Motherhood Anthology: Photography Education for a Business You Love

AI doesn't have to feel overwhelming or like it's going to steal your creative voice. Rick Mulready breaks down how photographers and creative business owners can use AI as a thought partner to work smarter, not harder—without losing what makes your work authentically yours. This is Part 1 of our conversation—Part 2 drops next week with even more practical strategies you can start using right away...

Ali and I are kicking off Season 5 with a casual conversation about finding rest in the new year instead of rushing into productivity. We're sharing what we're celebrating from 2025, our hopes for 2026, and why taking a few weeks to truly reset will put you ahead rather than behind. Plus, we're giving you all the details about our upcoming Coaching Week happening January 12-16. In this episode, yo...

Our featured mentor of the month in TMA is Katie Lamb, and in today's episode, we are excited for Katie to guest host the podcast. She's talking all about setting and maintaining clear boundaries to thrive while running a photography business. Check out Picture Perfect Rankings: Group Coaching: ⁠⁠https://pictureperfectrankings.com/found-booked/⁠⁠ Learn more: ⁠⁠https://pictureperfectrankings.com/⁠...

Our guest (and TMA Group Expert) Suzzane Brown is back for another conversation on the podcast this week, all about the importance of presence, authenticity, and creating meaningful connections in the photography business, rather than just focusing on technical skills or "pretty pictures". We're talking about: The importance of letting go of expectations and being present to find more joy and play...

In this episode of The Messy Middle, Ali sits down with Carly Matthews—a motherhood and newborn photographer, mom of four, and TMA member—to talk about building a profitable photography business while raising babies. Carly shares her biggest wins from 2025, including how she pivoted her scheduling to better serve her family, traveled for three weeks without stopping her business momentum, and shif...

In part two of this conversation, Kim and Allison Rodgers dive into the practical side of building a sustainable photography business. Allison shares her approach to in-person sales, how to find and keep ideal clients, and why slowing down might be the best thing you can do for your business. She also opens up about loss, creativity, and her new self-portrait project. If you've ever wondered how t...

In part one of this two-part conversation, Kim sits down with photographer Allison Rodgers to talk about building a photography business that lasts. Allison shares her journey from art director to full-time photographer, and opens up about pricing, client experience, and why she believes in doing less but doing it better. If you've ever felt mad during a session or wondered how to charge what you'...

In this hot seat episode, Katie Lamb coaches photographer Pola Seely on becoming the go-to in-home newborn photographer in Columbia, South Carolina. They discuss strategic approaches to portfolio building, marketing messaging, and creating an exceptional client experience. Katie provides actionable advice on niching down, building authority, and leveraging word-of-mouth marketing. Key Themes: Port...

If you get stressed out about algorithms, hashtags, engagement, and how to grow your photography business on Instagram, then this episode is for you! Today, Kim is joined by TMA educator, Amber Courtney, talking all things Instagram. Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enrollment link ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- https://themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/ Connect with...

Building a photography business while juggling a full-time job, kids at home, and financial uncertainty might feel impossible, but it's not. In this Messy Middle episode, community manager Ali Payne and TMA group expert Ellen Wagner tackle the most common obstacles that keep photographers stuck between starting out and running a profitable business. From pricing fears to mom guilt, they offer real...

In part two of our conversation with Aga and Nirit from Pic-Time, we're exploring the practical steps photographers can take to start selling prints, the role AI plays in supporting creative work, and the trends shaping the future of our industry. This is part two of our conversation! If you missed part one, go back and listen for the full picture. Topics Covered: Choosing the right products to se...

If you've been waiting for the right moment to prioritize print sales, this is it. The last quarter of the year isn't just busy, it's when your clients are most ready to invest in tangible memories. The strategies shared in this episode can help you create gallery experiences that feel personal, professional, and impossible to resist. Your images deserve to be printed, and your clients deserve to...

In this episode, Kim is joined by New York Times bestselling author and digital marketing expert Amy Porterfield for an honest conversation about success, ambition, and what it really takes to build a business you love. Amy shares how she defines success now versus ten years ago, the challenges of being a female breadwinner out-earning her husband, and why taking care of your physical and mental h...

Starting over in a new market can feel overwhelming, especially when you're moving to one of the most competitive photography cities in the country. But what if that challenge is exactly what you need to step into the next level of your business? In this episode, Ali Payne talks with Kayla Victor of Kayla Mari Photography about navigating this major transition by investing in business coaching, de...

What if offering artwork actually saved you time instead of taking it? Marie Elizabeth transformed her photography business from $99 sessions into a sustainable full-time career by working just 4-6 days a month with average sales of $3,000-$4,000. In this episode, she walks through the five critical pitfalls that keep photographers from profitable artwork sales and exactly how to avoid them. Topic...

Brittany Barb went from charging $500 for shoot-and-burn sessions to making her first $4,000 sale by adding in-person viewing parties. Shannon Griffin offers advice on keeping this success going by talking about products earlier in the process and showing confidence when presenting options. Key Topics Covered: Creating memorable client experiences that naturally lead to higher sales Setting produc...

Family and newborn photographer Abby Park shares her journey of redirecting her successful photography business away from profitable weekend and evening shoots to prioritize family time. She discusses the challenge of recognizing when business momentum is taking you in a direction that no longer serves your values, and how she communicated these boundary changes to existing clients while maintaini...

In part two, Elizabeth Messina dives deep into the behind-the-camera experience of her photography sessions and shares her thoughtful approach to post-shoot curation. She reveals how she creates an atmosphere where clients feel like guests first, subjects second, and explains her "immersive photography" philosophy where the entire experience becomes part of the session. Key Takeaways: Show up even...

In the first part of this riveting 2-part interview, photographer Elizabeth Messina shares how she evolved from being too shy for photos to confidently teaching others about her craft. She believes successful photography businesses start with creating excellent work you're proud of, not just clever marketing. Key Takeaways: Start with good work: Build your business on photography you actually love...

In this episode, Katie Lamb returns to dive deep into the elements that create a true light and airy photography style. With 17 years of experience as a light and airy photographer, Katie breaks down the key components of this popular aesthetic and dispels common misconceptions. Episode Highlights: The three key elements that define light and airy photography: soft neutral tones, clean creamy skin...

Welcome to the messy middle! In this new monthly segment, Ali from the TMA team is bringing us conversations about what the messy middle looks like when it comes to building a photography business you love. In this first episode of the messy middle, Ali is sharing a glimpse into her own personal messy middle of moving to a new area and playing the long game of building meaningful relationships tha...

In this episode, Dawn Richardson from Flodesk joins us to tackle the biggest pain points photographers face with e-mail marketing. Dawn shares how, before she joined the Flodesk team, she built a six-figure photography business with just 300 highly engaged e-mail subscribers. The team dives deep into practical strategies for improving open rates, the importance of regular list cleaning, and why se...

Social media keeps changing its rules, but email marketing is something you actually own and control. Shannon Vondy shows how she saved her photography business in 2020 by learning email marketing the right way —making $13,000 in one year just from sending emails to her clients. If you're tired of depending on Instagram and Facebook alone to reach your clients, this episode will teach you how to b...

We're trying something new today with our first-ever hot seat coaching session! I'm joined by TMA mentor Suzy Brown as we dive deep into helping Tifa Zhou, a Chicago lifestyle photographer who's transitioning from part-time to full-time work. This format gives you a front-row seat to real coaching in action, and I think you'll find so much value in hearing both the struggles and solutions that com...

Just when we think we have SEO figured out, everyone's telling us to worry about AI searches instead. Are you getting bombarded with ads claiming SEO is obsolete and we need to learn entirely new skills? Us too! But here's the truth: you don't need to panic or buy another course. The same strategies that get you found on Google will get you found in AI searches too. ✨ Topics Covered ➡️ Why SEO is...