Motherhood Anthology: Photography Education for a Business You Love

Podfox Media
Podfox Media
  • 4.8 (54)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated Weekly

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. 5d ago

    Trial Reels for Photographers: How to Reach People Who Don't Follow You Yet

    Many photographers post reels to the same small group of followers every week and wonder why their reach never grows. Instagram's trial reels send your content to people who have never seen your work. TMA community manager Ali Payne explains how she uses them to test ideas, grow her audience, and book sessions for her own photography business. In This Episode What a trial reel is, where to find it, and the setting to check before you post How testing different on-screen hooks on the same clip can change your results What realistic trial reel numbers look like and how to measure performance fairly How to decide whether a reel is meant for photographers, potential clients, or current followers Why a niche reel that brings in followers can do more for your business than a viral one Three ways to hold a new viewer's attention: show your camera, use location keywords, and give a clear next step How AI tools can help you review your insights and plan your next round of reels Trial reels reward steady, low-pressure experimentation, and Ali makes a clear case for posting often and adjusting as you learn. She closes with a challenge to post one trial reel this week and share your results with her on Instagram at @themotherhoodanthology. If you want ongoing support as you grow your business, join the 800+ photographers inside The Motherhood Anthology Membership. BTS Mini Course: https://membership.themotherhoodanthology.com/offers/9HuL447o/checkout ANNUAL EVREGREEN offer: https://membership.themotherhoodanthology.com/offers/iiza3hSs/checkout TMA BTS STARTER KIT FREEBIE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lhWKUP-JZ-87RyD7sTKWTJ9GNELAAJrg/view?usp=sharing 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

  2. Sep 22

    IPS vs. All-Inclusive: Choosing the Right Pricing Model for Your Photography Business

    If every pricing conversation you hear seems to assume you've already switched to IPS, this episode is your permission slip to step back and ask a better question. Katie Lamb, Director of Education at The Motherhood Anthology, unpacks why the pricing model you choose was never the real driver of profitability, and what actually is. Topics Covered Why the "IPS vs. all-inclusive" debate is a false choice, and the full range of pricing structures (hybrid, collections, tiered packages) that exist between the two What IPS genuinely does well: emotional context, no sales ceiling, and meaningful tangible products for clients Why revenue is not profit, illustrated with a side-by-side of two $2,500 clients whose hours and cost of goods sold lead to very different hourly rates The three math mistakes that quietly erode profitability under any model: skipping your cost of doing business, giving away what makes your work valuable, and ignoring how much time each client requires Why lowering your time investment per client is a legitimate profitability lever that deserves the same respect as raising prices How to find your minimum per-session number, and how to choose the pricing structure that gets you there in a way that fits your market, your clients, and the business you actually want to run You don't have to abandon a model you love because someone else earns more with a different one, and you don't have to adopt IPS to be taken seriously. You do have to make the math work. This episode gives you the framework to run those numbers with clarity instead of comparison. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

  3. Sep 15

    How to Break the Awkward First 30 Minutes of a Family Photo Session

    What does it actually take to feel confident walking into a family session? In this episode, guest host Suzy Brown, a Chicago family photographer nearly two decades into her career, sits down for a real, unscripted coaching call with TMA member Kailey, a photographer just six months into taking on clients. The questions Kailey asks out loud are the same ones photographers are still wrestling with 10 and 15 years in. Topics Covered Why the first 30 minutes of a session feel awkward for almost everyone, and the simple walk-in-the-door approach that dissolves the wall for you and your families How to handle the family member who does not want to be there, and why setting the tone before you lift the camera changes the whole session Whether you can show up as your full self on your business account when you do not feel like your own ideal client, and how sharing "from a scar, not a wound" attracts the people who want exactly you Why an exceptional client experience will outperform pure artistry financially, and what that means for photographers early in their journey The mindset shift Kailey reached at six months in that many photographers take decades to find: you do not have to be perfect, and imperfect work is often the work families treasure most When to use a pre-session Zoom call in your booking process, and how a 15-minute conversation gets families on board before you ever arrive This conversation is a reminder that the people side of photography is learnable, that the pressure to be perfect is what stands between you and the work you want to make, and that none of us have to figure this out alone. Press play to listen in on the full coaching call. About the Suzy Brown Suzy Brown is a family photographer based in Chicago with nearly 20 years behind the camera. She has built her career on transforming family photos from a dreaded obligation into an experience families look forward to, and today she teaches other photographers how to lead family sessions with confidence. Suzy will be TMA's guest educator this November, going deep on leading a family session no matter who shows up or what mood they are in. Find her on Instagram at @simplybysuzy. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

  4. Sep 8

    How to Plan a Styled Photography Session from One Simple Idea

    Ever wonder what actually goes into those breathtaking styled sessions you see other photographers pulling off? In this episode, Ali Payne sits down with TMA mentor Marie of Marie Elizabeth Photography to get nosy about her Becoming Styled Sessions, an afternoon of four fully styled shoots she opened up to fellow photographers. From a nautical romance session on a sailboat to blue Portuguese tiles in a historic farmhouse kitchen, Marie shares how one small detail can grow into an entire creative vision. In This Episode What a styled session actually is, and why it is far more achievable than most photographers assume Why building at least one styled session a year keeps your creativity fresh and prevents your work from going on repeat How styled sessions play the long game for your business, bringing in client inquiries years after you shoot them Marie's process for planning a session from one simple idea, like a scarf, a location, or a feeling, into a complete mood board How to stretch into trends while keeping the core of your brand intact Leading a room of photographers: giving attendees creative autonomy while holding your vision Why a styled session event is the perfect low-lift entry point if hosting a workshop or retreat feels intimidating Whether you are dreaming up your first solo styled session or feeling called to invite other photographers into your vision, this conversation is proof that it all starts with one simple idea. Press play and get inspired to create something just for the joy of it. About Marie Marie is a motherhood, newborn, family, and maternity photographer serving DC, parts of Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Now in her tenth year of business, she taught for 13 years while building her photography business on the side before going full time nearly five years ago. She is a TMA mentor and the creator of the Becoming Styled Sessions. Website: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/home/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marie.elizabeth.photo Blog post: https://themotherhoodanthology.com/styled-session-for-photographers/ Marie's Becoming styled session waitlist: http://marie-elizabethphotography.com/waitlist-the-becoming 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

  5. Sep 1

    What's Next for TMA Education: Meet TMA's New Director of Education, Katie Lamb

    Kim Box has said before that spotting talent is one of the few things she'll claim to be good at. This week, she gets to prove it. Katie Lamb, longtime TMA mentor and educator, has officially joined the team as Director of Education, and the two sit down to talk about what she has already built, what members have been asking for, and where TMA education is headed next. In This Episode Why Katie said yes, and what a dedicated education role makes possible that no one person can do alone The redesigned member dashboard: seven years of education, now searchable by topic, mentor, and need The shift from selling information to delivering results, and why "less, but better" is the goal What it means for a membership to feel like home, from the community to the education library The education members are requesting most right now, including behind-the-scenes sessions, Fresh 48, product-based business transitions, and CRM workflows How the community itself has become one of the most valuable parts of the $49 membership A peek at what the team is exploring for members who want smaller groups, accountability, and support beyond the basics Katie's vision is simple: you focus on the art you're making, and TMA makes sure you always know what you need to know. If you're already a member, she wants to hear what you're stuck on. That feedback goes straight into what she's building. If you've been thinking about joining, enrollment opens quarterly, and you can add your name to the waitlist at themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/. Connect with Katie Lamb Katie Lamb is a photographer, educator, and longtime mentor inside The Motherhood Anthology, now serving as TMA's Director of Education. Website: https://www.katielamb.com/ Instagram: @katiebethlamb 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

  6. Aug 25

    Your Google Business Profile Is Doing More Than Your Instagram (If You Let It) with Melissa Arlena

    Your Google Business Profile might be doing more for your business than your Instagram, but only if it shows signs of life. In this solo episode, TMA mentor and SEO expert Melissa Arlena of Picture Perfect Rankings shares her simple monthly maintenance routine for keeping your profile active, accurate, and working to book you clients, all in about 20 minutes a month. In This Episode: Why an abandoned Google Business Profile signals to Google (and clients) that you may be out of business The five-move monthly rhythm: posts, photos, reviews, performance check, and profile accuracy What to post weekly and how to reframe blog shares so clients actually care Using the performance tab as free keyword research for future blog content Why Google changes your profile without asking and which rogue services to remove A bonus tip on holiday hours that proves your business is alive and legit Grab the Checklist Melissa created a free printable checklist with all five monthly moves in order. Grab it at pictureperfectrankings.com/GBP, then make the first Monday of every month your marketing Monday. If you're a TMA member, the replay of Melissa's full Google Business Profile setup workshop is waiting in the new TMA dashboard, and she's inside the membership year round answering your SEO questions. Not a member yet? Get on the VIP list so you're first to know when enrollment opens. Connect with Melissa: Google Business Profile Monthly Checklist: pictureperfectrankings.com/GBP Picture Perfect Rankings: pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA (code TMA250) Melissa's podcast: Get Booked 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

  7. Aug 18

    The Secrets of Santa Sessions with Kate Marie Portraiture

    Private Santa sessions are one of the most beloved offerings a portrait photographer can add to her calendar, but building them into a smooth, fully booked experience takes more strategy than most people expect. In this episode, Ali sits down with Kate Grabowski of Kate Marie Portraiture, an eight-year Santa session veteran based just outside of Dallas, Texas, who has refined her process from zero bookings in year one to selling out 24 spots in a matter of days. In This Episode Why early marketing (we're talking July) is the single most important factor in booking out Santa sessions, and why you shouldn't panic when spots don't fill immediately How Kate structures a tiered launch, from a VIP client list to a "Nice List" sign-up to a public release, and why that sequence creates genuine urgency The case for private, unhurried sessions and why marketing the experience (not just the photos) is what sets boutique Santa offerings apart What Kate has learned about session length, scheduling logistics, and why she scaled back to one day after two exhausting back-to-back event days Creative gifting ideas that elevate the client experience, from homemade gingerbread Play-Doh to jingle bells tied with velvet ribbon How to get strong promotional images before you've ever run a single session, including working directly with your Santa for a pre-season shoot Whether you're considering Santa sessions for the first time or looking to refine what you're already doing, Kate's honest, experience-driven perspective is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes the difference between a stressful day and a magical one. If today's episode has you thinking about adding Santa sessions to your calendar and doing them well, the TMA membership is where that planning gets real support. Every month goes deep on one piece of the photography business, with live coaching calls, featured educators, and a community of photographers working through the same questions. Join the waitlist at themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/ and you'll be the first to know when enrollment opens. Connect with Kate Marie Portraiture: Kate Marie Portraiture: https://katemarieportraiture.com/ Kate's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemarieportraiture/ The Motherhood Anthology Membership: themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/ 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

  8. Aug 12

    How to Run a Profitable Photography Business

    What does it actually take to build a photography business that's profitable? Not just busy, not just booked, but genuinely sustainable. This best-of episode pulls five conversations from the TMA archive to answer that question from five different angles, and the picture they paint together is more practical and more honest than any single episode could deliver on its own. In This Episode Laura Esmond on why simplifying your offer is the fastest path to profitability, and the "let go list" practice that helps photographers get there Jodi Nemetz on the psychology-based niche that took her from $41,000 to multi-six figures, and what that arc reveals about the power of dialing in on one specific thing Kayla Marie on the real framework for deciding what to outsource and what to own, including how your market type should drive that decision Shannon Griffin on how a clear artist statement becomes a business operating principle, and why vision is a profit driver, not a creative luxury Katie Lamb on why boundaries are the piece that makes everything else stick, and the mindset shift that turns "no" into a business strategy Every photographer you'll hear today has found profitability through a different door. But the through-line is the same: clarity, intentionality, and the willingness to make decisions that align with the life you actually want to build. If today's episode has you thinking about the deeper work behind a profitable photography business, the TMA membership is where that work continues. Every month goes deep on one piece of the photography business, with live coaching calls, featured educators, and a community of photographers working through the same questions. Join the waitlist at themotherhoodanthology.com and you'll be the first to know when enrollment opens. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

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4.8
out of 5
54 Ratings

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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