In the spirit of Halloween, I'm pulling back the curtain on 13 real-life production horror stories — projects that went sideways, off the rails, or barely escaped disaster. From shoots that spiraled out of control to campaigns that almost didn't see the light of day, these are the lessons learned the hard way from behind the lens and behind the scenes.

Whether you're a creative, a brand, or a business owner, this episode is your survival guide for when everything that can go wrong… does.

Tune in, take notes, and maybe keep some sage on standby.

https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto

https://jamespatrick.com/

It's 2025 — and ghosting has gone professional. From clients who vanish after getting a proposal, to contractors who disappear mid-project, and collaborators who drop off without a word, we're all haunted by the same modern nightmare: bad communication.

In this episode, James Patrick dives into the spooky, hilarious, and painfully relatable world of ghosting in business. He shares dramatized stories of the vanishing client, the disappearing collaborator, and the contractor who seemed promising — all told with a sharp sense of humor and a dash of Halloween flair.

But this isn't just a vent session. Listeners will learn practical strategies for surviving ghosting, including how to set boundaries, follow up effectively, and even professionally resurrect conversations that seemed lost forever. Because in business — and in life — ghosts belong in stories, not in your inbox.

Tune in, laugh at the absurdity, and discover how to turn the haunting of 2025 into clear, confident communication.

More at: https://www.jamespatrick.com
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto

Pricing your work shouldn't feel like guesswork—but too often, creatives leave money on the table simply by how they bid. In this episode, I break down the 5 most common mistakes photographers and creatives make when quoting projects—from vague pricing and missing line items to failing to set boundaries.

You'll learn how to bid with clarity, confidence, and control, so you protect your value and land better clients without endless back-and-forth negotiations.

https://jamespatrick.com/

If I could go back to day one of my photography career—knowing everything I know now—I wouldn't follow the same path. In this episode, I'm breaking down the 7 biggest things I'd do differently to build momentum faster, price with confidence, and create long-term opportunities without years of trial and error.

From niching down earlier to not letting gatekeepers define my ceiling, these are the lessons I wish someone had handed me when I started. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to reset your trajectory, this episode will give you a roadmap to build smarter, not harder.

https://jamespatrick.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Joel Pilger, former agency founder and now global advisor to creative studios, to uncover the root causes that hold many photographers and creative agencies back from sustainable growth. Joel brings real-world lessons from his two-decade journey running Impossible Pictures, through its rise, sale, and his transition into consulting for hundreds of studios.

We dig into:

• Common growth traps creative agencies fall into (feast-or-famine cycles, underpriced services, lack of systems)

• How creative companies can evolve from "order-taker" to strategic, high-impact partners

• Business development & positioning strategies that differentiate your brand

• Pricing, operations, and mindset shifts needed to scale

• How to future-proof your agency with long-term value and resilience

If you're building or leading a creative agency, this episode is a masterclass in combining artistry and business discipline.

Connect with Joel Pilger at https://www.joelpilger.com/ or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelpilger/

Connect with James Patrick at https://jamespatrick.com/

Every photographer has heard them — the promises of "more work coming soon," the classic "we'll pay you in exposure," or the dreaded "this will only take an hour." In this episode of the Beyond the Image Podcast, host James Patrick pulls back the curtain on the most common (and most annoying) lies clients tell photographers — and why they can derail your business if you're not prepared.

From fake promises of future gigs to sneaky discount tactics, James shares real-world examples, hilarious truths, and strategies to protect your time, talent, and bottom line. If you've ever struggled with pricing, boundaries, or managing client expectations, this episode will help you take back control of your creative business.

https://jamespatrick.com/

We recently had a workshop at The Hive Studios on career growth and it got me thinking about how I've personally grown my photography business and built a portfolio of clients. Over the last 20 years I've gone through two major phases of business development growth; when I first started and right now.

In this episode of the Beyond the Image podcast I share the exact startegy I have used for the entirety of my career to not only onboard new clients but to earn repeat business from current clients.

I also discuss ways you as a creative can differentiate yourself, beyond just segmenting or having a niche audience.

From there we discuss the client relationship journey and the process of earning repeat business from your happy clients.

You can see my website at https://jamespatrick.com/

My studio is over at https://www.hivestudiosaz.com/

And my Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto

I just lost a proposal for a video project. The client contacted me and had a pretty lengthly list of requirements and specs for the assignment, all of which we were able to accomodate and a very competitive price.

However, the client responded to say we were about three hundred percent over their budget. To be fair - their budget was pretty ridiculous and way under even the most conservative of market value for the work they were requesting.

We were able to counter with a revised approach that brough our estimate within $200 of their budget and we still did not win the job.

So. what happened and why was our approach still the right approach?

https://jamespatrick.com/