The Art & Soul Show - Photography Podcast for Newborn and Family Photographers

"This isn't rejection. This is growth." Losing a client you love hurts in a way nobody warns you about. Not the random inquiry that ghosts you, but those early families. The ones who gave you a chance when you were still figuring out manual mode, cheered you on, brought you their babies, and told everyone how wonderful you were. And then one day you're scrolling, and there they...

"Trends burn fast. But timeless work lasts." There's a fear most photographers carry around but rarely say out loud. It's not just fear of competition or a slow season. It's deeper and sneakier than that. It's the fear of irrelevance. That whisper at midnight when you're scrolling Instagram, wondering if your best days are already behind you. In this episode, I&a...

Every single time I've chosen to quiet that audacity voice and lean into my audacious side, my life has expanded." Two words. They look almost identical on paper, but they feel completely different when you say them out loud. Audacious is bold, brave, and full of possibility. Audacity is the sting, the who do you think you are, the voice that shows up the second you start to dream a litt...

"You are never going to feel ready, because ready isn't a feeling. It's a decision." That one hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I heard it. Because how much of our lives do we spend waiting? Waiting for clarity, for confidence, for the perfect moment that never actually comes. In this episode, I'm sharing why that feeling of readiness is a myth and what actually m...

"The idea graveyard isn't proof of my failure. It is proof that I am alive and creative." Every creative has one. The half-finished projects, the abandoned plans, the supplies still in the bin with the tags on. We just don't talk about it. In this episode, Lisa gets honest about her own graveyard, the costumes, the felting disaster of 2021, and the shed full of marketplace furn...

"It's not just fear itself. It's actually the fear of fear." That second layer is the one that keeps so many of us stuck. It's not the dials or the studio lights or the pose or the price increase that's really scary. It's the anticipation of feeling incompetent, embarrassed, or out of control that has us avoiding, procrastinating, and telling ourselves we'll...

“Is overdelivering actually just overcompensating because you’re scared?” That thought struck me because sometimes the urge to give more and more isn’t just generosity, it’s fear. Fear of not being enough, fear of disappointing clients, fear of rejection. In this episode, I’m unpacking the tension between generosity and overcompensation. I’m sharing how I’ve learned to find the sweet spot where gi...

“Sometimes losing is exactly what reveals your highest value.” There was a time when a simple Facebook cover contest left me devastated. I wanted the win, the validation, the proof that I belonged. But when the results came in and I realized the winning photographer had bought likes, something unexpected happened. I discovered the deeper truth about what I value most in my business and in myself....

“What if business feels easy and instead of celebrating it, you feel uncomfortable?” So many of us carry the belief that the harder we work, the more successful we’ll be. We believe that worth equals hours, and that struggle is proof we’ve earned our success. But what if that’s not true? In this episode, I’m unpacking the belief that success has to come from hard work and hustle. I’m even sharing...

“My math is not your own math.” Every photographer has been told what they should charge, how they should structure their packages, and which business model is the only “real” or “professional” one. And for many of us, those formulas feel more like pressure than clarity. In this episode, I’m sharing the hard truth I learned the long way: your math is not supposed to look like anyone else’s. Your e...

“We carry so much that was never ours to begin with.” Photographers are natural caretakers. We carry emotions, expectations, tension, family dynamics, weather, naps, meltdowns, and even outcomes we cannot control. And without realizing it, we start walking around with armfuls of things that were never ours to hold. In this episode, I share the question that changed everything for me: Is this mine...

Most photographers think better gear, stronger marketing, or a new strategy will fix what feels stuck in their business. But often, the real shift starts somewhere deeper. In this episode, I’m sitting down with mindset and business coach Johl Dunn to talk about the beliefs, habits, and internal patterns that shape how photographers show up, grow, and succeed. Johl shares how comparison, fear, and...

“We’re the shock absorbers: women and especially mothers. We absorb everything so everyone else can keep going.” When I heard Michelle Obama say those words, I had to pause and breathe. Because it named something I have been feeling for years: the invisible emotional labor of holding everything together, both at work and at home. In this heartfelt episode, I’m sharing what it means to be the “shoc...

Confidence is not just something you feel. It is something your clients feel from you . This incredibly enjoyable episode features my conversation with Jodi Hendricks from Posers and J. Anne Photography. We talk all about the powerful connection between confidence, posing, and business growth. Jodi shares how the way you lead a session and make people feel affects everything from marketing word of...

Some invitations feel good. Others feel like a job you never agreed to. If you have ever been asked to “bring your camera” to a gathering you hoped to simply enjoy, you know exactly what I mean. In this solo episode, I am opening up about something many photographers keep quiet about. It is that sinking feeling when you realize you were invited because of what you can provide, not because they tru...

Your photography brand isn’t just about colors and logos—it’s a reflection of who you are. But what if you don’t fully understand yourself yet? In this episode, branding expert Stacey dives into the different money and brand archetypes that shape many photographers and how these archetypes influence your business more than you realize. She’s sharing how, instead of boxing us in, these archetypes c...

“Rock bottom in business is not a sign of failure. It’s a signpost.” At some point, every creative entrepreneur will face a season when business feels like it’s crumbling: the clients aren’t booking, the passion is gone, or life circumstances make it feel impossible to keep going. In this episode, I share how to rise from those “rubble” seasons with honesty, clarity, and resilience. You’ll hear my...

There comes a moment in every photographer’s journey when the rules stop working, even though you are doing everything “right.” The templates feel tight. The “right” way feels wrong. And the business advice you are trying to follow does not actually match the people sitting in front of you. In this episode, I sit down with Fruzsina of Captured Magic to talk about what happens when you stop buildin...

Pricing is not just a numbers game. It is the foundation of a sustainable photography business. In this episode, I chat with Talea Wright to have an honest conversation about pricing, cost of doing business, and what it truly takes to build a profitable studio that lasts. Talea shares her experience opening her first studio at twenty years old, navigating pricing mistakes early on, and learning ho...

Connection is what turns a photograph into a memory. In this episode, I sat down with Russell Jackson to talk about the power of connection in photography and why the way your clients feel during a session matters just as much as the final images. Russell shares how prioritizing presence, emotional safety, and genuine interaction creates photographs that move people long after the session ends. We...

Simplicity is not just an aesthetic choice. It is a business approach that can give photographers more clarity, more consistency, and more confidence. For newborn photographer Victoria Burcusel, removing the excess helped her strengthen her style, streamline her process, and build a studio experience that truly reflects her values. In this episode, Victoria shares her journey from Romania to New Z...

Props come and go. Trends cycle in and out. But creativity, craftsmanship, and connection are what truly make a photography brand last. In this episode, I am joined by sisters Lindsey Stock and Amy Guenther of The Newborn Nerds. We talk about what really goes into designing timeless props, why color never goes out of style, how to use trends without losing yourself, and the details that elevate ev...

Photographers sometimes assume luxury is reserved for studios, but today’s guest proves that a high-end experience can thrive right inside your clients’ homes. Chelsea Hickey, the award-winning photographer behind Chicky Little Photography, specializes in in-home newborn storytelling sessions outside of Boston. Averaging $7,000 newborn sales and $4,000 across all genres, she’s built a thriving lux...

“You will never feel ready. Ready is not a feeling. It is a decision.” Every photographer reaches a moment when they wonder if they are truly ready to charge. The doubt, the imposter syndrome, the fear of disappointing someone. It all shows up right when you are trying to step into the next version of your business. In this episode, I share the honest truth about knowing when you are ready to char...

Some artists teach by accident. Others teach because they can’t help but pay attention: to connection, to people, and to themselves. Today’s guest, Rachel Larsen Weaver, is absolutely the latter. Rachel is an artist, educator, and photographer whose work celebrates audacious self-love, body affirmation, and the beauty of everyday life. In this conversation, we explore long form sessions, the power...