Podcast Summary:

Book More Photography Clients Podcast
Host: Brooke Jefferson
Episode: 3 Things Every Photographer Needs in Place for Their Best Year Yet
Release Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In this actionable New Year’s episode, Brooke Jefferson lays out the three foundational elements every photographer needs for their most successful year yet. Drawing from her experience as an Oklahoma family photographer and business coach, Brooke dives into cultivating the right mindset, tracking your business growth, and ensuring your brand is both professional and personally resonant. The episode offers focused, practical advice designed for photographers who want to grow bookings and business confidence in 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Right Mindset for Success

[06:30]

• Brooke emphasizes the necessity of starting the year with a positive, purpose-driven mindset.
  • "If you feel that tug on your heart that photography is truly where you are meant to be, then there is purpose for you here. And you have believe that." (Brooke, 07:05)
• She shares her personal anchoring statement:
  • "I have rooted myself in the promise that God will provide for me if he has gifted me with this business." (Brooke, 08:10)
• Mindset is positioned as the most powerful factor—more important than any strategy or system.
  • "If you don’t believe that it’s going to work in your favor, it doesn’t matter how much coaching I give you." (Brooke, 09:22)
• Brooke encourages listeners to treat this as a fresh start and to genuinely commit to growth in 2026.

2. Tracking Stats and Goals

[10:30]

• Brooke stresses the importance of monthly tracking and outcome-based analysis to hit business goals.
  • “If you’re not tracking, you’re making things harder for yourself. And then it’s no wonder that you don’t actually hit the goals that you made for yourself before the year started.” (Brooke, 10:54)
• She recommends picking 5–7 key business metrics to monitor (examples: leads, bookings, session types, social media and email list growth).
  • “You don’t want to have twelve… that’s overwhelming. Think about what are the top five things that are needle movers in my business.” (Brooke, 12:15)
• She advises tracking platforms that actually drive results for your business, using a practical example of focusing on Instagram over Facebook if data supports it.
• Tracking these stats allows photographers to adjust strategy in real time and makes end-of-year planning substantially easier.

3. Confidence in Your Brand

[15:40]

• Brooke highlights the critical need for a professional, cohesive brand that authentically represents you and attracts your ideal client.
  • “You need to go into 2026 with a brand that you are proud of, a brand that truly represents you as a photographer, that attracts your ideal clients, and that is professional.” (Brooke, 15:55)
• She defines brand as encompassing both visual and emotional aspects—from your logo/colors to the way clients feel interacting with you.
• DIY branding is discouraged for the long term; she advocates for investing in brand development or, at minimum, making it a savings priority this year.
  • “If this is something you can’t afford to do right now, to hire a brand designer or take a course on branding, I want you to make this your number one goal to save up for.” (Brooke, 17:00)
• Brooke shares her own experience with brand refreshes, promising more behind-the-scenes insights in future episodes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I want you to believe with every fiber of your being that this is your year and you are going to show up and take action and watch your business grow.” (Brooke, 09:45)
• “Pick five to seven things that you want to track, create a very simple spreadsheet, and track it all twelve months of the year.” (Brooke, 13:10)
• “Your brand is the overall essence or presence of your photography business. This is the visual aspects, the messaging, the emotional aspects… how people feel when they interact with your brand.” (Brooke, 16:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03 – 06:15] — Podcast introduction, New Year’s excitement, and 2026 format updates
• [06:16 – 10:29] — The importance of mindset for business growth
• [10:30 – 15:39] — How and why to track business metrics monthly
• [15:40 – 18:10] — Building a confident, standout brand and Brooke’s personal branding journey
• [18:11 – End] — Recap, call for reviews, and sign-off

Recap: Brooke’s "3 Things" Checklist for 2026 Success

1. Get your mindset right:
   Anchor yourself in purpose and positivity.
2. Track your stats and goals monthly:
   Focus on 5–7 critical metrics for meaningful, actionable business data.
3. Have a brand you’re truly confident and proud of:
   Ensure every touchpoint reflects your professionalism and personality.

Actionable Next Steps:

• Reflect on your photography business vision and mindset
• Set up a simple spreadsheet to track key data
• Evaluate and plan improvements to your brand presence

Brooke closes with encouragement to leave a review and take daily action toward building a thriving, fully-booked photography business in 2026.