S04 E18 - The Photography Industry Wants You To Stay Broke (with Sophie Kietzmann)

Sophie Kietzmann is a New York based fashion and portrait photographer who has worked with Vanity Fair, GQ, Glamour & Vogue Italia. Working across high-end fashion and editorial spaces, they create bold, inclusive imagery that challenges traditional beauty standards and elevates underrepresented voices.

In this episode, Sophie joins Mike to unpack one of the biggest unspoken issues in the creative industry… why so many photographers feel stuck, overworked and still struggle to make money. They dive into the toxic hustle culture that glorifies burnout and unpack the “starving artist” mindset that keeps photographers playing small. Sophie shares how learning business completely changed their career and the real reason creatives feel guilty charging for their work.

This is a conversation about identity, money, fear and what it actually takes to build a sustainable photography career, without losing yourself in the process. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not getting ahead, this episode will challenge the way you think about success, creativity and what it really means to make it as a photographer.

Say Hi to Sophie on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sophiekietzmann/

Sophie's Website:
https://www.sophiekietzmann.com/

In this episode we also talk about:
- Why photographers feel guilty charging for their work
- The starving artist mindset in photography
- Why photographers overwork and burn out
- Overcoming fear of rejection as a photographer
- Why photographers feel stuck in their business
- The mindset shift photographers need to grow
- Why talent alone won’t make you successful as a photographer

Thanks again for watching and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to Subscribe and leave a Comment to let us know you were here!

Check out the Podcast in Audio form at https://www.mikejeffrey.co/podcast

Mike's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikejeffreyphoto/
Mike's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejeffreyphoto/

Editing and Post Production by Mossy Heart Media
https://www.mossyheartmedia.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/

Music Created by JWPATON
https://www.instagram.com/jwptn/