Photo Fuel | Family Photography Education

Leah O’Connell
  • 5.0 (11)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Photo Fuel | Family Photography Education

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. 15 HR. AGO

    Your End of Year Investment Plan (+ an exercise to make smart choices)

    In this episode, I'm sharing a run-down of the 4 categories of investments that serve as umbrellas for all the things you *could* purchase to support your business growth. 1. Software 2. Brand 3. Gear 4. Education Each has several subcategories, too, so we'll walk through how to determine what will serve your business well AND I'll give you some recommendations to narrow down the scope.   Of course, I also want to share a little more about The Homestyle Accelerator as well because I am so excited about the potential of this program and our conversations to support you in a direct way with the growth of your art and business. Enrollment opens TODAY (Nov. 25 2004) so you can check out all the details and enroll (or get on the waitlist for next time) at https://leahoconnelll.com/homestyle// Links mentioned // Software:  Honeybook: https://www.honeybook.com Sprout Studio: https://www.sproutstudio.com Pic-time: https://www.pic-time.com Pixieset: https://www.pixieset.com Cloudspot: https://www.cloudspot.io Kartra: https://www.kartra.com Mailchimp: https://www.mailchimp.com Flodesk: https://flodesk.com/c/O75MQU Brand:  Tonic: https://www.tonic.site Davy and Krista: https://daveyandkrista.com/home Elizabeth McCravey: https://www.elizabethmccravey.com Carly Schematic Design: https://schematicdesign.co/ Greenchair Stories: https://www.greenchairstories.com Moo: https://www.moo.com Gear:  B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com Adorama: https://www.adorama.com KEH: https://www.keh.com (secondhand) MBP: https://www.mbp.com (secondhand) Education: (check out the wonderful offers from these former guests on Photo Fuel) Rachel Larsen Weaver: https://www.rachellarsenweaver.com Morgan Williams: https://morganwilliamsphoto.com/ Sabrina Gebhardt: https://www.sabrinagebhardt.com In person retreat/conference for 2025 The Reset Conference: https://www.theresetconference.com The Homestyle Accelerator! my 6 week small group coaching program - all the details here: https://www.leahoconnell.com/homestyle

    32 min

  2. NOV 18

    My Story: the roots, experience, failures, & inspirations that shaped my photography business + paying it forward

    As the person in your earbuds each week bringing you photography education and industry stories, I felt it was time to give you a little more context about my history and experience getting to this place.  I don’t have a fancy background or any official qualifications or fancy job history. My business has grown slowly and humbly - but maybe that’s exactly the kind of realness you need?   Failure after failure ultimately revealed something hidden and beautiful - a career that I love, that supports my family, and allows me to live in my purpose of creating light to the world.  Get ready for a touch of nostalgia as I share about my early inspiration and training in mall portrait studios along with - the setbacks that left me jobless and wandering after college the random people i met along the way who sparked the fire how I taught myself alongside the mentors and courses I've learned from the life circumstances that influence my style with both lifestyle and documentary approaches how I've grown my business over the course of having 3 babies the plateaus and breakthroughs I've experienced in my work what accountability and feedback has done for my business and why I believe it's the true secret sauce to success   If you're interested in joining the Homestyle Accelerator small group coaching program for family photographers with a focus on in-home photography and simplified, warm businesses - get on the waitlist at https://leahoconnell.com/homestyle  Enrollment opens Nov. 25 through 29 or until spots are filled!   // Other resources mentioned // Emily lucarez course: https://www.creativelive.com/class/lifestyle-family-photography-emily-lucarz Kirstin lewis class on Creativelive: https://www.creativelive.com/class/family-photography-creating-a-successful-business-kirsten-lewis Brooke shultz: https://brookebschultz.com/love-soaked Rachel Larsen Weaver : https://www.rachellarsenweaver.com/

    46 min

  3. NOV 11

    Discovering Your Strengths, Why Client Love Isn’t Enough, and the Impact of Support with Lydia Fine

    You likely have passion and excitement to create beautiful photos, but have you ever found yourself working behind the computer and thinking what the heck am I doing? Am I even doing the right thing? Am I doing the things that are actually going to help? Am I completely wasting my time? Today's guest is Lydia Fine, and our conversation circles around this idea of imposter syndrome with a sprinkle of support and the value of education and mentorship. Lydia is actually a student of mine and we've worked together in mentoring several times, so she shares a little bit about that experience and the unique gap that one-to-one mentoring filled for her in her personal and professional growth. Lydia grew up as a farm girl, she earned a marketing degree and an MBA, and she has two kiddos with her husband. She runs Apollo and Ivy Photography focused on families, seniors and newborns. // Topics we discuss // The difference between affirmation in the formal workplace vs entrepreneurship How affirmation and lack thereof affects us (and clients loving their photos isn’t the same thing!) The reasons Lydia reached out to me for coaching and how it was the missing link in her growth Different types of education she recommends looking to for specific problems The role of coaching in confidence building through risk assessment The questions that helped Lydia uncover her strengths When it’s time to invest in one to one or group coaching and when you’re better served with things like courses The value of slow growth How to choose the right coach for you   // CONNECT WITH LYDIA //  Website: www.apolloandivy.com Instagram: @lydia_apolloandivy Lydia's freebies:  How to get clients with google reviews: https://apolloandivy.myflodesk.com/google-reviews The 3 client emails you're not sending yet: https://apolloandivy.myflodesk.com/3-emails Instagram Reel Series: Google Business Profile Tips for Photographers: https://instagram.com/lydia_apolloandivy   // CONNECT WITH LEAH //  Homestyle Accelerator Group Coaching : https://leahoconnell.com/group Leah's website: https://leahoconnell.com Leah on Instagram: @leahoconnell_photo

    35 min

  4. NOV 4

    4 ways to build momentum when you’re *not* busy in the fall

    Whether you're winding down your fall season or you're still in the thick of the season, not *everyone* experiences that "busy fall" photographers like to talk about. Maybe you're reflecting on what this fall looked like for you and instead of being filled with clients sessions, it was kind of stale. Maybe you weren't as busy this fall as you usually are, or you're just getting started and you've never had a busy fall yet. Maybe you've moved to a new city, or you're on maternity leave, or just going through a lull - but when you go to Instagram and you see everyone doing sessions and sharing fall work and editing cues and whatever, it can be discouraging. SO in this episode I'm sharing four things that you can do to capitalize on the fall energy and build momentum, even when your work que is slow. Through personal stories and advice, we'll create excitement around the slower seasons to use them well with the big picture in mind.      // LINKS DISCUSSED // Ultimate list of freebies : https://leahoconnell.com/learn The Firefly Letters: https://leahoconnell.com/newsletter Episode 5: 6 shifts that helped me grow my photography business

    17 min

  5. OCT 28

    Photography Business Fears and Horror Stories 🫢

    Ever had a heart-stopping moment when you realize your camera is dangling too close to the ocean or you check your camera back 100 times on the way to a session because you irrationally think you forgot all your gear? Or show up to the wrong house?  Or loose images from a session? As a family photographer with over 15 years of experience, I've had my share of irrational fears and horrifying experiences, too. In this episode, I'm candidly sharing not just my personal stories of mishaps and embarrassing moments, but the invaluable lessons learned from these experiences. This spooky season, let's acknowledge that fear is an inherent part of our creative journey and so is facing that sometimes those fears come true. Can you show yourself you'll be alright, even if you mess up? This episode is a humorous twist on the ideas that keep us up at night, and hopefully will lead all of us into feeling a little less alone.    // connect with Leah //  Photo Fuel facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/photofuel/ https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn (free resources to help you grow) https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring (1:1 mentoring) https://www.leahoconnell.com/group (group coaching + course interest list)

    16 min

  6. OCT 21

    Seasons of Business, Marketing with Intention, & Choosing Education Wisely with Sabrina Gebhardt

    Sabrina Gebhardt is a long time photographer who’s made it her mission to coach family photographers through bettering themselves and building thriving photography businesses. Sabrina is doing all kinds of work in the education space for photographers right now, but she is also photographing families and has been for 14 years. In this episode, we talk about -the ebb and flow of business and balance -the art of hustling in a healthy way and keeping that big picture view of the whole year  - the pitfalls of a scarcity mindset during slower seasons  - and continuing education and choosing the container and coach wisely to suit your needs   Sabrina is an expert on this because she’s not only participated in all the types of education herself, but she now has created and runs opportunities from free guides, to online courses, to 1:1 mentoring, to small group support, and of course the Root to Rise Retreat and Mastermind.  // connect with Sabrina //  Website: https://www.sabrinagebhardt.com Instagram: @sabrinagebhardtphotography // connect with Leah //  Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com Instagram: @leahoconnell.photo The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter 1:1 Mentoring: https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring

    36 min

  7. OCT 14

    Beyond the discounts : Navigating Black Friday as a Family Photographer

    Can Black Friday be about more than just superficial discounts? In today's episode, I'm talking through the complexities of Black Friday sales, especially for family photographers looking to maintain their artistic integrity and profitability. Rather than crafting a sale for your services, I want to propose some more creative thinking about how you might use this time of increased buyer attention to set yourself apart in a positive and productive way with 4 specific ideas to get you going (or walk away!). We'll challenge the idea that slashing prices is the only way to engage customers and explore how taking cues from Trader Joe's stable pricing approach might be the game-changer your business needs. // Join our private Facebook group to continue this engaging conversation and prepare for a successful, value-driven black Friday! //    Links:  Episode 12: Newsletters - what I learned from 1 year of The Firefly Letters  1:1 Mentoring : leahoconnell.com/mentoring Course + group coaching wait list : leahoconnell.com/group Free download: Gift certificate template // https://www.leahoconnell.com/gifts Advertising print materials: moo.com Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/photofuel/

    20 min

  8. OCT 7

    A Pre-Shoot Pep Talk / Meditation (Recenter yourself for your best work)

    This episode is airing originally in the fall, and because this podcast is specifically for family photographers, I’m assuming a lot of you are in your busiest part of the year. You’re travelling to a lot of shoots. Even if you don’t have a ton of work right now, every time you do go to a shoot, it feels especially important. If you are finding yourself in the dead center of tons of editing or in the car going back and forth to client’s homes, I want this episode to serve as a tool to recenter.    Whenever you’re feeling swirly or like you’re running out the door from your own personal whirlwind and you just need something to help plug you back into your purpose, I hope you’ll play (or replay!) this episode and discover peace and potential that will rev you up to create a phenomenal experience for the families who’ve hired you.    // connect with Leah // Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com Instagram: @leahoconnell.photo Waitlist for the mastermind + retreat: https://www.leahoconnell.com/group The Big Picture Workbook Freebie: https://www.leahoconnll.com/bigpicture

    9 min
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5
out of 5
11 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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