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

What's in my bag (In Home Photography Series Part 2)

In part two of the In Home Photography Series, I'm getting more technical and sharing exactly the gear (and tools!) I use for running my lifestyle family photography business. 
Buckle up for a light, fun episode of recommendations and go behind-the-scenes of what it takes to run my business. 
 
/// Links Mentioned ///
Gear:
Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera
Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera
Zeiss FE 55mm f/1.8 lens
Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Sony E
Brevite backpack (the jumper)
Coiro duel camera harness
Software: 
Sprout Studio - CRM // 20% off first year
Trello - project + weekly/monthly planning tool
Blog post about how I use trello
Mini Trello course
Flodesk get 50% off your first year 
The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter 
Freebie on posing for photographers list:
Freebie with gallery walkthrough video for photographers list
Wave - bookkeeping
Backblaze - cloud backup
Adobe - Lightroom + Photoshop for culling + editing
Pixellu/Smartslides (starter plan)- creating client slideshows
Stripe - payment processing
Showit - website + blog // get a month free
 
Connect with Leah: 
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
education: Https://www.leahoconnell.com/education

If you're nervous about light, try this! (In-Home Photography Series Part 1)

We're kicking off a series all about in-home family photography and this week, it's all about the one little trick I do that's made all the different with getting more comfortable in a variety of homes. 
If you've been nervous about lighting in home settings or the inability to location scout - this one's for you!
Links mentioned: 
Blog post : "tips for family photos with your dog" - https://leahoconnell.com/tips-for-family-photos-with-your-dog/
BTS of a full gallery walkthrough -  https://leahoconnell.com/walkthrough
In-Person Mentoring Sessions: https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring
Group Coaching Program Waitlist: https://www.leahoconnell.com/group
 
///
 
We're going weekly! (00:00:00)
Backstory about in-home family photography and finding your style (00:01:02)Leah shares an experience from a photography retreat, contrasting a beautiful home with a cluttered, colorful one.
Finding Inspiration in Different Environments (00:02:03)Discusses how different spaces can inspire photographers and the importance of entering environments with reverence.
Addressing Nervousness About Lighting (00:03:01)Leah identifies common fears photographers face regarding lighting in unfamiliar home settings.
Preparation leads to Confidence (00:04:00)Stresses the importance of preparation and confidence to combat nerves during in-home shoots.
Problem-Solving in to take this further (00:05:13)
Since you can't do location scouting in a home, what can you do instead? (00:06:11)Discusses the variability of shooting locations and how preparation can help photographers feel more in control.
The Two Gives and an Ask Method (00:07:06)
The Secret Trick (00:08:09)
Addressing Challenges and Troubleshooting During Shoots (00:11:01)Discusses the unpredictability of shooting conditions and how to adapt to unexpected challenges.
Building Rapport with Clients (00:13:59)Emphasizes the importance of relatable communication and breaking down social barriers with clients.
Mentoring and Coaching Programs (00:15:45)Details about Leah's in-person mentoring sessions and a future group coaching program for photographers.

Why I Don't Do Fall Minis (+ what works for me instead)

Right about now, many of you in the family photography world are probably starting to think about planning and marketing for your fall mini sessions. But do you *have* do them??
I am a family photographer exclusively and I do not offer fall mini sessions. Actually I don’t offer mini sessions at all.
If you feel stuck hating fall mini sessions because you think you *have* to offer them or need the quick cash, consider this alternative perspective. 
Mini sessions can be a great way to get started, get practice, and develop your skills. But at a certain point, you can decide if it's something that's really aligned with your business goals... or not.
That's what we're digging into today - My 3 main arguments against doing fall mini sessions and a few ideas for how to supplement your business income or calendar instead. 
 
Links mentioned:
QT albums: get 20% off your first order with code FUEL20 or a free studio sample - just reach out and mention Photo Fuel and they’ll get you hooked up with your album sample
The Big Picture Workbook: https://www.leahoconnell.com/bigpicture
Mentoring with Leah : https://leahoconnell.com/mentoring
 
SIGN UP FOR THE GROUP COACHING WAIT LIST! *coming 2025*
 
 
 

Pursuing a love of art, business, and people with Rachel Larsen Weaver

What a treat in today's episode - we have the legend Rachel Larsen Weaver with us.
Rachel is an artist-educator and photographer joyfully living on the Maryland beaches of the Chesapeake Bay. A mother to five and creator of moments, her enthusiasm for details and self-love are infectious, infusing creative sessions with a buoyant reverence for the simplest pleasures. Her portfolio and practice is fat-affirming, mindful, and genuine, focusing on the life and light of clients. Co-founder of NOW, NOW School, and creator of #FindingMyselfInPortraits and the original Long Form Sessions, Rachel travels the country documenting mothers, bodies, and details.
 
In this episode we cover topics like: 
Learning from the things that don’t work
How to craft your sweet spot offers by listening to what makes you unique 
The foundations of Rachel’s signature long-form sessions
How newsletters support your offers more just than sales
Rachel’s concept of “all work is personal”
Why it’s important to have variety with your influences
Contentment and growth
Seeing people with a loving gaze
How seeking presence in your daily life supports your art
The courage of curation
WOW - it's a packed one! 
 
// connect with Leah // 
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Instagram: @leahoconnell_photo
The Big Picture Workbook: https://www.leahoconnell.com/bigpicture
The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/education
 
// connect with Rachel // 
Website: www.rachellarsenweaver.com
Instagram: @rachel.larsen.weaver
Rachel's 4x4 - https://www.rachellarsenweaver.com/the-4-x4
Rachel's long-form sessions: https://www.rachellarsenweaver.com/longform

Newsletters : What I learned from One Year of The Firefly Letters

It’s pretty well understood that newsletters are a great form of marketing - anyone who’s had success with it will tell you that it is, but until you find your voice and your magic sauce with creating one, you’re likely to feel some dread around starting one, writing consistent emails, and generally feel a lot of resistance. Like many things in business marketing, it can bring thoughts of “am I being annoying?” or “is anyone even reading this?” or “what’s the point.” So if you’ve felt like this around newsletters at any point, this episode is for you. 
 
In June I reached a personal goal of sending a newsletter every week for one year and through that process of committing to a specific form of consistent marketing, I learned so much and today I want to share some of that with you - we’re going to address 7 big takeaways I’ve gathered from that challenge.
 
// Try out Flodesk at 50% off with the code: https://flodesk.com/c/O75MQU
 
// Connect with Leah //
 
Join the Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
The Big Picture Workbook: https://www.leahoconnell.com/bigpicture
 

Discovering what you were created to create with Morgan Williams

Developing a family photography business is rarely a straight path. Like most careers, it’s likely that there are some steps that are calculated and some that take us completely by surprise. That’s what happened to my guest on the show today, the lovely Morgan Williams, based out of Raleigh, North Carolina.
 
She focusses on in-home photography with families and newborns and teaches other photographers how to create the work they were created to create, but before she could do that for others, she had to figure out how to do it for herself.
 
In this conversation we talk about how and why she made the switch from almost exclusively photographing weddings to exclusively photographing families and newborns.
We also dive into what it’s like to build a business while raising babies and I believe that every time an artist that gets a little more real with what that looks like in their own story, the more we all collectively sigh a little relief in camaraderie knowing we are not alone. 
 
 
Links discussed: 
Preserving everyday magic: in-home family photography group coaching program
Flourish retreat and mastermind (a 6 month mastermind designed to show you how to discover your unique creative purpose and flourish in all areas of your life!)
Lit up course (in-home lighting course)
Family posing guide(a guide to creating authentic family imagery)
 
// Connect with Morgan //
Website: morganwilliamsphoto.com
Instagram: instagram.com/morganwilliamsphoto
Morgan's podcast: Life in Full Frame
 
// Connect with Leah / /
Website: www.leahoconnell.com
Newsletter / The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Private FB group for photographers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyphotogs.behindthescenes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo/
Email: leah@lofirefly.com

Website Work

If you have “work on my website” on your to-do list for this quarter or this year, today's Photo Fuel is on point for you. 
Whether you’re looking to improve it, working with a designer, using a template, or DIY-ing the whole darn thing, in this episode we’re talking through 2 major mistakes I see photographers (cough, me too!) make when tackling this project and what to do instead to prep yourself for an enjoyable and effective website glow-up. 
 
// Links Mentioned in this episode //
Right-track audits: https://www.leahoconnell.com/righttrack
Showit code for 1 month free: https://account.showit.com/r/firefly // or code firefly at checkout
The Big-picture workbook: https://www.leahoconnell.com/bigpicture
 
 
// connect with Leah // 
Website: www.leahoconnell.com
Newsletter / The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Private FB group for photographers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyphotogs.behindthescenes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo/
Email: leah@lofirefly.com
 

Connecting with clients by owning your story with Mary Catherine Wickman

When DC photographer Mary Catherine Wickman posted on instagram about her fears around being 35 and a family photographer without kids, her followers rallied around her in support, encouragement, and their own stories of relatability. In this episode, we talk about that caption - why she shared it, what happened, and what she (and all of us) can learn from it. 
 
Read the post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3AsIgNOcUj/
 
We also touch on: 
The way our vulnerability helps us connect in deeper ways with out clients and other photographers
The “age ceiling” in family photography and how we’re finding it’s a complete myth
The sacrifices of going from part time to full time
What it’s like to look around at what you’ve built and say ‘this is good.’
The value in participating in non-photography-related creative mediums
 
// CONNECT // 
Mary Catherine Wickman : www.marycatherinephotography.com | Instagram: @marycatherinephoto
 
Leah O'Connell:
Website: www.leahoconnell.com
Newsletter / The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Private FB group for photographers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyphotogs.behindthescenes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo/
Email: leah@lofirefly.com
The Big picture workbook: https://lofirefly.com/bigpicture
 
 

Resetting inspiration in your personal life (when you don't feel like shooting)

What do you do when you're being hired to make family photos, but you don't feel like picking up a camera? When you don't feel inspired by making photos of your own family? When you feel tired or bored with life but you're preaching about joy in little moments and soaking up the precious people you love? The natural burnout of parenthood and relationship has a unique way of seeping into our work as family photographers because the two are so closely intertwined.
In this episode, I’m going to share 3 things I practice to get re-inspired by my own life - and they have nothing to do with taking pictures. 
Ironically, they often lead to an ignited passion for photographing again and a realignment in my personal life with my contentment, delight, and art that spills over into my work. 
 
+ ((17:40)) 6 practical experiments *with* your camera that you can try to introduce play and get awake to your love for photographer again. 
 
 
// Links and sources mentioned //
Wildly Creative Life Podcast // When you don’t feel like creating anything: 
Wildly Creative Life Podcast // Can’t find any motivation: Try this instead
Book Rec: Do less: A revolutionary approach to managing time and energy for ambitious women 
 
Rachel Larsen Weaver’s self portrait guide
 
Artifact uprising:  15% off orders with code FIREFLYPHOTO15
QT Albums: 20% off first order with code FUEL20
 
The big picture workbook: https://fireflyphotography.myflodesk.com/bigpicture
 
// Connect with Leah //
 
•
Website: www.leahoconnell.com
Newsletter / The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Private FB group for photographers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyphotogs.behindthescenes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo/
Email: leah@lofirefly.com
 
 

Marketing, Privacy, and Social Media with Morgan Miles

Todays episode features a must-listen conversation for every family photographer! Morgan Miles is my guest and not only is she an incredibly talented family photographer, she is a full time marketing professor and studies consumer psychology at San Diego State University where she’s been teaching for over a decade. She has incredible insight into the growing trends of marketing in general and how it uniquely applies - at one point she brings up how she can’t think of another career that has the same marketing challenges as family photographers, and one of the reasons for that is privacy.
 
Topics we touch on:
Predictions about the future of marketing with client images
How AI plays a role in safety concerns
The shift with clients requesting privacy on social media
Naming your own values and boundaries around sharing personal work and your own family online as part of your marketing
Managing consent and client expectations or request for privacy
Safety tips for respecting our clients and kids 
Ideas for sharing personal work if social media isn’t something you want to engage in at all
Defining your personal and brand voice with authenticity 
The power of education to accelerate your growth
 
// NOTES + LINKS REFERENCED //
Blog post - "Do I need instagram for my photography business?" 
Click photo mini classes -
Pew Research Article on privacy:
SAS survey: 
Enzuzo article on privacy statistics
 
Morgan’s bio: 
Morgan is a mom to two, a marketing professor, and a lifestyle family photographer based in sunny San Diego, CA. She studied art and photography in college but didn't pick up a camera again until she was pregnant with her first child and has now been in business for four years. She is fascinated by the complexity of the parenthood journey and seeks to capture it in a way that feels both beautiful and authentic.
// Connect with Morgan //
Website: https://www.morganmilesstudio.com
INstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganmilesstudio/
 
// Connect with Leah //
The Firefly Letters - https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Big picture workbook (free) : https://fireflyphotography.myflodesk.com/bigpicture
Website: www.leahoconnell.com
Newsletter / The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Private FB group for photographers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyphotogs.behindthescenes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo/
Email: leah@lofirefly.com