FULL TRANSCRIPT: Please note this transcript was generated by AI and may contain errors.

00:00:00:02 – 00:00:02:09

You’re listening to the Portrait System podcast.

00:00:02:16 – 00:00:20:11

Don’t care what you have to do, but just take a bloody step any step like anything is like right now all you’re doing is just sitting there crying that you can’t do anything just feeling sorry for yourself and you’re doing nothing. It’s like, take a freakin a step.

00:00:24:04 – 00:00:56:29

This is the Portrait System podcast, a show that helps portrait photographers and people hoping to become one, navigate the world of photography, business, money and so much more. We totally keep it real. We share stories about the incredible ups and the very difficult downs when running a photography business. I’m your host, Nikki Closser. And the point of this podcast is for you to learn actionable steps that you can take to grow your own business and also to feel inspired and empowered by the stories you hear. Today’s guest is Rodney Pedroza and he is one of my most favorite people who I’ve met through the Sue Bryce education community.

00:00:57:11 – 00:01:28:00

Rodney is from Columbia originally, but he’s been living in the UK for many years and he went from the social services industry as his job to full time photographer. He shares his entire journey with you during this episode. So Rodney also talks just a little bit about how learning to value himself and his craft, as well as improving his work, really helped him to grow his business to where it’s at today. Rodney’s energy and positivity is just amazing. And I love that I get to introduce him to all of you out there listening. OK, let’s get started.

00:01:28:16 – 00:01:30:14

Hi, Rodney. How are you?

00:01:30:22 – 00:01:35:25

Hi, Nikki. I’m really excited to be here. Thank you so much for inviting me.

00:01:36:05 – 00:01:41:24

Oh, I’m so happy to have you on. You’re like you’re like my my buddy and I miss you. We haven’t seen each other in a couple of years.

00:01:41:26 – 00:01:56:12

And I was so looking forward to the next Portrait Masters but it was not to be, but I will be there in the next time the doors are open. Oh, yeah, the energy I need it. I miss it in my life.

00:01:56:23 – 00:02:21:07

I hope so. You’re such a good energy and you know, and one of the reasons OK, so I’ll be completely honest. I don’t know a whole lot about where you’re at right now with your business. So I’m excited to hear how things have been going lately because I just I feel like I’ve just been so out of touch when you don’t get to see each other every year and catch up and I don’t know, it’s just I feel a little out of touch with you. So I’m excited to hear how things have been going.

00:02:21:20 – 00:02:36:15

You know, for those ones who have never been to the portrait masters, the best thing I love about it is not only just the people that go to there, but in the evenings when we all are chilling that is one of the best things. And then you get to speak to people like this is amazing.

00:02:36:24 – 00:02:52:12

Yeah, well, we get to know each other on a more personal level as opposed to just like, you know, online and talking about photography and that sort of thing. And because we originally met at one of Sue’s workshop where we were in Paris That was France.

00:02:52:20 – 00:03:01:27

I guess it was in Versaille. I think it was such such a beautiful memory lane. Still remember that?

00:03:02:00 – 00:03:11:18

Yeah, that was I was pregnant. I was pregnant with Van. So that was like five years ago. No way. Oh, yeah. Because Van will be five tomorrow on June 18th.

00:03:11:25 – 00:03:20:18

Hole Moses. Yeah. No I have no idea. Yeah well he’s five now. Yeah. That’s even more crazy. Yeah.

00:03:20:20 – 00:03:31:27

Yeah. OK, so Rodney, for our listeners, I’m wondering if you can take us back to how you started in photography and just like where you started.

00:03:32:17 – 00:04:01:29

OK, so my journey. So I was just going to take you down memory lane. So my journey started way before my journey photography started. So I came to the UK from Colombia when I was 17. I only have two bags one bicycle. Couldn’t I speak the language at the time. So I spent two years working on it. And then my biggest tools came from this experience in my life, to be honest, at the time, actually, when it came to the UK, all I wanted was my mummy,

00:04:03:16 – 00:04:36:28

Anyway, actually around twenty. When I was twenty, I got myself into an apprenticeship and a year later I started working in social housing in central London. And I work and I work my way in a role that I became really good at it. So I went from being like an apprentice to a manager. So I loved the job. It was great. It helped me a lot. Yes, they were amazing to me around the time I was thinking when I was about to finish my university degree, I was twenty eight.

00:04:37:17 – 00:04:49:27

I came across with my first DSLR. Ah. So that was like nearly a decade ago when I was like, hold on a minute, what is this big camera? Because I used to have like a crappy camera.

00:04:49:29 – 00:04:57:18

Right. OK, so you have only had a DSRL for ten years and I feel like you’ve for some reason I thought you’ve been at this a lot longer than that.

00:04:57:20 – 00:05:33:10

No, no, no, you know actually, that was like ten years ago. But I will tell you that I really, really was like obsessed. Like I saw an even own a camera at the time because I didn’t have the money, because I saw the prices and they were like they were too expensive. And at the time I was working on social housing. And I will tell you the stories like how do I got the money to buy my first camera? So there was this old lady that came to me. She was moving back to. Spain and she have this big house, and at the time, it’s like if you’re because I  used to work on social housing, so anyone social there is not no no one is building in central London.

00:05:33:20 – 00:06:06:06

So property. So people would be the way for this for a long time. Anyway, the thing was that if you were to give up a big property, the bigger the property, the more money that will give you. So this old lady comes to me. I say, Rodney, I’m moving back to Pamplona and my family is missing me, I’ve been  in London for too long. I’m leaving.. And she was literally giving me the keys. And it’s like, hold on a minute. It’s like you can get 15 grand if you do the paperwork. But she couldn’t speak any English at all. So she was speaking in Spanish and she used to call me Mr.

00:06:06:08 – 00:06:40:09

Pedroza and I said don’t call me Mr.Pedroza. Call me Rodney is like, OK. And she would say, OK, Mr Pedroza.  that’s how I remember that. I don’t even remember her name. All I remember is like Mr. Pedroza. And I was like, no, no, no, no. Wait a minute, wait. Can you wait a couple of weeks? Let’s do the paperwork and get the money. You moving back this guy who doesn’t want estra and it’s like you’re giving up a three bedroom flat. This is 15 grand to give you five grand spare room until I really like. Yes, let wait. So the all the paperwork for her to make sure. And then she said, Rodney, could you transfer the money to Spain? Is you crazy? Can you get a bank account here.

00:06:40:11 – 00:07:11:15

It’s like no rookie. So that woman made me do so many things for her, but I have a soft spot for old ladies like to remind me of my old grandma. And I was like, no, I need to do this for her. And then once she called me, it’s like you come on, a Saturday is like, OK, now you’re pushing. And, you know, I don’t work on Saturdays. Like, Please, Rodney. And this is like, oh my God. Then I was like, OK, I come in on Saturday. Her son was there, and she said, Oh Rodney, I completed the form. Everything is ready and I’m moving. Next week is like OK, great, it’s like good luck.

00:07:11:20 – 00:07:42:19

And then she gave me an envelope and I was like what is this is. I think it is like what is it. It’s like take it, Mr Pedroza, and her son was there, and it’s like you take it, it’s like and I opened the envelope and they were like one grand in there. And I was like, no, no, no, no, I cannot take their money. And her son was there and he was like take it. Is like I just want to say thank you is like I wouldn’t even have that money. It’s like I want you to have these like but you know that’s my job is like not doing anything outside my job. This is my job is like to help yours.

00:07:42:21 – 00:07:55:17

Like Saturday’s exception to the rule is like you don’t know him but I will do it for you. But she’s like, no, take it. And that’s how I got my I got the money and I was like, you know, well let’s buy it. So I bought my first camera.

00:07:55:19 – 00:07:58:06

So you use that money to buy your camera? Yes.

00:07:58:25 – 00:08:32:17

That’s how I got my first. Yes, like, literally. Yes. And I remember going to HP. Wow. So that was like. Yes, that was like around nine years ago. That continued to be my passion, my hobby. And I became the guy that always have his camera with him. Taking photos of everything, fun moments, but it was just a hobby. I even remember pay little Nikki. I even remember pay people to pose in front of me because nobody will even contemplate the idea to pose in front of me.

00:08:32:29 – 00:08:46:01

At the time I used to live with my sister. Listen to this. My sister, I remember begging my own sister I only have one. It’s like, please, can I photograph? Like, I just want to learn how to use this thing. And she said, no,

00:08:47:20 – 00:08:48:28

you’re like, whatever

00:08:49:28 – 00:09:12:07

I did because my ego was so bruised, I even thought it is like one day I remember, I still remember those like how bad that is is like one day I will become a great photographer. You are going to ask me to take photos of you and I will say no. And you know, while it did happen once and I said no to her

00:09:14:02 – 00:09:14:17

is like

00:09:16:13 – 00:09:23:19

a payback sister. OK, so then what did you do? Like how did you like did you know that you wanted to start a business or were you were just trying to have fun with it.

00:09:23:21 – 00:09:56:00

No, no, no, no. That for me was just fun. That was like literally just playing with the camera because at the time I was like, yes, well I know how to take photos, but you cannot make money off this one. Is like for me, my experience was like, well, if I want to take photos, I have to pay people to take photos of them. And it was like, cannot make money off this. Is like a losing money. But then I don’t remember really. Well, if you was in 2015 or 2016, I came across this woman who spoke in a very shy manner at the time.

00:09:56:08 – 00:10:27:26

But when she was behind the camera, it was like she transformed into someone else. And that was the very first time I saw so in a life. Plus it was creative live. And I remember and this is the thing I remember so vividly, I remember her and I don’t even know how I came across creative live. I remember actually just I literally start watching from the point that she got so much from the audience. I think her name was Kayna Klosterman, probably written in her name, I.Q.,

00:10:28:00 – 00:10:58:00

she was a speaker or something. She grabbed her and she just I remember this is the thing I remember so clearly Sue was moving her has commanded her to move gentle. Yes. And then I saw the photo she took for the first time in my life in the U.K. I learned to hold on a minute. You can make people look incredible, like anyone. And I remember saying this to myself. It’s like I want the super power.

00:10:58:05 – 00:11:28:17

I want to be able to make people feel that good, that they are incredible, that I was like, I need to do this. I need to do this. So and also and this is a thing that also changed for me because I used to run this belief system that only good looking people can look good in front of the camera. From that point forward, the belief system was completely shattered, is like, hold on a minute, I can make everyone look good. All I need to do is tell them what they need to do.

00:11:29:05 – 00:12:00:21

And from that point, I became like a stalker, I started following Sue. So I’ve of it literally is like, yes, he was too. But everything she will do, like and I will just spend my weekends will be there will still work on social housing. But it was like weekends. What was really bad like I fell in love with photography when I was finishing my degree and I was like I finished my degree and I forgot about my degree. And I just I focused on photography, yes. I was like literally finishing, collect my degree and is like I never did anything anyway.

00:12:01:09 – 00:12:36:04

This is when I met you Nikki because that’s when Sue announced, like, the workshop. You now we figure it out. I was five years ago, and I will tell you this Nikki. I didn’t have the money for it. I just didn’t have the money, but I knew.. You know like when you know something in your heart, I need to be there and I don’t really know if I borrow money, if I use my credit, I don’t remember. All I need at all I knew was like, I need to be in space. And I think I was the first one or one of the first group that attended the workshop.

00:12:36:26 – 00:12:45:15

If you remember where I met you there, there were like twenty six photographers and I think that was the only male there and I felt like a big child. I was like, hold on a minute.

00:12:45:23 – 00:12:54:08

You were not shy. You were doing fireball dances and by the end you were like leading the charge. It was amazing.

00:12:55:20 – 00:13:26:23

Oh yes. That’s when I first meet you and for me were actually the reason that I was on freaking cloud nine for those two days. And for me, this is my biggest take, was that I not only learned how to pose because that was the finger, like not directing like like how to move people. Like shape body shapes like everything. But my biggest take from there was seeing people running their business like seeing you all of you guys.

00:13:26:25 – 00:14:05:09

That was for me the biggest inspirations because at the time I didn’t think you could run a successful business. I think I assume that you could only do it if you’re I don’t know, like you have like big studio, a big budget and all these big lines. And yet all of you, all of you, every single one of you,  started doing the most of your stuff, like using a garage. You see a living room, the kitchen, like anything like as I hold on a minute, I have access to it. Does it mean I can do that? So the seed was planted that day.

00:14:05:19 – 00:14:37:08

That was incredible. But this this is reality. Then after that, come back to England. I say to myself, great, I got to run my own business. I am going to be doing like the most incredible job in this world as life reality will hit you and then have realized something so big they didn’t think before that there is a big gap between taking photos and running a business.

00:14:38:05 – 00:15:10:25

You know that, you more than anyone else knows the real world and the reality is two completely different things. And I was like, OK, so what can I do? I continue working on my craft, attended seminars, workshops as much as I could. Then a few months later, I think that’s when Sue launch Sue Bryce education. Around that time I don’t remember. But obviously I joined that straight away. Fast forward, two years later, my skills have improved.

00:15:11:00 – 00:15:44:10

I feel more confident in my craft but I still working at social housing. I got to be honest, I got a good income. The benefits were really great in my job. I mean, Nikki, I will tell you this, for anyone who’s listening in America about my annual leave was thirty five days a year of annual leave, and then you will get five days on top of it if you want it. Yes. So it was good. So I was like, how am I going to leave this job? It’s like I’ve been here, like I build myself.

00:15:44:12 – 00:16:00:13

I became myself on this job. This job made me who I am is like, I cannot leave this job. Plus I didn’t have regular clients, I didn’t have a website, but there was a big but the job was breaking my soul.

00:16:02:15 – 00:16:33:18

I was counting the days I became the person because there was a time when I was enjoying my job. It was fine. I have an amazing team and then things change. And then I was like, is it Friday yet? Is it five o’clock now? It’s like, OK, always looking forward to the weekend and always looking forward to my next annual leave. It was like, where am I going, what am I going and where in Europe. So it’s so easy to move around in like you like to go to France, you know, it just takes two hours. So it was just so easy to move around.

00:16:34:03 – 00:16:54:07

I was killing my soul like I felt like I was dying inside. And then around two years ago, I hand over my notice. Nikki, I was on a high. Oh, I bet. I felt amazing. I was ready to take on the world. But then

00:16:56:24 – 00:17:33:16

fear comes knocking, telling the reality of things. What is it your little fear you know about little boys I call it Lolita that internal boss in your head. You named it? I have to name it because he was just so annoying. So I feel like like for me, I call her Lolita is like this annoying Lolita. And she came and saying, well, you can’t do this and then actually start saying everyone’s doing their work. As I look at all this amazing photographies, see how great they’re doing, who you think you are, you don’t even have a website. You don’t even know how you’re going to pay for your bills.

00:17:33:29 – 00:18:07:01

And seriously, I feel that everything at this point was working against me. And the reason I felt everything was working against me is because I allow the fear that Lolita to take control. And I remember sitting there and I really remember that I actually like Nikki like on the floor, tears running down my eyes saying to myself, oh, shit, how am I going to do this? And Nikki, I will be honest. I wish that I could say, like, yes, actually I try.

00:18:07:03 – 00:18:37:15

But no, the feeling sat there for a long time. It did because I was like I literally felt block, but I don’t really know when or how after how many weeks or months. I genuinely don’t remember the. But that didn’t stay because at that point I realized it’s like you have to make a decision, you can go back to your job. And I was great at that job so they could have taken me like I felt confident of that.

00:18:37:29 – 00:19:09:10

Or you start beginning taking any step. I don’t care. Literally. This is me talking in front of the mirror. I’m telling myself I was I don’t care what you have to do, but just take a bloody step any step like anything is like right now, all you’re doing is just sitting there crying is that you can’t do this. Just feeling sorry for yourself. You’re doing nothing. It’s like take a freakin a step. I just have to do it. One thing actually starts.

00:19:09:12 – 00:19:42:12

So I decided to do something and my partner is going to make fun of me because I discovered something called a to-do list. I am the worst person when it comes to be organized and it is like write down. And she was telling me, honey, just write a to do list like write down. No it is too much. Is like just write down what you need to do. No, no, no, you don’t get it. That was my excuse for like a few months when I decided, OK, so what do I need to do. So just do a to do list. What do you have to do? So I start writing the whole list and that was like pages long.

00:19:42:14 – 00:20:14:27

And then she told me pick something. It’s like I need to do it all. Pick one thing, focus on one thing. And it’s funny because Sue has say all this stuff, but sometimes you need to hear that from someone else. Uh huh. And I say, OK, let’s start with like let’s do the website. Then I  have a website, do a PDF and then the business card. And then actually when you start doing something is like somehow it gets easier and it doesn’t get easier because the task is easy. Just get easier because you just doing so yourself, you don’t focus on the.

00:20:14:29 – 00:20:41:08

How difficult things are you saying is. Well eventually I freakin have to do it so I have to do that. So after my website, I created my PDF, I create leaflets that of these these beautiful PDF things and they just make my whole thing business on is just one thing led to the other. And then you just start working on myself. So

00:20:42:24 – 00:21:22:23

one thing I didn’t realize when I started doing this is that I always assume that the work that I have to do was on. How do I say like a.. outside work. I don’t really like something physical. Little did I know that the biggest work I have to do was within myself and that one was painful. So painful like start charging prices is like going from charging, I don’t know, like 80 pounds for like all the images to start charging like three thousand five hundred for like for something

00:21:22:25 – 00:21:25:27

It was, it was hard

00:21:27:20 – 00:22:09:28

at that first step is hard. But before I want to back up for a second running because something that you said, I think it’s really important just to to kind of go back and talk about, because I’m thinking that a lot of our listeners I know a lot of our listeners are kind of in a situation where they have a full time job and they don’t want that job anymore, but they don’t know when it’s time to quit. And, you know, but they have good pay, but they get thirty five days off, but they have good insurance. And I wonder if it’s one of those things where you have to really ask yourself the question is the quality of my life, what I want it to be spending 40 hours a week or more at this job.

00:22:10:10 – 00:22:13:10

And I feel like that’s such an important question to ask yourself.

00:22:13:19 – 00:22:46:18

You know, it is you know, actually, when I was working on my previous job, I remember there was this guy and I will never forget these guys. He was like a Bible in terms of his knowledge. He knew so much about social housing that even our own lawyers used to call him for advice. So that’s how much this guy knew. So he worked in there for thirty five years. I remember once seeing him after he retired. He passed away two years later

00:22:48:07 – 00:23:41:22

and I was like, Holy Moses, is that what my life is going to be? Because I have this ability, because you will have this stability, you have the security, you have you have your paycheck, which comes on a monthly basis, regardless of whether you’re doing a good job or you’re not doing such a good job. You have the security. But do you want to live, save, and then die? And that’s the question. Like, to me, that was the question is like, do I want it to be so to anyone else in this situation? For me, what it was is like, do I want to wait until age 65 to retire and then say, now that I retire, I will follow my dream? Or do just want to do it now? Because it’s like literally like giving yourself extra thirty years ahead of the game for me was like a life of their situation because for me.

00:23:43:21 – 00:24:10:29

I was dying. So you not actually like you know exactly what it feels like to be stuck in a job that is just killing you and you obviously you have your family and, you know that you’re either going to die like at one point in your life. You know, if you don’t think actually how I see it is like there is a point in your life that if you don’t take a different road, you will get stuck in there.

00:24:11:09 – 00:24:22:05

Exactly. Exactly. And yes, I was in that point in my life, too, and that’s exactly where I was at, that I was like, I cannot do this forever. There’s no way it’s not an option for me.

00:24:22:12 – 00:24:25:23

That’s the word, you say is not an option for me.

00:24:26:05 – 00:25:01:16

Yeah. Yeah. And and I wonder because there are people out there who they’re OK with working at the job, they might not love it, but it’s fine to do that for the next 20 years. And that’s OK. But for people out there who are like, no, this is not an option, I need to do something else in a photography, whether it’s photography or or anything. You know, I guess when you said you quit. What advice would you have for people around that? Like, I know some people have bigger risk tolerances than others, like some people would never quit until they had, like, a huge savings or you know had a big clientele base built up or whatever.

00:25:01:18 – 00:25:09:05

And I feel like it’s such a personal choice. But what would you tell people if they’re in the situation where they needed to quit for like quality of life reasons, for

00:25:09:07 – 00:25:41:23

quality of life reasons? Don’t quit your job when you don’t have your structure and your clients flow coming in. Like don’t do it. If you’re willing to do it. If you if you had a point in your life this like Rodney, I need to do that. Just brace yourself for the pain that you will experience because it will be bloody painful. So if you painful threshold is high do it.

00:25:41:28 – 00:25:55:29

But if you say there the moment that feel a little bit of pain, I’ll just run away. Don’t even think about it because that won’t for me was the one that knocked me down so many times, far too many. I don’t remember how many times.

00:25:56:20 – 00:25:58:09

What do you mean by painful.

00:25:58:11 – 00:26:34:09

Like OK so when it comes to painn it will be the sense of a trust and belief in yourself. So for me has been like going back to Lolita. this will actually give you the idea. Lolita will remind you again and again and again. You made a mistake. I told you it wasn’t safe. You see, I was right. She will just go like a broken record all the time. And unless you prove Lolita or your own voice, you can give it any name you want to give it. My name is Lolita.

00:26:35:02 – 00:27:07:27

If you can’t prove it unless you do the work it will continue saying that and don’t get me wrong is like it’s not like Lolita is quiet now she just have something else to say now. Like it will continue being there is the chatter. That noise dies there. So the pain for me is like being OK with dealing with your internal voice, being OK with uncertainty, being OK with the unknown, because that is good for me.

00:27:08:02 – 00:27:43:06

Business has been like being OK and have enough confidence and trust in yourself that you are going to make that happen because there is no Plan B is like you’re going to make this happen, this happen or you’re going to make this happen. And that takes me back to when I came to this country and it was like I didn’t have anything of anyone I couldn’t speak the language, and it was like hold on a minute, I have done this before, and everyone has done things in the past. If you if we look back is like, how the hell do I pull that off? You don’t even have a memory of that.

00:27:43:20 – 00:28:15:29

You don’t remember the obstacles you overcome. You only remember the difficult things. I don’t know. There’s something wrong with our brains that we have. We don’t remember everything. Always remember the painful ones. But it’s just that conviction, the grit to be like, I’m going to go regardless how long it takes you to do it. You just go. You have to go for it. It needs to become like a country. It needs to become a decision. And you cannot go back on your word.

00:28:17:05 – 00:28:44:23

Well, it’s interesting, too, because sometimes that voice isn’t necessarily internal or my voice. It might be the voice of your partner or your friends or other photographers in the area telling you can’t charge that like it’s not only your own sometimes self-value and that sort of thing, but they can be the people around you. And it’s so important to be prepared just in case for that, because, you know, not everyone is going to support you.

00:28:46:05 – 00:28:47:25

My family thought I was crazy

00:28:49:10 – 00:29:20:24

Quitting that social services job that is stable, like, how could you, Rodney, you get thirty five days off, you have great insurance. Like, how could you do that? I mean, yeah, you know, I had people in my own life sometimes that were like, dude, you are quitting a job in one of the best school districts in Washington state, like what are you doing? And I’m like, well, I need to live my life because I’m not happy. So that’s what I’m doing. And like you said, and this is something that Sue always that’s the certainty and conviction. Like I knew failure was not an option.

00:29:20:26 – 00:30:07:11

Well, of course, I was going to fail doing certain things like here and there, of course. But going back to that social work job was not an option for me. So I had to make that work. And when you have that sort of certainty moving forward, as you put these things in a place which is so great about I’m not I swear, I’m not just trying to like always like pitch Sue Bryce Education. I really, truly am not. When you have a formula in front of you, one step at a time, like the 90 day challenge that we’re doing, Rodney, you know, like one step at a time, just like your to-do list, when someone gives you a recipe and you get to just like take that recipe and make it your own, it makes that like pain and that process and that, you know, it makes it a little bit easier and it makes that certainty and conviction.

00:30:07:13 – 00:30:16:25

When you’re seeing others do it with you, it makes your ability to have that conviction and to like believe that you can do it so much stronger, you know?

00:30:17:00 – 00:30:54:07

Yes, absolutely is. Like you, I think is actually what happened. And this is probably a human condition. We get so impatient. We want the results. I see people actually there are I’ve been practicing for two weeks and I still struggling to pose. And I was like, it took me like four years. It looks like you will not be able to muster centime in two weeks or even four months. He has taken me a long time to feel directly when you do something so much that you’re no longer thinking about it, like that’s how good you have to become.

00:30:54:09 – 00:31:39:28

And the only way to do that is through repetition. And that’s with every part of your business. Uh posing, selling, doing bookkeeping, like retouching. All of that is repetition, repetition, repetition. That’s the only way. And that’s what philosophy is like. Patience. Just be more patient with yourself. Give your soul the time, because sometimes we put on ourselves these crazy deadlines and it’s like, who told you that you were supposed to do all of that in three weeks time? Well, I was like, no, you just give yourself just take one thing at the time and you write about it at Sue Brcye Education.

00:31:40:07 – 00:32:18:03

The only reason the only reason I have the courage to leave the job that I was secure. Twelve years they took me to get there to be that sense of security. The reason I was able to have the courage to be able I can do this is because of that. If I have never come across Sue Bryce, I think I will have continue working on a job that I was beginning to hate. But I didn’t have the tools to do anything else because I will still be under the old belief system.

00:32:18:05 – 00:32:51:21

It’s like, well, you cannot make money out of this. You cannot run a business like this and is because of Sue Bryce education, because of. So like I always say this and I know you will never take credit is like you changed my life. She always say the same thing is I didn’t do anything for you. You did it yourself but still like thank you because that woman changed my life to change the course of my life, my trajectory change altogether. And I got to meet all these amazing people like I know you like, is crazy, like I know you and I know all these incredible people from all around the world thanks to the platform.

00:32:52:02 – 00:33:22:13

And I’m so grateful because I continue learning from that. And I guess sometimes I get a chance when I see people struggling because there is a massive community there and everyone is helping each other. And it’s like when you know something so good, then you see yourself the way that you were before, that you have more compassion. Is that OK? The person is in the same place that you were there three, four years ago and you say, you remember the pain, you remember the frustration. And it’s like, this is how I felt in the past. Just be more patient with yourself.

00:33:22:15 – 00:33:31:18

You got this. And yes, it’s crazy for me. It has been incredible. It’s been amazing for me and many people who are part of that journey.

00:33:31:29 – 00:33:41:17

Yeah, yeah. OK, Rodney, will you tell everyone just kind of give us an idea of where you are at now with your business? What do you shoot? Who’s your target client like that sort of thing?

00:33:41:29 – 00:34:20:23

Absolutely. So I set up my studio in my home, So I have a two bedroom flat in London, north London, and I use one bedroom, which is a small four metres by two metres. So that will be like I don’t know how much see fit of three by three, right? No, I don’t think I don’t remember anyway. It’s quite small, but thanks to you, I’ve been able to use all the light in natural light and strobe. So my target audience are women who want to feel good about themselves or even those ones who have doubts and they don’t really know if they can look in front of the camera.

00:34:20:29 – 00:34:54:21

And my job is like being able to peel off those layers and bring the woman, the person that feels confident and good in themselves. So for me, what I normally do in the studio is portraits on a I call it is, what I call it Le Noir. The reason why is because I always struggle how to write about what? So for me, it’s like normally people actually will call me and it will be Rodney I just need like a couple of photos for my business or headshots.

00:34:55:02 – 00:35:28:12

And I will be like, OK, you’re coming for the experience. It’s like, do you want to play? That’s normal. My question is that. What do you mean playing? Is that, well, we’re going to be taking headshots. It’s like, how would you like to be photographed yourselves? How do you like to see yourself? You want to see yourself in a new light. And there will be like, what are we talking about? It’s like, well, have a look to my Instagram or Facebook website and see if you see something that you feel attracted. And there will be OK, we can try this and we will play with this. Like I remember speaking to this lady

00:35:28:18 – 00:36:01:05

I remember that lady so well because, you know, when someone wants to say but they’re afraid to admit it. So this lady is 60 years old. She’s a grandma. And she said from years ago, good photos and things like that. And I was like, no, no, tell me what you want. Is that cause? And I was I was like, I could know when you have banter with someone they just met on the phone and you feel that connection, it’s like I feel like you’re holding something back is like, who do you want to see? And then she’s like, bloody hell, Rodney, I want to feel sexy. I’m sixty

00:36:01:07 – 00:36:35:24

I don’t want to be remembered as a granny. I want to really remember as mazelike. There you have it. That’s where you want to be. So it is having those conversations with people. Then you realize exactly who, because sometimes they don’t even know how they want to be photographed. They have no idea. Yeah. So it is your job to peel off those layers. I always say to people, it’s like you’re coming to the studio for photos I get you’re not coming for photos. And the people say it’s like, why is that, Rodney? It’s like because you seeing yourself in one way and you’re refusing to see how everyone else who loves you sees you.

00:36:36:21 – 00:37:07:28

And for me, my job is to show you how all the people who love you in your life seeing the person that you truly are because you have all this I always call it like your legs are so muggy that they just need to be clean. And it’s crazy what a photo shoot does to a woman like that is something like their confidence, like grows is like sometimes you have people that have come to this to, like, cryig because they’re so scared.

00:37:08:00 – 00:37:40:14

I don’t even know how they have the courage to come in the first place, but crying and they’re walking away. And it’s like something has been lifted off the hold off their shoulders. And they’re like, I think there has been one of the most rewarding things of being a portrait photographer is seeing those transformations is seen like you having an impact on people to such a deep level that it’s not just having good photos. It’s like they see themselves in a new light and they start treating themselves in a completely different way.

00:37:40:16 – 00:38:11:13

They start having more respect and love for each other. That, to me, has been my most rewarding thing. Like it is just insane. And that makes me really happy because it gave my job a meaning and it gave my job like a purpose. Like, I’m not a portrait photographer. I’m more than that, I literally helped the woman see in a new way for them to fall in love with themselves once again, like that has been really rewarding.

00:38:12:10 – 00:38:43:03

Oh I believe it. Yeah. And I’m with you. But, you know, when I say it with you is you are like one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. So the fact that, like, I believe that that is one of the most important reasons that you do what you do. Like, I can just totally see it. Like it’s just like your mission to make women feel good about themselves. And I love it. And so so it sounds like you’re doing, you know, maybe like half boudoir, kind of half portrait’s, a little bit of headshots mixed in.

00:38:43:05 – 00:38:44:15

Like, is that kind of how you.

00:38:45:18 – 00:39:18:04

Yes. That’s how I see it  at this point, but I think is because I have like my Instagram for instance, of course, obviously the biggest platform I have on my website. Everything is separated by my Instagram. I see like headshots next to boudoir. And I was like, do I need to change these? Do I need to create new Instagram account? Because I don’t really know if I can have both of them end next to each other. So I am doing this, but I will continue doing both because I love when I when a woman doesn’t know that she wants to have the experience on right at the end.

00:39:18:06 – 00:39:50:04

And I always know when it depends on the sort of food I was going to say I think I’m feeling hungry. I am a clothes they bring because I remember this lady on her 40s. She’s like, do you want to do a little bit of le’noir, and she was likeno, but she brought like five beautiful corsets, really elegant, really sexy. OK, she wants to do it. So I have to wait for me to raise up her energy, her confidence.

00:39:50:12 – 00:40:28:07

And when we were litterally, when I feel her that she’s feeling good, I will be like, let’s do that. And I like she came for headshots to do to that she needed for her website and everything else was just her le’noir session. And I remember actually on the phone to me like Rodney literally, like how I am walking now. Like, I feel like she was single at the time. It’s like people are checking me out, and I feel good, I’m loving it. And I was like this, like, that’s your energy. And I always say that to people like to not confuse my energy with your own energy because what you’re feeling is your own true self.

00:40:29:07 – 00:40:50:04

OK, so talk to me a little bit about how you price things with these different, you know, and real quick, when I look through your Instagram, I mean, your work is so beautiful and I don’t think you need to have it separate. I feel like the way you bring it all together is really cohesive. I like it. Doesn’t feel like I wouldn’t separate it at all.

00:40:50:08 – 00:41:16:06

Thank you, Nikki. I really think you are one I will take. Thank you. Thank you so much. Because lately I’ve been thinking this like should I be considering this like and it’s like for me is this is the two if I want to I have to manage two Instagram accounts. So I thought what it’s like I can hardly do just one. Imagine two or three. So thank you so much. I want to the decision has been made.

00:41:16:12 – 00:41:50:13

I mean, that’s just my opinion. I mean, of course, like if someone comes to your page and they’re looking for headshots, you’ve got to at least like it. I think you do a really good job of you. Mix it up. It’s like you’re almost posting like portrait boudoir headshot. Something of each. Yes, something about you. Portrait boudoir headshots, something about you or your business. Like I think you have a really good thing going where I see you in here. I see boudoir, I see it, but it doesn’t feel like too much. Yeah, I think it’s great and I think someone coming to your page should look for headshots or something, personal branding or whatever.

00:41:50:15 – 00:42:03:23

They could also be like. Oh yeah. He also does boudoir. That’s cool. Like, you know, it just might give them the idea to do two sessions or, you know, come back when they need something else. Like I mean if you were doing like newborn in boudoir

00:42:04:28 – 00:42:15:21

but no no babies, no phones. Beautiful kid. Well, you know, actually I have so much respect for people who photograph babies and kids. It’s like

00:42:16:01 – 00:42:16:19

totally

00:42:16:26 – 00:42:28:03

I done it a few times. I even actually when I photographed and I never posted, it’s like cause I don’t want to attract it cause I guess they run the show.

00:42:29:06 – 00:42:32:23

Oh yeah. And my three and five year olds run the show too.

00:42:35:03 – 00:42:46:19

Let’s talk about your pricing structure because you’re in the UK. Yes. And I know there are some people who will say you can’t charge industry standard pricing in the UK. So I’m just curious, know how it works for you.

00:42:47:01 – 00:43:19:18

You know, I feel so proud. I remember when I started actually following through, I even actually asked is, how could you charge those prices? No. One, because I was one of those persons. Now, my session fee is two hundred and ninety pounds, that includes the whole experience. Plus make up of this most amazing makeup artist. She is incredible. Doesn’t include any images. My images star from three fifty each and I have three packages, so I have small, medium and large. So my small one which is 8 images is eighteen hundred.

00:43:20:05 – 00:43:40:18

My middle package which is fifty images is two thousand five hundred. My top package which is twenty five images is three thousand five hundred. And my average at the moment is two thousand fifty pounds which is amazing. I feel proud saying that out loud.

00:43:41:24 – 00:43:48:12

Good. Rodney, I’m so glad that you feel proud because you  should. That’s amazing. Now, I shouldn’t tell you, I should feel, but

00:43:48:20 – 00:44:10:29

no thank you because I know sometimes I don’t sometimes actually like it’s like a roller coaster. Sometimes you’re in a high. You feel really amazing when things actually are not going so well. And like you, because he always does, then he gets really tough and then you forget. It’s like we forget everything we have done. One simple mistake is like Lolita comes in is like there you’re no good at it.

00:44:12:28 – 00:44:15:20

go your way freaking out

00:44:15:22 – 00:44:17:12

Go to the basement, Lolita.

00:44:20:04 – 00:44:51:04

So yes, it is crazy. And some people actually obviously have it because everything people actually will be like no it’s too expensive. Some people be like, I got to start saving on is incredible. And you know what’s incredible? Nikki, two years ago I went to Colombia and I decided, you know what? Let me open the studio. I went to see my mom and dad because they live in this small town called Sybille. And it’s like, well, let me do this and think I do here in there and see what happens. It’s like I couldn’t find a makeup artist. I’m not including makeup artists.

00:44:51:28 – 00:45:22:25

When they told my mom and my dad my prices, they were like, are you nuts? Nobody’s going to pay any of that. And I was like, OK. Like, no, forcing people to pay is like I telling them my prices and it’s like they want to look because my hometown is full of photographers, you know, actually those ones like is something I don’t know if it will be for me. There is something that is so common in Latin America and it’s like everyone goes there to have their photo taken. Those like this, so many of them, even though it’s such a small town, I went there.

00:45:22:27 – 00:45:54:03

I decided to just let me just put something on Instagram and see what happens when I saw my inbox. I have like thirty people is like, Holy Moses, OK? I start calling every single one of them out of thirty people, like fifteen book my prices. I’m with my mom because I didn’t even have a bank account in Colombia because I don’t live there is like Mom, can I use your bank account for people to pay you, When she start seeing her bank statement, is that what you are dealing with is like my son selling drugs is like no.

00:45:54:05 – 00:46:26:14

Don’t worry. It’s like not drugs, and she’s like people are coming like, thank you so much. And she was like that. I will tell you, two years ago was the first time my mom and my dad were like, OK, you made the right decision. Only two years ago when they finally, finally saw me doing it, because before they still considered I was completely nuts. But when they saw that it was doable and I was doing that even actually in a place. Sybil is such a small town like really tiny, tiny little thing in a hill in Colombia.

00:46:26:24 – 00:46:31:15

You you can make that work anywhere, like literally anywhere. Oh, yeah.

00:46:31:18 – 00:46:49:06

Yeah. I’m so glad you shared that about Colombia. That’s so cool. Yeah. So cool. I know it is funny about how people will doubt you until you just have to show them. It’s like just start doing it like you know, cancel the voices. Don’t listen, just tell them. Listen, you thank you for giving me your feedback.

00:46:49:22 – 00:46:51:12

Thank you for doing

00:46:51:14 – 00:47:05:17

what you’re doing. Yeah. Thank you for sharing. Yeah. Thanks for the feedback. You know, and just leave it at that and then just move forward so. Oh that’s so awesome. What would you say is your biggest marketing like where do you get your most clients from.

00:47:06:11 – 00:47:42:14

I think my I get most of my clients from like a referral like people when I photograph someone else. And that has been like and it’s funny, especially between girlfriends that will see their friends being photographed and they will call me like I want. Some of that literally is like they’re not going to process, like they know what they want. And I have people, like, actually just contacting me, checking my prices. Rodney, you’re too expensive, but I’ve got to start saving up. And he’s crazy because I remember before when someone will told me it’s too expensive, I will cringe, I will be on target too much when I give them a discount.

00:47:42:16 – 00:48:09:04

And now actually when someone says that to me, it’s like, yes, I am. And let me tell you why. Let we give you the experience, because you’re going to see yourself as someone else just can’t wait and have people, that say things to other people who contact me. I only have two people that block me on social media. When I told them the prices, literally, I was broke. I was like, OK, that’s what you want, I was like, OK, I just told you about prices. I didn’t say anything else,

00:48:09:12 – 00:48:32:08

But you know we aren’t. You’re not for everyone. And that’s OK. Just like I’m going to choose a specific photographer based on what I want. And some people are going to choose you and some people won’t. And, you know, that’s fine. Like, you only need like I my average shoot is eight shoots per month and I need eight people each month if I want to stay at my average. And that’s good for me like

00:48:32:19 – 00:49:03:10

Same. What I do at the moment is four, just for the moment, I love to increase that. I will get there. I  started my campaign to the forty over forty. I said after the master class last month, I was thinking, I need to do this, and I initially Nikki, I was visualizing why, because I do want to do the entire exhibition like people drinking wine and just like, ah, like I saw freaking doing that. So, yeah, yes.

00:49:03:12 – 00:49:37:02

If people are if you’re out there wondering what the master class was on, if you’re a member of Sue Bryce Education, there was a class that you did and she interviewed like eight or nine people. I think it was a campaign and it could be any sort of campaign. But they talked about how they did it, what it looked like, how you know, how much they charge, what their average sale was from it. And it was really cool because everyone took like because there is an actual campaign video, like a course and then student interview interviewing people is really good.

00:49:37:14 – 00:50:07:21

And what’s amazing is like you see actually a campaign like about the same thing and everyone doing it so differently, some people using Facebook as some people not even paying a penny. So people are spending like three thousand pounds. So people are spending thirty bucks like you see everything is like which game do you want to play, like literally is like eating a buffet. And it’s like this is the meat one, this is the fish one, this is the vegan one, is a one for everyone.

00:50:08:00 – 00:50:16:09

Yes. I love the masterclasses like it’s a non-negotiable for me on Tuesdays. Yes. Yes. Non-negotiable. Cool.

00:50:17:05 – 00:50:43:13

Well, thank you so much for sharing everything. It’s so cool to hear just your whole story. And you know, just how you and I knew you were in the social services field. And I think we we bonded over that when we first met. You know, I had been a social worker and, you know, in the social services field. And so, yes, it’s just it’s so cool to see where you’re at now. I’m so proud of you, Rodney. And and. Yeah, I can’t wait to see where you go from here.

00:50:44:02 – 00:50:45:06

Thank you so much.

00:50:45:08 – 00:50:54:20

It’s really awesome. I do have a couple more questions, though, that I always do ask at the end of each episode. And the first one is what is something you can’t live without when you’re doing a photo shoot?

00:50:56:00 – 00:51:26:07

And this will sound silly, but one thing I cannot be without photo shoot is my beads. You know, actually, I have these big feet that beads. They are like I don’t wear bracelets, like big bracelets, like they are made of bamboo. Like how far of the really big ones. And I need those things on my photo shoot. Like literally I know it sounds silly, but I need to be playing with them the entire photo shoot because they help me focus.

00:51:26:14 – 00:51:28:20

So I literally have them here. I know

00:51:28:27 – 00:51:29:12

I can.

00:51:29:16 – 00:52:05:15

Oh yeah. Yes. I don’t have that on because they are making too much noise, but they helped me concentrate. And it’s like before I actually and I literally all I do is like I start like I start playing with them when before I photograph someone on a thinkin. I don’t know because I always need to move. I need to be doing something. So it is like that is something they feel like they will be. They put it on I feel is like yes. Now I’m ready. I don’t know, it’s like my gloves. Like if I was to be driving a Formula One car, it’s like I, I play with it and he’s like is literally switch on and he’s like, I’m ready to go.

00:52:05:27 – 00:52:13:08

If I don’t have that I feel like something is missing. I don’t, I don’t think I can do that,  It’s like created. So I don’t be silly but I know

00:52:13:10 – 00:52:27:03

I’m not and everyone has their thing is I love I love asking these questions because they’re different. Everyone gives a different answer. I mean, some people say the same things, but yeah, I love that. That’s great. Now I’m I have to pay attention at all your behind the scenes and watch for that.

00:52:29:04 – 00:52:32:22

OK, number two is how do you spend your time when you’re not working?

00:52:33:04 – 00:53:03:10

OK, there are two things that is funny, because actually two opposites is either cycling or going for a run, because I actually love being outdoors. I love cycling, especially on my mountain bike. I love cycling around a lot. That’s one thing. And the second one, I love watching anime on my Sunday mornings. Like literally I will wake up two hours before my partner, so I will watch as many anime as I can for like two to three hours in the sun.

00:53:03:12 – 00:53:16:02

This because when it comes, it’s like honey do you want to talk? I don’t want to speak to anyone. I just want to watch my Anime. So it’s either anime or… What do you mean like, what it this, animals?. So anime is this is cool.

00:53:18:06 – 00:53:26:26

Like ok, I got you. Ok, ok. OK, so this is like a specific type of of like illustrative TV like.

00:53:27:11 – 00:53:29:04

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you for making it sound cool.

00:53:31:23 – 00:53:34:19

You’re cool even if you love anime.

00:53:34:21 – 00:54:00:23

I mean when I was twelve is like you’re going to grow up is like refusing to grow up. So now I’m thirty six, twenty years later and I still watching my same anime like. Was see, like all of that Stilo eyes, such and such a kid when it comes to that, you say in the house is like we can’t go old, but it doesn’t mean we need to grow up. He asked me on my part. I said, I don’t want to grow up. He’s like, forget that.

00:54:00:25 – 00:54:20:08

Isn’t that… every so often I’m like, Oh, that’s right. I’m an adult. I know it’s I where I’m like I look in the mirror and I’m like, I’m forty four. Can I really get away with this right now. Like what I’m wearing right now. Like you know I’m who I don’t care. No. I can do whatever I want.

00:54:20:13 – 00:54:29:10

I think you know to be someone. I remember when I met her for the first time is Kitty. Holy Moses, that woman.

00:54:29:16 – 00:54:30:25

Oh Kitty Mcmeel.

00:54:31:09 – 00:54:53:18

She looks like a bloody rock star. Like when I saw her. I remember the first time I met her, I was like, she look, I feel like even coming to face like, can I have your autograph, please? She just look so cool. So you saying that you’re feeling down your forties like, seriously, do you still have, like I say, 30, 40 years on your face? I don’t even think about it woman.

00:54:54:05 – 00:55:19:08

I love it. I love it. So in Kitty, Rodney is referring to Kitty McMeel, who is episode wait. Let me see what episode is Kitty. I think she’s set for Episode four and she started her business at age sixty two or something. So she’s super inspiring if you haven’t heard Katie’s episode yet. So but yeah I love that. OK, let’s see. What are we. Number three is what’s your favorite inspirational quote.

00:55:20:06 – 00:55:36:05

Oh my. Well I have two but the one that has been my mantra has always been and that’s the one has always pushed me forward on as in as simple as this one is, I didn’t come this far to get this far.

00:55:37:00 – 00:55:39:21

Uh, I love that.

00:55:39:26 – 00:56:09:28

So, you know, when I feel like I meet in a wall or meet in a ceiling, there’s like this he said, you cannot go beyond this point. And I’ve been saying that for literally eighteen years since I came to the UK. It’s like I didn’t come this far to get this far. Aha. Moment when you feel it, because as I say before, life will hit you like that’s how life works. And it’s like, no, I didn’t come this far to get this far. It’s like this is not my limit. I need to push beyond this point. So that’s always been one on my second one by.

00:56:10:00 – 00:56:43:16

No, not really, because it’s a really long one by anyone. If you Google this this quote is called The Man in the Arena. It’s like a long poem and that is literally printed on my studio because that’s a reminder of like showing up or being the person in the arena, because basically ignoring the critics, because the critics are sitting there not doing anything. But the man in the arena, the person in the arena is falling down. He’s bleeding. He’s getting up again and again and again.

00:56:43:27 – 00:57:05:06

And he says right at the end at least fells at least if you fell right there in greatly. So these plays shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. But there is a summary like it’s beautiful, the Man in the Arena.

00:57:05:15 – 00:57:06:17

It’s beautiful

00:57:07:00 – 00:57:13:20

I heard that from Brene Brown and it’s upswelling. That’s in my studio. That reminds me. It’s like, come on, come on, Pedroza. You got this

00:57:15:17 – 00:57:16:09

and you do.

00:57:20:02 – 00:57:24:06

OK, number four is what would you tell people who are just getting started?

00:57:24:22 – 00:58:03:00

Hmm. Well, I will tell that to two different people. So for people who are just getting started in photography is like be like a kid. Be curious, like literally just let you curiosity, because when you’re curious, you just learning. You don’t care about making mistakes, you just playing around. So let the inner kid naturally guide you. For anyone who wants to start a business, I will tell there’s something different. I will tell them, start cultivating your greed because you’re going to need for a long run.

00:58:04:00 – 00:58:11:01

Yeah, I love that that’s great advice. Thank you. OK. And where can people find you, Rodney, if they’re looking for you online?

00:58:11:11 – 00:58:16:14

Oh, all right. Easy to find is Rodney Pedroza. And on Instagram, Rodney Pedroza

00:58:18:03 – 00:58:24:01

On Facebook Rodney Pedroza. Rodney Pedroza on my website. I tried to keep it easy. Yeah.

00:58:24:03 – 00:58:29:01

Awesome. Well thank you again. Hopefully I’ll see you this year sometime. I don’t know what’s going to happen.

00:58:29:08 – 00:58:36:11

I hope so. I think actually it will be next year. I don’t think actually we’re… We still grounded. Yeah.  We’re not allowed to travel anywhere.

00:58:38:00 – 00:58:40:22

Yeah. OK, see you next year and we’ll give you a big hug.

00:5840:28 – 00:58:47:10

I hope so, Rodney. That would be amazing. For now, I’ll see online in the group in the Startup Group too in the 90 Day Challenge Group too.

00:58:47:17 – 00:58:49:02

I know. I’ll be there.

00:58:50:11 – 00:58:53:27

All right. Thank you, Rodney. You take care of yourself. Give yourself a big hug from me.

00:58:54:15 – 00:58:57:19

Thank you, Nikki bye bye.

Thank you so much for listening to the Portrait System Podcast. Your five-star reviews really help us to continue what we do. So, if you like listening, would you mind giving us a review wherever you listen? I also encourage you to head over to SueBryceEducation.com, where you can find all of the education you need to be a successful photographer. There are over 1,000 on-demand educational videos on things like posing, lighting, styling, retouching, shooting, marketing, sales, business, and self-value. 

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