Reflections on Public Speaking and Portrait Photography: My First Talk Show Experience

Overcoming Fears and Embracing Opportunities: My Journey as a Speaker

I’ve got a little secret to share: public speaking? Not exactly my strong suit. In fact, it’s something I’ve always struggled with.

But here’s the thing—life (and God) has a funny way of pushing us outside our comfort zones. Recently, I’ve been given more opportunities to confront my fear of public speaking. And while I won’t pretend I jump at every chance, the ones I’ve said “yes” to have been truly rewarding. Each experience has helped me grow, step by step. I’m learning to communicate more directly and with purpose, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement before I feel like an “efficient” public speaker.

Janet Garcia Photography at a 101 Referral Network meeting

With that in mind, I’m excited (and slightly nervous!) to share that I was invited to appear on The Spotlight Business Owner Talk Show with Bryan Newman! Fun fact: Bryan also leads an amazing networking group in the Phoenix Valley called the 101 Referral Network. If you’re looking for a fantastic community of local businesses and entrepreneurs, I highly recommend checking them out. You can even join us by visiting the group on Facebook - click here.

Back to the show—during the podcast, I got to talk about something I’m incredibly passionate about: my boutique portrait photography business. It’s always a joy to share why I love what I do and why I think you should consider hiring me for your next portrait session!

So without further ado, scroll down and watch the video! I hope you enjoy listening to my story, and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Thank you for joining me on this journey—both in photography and in my quest to become a better speaker!

Reflections and Takeaways from the Talk Show

After the talk show wrapped up, I took a moment to reflect on my performance—how I answered Bryan’s questions and how I could improve.

Janet Garcia with Bryan Newman on the talk show, sharing insights about my photography business.

Here are the top four insights I gained and what I plan to work on for both my business and public speaking:

Defining My Ideal Client

When Bryan asked about my ideal client, I panicked and gave a quick, off-the-cuff answer. I’ve thought about it before but hadn’t really narrowed it down. Moving forward, I need to clarify who my ideal client is. I know she’s a mom, married, and loves capturing moments with her three kids. But defining her more precisely will help me tailor my approach and connect more effectively.

Speaking with Confidence and Passion

I’m very aware of my accent and sometimes worry that it affects how well people understand me. However, I realized that my accent is not as big of a barrier as I thought. What really matters is speaking with confidence and passion. I need to embrace my accent, shed the nerves, and convey my love for creating beautiful photographic artwork that my clients cherish.

Engaging in Real-Time Conversations

During the show, I noticed I was often so focused on preparing my next response that I wasn’t fully engaging with Bryan’s comments. My anxiety led me to react instead of truly listening. To improve, I need to be more present in conversations, actively listening and responding to what’s being said. This will come with more practice and mindfulness.

Guiding the Conversation Smoothly

Although the talk show was Bryan’s platform, I realized the importance of guiding the conversation, especially when discussing my business. I need to practice steering the dialogue to highlight what makes my portrait photography special and create an engaging narrative around it.

Reflecting on these points has been incredibly valuable, and I’m excited to work on them.

Thanks for joining me on this journey, and I hope my experiences resonate with you in some way!