A version of this question comes up on almost every brand consult call I have. It usually sounds like this: “I have about $3,000 to invest in my brand… and I’m terrified of wasting it.” And honestly? I get it. There’s a lot of noise out there. One person says you need a new website. Another says you need better photos. Someone else says you should be posting every day or running ads or hiring a coach. The advice is endless and often conflicting. The fear isn’t about spendin

Have you ever invested in photos… only to realize later they didn’t actually do  anything for your business?  That’s the moment most entrepreneurs understand the difference between “pretty pictures” and strategic brand photography . And it’s exactly why I once told a potential client no —a decision that might be even more important for your brand than for mine. The Consultation That Changed Everything Most people imagine a brand photography consultation filled with creative s

This month marks seven years  since I officially launched Julie M Gile Photography,  and to be honest, I still remember exactly how it felt. When I signed up for my first online gallery software at $19 a month, I cried. Not tears of joy, tears of fear. I was terrified I wouldn’t make it. That I’d cost my family more than I’d earn. That I’d spend too much time away from my kids for it to ever feel worth it. But somewhere between the fear and the faith, I decided to start anywa