I just had one of the best conversations I’ve had in months.
Mary Bartnikowski is an award-winning photographer with 40 years in the business. She’s photographed wild rhinos in Africa, the Dalai Lama in India, and 725 weddings in Silicon Valley.
She’s had 11 solo exhibitions. Led photography programs at Apple, Stanford, and Intel. And now runs photography retreats in Paris and Sicily.
When I invited her on the podcast, I thought we’d talk about photography.
Instead, we talked about building a business that lasts 40 years.
Not hacks. Not trends. Not “go viral” strategies.
Real business fundamentals that work for decades.
We covered:
✅ How to price yourself when you’re just starting vs. when you’re established
✅ Why teaching became her most profitable revenue stream
✅ The mindset shift from “doing the work” to “building the business”
✅ How she transitioned from client work to leading retreats worldwide
✅ What she wishes she knew in Year 1 (that would have saved her 10 years)
This conversation is for anyone building a creative business—whether you’re a photographer, writer, designer, or creator.
Mary’s been doing this longer than most of us have been alive.
And she’s generous with what she’s learned.
Want to connect with Mary?
Check out her work and offerings:
📸 Photo Gallery: bartnikowski.smugmug.com
📞 Book a 1:1 Call with Mary: calendly.com/marybartnikowski
🎓 Mary’s Teaching Community: skool.com/mary-bartnikowski-4424
⭐ See her teaching reviews: Airbnb Experiences
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