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

3 Methods of Journaling | Increase your Noticing Power and better your photography, business, and life

Wait, this is a family photography podcast - why are you talking about journaling?
Writing and photography are so intertwined - they are both practices centered around noticing. I think the best thing you can do to become more tuned-in and capable of noticing is to record and reflect, so whether that’s with a camera or a pencil, the goal is the same.
Presence, depth, understanding, processing. 
The purpose of journaling it to build a habit of noticing, capturing, and valuing the small, mundane moments that can become powerful stories. And stories are fodder for the final product - the transformation we offer others, the ways we connect with people, the way we live our lives.
 
In this episode, I'm sharing 3 different ways to journal so you can pick a method that suits you best and gives you a new tool to better your artistic toolbox. 
 
// Links mentioned // 
The Artists Way by Julia Cameron 
My favorite notebook for bullet journaling
Video introducing the original form of Bullet Journaling
1:1 Mentoring
Storyworthy book
Storyworthy video intro

3 Big Picture Questions to Center your Goals for the New Year

As you’re taking some time over the next month to think big and set goals and get down to business on your business, I want propose a temporary pause to think past your gut reactions about what you “need” to do and how you’re going to “get back on the horse.” 
 
Not every question is going to pull a thread for you, but the right questions just might lead you down a path of discovery that you’ve been waiting for. These 3 questions I’m going to pose to you today come straight from my Big Picture Workbook - they’re 3 of the 10 questions that I use in that resource to help instigate discovery for your personal direction. Even if you’ve already downloaded and worked through that, I think these three in particular are worth revisiting regularly. 
 
 
// Links mentioned // 
Episode 33: EOY meeting 
Times article about thinking in the shower
The Big Picture Workbook
1:1 Mentoring
Right Track Audits
Group Coaching (The Homestyle Accelerator) Waitlist
 
 

The 5 Most Influential Books for my Photography Business Journey

As we're approaching the end of the year, maybe you're looking for a good book to kick back within the new year. So today I'm sharing 5 of the most influential books that have shaped my business, art, and life. Most of them are not even classified as "business books," but somehow, they top the list of books that have shaped the way I do business, how I think, and how I aspire to grow as a person. All of those things influence how I show up with and for people, + the art I create and how I bring it into the world. 
// Links mentioned // 
Episode 21: 4 simple copy tips to elevate your website
Free resources - leahoconnell.com/learn
Blog posts with book recommendations: 
favorite books of 2023
favorite books for creatives and small business owners
my 2024 book list
what I read in 2022 and my 2023 book list
 
Connect with Leah :IG: @leahoconnell.photoWebsite: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Free Photo Fuel FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/photofuel/

My 3 part process for holding an end-of-year meeting with myself | reflection, goal-setting, metrics and more

It’s time to start winding down your business from 2024 and whew, that’s an exciting time right? But before you can move onto goal setting and projects, this last month of the year is a beautiful time to take the pulse of your business. It's the imperative FIRST STEP to any kind of planning for the future. 
 
Making time for this process of reflection and study of what the heck actually happened this year in your business - and it can also be really fun, too! 
 
In this episode I’m sharing my process of holding an EOY meeting with myself. I'll take you behind the scenes of that process, the agenda, the questions i ask, and the metrics I tackle - so if you’ve never done this before you have a place to start and if you have you may find that you can pull some ideas from this to add in or tweak your current process. 
 
// FREE pdf from the episode: GRAB THE MEETING OUTLINE HERE. //
 
Other links mentioned: 
episode 26 with Sabrina Gebhardt
RIGHT TRACK AUDITS: https://www.leahoconnell.com/righttrack
 
 

Photographing your holidays and making personal "work" more fun

How do you find joy photographing your own holidays when your job is as a family photographer? How can you distinguish photographing in your regular life as fun, creative fuel vs obligation or "work?" (even if you love your work!)  I hear a lot of guilt from photographers around not making photos at home “enough.” So in this episode, I want to dispel that and bring back the fun, ease the guilt, and just give a friendly reminder about the big picture. 
 
Get ready for 5 tips for photographing and honoring your holidays with intention and joy. 
 
 
// Timestamps //
 
00:00:22: Recognizing the blur of personal photography and photography 'work'
00:01:01: Addressing guilt with not doing "enough"
00:03:12: Reevaluating what makes a photo "worthy"
00:04:00: Disrupting visual influences
00:05:47: Tip 1 - Distinguish personal photography from work
00:06:42: Tip 2 - Name what matters
00:08:09: Tip 3 - Play with different gear
00:12:15: Tip 4 - Try a timed approach
00:13:53: Tip 5 - Be a memory-keeper with other mediums
 
 
// Links mentioned // 
episode 12 with Rachel Larson Weaver
epsidoe 8: Resetting inspiration in your personal life
Photography and Play - Erin C. Garcia // photographs drawn from the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, https://a.co/d/dBbD8tM 
Jessica Todd Harper’s Here: https://a.co/d/eareauL
Sierra Madre Photography - website | instagram 
 
Free resources to connect and learn with me: https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn
 

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
 
 

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/
 

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

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

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)