Motherhood Anthology: Photography Education for a Business You Love
Published by Kim Box from the Motherhood Anthology
Arts
Business
Visual Arts
Entrepreneurship
Welcome to The Motherhood Anthology podcast: photography education to create a business you love. This podcast will serve as an invaluable resource to guide you in the world of motherhood photography and owning your own successful photography business. Tune in weekly to hear from us and some of our most admired friends and colleagues as we share some of our greatest tools, how-tos, successes, failures, and everything in between.
Standing out as a photographer isn't about being better than everyone else. It's about being the only. In this best-of episode, Kim pulls four conversations from the archive that together answer the question we hear more than almost any other: why should a client choose you specifically? With insights from Jen Olmstead, Anna Claire Collier, Annemie Tonkin, and Suzanne Brown, this episode gives you a working framework for positioning, niche, and brand in a market where beautiful work is everywhere. In This Episode Why "be the only, not the best" changes how you think about your brand How an entirely new photography niche was built from nothing Why staying relevant means noticing that trends never stop shifting What actually creates value for clients beyond a pretty picture How your own passions and personality become the thing that draws in your people If you've been listening and thinking, "I want to figure out what makes me the only," that's exactly the work we do inside The Motherhood Anthology membership, with monthly featured educators, live coaching calls, and a community of photographers working through the same questions you are. Enrollment is open now at themotherhoodanthology.com. Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 182: Newborn Photography Secrets from the OG: Pricing, Slow Seasons, and Baby-Led Sessions with Danielle Hobbs
What do you do when business is slower than last year and your first instinct is to slash your prices? In this episode, Kim sits down with Danielle Hobbs, TMA's featured mentor for July and a veteran newborn photographer who has rebuilt her business from scratch multiple times as a military spouse. Danielle shares the honest, grounded perspective that only comes from nearly two decades behind the camera. In This Episode: Why lowering your prices is rarely the answer in a slow season, and what to do instead Creative pricing strategies like entry-point collections and a "secret menu" back pocket offer How Danielle structures the first 15 minutes of a newborn session for calm, unhurried success Why lighting matters more than posing, and the case for baby-led sessions What it really takes to rebuild a client base in a brand new city The business decision that had the biggest impact on Danielle's success: shooting only what she loves Whether you're navigating a slower year or building your newborn portfolio from the ground up, this conversation is a reminder that sustainable success is a long game built one client at a time. Danielle is TMA's featured mentor this July, and enrollment is open now. Join us inside the membership to see her brand new unfiltered behind-the-scenes session with a mom, two toddlers, and a newborn: https://themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/ Connect with Danielle: Website: https://www.daniellehobbsphotography.com Instagram: @daniellehobbsphotography Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 181: How to Get Repeat Photography Clients
Repeat clients are what turn a photography business into something you can plan around, with families you photograph for years and a calendar that partly fills itself. In this best-of episode, Kim pulls four conversations from the archive that together map out how photographers build that kind of predictable, relationship-driven income. In This Episode Why baby plans solve real problems for families and how one photographer pitches a three-session plan that replaced her wedding income How a mini membership keeps past clients in the fold when they've priced out of full sessions Why noticing, remembering, and honoring the people in your community is the heart of lasting client relationships The simple practice of reaching out to past clients with no agenda and how it leads to families who return for over a decade How predictable, repeat income changes the way you plan your business year Whether you're building your first baby plan or rethinking how you stay connected to past clients, these four conversations offer a complete picture of retention done with heart. Enrollment in The Motherhood Anthology Membership is open right now, with 15 mentors, a new featured educator each month, live coaching calls, and nearly 800 photographers talking about this work every day. Head to themotherhoodanthology.com to join us. Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 180: How to Attract High-End Photography Clients
A high-end client is not a zip code or an income bracket. She is someone who values photography, is willing to invest in you and your art, and she exists in your market right now. In this best-of episode, five conversations from the archive come together to answer one of the most-asked questions in our community: how do you actually attract luxury clients? In This Episode Why luxury is not a price tag, but what happens when your language, standards, client experience, and quality of work all line up in the same direction Ashlyn Carter's framework for finding your "onlyness," the differentiation that makes you the only choice in a market full of beautiful work Sean Low's reframe for the moment a prospect compares you to a $500 photographer, and why refusing to legitimize a business that is not yours changes the whole conversation Cassia Fletcher on identifying the clients who feel like friends instead of work, getting out into your community to find them, and letting go of the ones who are not yours Brittany Barb's pre-appointment mindset ritual and the confidence shift that took her from $500 all-inclusive sessions to her first $4,000 sale Elizabeth Messina on why the quality of your work is the foundation everything else is built on, and what it takes to create a business with real longevity Heard together, these five voices offer a complete picture of the mindset shift behind upmarket positioning. If you have been wondering whether high-end clients are available to you, this episode will show you they are, and exactly where to start. Enrollment in The Motherhood Anthology Membership is open right now, with 15 mentors, a new featured educator each month, live coaching calls, and nearly 800 photographers talking about this work every day. Head to themotherhoodanthology.com to join us. Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 179: How to Increase Your Photography Sales
Selling is the moment where everything you have built comes together. Your pricing, your client experience, your products, and your belief in your own work all show up in a single conversation with a client. In this best-of episode, we pull four conversations from the archives, each offering a different layer of what it takes to sell more of your artwork, albums, and wall art with confidence and integrity. In This Episode Why selling artwork starts with a mindset shift, not a sales script How a la carte pricing can remove the ceiling on what you earn The power of a virtual ordering appointment for serving clients well Why holding your own work in print changes the way you sell it How a simple, low-pressure question opens the sales conversation Why investing in your own education is the line item that compounds The long game: building sales skills one intentional step at a time Heard back to back, these four voices make a strong case that selling is not a personality trait you either have or you don't. It is a natural extension of the work, something that flows from confidence, process, and the right tools. A profitable, fulfilling photography business is built on serving your clients well and standing behind the value of what you create. The pricing and sales work in this episode is exactly what we go deep on inside the membership every month, with a new featured educator, live coaching calls, a community of a few hundred photographers working through the same questions you are, plus a monthly marketing suite of ready-to-go templates, newsletter copy, and social captions. Enrollment is open right now for a short window. If today lit something up in you, head over to themotherhoodanthology.com and join us. Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Website: themotherhoodanthology.com Instagram: @themotherhoodanthology Facebook: The Motherhood Anthology Community Join the Membership: themotherhoodanthology.com
Episode 178: How Much Should You Charge For Photography? (Part 2)
Pricing comes up in our community more than almost anything else, in the coaching calls, in the DMs, in the late-night worries. The reason is simple: pricing touches everything. Your confidence, your client experience, your time with your family, your ability to keep this business going for the long haul. For this best-of episode, we pulled five conversations from the Season 5 archive that, side by side, give you a complete picture of how to think about what you charge. In This Episode: The four pricing tiers and what each one actually requires, so you can build a business that fits the photographer you want to be What "enough" really means for your life, and why naming your freedom figure is the thing that lets you breathe Why raising your prices is never enough on its own, and the client experience work that has to hold the new number up How to say your prices out loud with confidence and move past the money blocks that keep so many of us quiet What a full pricing transformation looks like from the inside, twelve months in, including what finally moved the needle Pricing isn't just a number on your website. It's the thing that gives you room to do your best work and the thing that gives you your life back. Whether you're staring down a price increase or just tired of guessing, these five conversations are your reality check and your permission slip, all at once. Each of these women is connected to TMA in some way, whether as a mentor, a featured educator, a coaching week guest, or a member who let us walk alongside their transformation. If these conversations leave you wanting to be in the room where this work happens between episodes, this is your invitation. Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: themotherhoodanthology.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 177: How the Right Clients Find You (The Marketing Curriculum)
Marketing is the topic photographers ask about more than any other, and for good reason: you can have beautiful work, smart pricing, and a solid business model, but none of it matters if the right clients can't find you. For this best-of episode, we pulled six conversations from the Season 5 archive that, side by side, read like a complete marketing curriculum. Together they offer a clear, practical answer to the question underneath so many late-night worries: how do I get seen by the people I actually want to work with? In This Episode: Why scattered, inconsistent marketing falls flat, and the framework that gives you something strategic to start from Foundational tactics for building visibility from scratch, whether you're in a new town, a new niche, or a quiet season A "be seen" approach to putting yourself in front of the right people with simple, tangible actions Why email is a relationship tool, not just a sales tool, and the cadence that gives you permission to show up consistently The deliverability mechanics behind every email, and why quality of audience beats vanity metrics every time The throughline across all six conversations: your story is the one thing no one, and no AI, can replicate Each of these educators is part of TMA in some way, whether as a mentor, a featured educator, or a guest who shaped how the community thinks about this work. If these conversations leave you wanting a marketing system like the ones you heard, and the room where that work happens between episodes, this is your invitation. Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: themotherhoodanthology.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 176: How Much Should You Charge For Photography? (A Pricing Reality Check)
It's been a hard year for a lot of photographers, and so many of the questions keep circling back to the same quiet worry: how much should I actually be charging? For this best-of episode, we pulled together some of the wisest voices from the TMA community to answer the question almost every photographer wrestles with at 2 a.m. Together, these conversations offer an honest pricing reality check, one that goes well beyond the number on your website. In This Episode: Why undercharging quietly hurts both you and your clients, and why losing the wrong clients is actually the point How to find your "enough number" and reverse engineer it with simple math, no finance background required The real reason a bigger price tag alone won't fix your bookings, and what has to change behind the price How standing apart as an artist makes confident pricing so much easier The throughline across every conversation: pricing isn't just a number, it's what gives you room to do your best work and get your life back Each of these women is part of TMA in some way, whether as a mentor, a featured educator, or a member who pushed through the fear and came out the other side booking better than ever. If these conversations leave you wanting to be in the room where the work happens between episodes, this is your invitation. Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: themotherhoodanthology.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 175: Building a Business That Holds: The Pricing, Positioning, and Visibility Conversations You Loved Most This Season
It's been a hard year for a lot of photographers, and the questions keep coming back to the same place: how do you build something steady enough to weather the slow seasons? For this best-of episode, we revisited the four conversations from Season 5 that resonated most deeply with the TMA community, the ones that kept showing up in the group, on coaching calls, and in late-night DMs. Together, they paint a clear picture of what a business with strong foundations actually looks like. In This Episode: Why slow seasons are normal, necessary, and even useful, and how the photographers who stay calm are the ones still standing on the other side The mindset shift from running a hobby to running a business, and why investing in support pays you back How a clear membership structure and confident pricing can transform what a single client relationship is worth Why showing up consistently, both online and in your community, is what helps the right people find and trust you The throughline across all four conversations: artistry and strategy belong together Each of these women is part of TMA in some way, whether as a mentor, a featured educator, or a member who turned a hard year into a defining one. If these conversations leave you wanting to be in the room where the work happens between episodes, this is your invitation. Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: themotherhoodanthology.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 174: The Anti-Mini Session: Capturing Real Childhood with Laura Gattis
Some of the most memorable images of childhood aren't the polished, smile-on-cue portraits. They're the unguarded, in-between moments that capture who a kid really is. In this episode, Kim sits down with TMA mentor and Tampa-based photographer Laura Gattis to talk about her signature Childhood Narrative project, and what it looks like to build an offering that's entirely your own. Topics Covered How the Childhood Narrative was born and why it's different from a mini session, heirloom session, or personality portrait Building a once-a-year signature offering that stands apart from what everyone else is shooting The art of capturing authentic connection over posed perfection Why a child mirrors the energy you bring, and how that shapes your approach behind the camera Finding creative inspiration outside the photography world Creating an offering rooted in your own style rather than chasing what's trending The long-term payoff of treating clients well and building lasting relationships Laura's approach is a reminder that the work that resonates most is the work that's truly yours. If you've ever felt the pull to create something different, this conversation will leave you inspired to lean into your own creative voice. Connect with Laura: http://www.lauragattis.com http://www.instagram.com/lauragattisphotography Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: themotherhoodanthology.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 173: Be the Only, Not the Best: A Brand and Website Strategy for Photographers with Jen Olmstead of Tonic Site Shop
This week, Jen Olmstead of Tonic Site Shop joins the show for a real-talk conversation on why brand and website have become the true differentiators in 2026, plus a Q&A on the website questions photographers actually wrestle with. In This Episode: The new buyer's journey and why today's client is more cautious than ever The shift from being "the best" to being "the only" in a saturated market Why brand is the real moat that separates you in 2026 Why your story is the secret ingredient AI cannot copy A practical Q&A on pricing, where to invest first, and Tonic templates built for photographers The photographers who thrive in 2026 will not be the ones with the prettiest portfolios. They will be the ones whose websites sound, look, and feel like them. Your story is the secret ingredient, and this conversation is a clear-eyed look at how to put it to work. Mentioned in This Episode: Get 25% off Tonic Templates on 5/19 only, and 20% off through 5/22. Use code TMA at checkout: tonicsiteshop.com/shop Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: themotherhoodanthology.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
BONUS REPLAY: Coaching Call with TMA Mentor Katie Lamb
This week, get a sneak peek inside a Coaching Call with TMA Mentor, Katie Lamb. In this conversation, Katie provides detailed advice on increasing prices, leveraging Instagram reels and keywords, delivering a high-quality client experience, and more. Listen in for: Recommendations for raising prices gradually or jumping to a higher price point Strategies for consistent, targeted Instagram content and reels Tips for natural newborn posing and efficient gallery editing Insights on hiring an associate and implementing a client referral program Guidance on email marketing and newsletter content Connect with Katie Lamb: https://www.katielamb.com/ Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 172: How to Build a Home Studio That Supports Your Photography Business and Your Life
This episode brings two photographers from very different chapters of business into the same conversation. One is in her thirteenth year. The other is in her first. What unfolds is an honest, real-time look at the questions, doubts, and decisions that shape a sustainable photography business at every stage. In this episode: Why investing in education and community early can shorten the learning curve and build confidence faster Building a home studio with intention, including how to think through client experience when work and family share the same space The power of client communication and boundary-setting, and how transparency around your schedule actually strengthens trust Film photography as a creative medium, from how it shapes the way you shoot to what it gives back to your clients The role of a trusted mentorship community in cutting through information overload and helping photographers grow with clarity Whether you are just starting out or refining your approach after years in the industry, this conversation is a reminder that sustainable growth happens in community. Press play to hear how two photographers, in two very different chapters, are building businesses that support both their art and their lives. Connect with Valerie: https://www.instagram.com/valeriecallanphotography/ Connect with Janet: https://www.jmphotography.life/ Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 171: The Messy Middle: How Baby Plans Changed This Member's Business
In this Messy Middle episode, Ali sits down with TMA member Hayley Hudgins, a North Carolina-based motherhood and birth photographer who took a leap on baby plan memberships two years ago and has watched them transform her business. Topics covered: How Hayley transitioned out of weddings and restructured her offerings around motherhood and birth photography Why she built a baby plan membership to replace wedding income and create consistent, recurring revenue How she pitches the baby plan to inquiring clients, and how to handle price inquiries Automating contracts, invoicing, and payment reminders so she can stay present with her family Why patience matters more than momentum when building a sustainable photography business from the ground up If you have ever set up a baby plan and heard crickets, or wondered whether the model could actually work for your business, Hayley's story is exactly what you need to hear. Building something that lasts takes time, and this episode is a reminder that slow, steady growth is still growth. Referenced in This Episode: TMA Baby Plan Freebie: https://themotherhoodanthology.myflodesk.com/babyplan Elevate Your Edits Workshop ($15): https://themotherhoodanthology.com/elevate-your-edits-3#/ Pixie Set: https://www.pixieset.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 170: Get an Inside Peek: TMA Member Coaching Call
What does it actually look like inside the TMA membership? This episode pulls back the curtain on a real member coaching call, where photographers are doing exactly what community is meant to do: sharing wins, asking hard questions, and helping each other build businesses that actually work. Topics Covered Why pricing profitably changes everything, including the type of client you attract and how hard you have to work to hit your revenue goals How the full-service session experience is helping photographers stand out and stay booked, even when the market feels slow Why Instagram alone is no longer enough, and where to put your energy instead The power of in-person community building, from direct outreach to past clients to pop-ups, events, and everyday conversations Creative ideas for studio events that bring potential clients through your door and leave them excited to book Why being a people person (or learning to become one) is one of the most valuable business tools you have How one member transformed her inquiry-to-booking rate by sending personalized video responses to every inquiry If you've ever wondered whether the TMA membership is the real deal, this episode is your answer. The conversations happening inside are honest, practical, and full of the kind of insight that only comes from photographers who are truly invested in each other's success. Press play and see what's waiting for you. Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 169: Why Your Story Is Your Best Marketing Strategy with Jen Olmstead
Your website is often the first place a potential client decides whether to book you or keep scrolling. In this episode, Kim sits down with Jen Olmstead, co-founder of Tonic Site Shop, to talk about what actually makes a website work for creative entrepreneurs in today's market and why leaning into what makes you different is more important than ever. Topics Covered: Why your unique story is your greatest competitive advantage How to move beyond just posting your work What your About page actually needs to do, and the two questions to ask your past clients to figure it out Why scaling a business can suddenly feel like a cage The marketing shift that is making things harder to sell right now Practical homework: two things you can do this week to make your website stronger Whether you have been putting off a website refresh or just need a clearer way to communicate who you are and who you serve, this conversation will give you a fresh lens on how to show up online in a way that is genuinely, unmistakably you. Referenced in This Episode: Tonic Site Shop website templates: tonicsiteshop.com Tonic email list: tonicsiteshop.com/list Ira Glass on taste and the gap between taste and ability (search: "Ira Glass taste gap") TMA discount on Tonic templates: themotherhoodanthology.com/tonic — use code TMA15 for 15% off Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 168: How to Write a Blog Post That Actually Gets Found on Google
Most photographers blog to share their work, but without an SEO strategy, those posts are only reaching people who already know you. In this episode, TMA mentor and SEO specialist Melissa Arlena breaks down exactly how to structure blog posts that attract future clients by showing up in Google search results. Topics Covered: How to choose blog post topics based on questions future clients are already searching for Finding and placing keywords naturally — in your title, first paragraph, and throughout the post Structuring posts with H2s and H3s to make them easier to read and easier for Google to understand Optimizing photos with renamed files and descriptive alt text (plus a smart AI shortcut) Writing meta descriptions that include your keyword and give searchers a reason to click Keeping URLs clean, short, and keyword-focused Linking intentionally to your portfolio pages, related blog posts, and contact page using buttons Revisiting and updating old blog posts to improve rankings over time Whether you're just getting started with blogging or have a backlog of posts that aren't getting traction, this episode gives you a clear, actionable framework to make your content work harder for your business. Check out Picture Perfect Rankings: Group Coaching: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/found-booked/ Learn more: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/ About Melissa Arlena: Melissa Arlena is a TMA mentor and SEO strategist who helps portrait photographers get found on Google. Through her business Picture Perfect Rankings, she offers SEO education and coaching designed specifically for photographers. https://thebloggingclub.com/ Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 167: How Doubling Her Prices Made Her a Better Mom and a Better Photographer
What does it actually take to raise your prices and have it work? Not just the courage to do it, but the client experience, the artistry, and the intentionality that make higher pricing undeniable. In this episode, Kim sits down with Morgan Williams, a Raleigh-based family photographer, educator, and mama to four boys, to talk about the real work behind building a photography business that is so distinctively yours that price shopping stops altogether. Why raising your prices without elevating your process first will not work, and what has to change before the numbers can follow How a deep pre-session client experience, from personalized wardrobe guidance to thoughtful questionnaires, is what actually produces exceptional images The shift Morgan made in 2023 to photograph almost exclusively in-home, and how that decision, alongside more than doubling her prices, changed everything about her business and her life What it means to tell a family's story when you actually know their story, and how Morgan translates the details clients share into photographs that represent something real Practical tools Morgan uses to stay present as a mom and business owner, including the Eisenhower matrix for prioritizing tasks and a phone-locking app called Brick If you have been telling yourself you just need more clients before you can make a change, this episode is worth your full attention. Morgan's story is a clear and honest look at what becomes possible when you stop going through the motions and build a business around the work only you can create. Willow Canvas: http://willowcanvasbackdrops.com/ Connect with Morgan: https://morganwilliamsphoto.com/education/ Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 166: Is It Just Me? Let’s Talk About the Slow Season
If your bookings have felt quieter than usual lately, you are not alone, and you are not failing. In this candid, encouraging conversation, Kim sits down with TMA mentor Suzy Brown to talk honestly about what's really going on in the photography industry right now and what to do about it. Topics covered in this episode: Slow seasons are normal, and they're cyclical. Suzy shares why she no longer fears slow periods and what she's learned from years of watching the same patterns play out, including what she predicts for the rest of this year based on last year's trends. The difference between resting and giving up. Kim and Suzy unpack what it actually looks like to use a slow season well — whether that's building financial reserves, diversifying your services, or simply protecting your mental bandwidth. Managing anxiety when income slows down. Suzy offers a grounded perspective on nervous system regulation and why getting calm is the first step to getting strategic, especially for photographers whose families depend on their income. Creative ways to fill the gaps. From baby plans and gift certificate holiday promotions to corporate storytelling retainers, Kim and Suzy share real strategies they've used to smooth out the feast-or-famine cycle in their own businesses. The power of community when things get hard. This episode is a reminder that the women who have been in business longer have been right where you are, and they made it through. If you've been staring at an empty calendar wondering whether to panic or pivot, this episode is the permission slip and the practical roadmap you need. Tune in, take a breath, and remember: the other side does come. Check out Picture Perfect Rankings: Group Coaching: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/found-booked/ Learn more: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/ Connect with Suzy: https://simplybysuzy.com Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
Episode 165: How to Show up with Laura Esmond
If you have ever felt like you are working harder than the income shows — shooting, editing, delivering galleries, and wondering why it never quite adds up — this episode is for you.Laura Esmond is a portrait photographer with 26 years of experience, the founder of Get Rooted group coaching, and someone who has spent the better part of three decades figuring out exactly what makes a portrait business sustainable, meaningful, and worth showing up for. In this solo episode, Laura walks through ten practical, specific things you can do in the next two weeks to increase your visibility, deepen your client relationships, and start showing up in a way that actually builds your business — online, in your community, and inside the client experience itself. This one is packed. Grab a notebook. Willow Canvas: http://willowcanvasbackdrops.com/ RESOURCES Be Seen Download: lauraesmond.com/beseen Get Rooted Group Coaching: https://www.lauraesmond.com/getrooted Follow Laura: @reeseandcoportraits Join us next year: The Gathering Retreat Waitlist Connect with TMA: Website | Membership | Courses: www.themotherhoodanthology.com Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology Our Instagram: instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology Connect with Kim: Site: https://kimbox.com IG https://www.instagram.com/kimbox
