Episode Overview

Podcast: This Can't Be That Hard
Episode: 334 - Amplify Your Voice; Amplify Your Business with Laylee Emadi
Host: Annemie Tonken
Guest: Laylee Emadi
Date: September 16, 2025

This engaging episode focuses on the transformative power of speaking as a tool for photographers—not just as a path to education or conference stages, but as a vital part of building trust, authority, and authentic connection with clients and communities. Annemie welcomes Laylee Emadi, a seasoned educator, former teacher, photographer, and founder of the Creative Educator Conference. Together, they unpack how and why photographers can—and should—leverage their voices to enhance their business, debunking myths about public speaking and offering actionable steps for beginners and aspiring educators alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Laylee’s Journey: From Teacher to Photographer to Educator

• Laylee’s Background
  • Started as a high school teacher, curriculum designer, and dance coach.
  • Eventually experienced burnout, transitioned to full-time photography.
  • Her love for teaching and business collided, leading her to help creatives teach and monetize what they know.
    • “Teaching is a skill. So anyway, long story short, that’s kind of what brought me to what I do today, which is teaching creative entrepreneurs how to teach what they know, how to monetize it, how to make impact, how to do it well and ethically and impactfully and not a lot of smoke and mirrors…” – Laylee [03:45]

2. Redefining ‘Speaking’: Beyond Big Stages (06:46)

• Speaking isn’t only about formal public speaking or teaching other photographers.
• Every form of communication with potential clients—on social media, at local events, in everyday interactions—is a form of speaking and creates opportunities to build connection, trust, and authority.
• Laylee’s personal anecdote about landing a high-end client.
  • “This bride really wants you because she heard you talking about your love for Bloody Marys and she’s a day drinker.” – Laylee [07:54]
• Key Takeaway: Human connection and personal branding often begin with authentic, everyday sharing.

3. Local Opportunities and Networking (13:07)

• Proactive outreach to local groups, PTAs, mom groups, and business associations can position photographers as experts in their niche and open doors for business.
• Donating sessions and then showing up to network in person (not just donating passively) extends trust and credibility.
• Laylee advocates for starting where you are—even informal settings and small groups can help build those skills.
  • “Start slow, right? Like, start with the donating. Start with the donating before you start to, like, try to get on a stage.” – Laylee [15:07]

4. The Business Impact of Speaking (09:47, 12:00)

• Speaking (in any form) builds instant credibility, especially in age of AI, automation, and digital overload.
• Face-to-face connections stand out and feel authentic.
  • “Being a human being that is able to make these connections. That’s what sets you apart.” – Laylee [12:29]
• Annemie’s example: Hosting “Cameras & Cocktails” small group workshops led to relationships and word-of-mouth referrals.
  • “Eight times out of ten would come back and hire me at some point…because we got to know each other.” – Annemie [09:47]

5. For Aspiring Educators: Speaking as a Gateway (18:08)

• Be clear about your goals before pursuing speaking or education.
• Start with your strengths and define what outcome you want, then seek opportunities that align with your message and desired audience.
  • “If you want the outcome to be that you are the go-to photographer, industry expert in X, Y, and Z…then you need to start thinking about, okay, so what message is important to me?” – Laylee [18:41]
• Niche is important, both in photography and education, to help filter opportunities as your visibility grows.

6. The Skills Gap: Why Great Photographers Aren’t Always Great Teachers (21:21)

• Teaching is a completely separate skillset.
• Many photographers transition to teaching without developing their educational chops, leading to underwhelming student experiences.
  • “There is an entire skillset to be learned when it comes to being a really good speaker or teacher, just in the same way that there is an entire skillset to be learned as a photographer and an artist.” – Laylee [21:21]
• Rushing into education without preparation can harm reputation and value delivery.

7. How to Start: Practical, Low-Pressure Entry Points (27:31)

• Step 1: Show up where you already engage (Instagram, TikTok, email) and share your voice and face without overthinking.
  • “Start showing up on Instagram and sharing your face and sharing your voice and don’t put too much pressure on it…” – Laylee [27:34]
• Step 2: Offer a few short, free 1:1 mentoring sessions to get comfortable in the teacher’s seat and learn what people actually want.
  • “If it’s a question for one, it is a question for the many. And so start with the one.” – Laylee [29:54]

8. Learning from Feedback and Practice (29:56)

• Use direct questions from your audience for content inspiration.
• Practice not just the speaking, but also the skill of facilitating transformation and delivering results for learners.
• Be humble: Seek critique and accept help.
  • “…be humble enough to get help where you need it and to get critique as often as possible.” – Laylee [26:59]

9. Two Types of Pitfalls (24:22, 24:38)

• Surface-level success (appearing authoritative online but lacking substance and results).
• Heart-led educators lacking promotional and teaching skills.
  • “But the skill set that is required to promote that is its own special skill set.” – Annemie [24:38]
  • “Nobody wants to be a bad educator, but I just think there aren’t a lot of great resources out there.” – Laylee [26:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On redefining speaking:
  “To me, speaking is not just standing on a stage. It’s any platform you have. That’s your stage in that moment.” – Laylee [08:30]

• On personal connection:
  “These are things that, yes, it’s content, but it’s mostly... in the delivery that she thought, you seem like someone that I could be friends with.” – Laylee [08:05]

• On controlling perception:
  “…comes from showing up and speaking with others is you then can control people’s perception of you so much more easily than if you just go out and you’re like, yeah, here’s my work.” – Laylee [17:12]

• On AI and irreplaceability:
  “You’re really not (replaceable)—being a human being that is able to make these connections. That’s what sets you apart.” – Laylee [12:29]

• On getting started:
  “If it’s a question for one, it is a question for the many. And so start with the one.” – Laylee [29:54]

• On humility and growth:
  “…Jump in, start trying, learn from every single thing that you do, and be humble enough to get help where you need it and to get critique as often as possible.” – Laylee [26:59]

Action Steps for Listeners

• Rethink what “speaking” means—embrace both small, informal, and formal opportunities.
• Reflect on your personal story and strengths; let authenticity drive your connection.
• Proactively seek local volunteer or networking engagement; don’t wait to be “invited.”
• Practice by showing up on social or running small, low-pressure sessions.
• Listen actively to what questions or topics your audience comes to you for, and let that guide your educational content.
• Recognize the value of teaching as a skill—be patient and proactive in developing it.
• Seek feedback and supportive critique regularly.

Resource Links & Where to Find Laylee

• Instagram: @layleeemadi (DMs and voice memos welcome)
• Website: layleeemadi.com
• Podcast: The Laylee Emadi Podcast (for educators and creatives)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:27] Laylee’s background and transition story
• [06:46] Speaking beyond the stage: local, informal opportunities
• [08:11] The Bloody Mary story: how being yourself attracts clients
• [09:47] Annemie’s “Cameras & Cocktails” and the business value of local speaking
• [12:00] Why personal, face-to-face interaction matters amid AI
• [13:07] Rapid-fire ideas for local speaking opportunities
• [18:08] Speaking as a gateway for aspiring educators; goal setting
• [21:21] Why many great photographers struggle with teaching
• [24:22] Two core pitfalls for educators
• [27:31] Two low-pressure ways to start speaking
• [29:54] Using 1:1 questions to generate broader teaching topics