Take on Booking Vendors as a Bride
Cassidy: Surprise twist! Maegan just got engaged (!!) and I had to ask what she’s noticing now that she’s on the other side of the booking process.
Maegan: Honestly? Slow response times and vague websites are a major turn-off. If you want to book more, have clear info and fast responses. It really does make a difference.
Cassidy: A good reminder for all of us!
That’s a wrap on this episode if you made it all the way through, we love you. Don’t forget to tag us when you do your cropping challenge, and send us your book recs too (we’re in our little book club era, okay?). You can follow Maegan on Instagram @maegangrendellphoto (yes, it’s spelled with Mae), and if you’re not already following the pod now’s the time! I hope this episode helps you find and make your photography creative process!
Show Notes:
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