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You can put a famous face next to a brand and still end up with marketing that goes nowhere. What actually moves people is trust, specificity, and a story that feels human, especially in the photo imaging industry where the product is memory, emotion, and identity.

Gary Pageau sits down with Katherine Tuominen from Catalyst Brand Strategy to unpack ethical marketing in a practical way: serving the customer’s needs, avoiding misleading edits or “Franken-grabbing,” and building a message you can repeat without sounding robotic. We get concrete about brand storytelling, from finding the turning point that sparked the business to adding the gritty details that make someone say, “I’ve been there.” Tuominen shares how to keep your core narrative consistent while refreshing it with timely lenses like AI, anniversaries, and local moments.

We also talk photography business marketing beyond discounts, including how to sell the value of photo printing, photo books, wall art, and prints by leaning into tactile, analog appeal. If you’re thinking about in person events, we break down “event activations,” strategic partnerships, sponsors, and how to track ROI with QR codes, UTMs, email nurture campaigns, and clear objectives. Wrap it all with a hard truth for small business owners: growth often requires saying no and focusing on what actually moves the needle.

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Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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The Dead Pixels Society Podcast host Gary Pageau interviews Julia Bocchese of Julia Renee Consulting, an SEO, AI search, and Pinterest consultant in Philadelphia, about how she shifted from corporate publishing and a travel photography site (plus a Viking Age history master’s) into nine years of SEO and Pinterest work. She explains Pinterest is closer to Google than social media because it’s a visual search and discovery engine designed to drive users off-platform to websites, supporting long-term traffic and conversions rather than follower-based engagement. They discuss Pinterest’s focus on user-requested features like hiding AI-generated content, improving on-platform shopping, and an ad model aligned with search intent where ads can be saved and keep driving traffic after spend stops. Bokeyze recommends testing multiple content types over 3–6 months, linking pins directly to relevant website pages, using captions for muted video, and optimizing site speed, UX, and calls-to-action. She highlights Pinterest Trends, seasonal posting 3–6 months ahead, demographics (about 70% women, strong 30–50), and limitations for analytics with third-party sites like Etsy.

Energize your sales with Shareme.chat, the proven texting platform.

ShareMe.Chat
ShareMe.Chat platform uses chat-to-text on your website to keep your customers connected and buying!

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser.

Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details.

Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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The Dead Pixels Society host Gary Pageau interviews sports photographer Kirby Lee of USA Today Sports about his path from an electrical engineering student to covering major events including the NFL, Olympics, and upcoming FIFA World Cup matches in Los Angeles. Lee explains how a beginning photography class and constant shooting of high school sports led to newspaper work at the LA Times as a writer, then a shift toward photography, with his writing background improving his ability to anticipate storylines and caption images. He discusses transitioning from film to digital around 2003, joining WireImage, and the demanding preparation, gear, remotes, and selective shooting required for pro sports. Lee recounts an accidental iconic NFC Championship photo and describes Olympic pressure, including a 2008 100m final where his camera buffered due to memory card speed, emphasizing equipment reliability.

Energize your sales with Shareme.chat, the proven texting platform.

ShareMe.Chat
ShareMe.Chat platform uses chat-to-text on your website to keep your customers connected and buying!

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser.

Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details.

Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning