Photo Fuel | The Vision, Art, and Business of Family Photography

Leah O’Connell
  • 4.8 (19)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This is a podcast specifically for family photographers all about the swirl of vision, art, and business. Through stories, interviews, and nearly 20 years of experience in the family photography industry, host Leah O’Connell will help pack your creative toolbox and build confidence to fuel your sessions, your business, and your life. We’ll tackle family photography education with topics around the logistics and the skills, along with mindset, marketing with alignment, and more. This podcast will help you fan your own flame towards doing more of what you love and loving how you do it. Free, full, and fun family photography education every Monday - grab your Photo Fuel and let’s get creating.

  1. FEB 16

    Kids Photography Camps, School Photos, and Creative Offers to Support Your Business with Rebecca Hunnicutt

    Building a photography business doesn’t always mean choosing just one lane and staying there forever. For many photographers, the most sustainable paths are layered, seasonal, and shaped by the realities of life. That’s exactly the story of my guest today, Rebecca Hunnicutt, a lifestyle family photographer based in Portland, Oregon. Rebecca and I first connected in real life at Reset Conference, and in this conversation we dive into the many branches of her work—from family photography to school photography to teaching both photographers and kids. We talk about how school photography became not just a revenue stream, but a strategic and sustainable foundation that supports her family work, and what it really looks like to juggle multiple niches.   Make School Photos a Part of Your Photography Business If you've been thinking about adding school photography to your offerings, the Picture Day course is exactly what you need. Learn how to market, book, photograph, and deliver outdoor school photography for local daycares and schools to fuel your family photography business and boost your income. Join the Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/schools-waitlist   Find It Quickly: 01:53 - Meet Rebecca Hunnicutt 03:02 - Rebecca's Photography Journey 04:22 - The Intersection of Family and School Photography 06:54 - Teaching Photography to Kids 08:49 - Challenges and Rewards of Photography Camps 10:49 - Balancing Multiple Photography Ventures 15:08 - The Importance of Seeing Differently 18:59 - Exploring New Ideas for Photography Courses 20:10 - Balancing Multiple Business Angles 20:58 - Challenges of Managing School Photography 23:06 - Streamlining Family Photography Operations 26:58 - Innovative Customer Service Solutions 29:57 - Future Goals and Personal Motivation 30:42 - The Joy of Travel Photography 33:36 - Creative Solutions for Business and Personal Life   Mentioned in this Episode: Photo Fuel Retreat Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/retreat School Photography Course Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/schools-waitlist Airtable: airtable.com Photography Education: elenasblair.com   Connect with Rebecca Website: hunnicuttphotography.com Instagram: instagram.com/rebecca.hunnicutt.photography Instagram: instagram.com/rebecca.hunnicutt.education

    36 min

  2. FEB 2

    Analog Marketing for Family Photographers

    If you have ever felt overwhelmed by how loud and crowded it feels online with the constant posting, optimizing, and trying to stay visible, you are not alone. Over the past few years, I have found myself quietly moving toward something slower, more personal, and more sustainable: analog marketing. This shift started with my newsletter, The Firefly Letters. It became a space where I could be more honest, more thoughtful, and more myself than anywhere else online. That small decision to write more intimately led to something bigger: a deeper interest in creating real, human connections that extend beyond the screen. That's when I made the shift from marketing as a performance to marketing with intent. In today's episode, I'm sharing how I've gone analog in my business and what that looks like for this year. Listen in as I highlight a few ways you can incorporate analog marketing into your own business!   A Creative Reset for Family Photographers Ready to reconnect with why you started and fall back in love with your business? The Photo Fuel Retreat is an intimate, in-person experience designed for family photographers who care deeply about storytelling, sustainability, and doing work that actually feels good. Think of it as your space to slow down, think deeply, and build real connection—with your craft, your values, and a small circle of like-minded creatives. Join the Waitlist: https://leahoconnell.com/retreat   Find It Quickly: 01:37 - Embracing Analog Methods in Marketing 04:22 - Introduction to Photo Fuel 04:47 - Analog Marketing Method 1: Snail Mail 08:41 - Analog Marketing Method 2: Hosting Local Gatherings 17:10 - Analog Marketing Method 3: Outdoor School Photography 20:08 - Analog Marketing Method 4: In-Person Education Retreats   Mentioned in this Episode: Photo Fuel Retreat Waitlist: https://leahoconnell.com/retreat School Photography Course Waitlist: https://leahoconnell.com/schools-waitlist The Firefly Newsletter: https://leahoconnell.com/newsletter Free Resources: https://leahoconnell.com/learn   Connect with Leah Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com Leah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

    28 min

  3. JAN 19

    Your Prices Aren’t the Problem (It’s Just January)

    Does your quiet January inbox have you spiraling about your prices? You’re not alone. This time of year has a way of bringing out the darkest corners of our business fears.  Questions like, “Did I price myself out of my market?” or “Will I ever get inquiries again?” swirl in the silence of a post-holiday lull. If we can learn to spot the pattern, we can break the cycle and make better decisions for the long game.   Get Clear on Your Big Picture: If you’re feeling swirly about your business right now, it’s probably not because you need a new strategy—it’s because you haven’t slowed down enough to see the big picture. The Big Picture Workbook walks you through 10 thoughtful prompts to help you zoom out, get clear on your direction, and make confident decisions as a family photographer. You can print it or journal digitally and revisit it anytime you need grounding. Download Now: https://leahoconnell.com/bigpicture   Find It Quickly: 00:24 - Understanding Pricing Anxiety 02:25 - Seasonal Nature of Family Photography 04:34 - Data-Driven Decision Making 11:59 - Client Communication and Feedback 15:50 - Financial Strategies and Adjustments 20:30 - Mentoring and Support Options   Mentioned in this Episode: Big Picture Workbook: https://leahoconnell.com/bigpicture Photographers-Only Email List: https://leahoconnell.com/newsletter Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind Waitlist: https://leahoconnell.com/retreat Voxer Coaching: https://leahoconnell.com/voxer   Connect with Leah Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com Leah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

    24 min

  4. JAN 5

    One Step at a Time: Curiosity, Generosity, and the Creative Life with Dave Herring of VeryGood Co.

    Dave Herring is a photographer, educator, and founder of Very Good CO. He’s also a creative nomad and a long time friend. In this episode of Photo Fuel, I chat with Dave about how curiosity led him to a whole new career as a photographer and educator. From leaving the East Coast and relocating his family to California with no concrete plan, to working with brands like Leica and Hasselblad, Dave shares how paying attention to what felt meaningful—and staying generous along the way—shaped his career and a life that supports his ultimate measure of success: being in charge of his time. We talk about blending past experience into creative work and how free content and generosity have become foundational to his business. This conversation is packed with stories that will inspire you and leave you feeling hopeful for all that’s possible. Even though Dave is primarily a landscape photographer, this episode offers new perspective we all need on the value of metrics, making decisions in your business, and what it really means to make art your work—one thoughtful step at a time.   // LINKS MENTIONED // Blog Post: "Generosity changed everything:" https://dave.online/writings/how-generosity-changed-everything Very Good CO: shopverygood.com Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/ STEPHEN SHORE Photo books: Stephen Shore by STEPHEN SHORE - Book: 9781633450486 | Rizzoli Bookstore // CONNECT WITH DAVE //  Dave’s youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@davidherring DAVE’S WEBSITE: Dave.online // CONNECT WITH LEAH // Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com Leah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

    37 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    Micro Pivots - You don't need to burn it all down

    What if you didn’t need to burn down your photography business to feel better in it? In this solo episode of Photo Fuel, we'll explore the idea of micro-pivots—small, intentional changes that can bring more clarity, energy, and alignment to your work without rebranding, quitting, or announcing a brand-new niche. This conversation is for family photographers who still love what they do, but feel a quiet sense of restlessness. Maybe sessions feel heavier than they used to. Maybe your creativity has shifted before your business has caught up. Or maybe you just know something needs to change—but you don’t know what yet. We talk about: What micro-pivots are (and what they’re not) Signs you may be craving a small shift, not a big overhaul Creative, structural, and offer-based micro-pivots you can try How to experiment without risking your income or identity Why sustainable change often happens quietly If you’ve been wondering whether it’s possible to evolve without starting over, this episode offers permission, perspective, and practical ways forward.   // LINKS MENTIONED //   Episode 61: From Families to Brand Photography with Nicole Hodgson Episode 59: Messy Action, The Artful Pivot, and Creating from the Inside Out with Brooke Schultz Episode 56: The Missing LInk to your Photography Marketing with Michelle Franzetti   The Micro-Pivots Journalling Workbook : https://leahoconnell.myflodesk.com/pivot   // CONNECT //  Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

    25 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    From Families to Brands | How Nicole Hodgson Reinvented Her Photography Business

    In this episode, we’re kicking off a short series all about pivoting, evolving, and exploring new creative seasons as a photographer. It’s so easy to stay siloed inside the same family photography conversations, hearing the same strategies and the same voices. But there is so much to learn from photographers who step outside the familiar and build something new. Today’s guest—Nicole Hodgson—is the perfect guest to kick it off. Nicole is a former marriage and family therapist turned lifestyle brand photographer based in Northern California. She began her business photographing families, but over time, her sessions started filling with women who were also building businesses of their own. That pattern nudged her toward a new direction, and eventually, a full pivot into brand photography. In this warm and candid conversation, we talk about: The early signs that her niche was shifting The first steps she took to bring a new direction to life The identity work behind rebuilding a business from the ground up The honest pros and cons of family photography How her past career shaped her perspective as an artist and entrepreneur The confidence it takes to be the face of your brand The power of journaling for capturing new ideas and having confidence with executing on them Nicole shares her approach to a new pricing model for brands vs what made sense for her family clients and the financial logic behind marketing to brands versus families—an incredibly helpful lens for anyone curious about expanding their services. Whether you’re considering brand photography, navigating your own pivot, or just wondering what else is possible in this industry, this episode is a reminder that your identity, your opportunities, and your creativity are bigger than any niche. // LINKS MENTIONED //  Rebrand with Maddie Peshong: https://www.maddiepeschong.com/brand-photography Episode 18: The benefits of being an introverted photographer switching careers, shooting multiple genres, and more with Caitlin Alohilani  Free Resources for Family Photography Education: https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn   // CONNECT //    Nicole Hodgson  Website: www.nicolehodgsonphotography.com Instagram: @nicolehodgson.photography   Leah O'Connell Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com Instagram: @leahoconnell.photo

    44 min

  7. 11/24/2025

    My 2025 Photography Business Tech Stack | The Big 4

    This episode is releasing on the week of Thanksgiving, which is also a big time for holiday deals and making purchases for your business. This is a short and sweet chat to share my Top 4 Essentials as far as software for running my business. This powerful combo is the nuts and bolts of my marketing, sales, communication and delivery - the tech stack of dreams.  If you're thinking of upleveling your tooling or getting started with some client experience systems to scale your work, listen in to learn more about what each tool does, why I chose it, how they connect to one another, and what to consider most if you’re shopping for smarter systems this season.   // LINKS MENTIONED // Episode: 25: Navigating Black Friday for family photographers Episode 31 : Your Black Friday Investment Plan Episode 46: Why I switched to Honeybook and how it’s going: (on spotify) (on apple podcasts)  Honeybook referral link: https://share.honeybook.com/leah9738526 Pictime referral link: https://leahoconnell.pic-time.com/referral Flodesk referral link: https://flodesk.com/c/PHOTOFUEL Showit referral link: https://showit.com/r/jt922s The Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind: https://www.leahoconnell.com/retreat

    23 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    Messy Action, The Artful Pivot, and Creating from the Inside Out with Brooke Schultz

    In this episode, I chat with the wise and wonderful Brooke Schultz — photographer, educator, and creative force behind Heartful Magazine— for a deep dive into the art and evolution of a career in family photography.   Brooke Schultz is a Utah based family photographer + industry educator who helps family photographers create their own unique style instead of mimicking trends. She is the founder of the Love Soaked method for family photographers and her work has been featured by Oprah, Martha Stewart, Kodak, Rangefinder, Parents and more. Her work across mediums from podcasting to music to writing explores what it means to live a wildly creative life in art and everyday living through intention, fun, and ingenuity.   We go through so many topics in today's conversation, but Brooke generously shares how she first discovered lifestyle family photography, what it means to take messy action, and why naivete can be one of your greatest creative assets. We unpack what it means to develop a signature style, why your story and values must be part of your work, and how to balance serving clients with honoring your own artistic fulfillment.   If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, comparison, or feeling like your clients are running the show, this conversation will help you find your footing as both an artist and a leader. It weaves between practical and big-picture in the best of ways.    🗝️ In This Episode How Brooke transitioned from digital weddings to soulful in-home family sessions The power of messy action and why your early “bad” images matter Why your personal story is the foundation of your style The truth behind the phrase “the only sustainable art is selfish” What it means to “set the temperature” and lead sessions with confidence Why being the calm, grounded presence your clients crave is part of your job How personal growth and artistic growth go hand-in-hand   // LINKS MENTIONED //  Connect with Brooke: Website | Instagram        - The Emotive Bootcamp: https://brookebschultz.com/emotivebootcamp        - Heartful Magazine: https://heartful.brookebschultz.com/ Dr. Becky Kennedy — mentioned in connection to “sturdy leadership” Connect with Leah: Website | Instagram         - The Photo Fuel Retreat and Mastermind: https://www.leahoconnell.com/retreat

    45 min
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4.8
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

This is a podcast specifically for family photographers all about the swirl of vision, art, and business. Through stories, interviews, and nearly 20 years of experience in the family photography industry, host Leah O’Connell will help pack your creative toolbox and build confidence to fuel your sessions, your business, and your life. We’ll tackle family photography education with topics around the logistics and the skills, along with mindset, marketing with alignment, and more. This podcast will help you fan your own flame towards doing more of what you love and loving how you do it. Free, full, and fun family photography education every Monday - grab your Photo Fuel and let’s get creating.

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