@Mark Motichek is a volume photographer based out of Alexandria Louisiana. He runs his volume business with his wife Heather a true power couple.

What do you do when you book so many sessions that you have no time to actually sit in the studio and get them ready for your clients? I’ll be honest — this is something I still struggle with. I can generate the sessions. But sometimes I become the bottleneck when it comes to portrait production. Right now I’m: • Waking up earlier to get quiet work done • Chipping away at edits throughout the day whenever I get a free minute • Working toward building stronger SOPs so other people can help carry the load Because at some point, growth requires structure. I don’t want to slow down bookings… but I also don’t want delayed delivery. So let me ask you — What are your best practices when production starts stacking up? How do you prevent yourself from becoming the bottleneck? Are you outsourcing? Systemizing? Blocking days differently? Drop your thoughts below. Let’s sharpen each other before spring hits.

How are you implementing or fleeing AI in your life and business?

Just a quick heads up I dropped my GotPhoto trade show booth talk into the Course section. It’s the session where I break down how I’m using one light to create creative images for clients. Real-world setup. Nothing fancy. Just how I’m thinking through it and making it work. If you’ve ever felt like you needed more gear to get better results, this one will help you slow down and really see what one light can do. It’s in there. Go watch it when you get a minute and pull something from it you can use.

I officially survived Mardi Gras season. If you’re in South Louisiana, you already know what that means. It was a full sprint — pageants, balls, royalty portraits, on-site printing — and now we’re wrapping up the final wave of preorder fulfillments. It was intense, but it sharpened the systems and the team like always. Right after Mardi Gras, Miller’s had me represent them at SYNC in the Sync Lounge doing live demos. It was a fantastic experience. I was able to help a lot of photographers in real time — breaking down lighting setups, workflow, and practical tools they can actually use in their businesses. Huge thank you to Denny Manufacturing for supplying the backgrounds and Westcott for providing the lighting. We had a strong setup and it showed. Because of that relationship, we now have special community pricing available specifically for Westcott gear. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your lighting or adding to your kit, just let me know you’re interested and I’ll send you the details. We also have something coming soon with Cheetah Stand — more on that shortly. As for workshops: • Next stop: Pineville, Louisiana • After that: North Greater Houston area with Westcott at Precision Camera - The Woodlands Store Momentum is building. More access. More opportunity. More growth for all of us.