Motherhood Anthology: Photography Education for a Business You Love

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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.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    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 ⁠⁠⁠

    57 min

  2. 28 APR

    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 ⁠⁠

    35 min

  3. 21 APR

    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 ⁠

    24 min

  4. 14 APR

    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

    47 min

  5. 7 APR

    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

    18 min

  6. 31 MAR

    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

    46 min

  7. 24 MAR

    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

    29 min

  8. 17 MAR

    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

    22 min
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About

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.

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