Patrick Fore of www.terriblephotographer.com  and www.patrickfore.com is a San Diego-based commercial photographer and creative director with over 15 years of experience in graphic design and photography.

His work is first-rate! He is seriously, a fantastic photographer.

Beyond his impressive portfolio, Patrick is also the author of Lessons from a Terrible Photographer and hosts the Terrible Photographer Podcast.

It wasn't his photography that first caught my attention, though. It was an email from PhotoBizX Member and photographer, Ben Shakespeare, who wrote…

Hi Andrew,

I've been listening to something and was compelled to email you.

Sometimes you hear something that really strikes you – 99% of the time so far that's come from your podcast, but just before I headed away on holiday (after a really intense 2025 so far) I found the Terrible Photographer's podcast.

As someone who had been at the limit of what was physically possible in my business, it was exactly what I needed to hear. I'm not sure if you'd feel it would be right for Photobizx in terms of business growth, but I've been back and listened to every episode twice, such was the impact it's had on me.

That was enough for me to go searching and I'm rapt to say in this interview, Patrick shares the brutal truth about photography business, boundaries, and burnout.

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

• From Grammy winners to hair stylists — how chasing the “dream job” nearly broke Patrick.
• The burnout signs too many photographers ignore — and how he pulled himself back.
• Walking away from a six-figure salary — and earning more by putting life first.
• Boundaries that protect your business, creativity… and your sanity.
• The photography industry’s harsh reality — beyond the Instagram gloss.
• How smart SEO brought a flood of clients from a standing start.
• When free work works — building a portfolio that attracts the right people.
• The art–business balancing act: earning well without losing your voice.
• Why personal projects aren’t optional — they’re the fuel that keeps you shooting.
• Working with art directors without losing creative control.
• The emotional toll of unpaid invoices — and how to protect yourself.
• How honesty about the hard stuff makes your work (and relationships) stronger.
• Keeping momentum during slow seasons with goals, structure, and movement.
• Burnout, self-doubt, and therapy — why talking about it makes you a better photographer.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Patrick 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, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the member's FB Group. What are your takeaways? What do you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode?

I think in my criticism of a lot of the photography education and content out there is they make it sound awesome, right? They're like, ‘Build your business in four easy steps,' right? And it's like, ‘Oh my gosh.' It's like, if it was only that easy, right? – Patrick Fore

If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Patrick or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to comment inside the Members FB Group, too.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

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

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

When you're constantly feeling like you don't have any power in the relationship between you and the craft, that's when burnout happens… that's when it becomes like, ‘Man, I'm not getting any enjoyment out of this. It's just work. There's no fun in it anymore. I'm not growing.' – Patrick Fore

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

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 both 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.

No matter what I'm shooting, I'm always looking for ways that I can put my spin on it, and sometimes that just might be, like, shooting outside of scope on purpose. – Patrick Fore

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.

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

The Terrible Photographer Website

The Terrible Photographer Podcast

Patrick Fore Website

Patrick Fore on Facebook

Patrick Fore on Instagram

Ben Shakespeare – Islay Professional Photography

For me, I always need to keep working, you know? So I need to either be shooting or doing something else, right? I need to feel productive. So for me, it's like setting objectives, setting goals. So it's setting clear, actionable things to do, so you feel like you're not just sitting idly by waiting for a phone call to happen. – Patrick Fore

Thank you!

Big thanks to Patrick for being so open in this episode. It’s not often you hear someone pull back the curtain on the real pressures of the photography industry — burnout, boundaries, self-doubt, and all — and still walk away with more clarity, freedom, and success. From leaving a six-figure salary to building a business that fits his life (not the other way around), to using SEO, personal projects, and honest conversations to fuel his work… there’s plenty here to get you thinking about how you run your own business. I’d love to hear what resonates and hits home for you.

Also, a big shout-out to Islay whiskey photographer Ben Shakespear, who suggested and recommended Patrick for this interview. Thanks Ben!

It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to fuck up. It's okay to take a step back. It's okay to question yourself. It's okay to, like, question if you're good or not. It's okay to want to quit, right? Or think about quitting. You know, that's all normal. – Patrick Fore

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 PBX629: Patrick Fore – The Brutal Truth About Photography Business, Boundaries, and Burnout appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.