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

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
 

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 LeahLeah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Leah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

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 LeahLeah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Leah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

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/@davidherringDAVE’S WEBSITE: Dave.online// CONNECT WITH LEAH //Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.comLeah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

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
 
 
 

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
 

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 photographersEpisode 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

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

What Even *Is* a Mastermind?! Inside the Photo Fuel Retreat for Family Photographers

WHAT EVEN IS A MASTERMIND?!In today's episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my upcoming Retreat + Mastermind: what it is, who it’s for, how it works—whether or not it could be your next best yes if you're ready to step into a new chapter of growth for your business and art.
We’ll explore:
Why doing solo courses and tutorials work great until they don't anymore.
How hands-on work and meaningful real-time feedback can create a shift in your work (so you quit memorizing poses and start seeing beauty and opportunity).
What the retreat/mastermind includes
Who this experience is made for and when you might not be quite ready for it 
How this experience is different from other retreats and masterminds in the photography world
The common hesitations—“Is it worth it?” “Am I experienced enough?” “How will this fit my life and family?”—and honest answers to each
My personal stories from retreats and masterminds in my own career journey and how they shaped me, because I'm not blowing smoke - I know from experience
Even if the Photo Fuel Retreat isn't for you right now, this episode is full of insight into next-level education and what it looks like so when you *are* ready to take that step in your career, you know what to look for. 
Head to https://www.leahoconnell.com/retreat for all the details in and make sure you're on the waitlist for first dibs when spots open later this week (Nov 2025). As always, reach out any time with your feedback or questions via email or IG @leahoconnell.photo to chat about if this next step is right for you.Let’s re-ignite your creative fire, align your business with your life, and make work that fuels your creativity, your art, your business, and your people. //CONNECT WITH LEAHwebsite: https://www.leahoconnell.cominstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
 

Back To School Ask Me Anything | Family photography, school photos, burnout, submissions + more

This week's Photo Fuel is time to get candid and answer some of your direct questions! From the reality of avoiding burnout (is it even possible?!) to the behind-the-scenes of school photography, I've got some THOUGHTS.
We’ll talk about setting yourself up for success in your first years, film vs. digital (gasp) how to handle feedback or rejection when it comes to things like magazine submissions,  and stick around until the end of this episode becaaaaause—I have a big announcement! The very first Photo Fuel Retreat is coming to Virginia in the Spring of 2026! 
 
Whether you’re just starting your family photography business or you’ve been at it for a while and are looking for perspective and some relatable honesty about the industry, this AMA episode has something for you!// LINKS MENTIONED //
Episode 5: 6 Shifts that Helped Me Grow My BusinessEpisode 30: My Story - The roots, experience, failures, and inspirations that shaped my photography business + paying it forwardEpisode 42 : 3 Times Photographers Should Shoot for Free + a case for generosity 
 
School Photography Course Interest : Sign up here
THE PHOTO FUEL RETREAT & MASTERMIND: https://www.leahoconnell.com/retreat