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

Lisa DiGeso, The Milky Way
  • 4.9 (75)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Art and Soul Show where we dive heart-opening chats on photography, business, life and that messy in-between. You're more than a photographer. You're an artist, a dreamer, a business boss, and a creative. Listen in for conversations and advice on running a photography business, mindset, and creativity. This is the place you can go when you need a boost of encouragement, a kick in the pants, and inspiration to pick up your camera.

  1. 2D AGO

    My Math Isn't Your Own Math

    “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 expenses, your goals, your energy, and your definition of success are completely unique. The moment you stop trying to copy someone else’s formula is the moment your business starts to feel like yours again. What’s in this episode: [00:35] The moment pricing shame made me question everything [01:40] Raising rates because you were told to and how it can backfire [02:30] Why copying someone else’s formula rarely works [03:50] The problem with one-size-fits-all pricing and business advice [04:40] How IPS and other business models only work when they fit you [05:20] The four pillars of your personal math [06:00] How defining success changes everything [07:00] Numbers, fear, shame, and the stories we attach to them [08:10] What your business can look like when it aligns with your life Your business does not need to follow someone else’s equation to be legitimate. When you build your pricing and structure around your life, your goals, and your energy, everything becomes more sustainable. For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

    9 min

  2. MAR 25

    Is This Mine to Carry?

    “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 to carry? You will hear how this simple question can lift an invisible weight off your shoulders, help you stop absorbing other people’s stress, and allow you to focus on what is actually yours: your integrity, your consistency, your creativity, and your heart. What’s in this episode: 00:35] Why photographers carry more than they realize[01:40] How we absorb client stress and taking it on as your own[02:50] When business outcomes feel personal even when they are not[04:20] Putting down what was never yours to hold[05:00] What is yours to carry in your business[06:00] How carrying the wrong things leads to burnout[07:00] Asking the question that helps you release what is too heavyYou are not meant to carry everything. When you begin putting down what is not yours, you finally have room to hold what truly matters. For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

    8 min

  3. MAR 18

    Stop Playing Small: Shifting Mindset, Habits, and Confidence with Johl Dunn

    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 old conditioning can quietly hold people back, even when they are doing everything “right” on the surface. We talk about the role of daily habits, emotional energy, and aligned action, why marketing works best when it reflects who you actually are, and how confidence builds through awareness, not perfection. Johl also opens up about his own journey from photographer to coach and what finally led him to follow the work that felt most aligned. This conversation is a reminder that growth in business rarely starts with tactics. It starts with how you think, how you show up, and what you believe is possible. What’s in this episode: [00:03:00] The first invisible problem most photographers face when they feel stuck[00:06:30] Busy work vs the actions that actually move a business forward[00:07:30] Building a sales and marketing engine that works today[00:09:00] Why showing up as yourself attracts the right clients[00:12:30] Identity shifts and letting go of old labels that hold you back[00:14:30] Understanding trauma, beliefs, and how they shape confidence[00:16:30] Habits and routines that create real momentum in business[00:22:00] Subconscious beliefs that keep photographers playing small[00:23:30] Comparison, confidence, and letting go of perfection[00:26:30] Staying true to your style instead of chasing trends[00:27:30] Curiosity, humility, and learning through failure[00:29:00] Frequency, energy, and attracting aligned clients[00:31:30] Handling difficult clients without losing confidence[00:33:30] What makes someone coachable and ready for growthIf you have ever felt stuck, second-guessed your direction, or wondered why the “right strategies” are not working, this conversation will help you reconnect with the mindset, habits, and alignment that truly create momentum. For full show notes, resources, links, and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/ Grab your spot for the 2025 Online Newborn Retreat!

    43 min

  4. MAR 11

    The Shock Absorber

    “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 “shock absorber” in your family and business and how it slowly depletes your energy, creativity, and joy. I’m also exploring how to step back, set boundaries, and finally give yourself permission to rest. What’s in this episode: [00:40] What it means to be the “shock absorber”[01:20] The invisible weight women carry every day[02:10] Why overstimulation leads to shutdown[03:00] The emotional cost of absorbing everyone’s moods[04:00] Letting go of the need to fix everything[05:10] You don’t need a breakdown to justify a break[06:00] How to rest without guilt and reclaim your softnessBeing dependable doesn’t mean being depleted. This episode is your reminder that you can be the soft place without being the shock absorber 24/7. For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

    7 min

  5. MAR 4

    The Psychology of Posing with Jodi Hendricks, Founder of Posers

    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 mouth to pricing to how often clients come back. We dive into the psychology behind posing, why emotional intelligence matters just as much as technical skill, and how photographers often underestimate the authority they already hold. Jodi opens up about building her studio, transitioning from weddings to portraits, and the surprising way confidence can snowball into more bookings, stronger referrals, and higher income. This conversation is honest, funny, and deeply real. It is a reminder that your presence in the room matters just as much as your camera. What’s in this episode: [00:00:00] How posing confidence affects bookings, income, and word of mouth[00:01:00] Introduction to Jodi and her psychology-driven approach to portrait work[00:04:00] Transitioning from weddings into portraits and opening a studio[00:05:00] Tripling income in the first year and what changed[00:07:30] The authority photographers already have and often forget to use[00:15:30] Emotional intelligence and helping clients feel safe and comfortable[00:20:30] Why confidence shapes the entire client experience from start to finish[00:27:00] Honest conversation about anxiety, pressure, and the emotional side of running a businessIf you’ve ever felt the difference between a session that just “went fine” and one that truly lit a client up, this honest conversation with Jodi breaks down how to actually create that shift. For full show notes, resources, links, and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/ Grab your spot for the 2025 Online Newborn Retreat!

    1h 14m

  6. FEB 25

    Am I Invited or is My Camera?

    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 truly wanted you there. We talk about why this hits so hard, how easily resentment builds, and the quiet emotional labor photographers carry when our worth gets tied to our productivity. I am also sharing simple boundary phrases that protect your peace, along with some honest encouragement if you have ever felt taken for granted. You deserve to be valued for who you are, not for the gear you own. What’s in this episode: [00:00] The quiet sting of being invited as the photographer instead of the friend[01:00] Why these moments land deeper than people realize[02:00] The emotional load photographers carry at family events[03:00] Gear lending, prop borrowing, and feeling more “useful” than appreciated[03:40] Why it is okay to say no without guilt[05:00] Easy boundary scripts you can use right away[06:00] How to handle pushback when you hold a limit[06:45] A reminder that your presence matters, even when you are not producingIf you have ever felt invisible or taken advantage of as a photographer, this episode will help you step back into your worth. For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

    7 min

  7. FEB 18

    Branding, Burnout & Breaking Free: How Understanding Money and Brand Archetypes Can Revitalize Your Photography Business with Stacey Owen

    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 can help us expand our business, our creativity, and our branding, especially if things have felt a little stale lately. Plus, she shares why photographers struggle with permission, how to break free from limiting beliefs, and why self-awareness is the foundation of a thriving brand. If you’re ready to learn more about yourself to build a better, stronger photography brand, this episode with Stacey is one you can’t miss! What’s in this episode: [00:00] Intro [02:24] How Stacey defines money and brand archetypes  [05:24] How these archetypes impact our photography businesses [10:02] Permission and why many photographers are often looking to someone else to give it to us (instead of offering it to ourselves!) [13:17] How to realign when we’re feeling disconnected from our brand and business [19:15] Common archetype misconceptions and how we can use them to grow as artists instead of boxing ourselves in [22:29] The biggest lessons photographers and artists need to hear about branding today [27:00] Stacey’s lightning round For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/ Grab your spot for the 2025 Online Newborn Retreat!

    31 min

  8. FEB 11

    Rising From the Rubble: When Your Business Feels Like It’s at Rock Bottom

    “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 perspective on why rock bottom isn’t the end; it’s often the beginning of building something more sustainable, aligned, and life-giving. What’s in this episode: [00:35] What hitting rock bottom in business can look like[01:40] Why rock bottom is a signpost, not a failure[03:00] The shame of rubble seasons and why no one posts about them[03:45] First steps for rising: pausing, honesty, and simplification[05:00] The role of support and community in rebuilding[05:40] Returning to your why and redefining success on your termsRock bottom might feel like the end, but it can actually be the beginning, the moment you stop chasing someone else’s version of success and start building one that truly fits your life. For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

    7 min
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4.9
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About

Welcome to the Art and Soul Show where we dive heart-opening chats on photography, business, life and that messy in-between. You're more than a photographer. You're an artist, a dreamer, a business boss, and a creative. Listen in for conversations and advice on running a photography business, mindset, and creativity. This is the place you can go when you need a boost of encouragement, a kick in the pants, and inspiration to pick up your camera.

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