Welcome to Say Cheese!—where we go beyond photography to uncover the journeys, lessons, and strategies behind the success of photographers, artists, creators, and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Lilly Red, a wedding photographer based in Lake Como, this podcast isn’t just about beautiful images—it’s about the why and the how behind every creative breakthrough.
Every week, we’ll dive into conversations with industry leaders and innovators, breaking down their biggest wins, their hardest lessons, and the strategies that got them there. You’ll hear raw stories about overcoming obstacles, building resilience, and creating work that doesn’t just look good but feels right.
This isn’t fluff—it’s actionable insights and real-world advice you can immediately apply to your creative business and personal growth. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, Say Cheese! is your go-to podcast for clarity, motivation, and practical tips.
Hit play, take notes, and let’s turn inspiration into action. 🚀
Monika Frías: Why True Creativity Means Breaking the Rules
Sometimes, the hardest thing as a creative isn’t learning the technical skills — it’s unlearning everything you were told about how life should look.
In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Monika Frías (@latxina) to talk about what it really means to be an artist in a world full of rules, expectations, and “programming.”
Monika shares her deeply personal journey of choosing freedom over formulas:
Leaving behind what didn’t serve her and starting fresh with just a suitcase
Why she refuses to let photography define who she is
How doing “too many things”, weddings, videography, DJing, planning, actually makes her more creative
The thrill of starting something new when you have no idea what you’re doing
And why skipping the “rules” can lead you closer to the kind of art — and life — you’ve always wanted
This episode is raw, real, and deeply relatable for any photographer or creative who’s ever felt stuck in someone else’s version of success.
If you’ve been questioning your path or craving the courage to create on your own terms — this conversation will light a fire in you.
27 Aug 2025
Our First 3 Months With a Baby as Photographers (The Honest Truth)
Becoming parents while running a full-time photography business has been the most life-changing (and honestly, challenging) chapter of our lives. In this episode of Say Cheese, we open up about everything from pregnancy struggles, birth stories, and postpartum recovery to what it really looks like balancing newborn life with destination weddings, editing, and building a business.
This isn’t a highlight reel, it’s the real, unfiltered truth about the transition from photographers to parents.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Our honest pregnancy + birth experience (including 60 hours of labor)
- How we prepared our photography business for time off
- Breastfeeding, pumping, and navigating postpartum recovery
- Balancing newborn life with wedding season
- What parenthood is teaching us about creativity, identity, and resilience
Timestamps
00:00 – Becoming parents while running a photography business
04:32 – Pregnancy struggles and birth story (60 hours of labor)
12:48 – Preparing our photography business for time off
19:55 – Postpartum recovery: breastfeeding, pumping, and healing
28:40 – Balancing newborn life with destination weddings
36:12 – Editing, travel, and sleep deprivation
45:30 – How parenthood shifts identity and creativity
52:47 – Lessons we’re taking into photography and life
If you’re a photographer, creative, or parent juggling business and family—you’ll relate to this one.
6 Aug 2025
Quiet Luxury, Creative Freedom, and the Honeymoon Mindset with Jeff (The Apartment Photo)
After nearly two decades as a wedding photographer, Jeff Chan (@theapartmentphoto) is rethinking everything — from how he books clients, to how he uses social media, to what authenticity actually means.
In this episode, hosted by Lilly Red (@elisabettalillyred), Jeff opens up about his decision to only take on “heck yes” weddings in 2025, why he’s obsessed with the idea of becoming a “SKU of one,” and how he’s reframing Instagram as a creative tool instead of a constant stressor.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to identify and book only the right clients for you
Why being a “SKU of one” is the ultimate business advantage
The surprising truth about authenticity on social media
How Instagram’s trial reels can reach the right audience
Why creating from abundance changes everything
🎧 Listen now and get inspired to build your photography business with more intention, creativity, and joy.
Links & Resources:
Jeff Chan – Instagram (https://instagram.com/theapartmentphoto)
Elisabetta Lilly Red – Instagram (https://instagram.com/elisabettalillyred)
Lilly Red Academy - https://lillyredacademy.com/
Book Recommendation – Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
709,142,219
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
43
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
60
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