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

The Missing Link to Your Photography Marketing with Michelle Franzetti

In this episode of Photo Fuel, I’m joined by Michelle Franzetti for a conversation that will knock your socks off, make you laugh, and make you think. It's part marketing lesson, part mindset shift, and all about building a family photography business that actually works in today’s world.
Michelle shares how her background in marketing shaped the way she approaches her photography business, and why age-old principles still matter more than any algorithm tweak.
We dig into what 2025 requires from small businesses, how to create a marketing plan that’s more than just “share and hope,” and the importance of designing seasons in your marketing so you have rhythm, clarity, excitement, and traction.
Michelle talks about why in-person connections are so powerful, even when they aren’t directly related to photography and what the real criteria is for a "successful" gathering. 
We talk about:
Michelle’s unexpected entry into marketing and how it shapes her business today
A simple but timeless take on marketing: be interesting & connect with people
What 2025 demands from small businesses (and how to adjust)
Why posting and hoping is not a plan—and what’s missing from the equation
How marketing seasons can keep you focused and motivated
The overlooked magic of in-person connections
Why hosting meaningful & FUN gatherings can fuel both your community and your business longevity 
This is a thoughtful, energizing conversation for any photographer who wants marketing to feel more human and more effective.
// LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE //Connect with Michelle:
Website: https://franzettiphotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_franzetti/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Michelle_Franzetti
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/558214206287176
Connect with Leah:
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
Voxer Coaching: https://www.leahoconnell.com/voxer
The Firefly Letters (weekly longform newsletter) - https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter

Set the Table: how to stop expecting your clients to perform for you and make anyone feel welcome

Today's episode is coming in short and sweet with a pep talk / tough love about a trend I've been seeing in the family photography industry. If you've been frustrated about working with families who aren't showing up and looking or acting the way you hoped, you need to take a listen. Have an open mind and humble spirit for this one, friends.
We are the vision casters and it's time we set a table that is welcoming. 
 
**Two 1:1 and/or Voxer mentorships open for the last quarter of 2025. If you want extra support in real time through your fall family photography season, learn more about mentoring at https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring
 
Free Resources for family photographers: https://www.leahoconnell.com/education
 
// CONNECT WITH LEAH // 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Mentoring: https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring
 

Strategic, Seasonal Booking and Creative Evolution in Family Photography with Lyndsay McNiff

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Lyndsay McNiff of Lyndsay Hannah Photography. This one’s packed with the kind of perspective that only comes from learning through the doing (for a very long time!) and so much knowledge about creative growth in family photography.
 
We talk about what it really looks like to fill a calendar season by season—not just chasing bookings, but shaping a business that fits your life. Lyndsay shares so many real-life insights about the early years of running a family photography business, from finding her footing with marketing to figuring out her offers, and how she has grown a reputation and repeatable business in her local area.
We also get into ideas around creative evolution—like how your style shifts over time. Lyndsay shares how learning off-camera flash changed the game for her in-home sessions and the horrible session experience story that set the whole thing off. Since then, Lyndsay has also grown from family photography into adding brand photography as well, and working with associates to support her demand.
Whenever we're talking about sustainability and growth in family photography, we obviously have to touch on boundaries, too. Lyndsay's tactical perspective on scheduling sessions with flexibily for both her clients and her own family is so insightful and might offer an alternative to the classic advice you've heard before.
If you’re somewhere in the middle of building your business—or honestly, just figuring it out season by season—this one’s going to meet you right where you are.
// LINKS //Connect with Lyndsay: Website: https://lyndsayhannahphotography.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndsayhannahphotography/Off-camera Flash for Beginners Course: https://lyndsayhannahphotography.com/off-camera-flash-for-photographersConnect with Leah: Website: https://www.leahoconnell.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell_photoFree Resources: https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn

The Four Fall Photography Pitfalls & How to Avoid them, + A Pre-Fall Peptalk

Fall photography season can feel like a whirlwind. Once you're in it, it's full steam ahead. Sure it's typically the most profitable for family photographers, but it can also be the most overwhelming. In this episode, I'm candidly breaking down four common fall pitfalls that can derail your season, plus practical strategies to set yourself up for success. 
The four traps we unpack are
The Overbooking Trap
Forgetting about Marketing 
Systems Chaos
& Creative Blocks
Plus, I won't leave you spinning - this episode wraps with a pre-fall pep talk to remind you are the BOSS. Trusting yourself to make those choices is where the real power lies. Let's prep for fall together by getting ahead of the mess and choosing to be in charge. 
 
// LINKS MENTIONED //Ep 28: 4 Ways to Build Momentum when you're *NOT* busy in the fall
The Complete Guide to Flodesk for Family Photographers: https://leahoconnell.com/the-complete-guide-to-flodesk-for-family-photographers/
Try Flodesk for 50% off - https://flodesk.com/c/PHOTOFUEL
Try Honeybook: https://share.honeybook.com/leah9738526
 
Other CRM's options for photographers: Iris Works
CloudspotDubsadoSprout Studio
Shootproof

Staying Open to Growth, Redefining Risk, and Betting on Yourself with Annemie Tonken

In this week’s episode of Photo Fuel, I sit down with Annemie Tonken—photographer, educator, and host of the This Can’t Be That Hard podcast—for a thoughtful, no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to run a sustainable photography business in a changing world.
This conversation goes beyond productivity hacks or pricing formulas, because while all those logistics are so important, they are secondary to the heart and brains of your business. So today we’re talking about things like how handle discomfort and failure, the parallels between business and parenting, and how to find peace and momentum even when things feel hard.
We talk about things like:
Addressing risk and ego in entrepreneurship
How to push through discomfort without heading toward burnout
Finding strength and opportunity amidst market shifts
How to raise your prices or shift your editing style with confidence
Building predictability in a seasonal or uncertain market
How to find peace, empowerment, and creative fuel in tough times
// LINKS // 
Connect with Annemie:
Annemie’s Website: thiscantbethathard.com
Revenue on Repeat:  https://www.thiscantbethathard.com/revenue
Connect with Leah: 
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Education + *NEW* Voxer Coaching https://www.leahoconnell.com/education
Join The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Join the Email List for Photographers - https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn
 
 

Spring Checkpoint (+ a podcast update)

We’re now over 50 episodes into the Photo Fuel Podcast, and I’m coming to you from the messy middle with some real talk. In this episode, I’m sharing a big update on the future of the podcast and why I’m choosing to step back from weekly episodes—for now.
If you’ve been tuning in regularly, you know I’m all about sustainable business practices and aligning your creative work with your actual life. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my own quarter-end reflection around creating educational content and the red flags that have me pausing.  + 5 questions you can add to your own regular checkpoints to make sure you're growing in the right direction.
 
Whatever your dreams and visions were for the first part of the year, I hope you'll give yourself grace to consider the full picture. 
 
 
// LINKS MENTIONED // 
Episode 6 - The Key Ingredient to your success
Episode 8 - Resetting your inspiration when you don't feel like shooting
The Shop - https://www.leahoconnell.com/shop
Learn Page - https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn
// CONNECT WITH LEAH //Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
 

Help clients decide what to wear (without being a stylist or stocking a client closet).

One of the biggest questions that comes up for clients when preparing for their session is "what do I wear?" As the photographer, it's good service to help them with that!  But that doesn't mean you have to become a full-on stylist, stock a client closet, or put them in a cookie cutter formula of "what looks good." Of course, full styling is an option that serves some photographers and clients very well! It's all about your goals and the type of images you're marketing.
But if you want to empower your clients to make clothing choices that feel natural and genuine to their actual style and make them feel great just being themselves... this episode is for you. 
 
I'm coming in with 6 tips to help your clients decide what to wear without *TELLING* them what to wear. This episode is quick and actionable to encourage you that providing great customer experience can look a lot of different ways (and so can your clients!). 
 
// LINKS MENTIONED // 
 
connect with Leah: www.leahoconnell.com
1:1 mentoring: https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring
THE SHOP: https://www.leahoconnell.com/shop
IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
 
 
 
 

Extended Family Sessions: My Approach & Tips for Success

Extended family sessions can feel like a whole different ballgame compared to standard family shoots—more people, more potential, and more opinions! In this episode, I’m sharing why I actually love extended family sessions and how you can approach them with confidence and creativity.
We’ll cover:
Why photographing at home makes a difference and how to make it work
My philosophy on pricing extended family sessions
Balancing posed portraits with candid, natural moments
Navigating group dynamics, including when tension arises
Activities that help families relax and connect naturally
Tips for keeping it fun, intentional, and drama-free
Whether you already love extended family sessions or they make you nervous, this episode will give you practical strategies to create beautiful, meaningful images—no matter the size of the group. 
 
// LINKS MENTIONED //
THE SHOP: https://leahoconnell.myflodesk.com/wnln59l5yj
 
Blog posts about extended family sessions:
A backyard large extended family session
Extended family photos at home with all adults
An extended family session at home (with Thanksgiving dinner + backyard baseball!)
 
// CONNECT WITH LEAH // 
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com/education
Learn for free: https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn
IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
 

Building a Bold Brand & Exceptional Client Experience with Christine Dammann

Creating a standout brand and an unforgettable client experience is key to building a thriving photography business, and Christine has mastered both. In this episode, she shares how her bold, playful branding attracts her dream clients and how she ensures stress-free, enjoyable sessions through thoughtful preparation and communication.
From detailed prep guides to surprise gifts and heartfelt follow-ups, Christine’s client experience strategies go the extra mile. In this episode she gives us all the details for her process from start to finish. 
We also dive into the importance of finding community, trusted mentorship, and staying inspired through playing with your camera just for fun! Whether you're looking to refine your workflow, strengthen client relationships, or elevate your brand, this episode is packed with insights to help you refine your family photography business with purpose. 
 
// CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE // 
www.christinedammann.com
IG: @christinedammannphotography
Christine’s freebie for glowing google reviews: https://christinedammann.com/google-freebie
 
// OTHER LINKS MENTIONED //
Christine's Brand design by Bella Maven: https://bellamavenstudio.com/
 
// CONNECT WITH LEAH // 
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com/education
Learn for free: https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn
IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
 
COMING SOON - THE SHOP: leahoconnell.com/shop

One Year of Photo Fuel: A Candid Q&A on Business, Conferences, Balance, Social Media, and more

🎉 Happy One-Year Anniversary to Photo Fuel! 🎉
This week marks a full year since I launched this podcast, and I want to celebrate with a special Q&A episode! I asked my email list to send in their biggest questions—about photography, business, motherhood, and more—and wow, you guys delivered.
In this candid, coffee-chat-style episode, I’m answering:📸 How to handle tricky toddlers in family sessions🎤 Behind the scenes of the Reset Conference💡 My biggest accomplishment in business 📱 How to approach social media as a new photographer👩‍👧‍👦 How my business changed after having kids
Thank you for being here—this milestone wouldn’t be possible without you! 💛
 
// Links & Resources Mentioned//📌 Lovesoaked Course (Affiliate)🎧 Free Audio Training: 3 Tips for Endless Posing Variety🎟️ The Reset Conference💬 Book a Free 1:1 Mentoring Call → leahoconnell.com/call📊 Right Track Audits → leahoconnell.com/righttrack
Enjoying the podcast? If you’ve been loving Photo Fuel, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a quick rating or review on Apple Podcasts with why you love the show! And always feel free to DM me (@leahoconnell.photo) to let me know what you'd love to see more of on the show in the next year!