Shifting Focus with John Bunn

Shifting Focus (Formerly How To Film Weddings) with John Bunn is the podcast for wedding photographers, videographers, planners, and industry pros who feel STUCK in the middle market. If you're tired of chasing trends and ready to focus on what really moves the needle—branding, pricing, mindset, and building relationships that lead to real growth—you're in the right place.With nearly two decades of experience and a background in educating tens of thousands through courses, masterminds, and one of the top wedding podcasts in the world, John brings a clear, approachable voice to the conversations that matter. Every episode is packed with honest insights, practical strategies, and real stories from leaders who've built something that lasts. If you're ready to shift your focus and grow your wedding business with intention, this show is for you.

Shifting Focus with John Bunn is a education podcast hosted by John Bunn, with 481 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

John Bunn hosts Shifting Focus with John Bunn, a education show with 481 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #480

  480. The Mindset Behind a $500K+ Photography Business with Helena Wong

  Sep 7, 202643 minS5

  What does it actually take to build a $500K+ photography business? Helena Wong went from working in corporate tech at companies like Oracle, Lyft, and Uber to building a multi-six-figure wedding photography business in just a few years. In this episode, we unpack what allowed her to grow so quickly and why she believes mindset, marketing, and sales are just as important as the work itself. Helena shares how she thinks about pricing, knowing when it's time to raise your rates, tracking conversion rates, getting comfortable with hearing "no," and building the courage to take action before you feel completely confident. We also get into why surrounding yourself with people who think bigger can completely change what's possible for your business, how Helena buys back her time through outsourcing and automation, and one of her biggest pieces of advice for photographers trying to move into a higher-end market: stop sending the pricing guide first. In this episode, we talk about: • How Helena went from corporate tech to a $500K+ photography business • Building a business with $12K–$22K wedding packages • Why knowing your numbers gives you confidence to raise your prices • The difference between courage and confidence • Why your environment and network can change what you believe is possible • How to know if you may be underpriced • Why booking every inquiry isn't necessarily a good thing • The importance of sales calls in a premium market • Why Helena doesn't send her pricing guide first • Buying back your time through outsourcing and automation • Why great work is only the baseline • Taking action, failing fast, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable One of my favorite ideas from this conversation is Helena's definition of courage: the ability to walk with fear. You don't have to wait until you feel completely confident to make the next move. Sometimes you have to take the action first and allow the confidence to follow. CONNECT WITH HELENA WONG Instagram: www.instagram.com/helenawongphotography Education + Coaching: www.helenawongphotography.com/education FREE RESOURCE: Helena's Marketing Blueprint that helped grow her business to $400K+: www.creativeceo.kit.com/marketingblueprint Join My Circle Community: https://shifting-focus-with-john-bunn.circle.so/ Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://bit.ly/4owsWiM Instagram: John Bunn - http://bit.ly/2AYTiE2 John Bunn Films: https://bit.ly/43S3866 Get in Touch: ✅ Brand deals, promotions, podcast info, etc., email john@johnbunnfilms.com Sponsors and Affiliates: ⭐️ Bride and Groom Video - John's Personal Editor for Video: https://bridengroom.video/johnbunn/ - $100 off the first project of $400, promo code JOHNBUNN100 ⭐️ Get 1500 Free Edits with Imagen.ai: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=johnbunn ⭐️ Vidflow - Deliver your films and photos with the best - Try it free here https://signups.vidflow.co/ref/johnbunn ⭐️ Musicbed - The Best Place to License Music: https://bit.ly/45HQjhC - 14 day free trial ⭐️ Inly - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/41Akxkf - 10% off with promo code JOHN ⭐️ Lemlii - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/45rhAnl Promo Code - JohnBunn25 (25% off any plan for 12 months) ⭐️ Multiply Media - https://bit.ly/46OdZCe - 15% off with promo code JOHNBUNN ⭐️ PlotLine Pro - AI Powered, Story First Filmmaking Tool - 3 Free days - https://www.plotline.pro/?via=john ⭐️ WedTrack - Timeline GENIE https://wedtrack.app/r/shiftingfocus ⭐️ Honeybook - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/4lmrKvf - 30% off ⭐️ Gamut - Color Presets and LUTs: https://gamut.io/product/luxe/?gamut=johnbunn ⭐️ Flodesk - Emails Made Easy: https://bit.ly/4md3ltE - 50% off ⭐️ Second Society - The best place to find second shooters https://my.secondsociety.io/signup?via=john-bunn ⭐️ Pic-Time 1 Free Month Annual Plan : https://johnbunnfilms.pic-time.com/referral The Shifting Focus Podcast, all rights reserved. All links are affiliate links and result in a commission for John Bunn Films if used. I appreciate the support. Help me by supporting my sponsors. #weddingvideography #weddingphotography #shiftingfocuspodcast

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  Episode #479

  479. Claire Hunt - Being a Sought-After Photographer (how she did it)

  Aug 31, 202650 minS5

  What actually makes someone sought after? In this episode, I sit down with wedding photographer, educator, coach, and host of the All Angles Podcast, Claire Hunt. Claire went from working as a pediatric trauma nurse to building a six-figure photography business, eventually booking $10K–$15K weddings and coaching hundreds of photographers and videographers along the way. But this conversation isn't really about how quickly she grew. It's about what she did to become someone people already wanted before they ever submitted an inquiry. We talk about building a personal brand, consistently showing up in your marketing, and creating messaging that connects what you do with what your ideal clients actually want. Then we go deep into one of my favorite parts of the conversation: the inquiry-to-booking process. Claire walks through how she responds to inquiries, why she loves discovery calls, how she keeps those conversations relational instead of transactional, and how she uses the "yes ladder" to help couples confidently move toward a decision without making the conversation feel pushy or salesy. We also talk about what happens when all of this starts working together: better clients, higher bookings, more confidence, stronger work, and the momentum that eventually allows you to become truly sought after in your market. If you feel like your work is good but you're still competing on price, packages, and deliverables, this episode is for you. In this episode, we talk about: Claire's journey from pediatric trauma nurse to six-figure photographer What actually makes someone "sought after" Why your personal brand matters just as much as your portfolio Showing up consistently even when your audience is small Desire-based messaging and selling through emotion Warming up potential clients before they ever inquire Why sending every piece of pricing information immediately can work against you Turning the inquiry process from transactional to relational How Claire structures discovery calls Asking better questions instead of pitching yourself Building the "yes ladder" throughout a sales conversation How to handle a lead who is already ready to book Why relationship-focused sales can lead to higher bookings Building momentum with better clients, better work, and better pricing Claire's Website: http://education.clairehunt.co Find Claire: https://www.instagram.com/itsclairehunt Freebie: https://freebie.clairehunt.co/hook-inquiries Discovery Call Script: https://products.clairehunt.co/discovery-call-script Join My Circle Community: https://shifting-focus-with-john-bunn.circle.so/ Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://bit.ly/4owsWiM Instagram: John Bunn - http://bit.ly/2AYTiE2 John Bunn Films: https://bit.ly/43S3866 Get in Touch: ✅ Brand deals, promotions, podcast info, etc., email john@johnbunnfilms.com Sponsors and Affiliates: ⭐️ Bride and Groom Video - John's Personal Editor for Video: https://bridengroom.video/johnbunn/ - $100 off the first project of $400, promo code JOHNBUNN100 ⭐️ Get 1500 Free Edits with Imagen.ai: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=johnbunn ⭐️ Vidflow - Deliver your films and photos with the best - Try it free here https://signups.vidflow.co/ref/johnbunn ⭐️ Musicbed - The Best Place to License Music: https://bit.ly/45HQjhC - 14 day free trial ⭐️ Inly - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/41Akxkf - 10% off with promo code JOHN ⭐️ Lemlii - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/45rhAnl Promo Code - JohnBunn25 (25% off any plan for 12 months) ⭐️ Multiply Media - https://bit.ly/46OdZCe - 15% off with promo code JOHNBUNN ⭐️ PlotLine Pro - AI Powered, Story First Filmmaking Tool - 3 Free days - https://www.plotline.pro/?via=john ⭐️ WedTrack - Timeline GENIE https://wedtrack.app/r/shiftingfocus ⭐️ Honeybook - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/4lmrKvf - 30% off ⭐️ Gamut - Color Presets and LUTs: https://gamut.io/product/luxe/?gamut=johnbunn ⭐️ Flodesk - Emails Made Easy: https://bit.ly/4md3ltE - 50% off ⭐️ Second Society - The best place to find second shooters https://my.secondsociety.io/signup?via=john-bunn ⭐️ Pic-Time 1 Free Month Annual Plan : https://johnbunnfilms.pic-time.com/referral The Shifting Focus Podcast, all rights reserved. All links are affiliate links and result in a commission for John Bunn Films if used. I appreciate the support. Help me by supporting my sponsors. Chapters 00:00 – Claire Hunt's Journey from Nurse to Photographer 01:07 – Building a Profitable Photography Business 03:01 – What Makes a Photographer Sought After? 04:36 – Going From Zero to Six Figures 07:00 – Building a Personal Brand 11:13 – Consistency, Omnipresence & the Marketing Funnel 15:44 – From Inquiry to Booking 19:45 – Desire-Based Messaging 24:57 – Making Discovery Calls Relational 27:37 – Building the "Yes Ladder" 33:59 – Guiding Clients Toward the Next Step 35:25 – What to Do With a Hot Lead 38:43 – How Better Sales Create Better Bookings 41:24 – Building Momentum in Your Business 43:16 – You Can Become Sought After 44:12 – Claire's Resources & What's Next #weddingvideography #weddingphotography #shiftingfocuspodcast

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  Episode #478

  478. Pricing On Your Website? Let's Talk About It (I took mine OFF)

  Aug 24, 202634 minS5

  Should you put your pricing on your website? This week I took mine off my site for the first time in about 2 years. But why? In this week's episode I break down why I decided I needed to take my prices off my website for now. I also dig through some thoughts about why you should or shouldn't have prices on your site. This episode will provide some practical tools to help you decide whether or not YOU need your pricing on your site or not. Let me know in the comments what you do and why. I would love to start a conversation! The Shifting Focus Experience, 10/27 and 10/28 in Tulsa OK: https://john-bunn.com/the-shifting-focus-experience Join My Circle Community: https://shifting-focus-with-john-bunn.circle.so/ Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://bit.ly/4owsWiM Instagram: John Bunn - http://bit.ly/2AYTiE2 John Bunn Films: https://bit.ly/43S3866 Get in Touch: ✅ Brand deals, promotions, podcast info, etc., email john@johnbunnfilms.com Sponsors and Affiliates: ⭐️ Bride and Groom Video - John's Personal Editor for Video: https://bridengroom.video/johnbunn/ - $100 off the first project of $400, promo code JOHNBUNN100 ⭐️ Get 1500 Free Edits with Imagen.ai: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=johnbunn ⭐️ Vidflow - Deliver your films and photos with the best - Try it free here https://signups.vidflow.co/ref/johnbunn ⭐️ Musicbed - The Best Place to License Music: https://bit.ly/45HQjhC - 14 day free trial ⭐️ Inly - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/41Akxkf - 10% off with promo code JOHN ⭐️ Lemlii - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/45rhAnl Promo Code - JohnBunn25 (25% off any plan for 12 months) ⭐️ Multiply Media - https://bit.ly/46OdZCe - 15% off with promo code JOHNBUNN ⭐️ PlotLine Pro - AI Powered, Story First Filmmaking Tool - 3 Free days - https://www.plotline.pro/?via=john ⭐️ WedTrack - Timeline GENIE https://wedtrack.app/r/shiftingfocus ⭐️ Honeybook - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/4lmrKvf - 30% off ⭐️ Gamut - Color Presets and LUTs: https://gamut.io/product/luxe/?gamut=johnbunn ⭐️ Flodesk - Emails Made Easy: https://bit.ly/4md3ltE - 50% off ⭐️ Second Society - The best place to find second shooters https://my.secondsociety.io/signup?via=john-bunn ⭐️ Pic-Time 1 Free Month Annual Plan : https://johnbunnfilms.pic-time.com/referral The Shifting Focus Podcast, all rights reserved. All links are affiliate links and result in a commission for John Bunn Films if used. I appreciate the support. Help me by supporting my sponsors. #weddingvideography #weddingphotography #shiftingfocuspodcast

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  Episode #477

  477. Stop Being Afraid to Work for Free (Let me explain)

  Aug 17, 202636 minS5

  This episode might ruffle some feathers. Recently, I posted that I was looking for a photographer and videographer to help capture The Shifting Focus Experience in exchange for a ticket to the event. Almost immediately, the criticism started: Why would an educator who teaches people to raise their prices ask someone to work for free? So I decided to talk about it. There's a massive difference between someone expecting you to give away your work and you strategically choosing to invest your time, talent, or services into an opportunity that can move your business forward. In this episode, I'm talking about the difference between a scarcity mindset and an abundance mindset, why I still say yes to unpaid opportunities, and why I continually see some of the most successful people in the premium and luxury market sponsoring events, donating their services, and finding ways to get themselves into the right rooms. Your network is a lot like a 401(k). The investments you make today might not pay you tomorrow, but over time, relationships compound. We'll talk about how to decide which opportunities are actually worth saying yes to, why "exposure" isn't always a dirty word, and how thinking only about what pays you today could be keeping you stuck in the middle market. If you know where you want your business to be in two years, start asking yourself: What can I invest today that gets me closer to that room, that work, and those relationships? Because sometimes the opportunity that doesn't pay enough today is the opportunity that changes everything tomorrow. The Shifting Focus Experience: https://john-bunn.com/the-shifting-focus-experience Chapters 00:00 Why This Episode Might Ruffle Some Feathers 02:18 The Controversy Around Working for Free 04:11 When "Exposure" Is Actually Worth Something 05:39 Why Successful Creatives Sponsor Events 08:36 Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset 09:18 The $2,000 Ticket Controversy 13:00 Why Getting in the Room Matters 16:24 Stop Thinking Only About Today 19:51 How Free Work Helped Build a $50K+ Brand 21:21 Get in the Room and Build Your Brand 24:19 Your Network Is Your Business's 401(k) 27:17 Why Action Takers Eventually Win 29:12 Build Your Two-Year Plan 33:10 Shift From Scarcity to Abundance 34:16 Final Thoughts + The Shifting Focus Experience Join My Circle Community: https://shifting-focus-with-john-bunn.circle.so/ Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://bit.ly/4owsWiM Instagram: John Bunn - http://bit.ly/2AYTiE2 John Bunn Films: https://bit.ly/43S3866 Get in Touch: ✅ Brand deals, promotions, podcast info, etc., email john@johnbunnfilms.com Sponsors and Affiliates: ⭐️ Bride and Groom Video - John's Personal Editor for Video: https://bridengroom.video/johnbunn/ - $100 off the first project of $400, promo code JOHNBUNN100 ⭐️ Get 1500 Free Edits with Imagen.ai: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=johnbunn ⭐️ Vidflow - Deliver your films and photos with the best - Try it free here https://signups.vidflow.co/ref/johnbunn ⭐️ Musicbed - The Best Place to License Music: https://bit.ly/45HQjhC - 14 day free trial ⭐️ Inly - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/41Akxkf - 10% off with promo code JOHN ⭐️ Lemlii - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/45rhAnl Promo Code - JohnBunn25 (25% off any plan for 12 months) ⭐️ Multiply Media - https://bit.ly/46OdZCe - 15% off with promo code JOHNBUNN ⭐️ PlotLine Pro - AI Powered, Story First Filmmaking Tool - 3 Free days - https://www.plotline.pro/?via=john ⭐️ Spingle - AI culling and editing - https://bit.ly/4m80XnZ - 2 week free trial ⭐️ Honeybook - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/4lmrKvf - 30% off ⭐️ Gamut - Color Presets and LUTs: https://gamut.io/product/luxe/?gamut=johnbunn ⭐️ Flodesk - Emails Made Easy: https://bit.ly/4md3ltE - 50% off ⭐️ Second Society - The best place to find second shooters https://my.secondsociety.io/signup?via=john-bunn The Shifting Focus Podcast, all rights reserved. All links are affiliate links and result in a commission for John Bunn Films if used. I appreciate the support. Help me by supporting my sponsors. #weddingvideography #weddingphotography #shiftingfocuspodcast

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  Episode #475

  475. I Left Everything I Built. Here's What Happened One Year Later. (1 Year Anniversary of Shifting Focus)

  Aug 3, 202652 minS5

  Exposure Triangle Mastermind Waitlist: https://john-bunn.com/exposure-triangle For one year, I've been building the Shifting Focus podcast from the ground up. In this episode, I'm reflecting on everything that led to this moment, from launching How to Film Weddings back in 2018 to making the difficult decision to walk away and start over with a brand new vision. I share the highs, the failures, the uncertainty, the lessons, and why I believe taking uncomfortable steps is often the only way to build something meaningful. If you've ever wondered why I made the transition, what happened behind the scenes, or what I've learned over nearly 500 podcast episodes, this is the story. Whether you're a wedding photographer, filmmaker, or creative entrepreneur trying to get unstuck from the middle market, I hope this episode encourages you to keep showing up, stay consistent, and trust the process. Thank you for being part of this first year of Shifting Focus. I truly couldn't have done it without you. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Send me a DM and let me know what part of your own journey you're in. And if you know someone who needs this message, share this episode with them. Join My Circle Community: https://shifting-focus-with-john-bunn.circle.so/ Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://bit.ly/4owsWiM Instagram: John Bunn - http://bit.ly/2AYTiE2 John Bunn Films: https://bit.ly/43S3866 Get in Touch: ✅ Brand deals, promotions, podcast info, etc., email john@johnbunnfilms.com Sponsors and Affiliates: ⭐️ Bride and Groom Video - John's Personal Editor for Video: https://bridengroom.video/johnbunn/ - $100 off the first project of $400, promo code JOHNBUNN100 ⭐️ Get 1500 Free Edits with Imagen.ai: https://imagen-ai.com/?ref=johnbunn ⭐️ Vidflow - Deliver your films and photos with the best - Try it free here https://signups.vidflow.co/ref/johnbunn ⭐️ Musicbed - The Best Place to License Music: https://bit.ly/45HQjhC - 14 day free trial ⭐️ Inly - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/41Akxkf - 10% off with promo code JOHN ⭐️ Lemlii - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/45rhAnl Promo Code - JohnBunn25 (25% off any plan for 12 months) ⭐️ Multiply Media - https://bit.ly/46OdZCe - 15% off with promo code JOHNBUNN ⭐️ PlotLine Pro - AI Powered, Story First Filmmaking Tool - 3 Free days - https://www.plotline.pro/?via=john ⭐️ Spingle - AI culling and editing - https://bit.ly/4m80XnZ - 2 week free trial ⭐️ Honeybook - CRM for creatives: https://bit.ly/4lmrKvf - 30% off ⭐️ Gamut - Color Presets and LUTs: https://gamut.io/product/luxe/?gamut=johnbunn ⭐️ Flodesk - Emails Made Easy: https://bit.ly/4md3ltE - 50% off ⭐️ Second Society - The best place to find second shooters https://my.secondsociety.io/signup?via=john-bunn The Shifting Focus Podcast, all rights reserved. All links are affiliate links and result in a commission for John Bunn Films if used. I appreciate the support. Help me by supporting my sponsors. #weddingvideography #weddingphotography #shiftingfocuspodcast

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Recent guests on Shifting Focus with John Bunn. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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