Beyond the Mic: Photographing Rising Podcast Star Rita Richa
In this Chat with Clients, we talk with Jacksonville podcast strategist Rita Richa about branding, AI, and how Jacksonville branding headshots helped her build trust across platforms.
Hi, welcome to my series (last month was Paul Novak)where I discuss branding, marketing, and the images that bring it all together.
Recently on LinkedIn, I connected with someone doing really exciting work in the podcasting world—Rita Richa. She’s a podcast strategist and the founder of Bippity Bobbity Business (Reignite Media), and she helps her clients craft stories that connect. From tech and finance to healthcare and software, she works with B2B brands that don’t always get credit for being creative—and gives them a fresh voice through podcasting.
In our conversation, we talked about her path into this work, why she sought out new professional photos, and what makes a headshot actually work—not just for social media, but for branding that converts.
Here’s what she had to say.
From Classroom Talker to Creative Producer
Rita’s always been someone who talks. In the best way.
“I did a lot of acting, singing, dancing, music. I was really involved in drama,” she told me—stage-ready from the start.
“In pre-K, it’s funny though that my teacher always said, ‘Rita always talks a lot and I could see her being on the radio or whatever one day.’”
She didn’t end up on the radio—but she did turn talking into a career. After earning a full ride for music, life threw her a curve. Family needed her. She shifted from music to business, picked up every job under the sun, and eventually found herself building a podcast for someone else during the pandemic. That was the spark.
So she launched Bippity Boppity Business. Then her own company: Reignite Media.
“Strategist kind of is the term that I use because at the end of the day no matter what help they need with, the goal is to help make their content dreams come true and make stories happen.”
Not bad for someone who once got teased into deleting her YouTube channel. (Don’t worry—she regrets it too.)
Jacksonville Branding Headshots for LinkedIn & Media
When Rita first reached out, she wasn’t looking for a full brand shoot. Just a solid, professional photo for LinkedIn. Something current. Something clean.
Then Enterprise Magazine came calling.
“Initially I was thinking just, you know, only LinkedIn branding, because I do post a lot on LinkedIn. But kind of around the same time, that’s when the magazine opportunity happened. And I just kind of thought it was meant to be to focus on that as well too, because it looks great. And I love it so much and I’m so proud of it.”
So we mapped out a shoot that could handle both. Straightforward, flexible, nothing trendy that would look tired a year from now.
“You are clearly… you have a clear process and I can tell you’re very organized in what it is that you want to do. Like I thought it was awesome how you have this, you know, booking system and your personal branding is on point… I also had fun talking to you and we got to get creative and think about different ideas… So yeah, I felt like between the system and the ideation process and just the overall enjoyment of it all, I just decided, let’s do it, let’s try it. Why not?”
A Bit of Nerves, a Bit of Dog, a Lot of Good Light
Despite being on camera often for her own work, the photo studio setup caught her off guard.
“There’s a lot of equipment and it’s a little intimidating at first,” she said. “But you walked me through it, and it became fun.”
Once we started reviewing shots together, something clicked.
“It was cool seeing them in real time. It made me feel part of the process. I felt awkward at first—but the photos looked great. You made me look like I go to a facial spa every week.”
Also, the dog helped.
“The dog might’ve been what won me over.”
Fair.
Build Your Image Library with Jacksonville Branding Headshots
In her work producing podcasts and coaching business leaders, Rita sees a branding gap all the time. People launch a podcast or YouTube channel—and suddenly realize they’ve got no usable photos.
“As I’ve been launching podcasts for people, it’s actually a really big problem that people don’t have professional photos ready for when they want to, whether it’s a podcast or a YouTube channel… building your own kind of branded stock photo library that you can actually use for yourself is not only important statically—website, social, proposals—but also in video too.”
So what happens when that photo library’s missing?
“I have to find some random Karen-looking lady on the stock photo online and throw it in there and just cringe at it later because they didn’t have a photo of themselves or their team. That’s the worst.”
Our shoot gave her what she needed: images she can reuse for the web, her PR kit, even in client pitches.
“I’m going to be able to… eventually once I finally do make my website the way that it needs to look, like they could easily go on a website or, you know, if I have a PR kit, like if I need to send photos to a PR person for an article or something… I did that the other day. I made a sales proposal for somebody and I put my little podcast picture in there that you took.”
Yes, AI Headshots Are Cheap. But So Are Plastic Forks.
Rita didn’t hold back when I brought up AI-generated headshots. Sure, they’re everywhere. But she’s not sold—and for good reason.
“It looks fun. I see what you’re trying to do, but if I went to a networking event, would I actually know you? And at the end of the day, like you kind of want people to be able to recognize you. That’s the whole point.”
She summed it up best:
“Nothing replaces the human experience. And nothing replaces real work made in real life with a real person.”
You can’t fake connection. Not well, anyway.
Why Branding Headshots in Jacksonville Are Worth It
People put off getting professional photos for all sorts of reasons—cost, nerves, not feeling “ready.” Rita gets it. But she’s also clear:
“Stop thinking about it and do it. Your online presence matters more than ever… you’re going to need photos that reflect who you are.”
And if one of those photos ends up on a magazine cover? Even better.
Rita—thank you for the trust, the collaboration, and the behind-the-scenes banter. You made this one fun.
Let me know when you’re ready for the next round. I’ll bring the lens. You bring the microphone.
