Raw Edit

Kellie Llwellyn & Sarah Monson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Join Sarah Monson (Sarah Monson Photography, Benton, WI) and Kellie Llewellyn (Kellie Rochelle Photography, Williston, ND), two passionate senior photographers and best friends. Get ready to ditch the fluff and embrace the RAW Edit a podcast for photographers who crave unfiltered conversations, actionable tips, and a whole lot of real talk about building a creative business that thrives. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, RAW Edit is here to help you level up your skills, get inspired, and most importantly, keep it real.

  1. 5D AGO

    E24: How Sarah turned Real Estate Photography into Weekday Revenue

    Slow season hits every photographer eventually — and it’s not just a “less money” problem. It’s a mindset problem. In this episode of The RAW Edit, Sarah gets real about what slow season photography does to your brain: the inquiry slowdown, the white space on your calendar, and the way it can make you question everything about your business. Instead of telling you to hustle harder or discount your sessions into the ground, Sarah shares what has created real stability for her over the last five years: real estate photography as a weekday income stream. This isn’t about quitting senior photography. It’s about building smarter. Sarah breaks down how real estate photography fills the gaps during slow season—especially for Midwest photographers who can experience months of winter slowdown. She shares her typical workload (3–4 houses a week), the benefits of weekday-only scheduling (9am–3pm, no evenings or weekends), and why real estate agents value consistency just as much as photography clients do. You’ll also hear the behind-the-scenes truth about why boundaries matter. Sarah shares what she’s learned the hard way: showing up to homes that aren’t photo-ready, dealing with homeowners following you around (wide angle lens problems), and even getting bit by a dog—leading to non-negotiables like staged homes, no loose pets, and agents meeting you onsite. This episode also gives practical direction for photographers who want to try real estate photography: how to practice using your own home or friends’ homes, build a small portfolio, pitch local realtors, and prepare for the fast turnaround expectations (12–24 hours). Sarah also mentions her free 7-minute training, “3 Reasons Real Estate Agents Hire Photographers,” which is linked in the show notes and includes a waitlist for her full real estate photography course launching in May. 7-Minute Free Training Video If slow season photography has you spiraling, this episode will give you perspective, strategy, and an actual plan. —--------------------------- Kellie Rochelle Photography: https://kellierochelle.com/ Follow Kellie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellierochellephotography FREE! One Voice Note Trial: https://kellierochelle.com/blog-in-a-box Senior Sunday Course: https://kellierochelle.com/senior-sunday-system-1 Sarah Monson Photography: https://smonsonphotography.com Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmonsonphotography Free Video 3-Reasons Why Real Estate Agents Hire Photographers: https://smonsonphotography.com/real-estate-photography

    29 min

  2. MAR 18

    E23: The System That Turns One Senior Session Into a Week of Content

    If you’re a senior photographer constantly wondering what to post next, this episode will change the way you think about content forever. In Episode 24 of The RAW Edit, we break down the Senior Sunday system — the exact workflow that turns one high school senior session into a full week of strategic, SEO-friendly content. This isn’t about “posting more.” It’s about posting smarter. The Senior Sunday system starts with one simple habit: leaving a messy voice note immediately after your session. Instead of waiting until slow season to blog (and forgetting half the details), you document everything in real time — the weather, the outfits, what made your senior laugh, what mom forgot, all of it. From there, that one voice note becomes: A fully optimized blog postSEO title, slug, and meta descriptionInstagram carousel captionReel captionFacebook postPinterest pinsGoogle Business updateYouTube Shorts descriptionWe also talk about how this system improves your client experience. Using a fun senior questionnaire creates natural touch points and personalization opportunities that most photographers skip. When seniors feel seen, they share. When moms feel proud, they promote you. And that’s where the real marketing magic happens — organic sharing, trust building, and authority in your local market. If you specialize in high school senior sessions, volume sports photography, or mentoring photographers, this episode will show you how to build consistency without burnout. Because visibility doesn’t come from random posting. It comes from systems. _________________________________________ Kellie Rochelle Photography: https://kellierochelle.com/ Follow Kellie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellierochellephotography FREE! One Voice Note Trial: https://kellierochelle.com/blog-in-a-box Senior Sunday Course: https://kellierochelle.com/senior-sunday-system-1

    15 min

  3. MAR 4

    How Blog in a Box Turned Senior Sunday Into a Marketing Machine

    If blogging your sessions feels impossible, Episode 22 of The Raw Edit is about to change everything. In this episode, Kelly walks through the Senior Sunday system, a marketing workflow built specifically for photographers—especially senior photographers who want consistency without burnout. The heart of the system is simple: record a voice note after each session. That voice note becomes the foundation for SEO-optimized blog posts, Instagram captions, Facebook content, Pinterest pins, and even image alt text. We also introduce Blog in a Box for photographers, a free trial that gives you a done-for-you blog outline, SEO title, meta description, captions, and keywords. It’s the easiest way to experience the system before the full Senior Sunday course launches. We talk about: Why parents sharing blog posts boosts organic SEOHow blogging primes the next senior classThe importance of context when using AI toolsCustomizing ChatGPT so your content still sounds like youWhy image alt text matters more than you thinkKelly also teases future updates, including YouTube and Reel caption support—making Senior Sunday a true multi-platform marketing system. If you shoot seniors, families, branding, or volume sports and want your marketing to finally keep up with your talent—this episode is a must-listen. 👉 Grab the free Blog in a Box trial 👉 Listen to Episode 22 now Your future, fully-booked self will thank you. ________________________________ Kellie Rochelle Photography: https://kellierochelle.com/ Follow Kellie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellierochellephotography FREE! Blog in a Box Trial: https://kellierochelle.com/blog-in-a-box use coupon code 57FREE to download a free trial. ________________________________ Sarah Monson Photography: https://smonsonphotography.com Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmonsonphotography

    17 min

  4. FEB 18

    How We’re Setting Goals and Taking Back Our Time in 2026

    In this episode of RAW Edit, we’re throwing out the pressure of perfect goals and talking about what really works when it comes to work-life balance for photographers. Sarah and Kellie talk about planning their calendar for the year ahead and what they are doing in their off season. From scheduling life first (vacations, holidays, school breaks) to reverse engineering business around real life, they break down the strategies that keep them from burning out. Kellie shares how monthly goals are changing the game. Sarah talks about how she only shoots seasonally — and how that choice saved her sanity. They also bust the myth that you have to shoot weekends. Newsflash: weekday sessions are where it’s at — and clients are way more flexible than we give them credit for. The conversation turns to slow seasons — and why photographers should use that time to batch content, take courses, build workflows, or just... chill. They also touch on marketing strategies, platform-specific outreach, and how to stand out in a saturated market with your brand voice. If you’re ready to stop overcommitting, set goals that make sense, and finally plan your biz around your real life — this one’s for you. Kellie Rochelle Photography: https://kellierochelle.com/ Follow Kellie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellierochellephotography Sarah Monson Photography: https://smonsonphotography.com Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmonsonphotography

    23 min

  5. FEB 4

    E20: The 2025 Planning Reset That Changed Our Business

    In this RAW Edit episode, we’re getting real about our 2025 planning and workflow reflection — what worked, what didn’t, and what we’re doing differently in 2026. We kick off with a hilarious tech fail (classic), then dive into how we’re building our calendars around our actual lives — not just the client grind. Sarah’s transitioning away from weddings and families and diving all-in on seniors and school sports (she’s photographing 575 students this year!). Kellie’s prioritizing weekends with her family, even if it means a pay cut. Real boundaries, real joy. We unpack the power of being selective about education and events. In 2025, we attended The Reset Conference and also said yes to the Root to Rise Alumni Retreat with Sabrina Gephardt and a work weekend with Natasha (NPS Photography) in Palm Spring twice (gasp!). — if it doesn’t spark joy or align with our goals, it’s a no. We also talk about what we’re not doing anymore — like hustling through burnout, overbooking just to say we’re busy, or pouring into platforms that don’t serve us. Instead, we’re leaning into systems, seasonal schedules, and content that actually connects. This episode is basically a warm hug and a reality check for photographers figuring out how to love their businesses again. We’re building 2026 with intention, rest, joy, and a whole lot of unhinged honesty. If you’re ready to reset and rethink your own workflow, this one’s for you. Kellie Rochelle Photography Follow Kellie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellierochellephotography/ Sarah Monson Photography Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmonsonphotography/

    31 min

  6. 09/23/2025

    E19: You’re Not Bad with Money — You Just Don’t Know Your Archetype w/ Kelly Marshall of TerraCare Financial

    If you've ever said “I’m just not good with money,” this episode is about to flip that script HARD. 🙅‍♀️💰 In today’s RAW Edit episode, we’re diving deep into the heart of your biz finances — not your numbers, but your money personality. And for that, we called in a pro: Kelly Marshall, conscious money coach + founder of TerraCare Financial, and our go-to money BFF. Kelly introduces us to the Sacred Money Archetypes — a juicy, transformational framework that helps creative entrepreneurs finally understand why they do what they do with money. Hint: you’re not sabotaging your income on purpose. Your subconscious archetype is driving the bus — and it’s time you took the wheel. Whether you’re an Accumulator who saves obsessively, a Maverick who thrives on risk, or a Romantic who believes every Target run is self-care (guilty ✋), you’ll walk away from this ep feeling SEEN. We talk about: The 8 Sacred Money Archetypes and how to find yoursWhy Profit First might not be right for you (yet!)How your money story gets shaped by family, trauma, and old patternsWays to ditch shame and judgment around debt, spending, or savingHow to align your business strategy with your actual valuesKelly doesn’t just do the numbers — she does the deep work with money. And this convo? It’s the kind of unfiltered, mindset-shifting real talk you didn’t know you needed (but you 1000% do). 🎯 Want to find your archetypes? Take Kelly’s free quiz: terracarefinancial.com 🎧 Then dive in and learn how to stop copying business advice that doesn’t work for YOU — and start building your biz around who you really are.

    57 min

  7. 08/26/2025

    E18 - The Secrets to Authentic Senior Sessions (Even in a Tiny Town) w/ Ashley Mosier

    Ashley Mosier is living proof that small-town photographers can build big, bold, beautiful brands — without a model team, a massive market, or a million props. In this episode of RAW Edit, Ashley walks us through how she creates authentic senior sessions from the first consult to final delivery. With over 50 seniors a year, she’s built a thriving biz on prep, personality, and pure style. Here’s what we cover: 👉 Why pre-session FaceTime consults are her client experience secret weapon 👉 How to shoot in the same town over and over — and still make it feel fresh 👉 Editing tips (like her sneaky trick with the dehaze slider 👀) 👉 Why styling matters more than location — and how she guides her seniors through it 👉 Her full workflow from Imagine AI to Photoshop to Evoto 👉 The #1 thing seniors really want from their session 👉 What she would never give up in her business (spoiler: Botox makes an appearance) If you’re a senior photographer who wants to elevate your client experience, build real connection, and shoot confidently in any light, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen to Episode 18: The Secrets to Authentic Senior Sessions

    1h 2m

  8. 08/12/2025

    E17 - 5 Photographers, 4 Days, a Photographers Working Weekend: The Creative Reset You Didn't Know You Needed

    In Episode 17 of the RAW Edit Podcast, we’re taking you behind the scenes of our Working Girls Photographers Weekend in Palm Springs. It was four days of cameras, content, and chaos—with some SEO, chatbot building, and poolside edits thrown in for good measure. Our crew (Colie James, Nikki Caviness, Natasha Sewell, Kellie, and Sarah!) holed up in Natasha’s gorgeous desert home to reset our businesses and reconnect with our why. Spoiler: it was deeply needed. Here’s what we did: Worked on SEO, websites, galleries, and automationsShared biz advice, struggles, and those “wait, I’m not alone?” momentsAte at some amazing restaurantsWrapped it all up with a game of “Would You Rather: Photographer Edition”This episode is the audio equivalent of a group hug and a pep talk. If you’ve been feeling stuck, burnt out, or just craving connection with people who get this crazy biz—we made this for you. Whether you're deep in your season hustle or dreaming up your next volume sports system, this episode is a reminder: your creative breakthrough might be one work weekend away. Listen now and start planning your own photographers weekend (or, like, your backyard. That works too). Connect with us and our friends: Colie James - https://www.instagram.com/coliejames/ Nikki Caviness - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicavinessphotography/ Natasha Sewell - https://www.instagram.com/npsphotography/ Kellie Llewellyn - https://www.instagram.com/kellierochellephotography/ Sarah Monson - https://www.instagram.com/sarahmonsonphotography/

    24 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Join Sarah Monson (Sarah Monson Photography, Benton, WI) and Kellie Llewellyn (Kellie Rochelle Photography, Williston, ND), two passionate senior photographers and best friends. Get ready to ditch the fluff and embrace the RAW Edit a podcast for photographers who crave unfiltered conversations, actionable tips, and a whole lot of real talk about building a creative business that thrives. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, RAW Edit is here to help you level up your skills, get inspired, and most importantly, keep it real.

Information

  • Creator
    Kellie Llwellyn & Sarah Monson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Raw Edit 2025
  • Show Website
    Raw Edit

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