622: Sara Monika – Outsourcing Smarter: The Real Key to Earning More and Working Less as a Photographer

PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

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Sara Monika of www.saramonika.com is a super-talented wedding photographer with over 13 years of experience and more than 350 weddings under her belt!

She has an awesome website that must truly connect with her ideal clients, thanks to both the beautifully written copy and gorgeous photography.

However, that is not why I've asked her for this interview.

In a recent interview with Pet Photographer extraordinaire Caitlin McColl, she shared that outsourcing has completely transformed her business and the way she lives her life.

That's when she dropped the name of today's guest. Caitlin told me Sara was the queen of outsourcing and helped her get that side of her business dialled.

That was enough for me, and here we are!

In this interview, Sara shares how to outsource smarter and learn the real key to earning more and working less as a photographer.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• How outsourcing helped Sara break the income ceiling and reclaim her life as a mum and creative
• The 3 unmistakable signs it’s time to outsource (and the hidden cost of ignoring them)
• From 15-hour days to part-time hours and six figures — how Sara redesigned her business model
• Why you don’t need to earn more to start outsourcing (and how waiting holds you back)
• Sara’s ethical approach to outsourcing editing to the Philippines — and how it creates a true win-win
• The hybrid system: how she combines AI with human editors to slash turnaround time
• A behind-the-scenes look at her workflow: from Lightroom to Google Drive with her VA and editor
• Why building a team isn’t a luxury — it’s a smart strategy for growth
• The numbers: how $4,300 in outsourcing saved her 669 hours — and what she did with that time
• How to attract reliable, values-aligned virtual assistants
• Why boredom, burnout and busywork are signals to outsource — not signs to “hustle harder”
• The critical mindset shift: why working smarter always beats working harder
• Sara’s bigger mission: creating freedom, peace and impact — for herself and other creatives
• How outsourcing gave her space for passion projects, family and teaching
• What most photographers misunderstand about outsourcing — and how to get it right from the start

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, special member-only interviews.

I'm such a nerd about numbers. And again, very open with numbers, because I don't think it's a taboo subject. Money is just a tool. It's just energy. And if we all just shared with each other, what is going on with our finances, we can all grow and support each other better. – Sara Monika

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

We don't get our time back, right? We can always make more money, but we can't get our time back. – Sara Monika

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Sara shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.

Either choose the thing that's taking up most of your time and outsource that first. So for me, that was editing or the thing that you despise and drains your energy the most. And just start with one of those. – Sara Monika

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Sara, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

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iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

In one year, I went from $69,000 in revenue and 15 wedding bookings to doubling that the following year. And I cut my working time in half because I had an editor. – Sara Monika

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

Forget about the platform. Forget where you're sourcing the person that you're trying to find. It's all about knowing how to have magnetic hiring, create magnetic hiring, and understand how to really express what you're looking for, to even know what you're looking for, how to effectively interview them, how to look through applications efficiently, because sometimes you can get, 100 applications, and I have a whole system down where it takes me an hour, and I have my three candidates chosen, and I can see the red flags. I can see the potential. It's about really understanding what will make your choice successful. – Sara Monika

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Sara Monika Website

The 3-Hour Post Wedding Workflow Checklist

Sara Monika on Instagram

Sara Monika on YouTube

Sara Monika Shine + Thrive Photography Podcast

Episode 606: Caitlin McColl – From Postpartum Depression to Rebuilding a Thriving Photography Business

OnlineJobs.ph

It's normal for performance to go up and down, but it all depends on how you train someone and how you effectively communicate, and that's all part of the outsourcing made easy method that I have, so a huge part of it is effective communication. – Sara Monika

Thank you!

Massive thanks to Sara for sharing so openly in this episode. It’s always refreshing to hear from someone who’s built success on their terms — not just for profit, but for peace of mind, freedom and creativity. I hope her story sparks something for you — whether it’s letting go of busywork, finding support, or rethinking what growth really looks like in your business.

The more photographers that feel abundant in their time, in their energy, their money, the more they will feel at peace with their welbeing, their family and friends and this gives me chills and makes me emotional. But the more there is peace in the home, around finances, around quality time, the more peace there is in our homes, the more peace there is in the entire world. – Sara Monika

That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

The post 622: Sara Monika – Outsourcing Smarter: The Real Key to Earning More and Working Less as a Photographer appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.