Passion With Purpose - Photography Podcast, Creative Business, Six Figure Photographer

His health battle nearly killed him. He's now a 6-Fig Photographer.

What do you do when a health crisis takes over your business and more importantly - nearly your whole life?Eric Hillestad was 25 years old when his lungs began filling with blood.Doctors eventually placed him on ECMO — the most advanced life support available.Many people don’t survive it.Eric did.After weeks in the hospital, he had to relearn how to walk, breathe, and speak. He missed months of his newborn daughter’s life. Doctors told his family to prepare for the worst.But Eric’s story didn’t end there.Today he’s a wedding photographer, a father, and a Business Blueprint student who rebuilt his life — and his business — from the ground up.In this episode we talk about:• surviving a near-death medical crisis• rebuilding life and work after trauma• faith in the middle of fear• why his photography now carries a completely different meaning• and how he turned a struggling business into something sustainable for his familyEric’s story is raw, powerful, and deeply faith-filled.You’re not going to forget this one.⭐️Nathan’s Signature Coaching Program:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⭐️Questions about the Business Blueprint? Email info@nathanchanski.co to chat with Nathan directly.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my FREE Inquiry Email Response Template HERE.⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Nathan on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nathanchanski⁠⁠Follow Eric on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erik.hillestad.photo/Eric's Website : https://erikhillestadphoto.com/

How to get BETTER inquiries, using Meta Ads. (with Peyton Helm)

Peyton Helm (Meta Ads WIZARD) and I getting real about what’s changing in the wedding industry in 2026.If you’ve noticed more ghosting, more hesitation, tighter budgets, and a whole lot more “shopping around”… you’re not crazy. Peyton breaks down what he’s seeing across hundreds of photographers and filmmakers — and what to do about it.We talk about the shift toward trust + transparency, how to stop attracting tire kickers, and the behind-the-scenes funnel changes that can make inquiries feel way more “ready to book.”If you want more consistent, higher-quality leads in 2026 — this episode will help you adapt fast.What we coverWhy the $3–4k market is getting squeezed (and what’s rising instead)Gen Z’s demand for transparency (especially pricing)Where to show price without killing your ability to sellHow to qualify leads before you waste time on callsRunning ads vs. referrals vs. organic — and what each is best forThe “backend selling” strategy that increases show-up + close ratesConfirmation pages, video, and pre-framing (so calls aren’t uphill battles)⭐️Nathan’s Signature Coaching Program:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⭐️Questions about the Business Blueprint? Email info@nathanchanski.co to chat with Nathan directly.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my FREE Inquiry Email Response Template HERE.⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO RATE & REVIEW THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Click the link, scroll down to where it says “Ratings & Reviews” and click the small link that says “Write a Review”)Follow Nathan on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nathanchanski⁠⁠Peyton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peytonhelm/Work with Peyton: https://fulltimeweddingpro.com/

When the world feels dark, create anyway.

If you’ve felt heavy lately… distracted… angry… stuck in the scroll - you’re not alone.But what if the world doesn’t need more consumers right now? What if it needs CREATORS?In this episode, I share why some of history’s greatest artists created their most meaningful work in the middle of chaos, and why your small, everyday work might matter more than you think.Put the phone down. Pick the work back up. Create.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the noise, this is for you.⭐️Nathan’s Signature Coaching Program:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⭐️Questions about the Business Blueprint? Email info@nathanchanski.co to chat with Nathan directly.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my FREE Inquiry Email Response Template HERE.⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO RATE & REVIEW THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Click the link, scroll down to where it says “Ratings & Reviews” and click the small link that says “Write a Review”)Follow Nathan on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nathanchanski⁠⁠

She almost quit. Then she doubled her income. (Student Story with Olivia Tarkowski)

"I’m giving myself one more year… and if by the start of 2026 this is still literally going nowhere… maybe this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing."That's what Olivia Tarkowski (today's guest) said to her husband in January of 2025.Good grief did her story take a turn!Today, I'm joined by Business Blueprint student named Olivia, a wedding photographer who went from struggling to book consistently (she floated the idea of quitting at one point!) — to closing her books, doubling her income, and hitting 70–80% booking rates in just a few months. ...oh and then she hit $100k in 2025. We talk candidly about leaving corporate, walking through uncertainty, rebuilding her brand, and what changed when she finally surrendered control of her business to God.Her story is a real life story of faith, persistence, and breakthrough.If you’re in a slow season, questioning your calling, or wondering if this business can actually work — this episode is for you.⭐️Nathan’s Signature Coaching Program:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⭐️Questions about the Business Blueprint? Email info@nathanchanski.co to chat with Nathan directly.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my FREE Inquiry Email Response Template HERE.⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO RATE & REVIEW THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Click the link, scroll down to where it says “Ratings & Reviews” and click the small link that says “Write a Review”)Follow Nathan on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nathanchanski⁠⁠Follow Olivia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviatarkowskiphoto/Her website: https://oliviatarkowskiphoto.com/

How this Photo/Video duo went from burnout to $200K. (Business Blueprint Student Interview)

Today I’m sitting down with Josh and Lily of McKinley Made Photo & Film(Wedding Photographer and Videographer team), Business Blueprint students who went from being overworked, underpriced, and stretched thin — to breaking $200K in a year as a photo + video duo.We talk honestly about what actually changed: raising prices, refining their client experience, rebuilding confidence, investing before it felt comfortable, and trusting God through the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.No theory. No hype. Just a behind-the-scenes look at what growth really looked like for them.If you want proof that change is possible — this episode delivers.What We Cover:Why booking more weddings wasn’t the answer — and what wasHow they raised prices (and didn’t lose momentum)Booking their highest package ever right after relaunchingThe mindset shift that unlocked better clientsGoing from survival mode to structure + clarityBuilding a photo + video duo business without burning outInvesting in your business when it feels riskyHow faith played a role in navigating uncertaintyWhat they’d tell their past selves before making the leap⭐️Nathan’s Signature Coaching Program:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⭐️Questions about the Business Blueprint? Email info@nathanchanski.co to chat with Nathan directly.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my FREE Inquiry Email Response Template HERE.⁠📄⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO RATE & REVIEW THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Click the link, scroll down to where it says “Ratings & Reviews” and click the small link that says “Write a Review”)Follow Nathan on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nathanchanski⁠⁠Follow McKinley Made on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themckinleymade/Their website: https://www.themckinleymade.com/