I want to tell you a story.

It’s about a man who swapped hospital scrubs for film rolls, night shifts for golden-hour sessions, and built a life on his own terms… one frame at a time.

Meet Cooper Brady – the heart and soul behind Cooper Brady Photography, a Queensland-based wedding photographer now featured in the iconic Hello May Magazine. He’s also one of the most honest, grounded, and quietly powerful creatives I’ve had the privilege of mentoring inside the Six-Figure Business Map.

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

Cooper started like many do… loving the camera, slowly leaning into photography, testing different genres before landing on weddings. At the time he joined the Business Map, he was still a registered nurse, running his photography business part-time, balancing it with fatherhood, marriage, and long shifts at the hospital.

He told me something that stuck: “The sustainability and business side has been the hardest and most rewarding part.” And I think a lot of photographers can relate to that. It’s not just about taking beautiful images, it’s about building a business that doesn’t burn you out. A business that gives you life.

When Cooper joined the Six-Figure Business Map, he didn’t need more gear or more presets. He needed structure. Guidance. Someone to help him see the order of things—what to focus on, where to spend, and what to stop worrying about.

The Turning Point

In the program, we dug deep into two things:

1. Numbers – Cooper took a hard look at both what he was charging and what he was spending. He used the same spreadsheet we give all our Business Map students—and he actually used it. The clarity that gave him around pricing, costs, and business decisions? Game-changing.
2. Identity – Not just who he was behind the lens, but who he wanted to be outside of business. We talked about 5-year goals. Life design. The kind of father and husband he wanted to be. The kind of creative legacy he wanted to build.

As he says: “I slowly identified what my style is, and who it appeals to.”

He went from earning around $20K a year to over $150K gross. And not just that, he built a sustainable business that feels aligned with who he is.

“All those podcasts and modules have slowly added up to get me where I am today—a sustainable wedding photography biz that is 100% true to who I am and allows me to live my life my way.”

That’s the win.

The Secret Sauce? Honesty + Fun

When I asked him about the most valuable insight he got from the Business Map, he paused. Then said something that I think every creative entrepreneur needs to hear:

“Honestly just the reminder to be yourself and have fun. I’m transparent and honest and my clients appreciate it. It kickstarts the trust, which ripples through the entire process—better images, more word of mouth, happier people.”

He shows up as himself, and that authenticity pours through every reel, every client message, every review on his feed. Just check out @cooperbradyphotog. His Instagram is full of heart, realness, and some bloody good social proof. He’s built trust and momentum by showing up consistently, creating community, and letting his work speak loud and clear.

Cooper isn’t just growing a business… he’s building a life. One where freedom, creativity, and connection take center stage.

And that’s what the Six-Figure Business Map is all about.

If you ever needed proof that it’s possible to go from part-time creative to full-time, aligned, and thriving… let this be it.

I’m proud of you, Cooper.

Here’s to the next chapter.