How a Bad Vacation Selfie and a Pawned Engagement Ring Took Flytographer from Side Hustle to Eight-Figures

In this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Nicole Smith, the visionary founder of Flytographer — the world’s first global vacation photography platform. What started as a creative side hustle after a weekend in Paris with her best friend has grown into an eight-figure, profitable business that spans over 350 destinations and has helped over 100,000 travelers capture meaningful moments across the globe. Nicole shares how she went from working full-time at Microsoft with no entrepreneurial background to launching Flytographer in 2013 with 18 photographers in 18 cities. She has since grown the brand and the company, which has put more than $30 million into the pockets of local creatives worldwide. She opens up about trusting the whisper of an idea, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why your next best business idea might just be hiding in plain sight. Whether you’re a founder, creative, or travel enthusiast, Nicole’s story is full of heart, hustle, and takeaways that will inspire you to follow that spark — no matter your age or experience. Connect with Nicole: Company: Flytographer Website - Link @flytographer on all socials Personal: LinkedIn - Link Instagram: @flytographerfounder Thank you to this week's sponsors! Lodgify: ⁠https://www.lodgify.com/?afmc=28y⁠ Use code SUITE20 for 20% off all annual plans Flytographer Visit ⁠⁠flytographer.com/SuiteSuccess⁠⁠ for $25 off your first shoot! FeedCheck Visit ⁠FeedCheck.co/SuiteSuccess⁠ to book a demo! Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠Link⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠Link⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠Link⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠  — Suite Success is part of the ⁠⁠Hospitality.FM⁠⁠ podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM! Thank you to all of the ⁠⁠Hospitality.⁠⁠FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

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Welcome to Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality, a Skift Podcast, where we unlock the secrets behind the world's most successful hotel and hospitality brands. Hosted by industry expert Katie Cline, each episode features exclusive interviews with top executives, seasoned leaders, and trailblazing innovators in the hospitality world. Together, they reveal the strategies that drive guest loyalty, enhance customer experiences, and set their brands apart in a competitive market. Whether you’re a seasoned hospitality professional or aspiring to break into the industry, Katie will distill each conversation into actionable steps that you can implement in your own business. Tune in weekly to elevate your hospitality game and achieve your own 'suite' success.