Motherhood Anthology: Photography Education for a Business You Love

Latest Episodes:

Episode 191: IPS vs. All-Inclusive: Choosing the Right Pricing Model for Your Photography Business Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

If every pricing conversation you hear seems to assume you've already switched to IPS, this episode is your permission slip to step back and ask a better question. Katie Lamb, Director of Education at The Motherhood Anthology, unpacks why the pricing model you choose was never the real driver of profitability, and what actually is.

Topics Covered

Why the "IPS vs. all-inclusive" debate is a false choice, and the full range of pricing structures (hybrid, collections, tiered packages) that exist between the two
What IPS genuinely does well: emotional context, no sales ceiling, and meaningful tangible products for clients
Why revenue is not profit, illustrated with a side-by-side of two $2,500 clients whose hours and cost of goods sold lead to very different hourly rates
The three math mistakes that quietly erode profitability under any model: skipping your cost of doing business, giving away what makes your work valuable, and ignoring how much time each client requires
Why lowering your time investment per client is a legitimate profitability lever that deserves the same respect as raising prices
How to find your minimum per-session number, and how to choose the pricing structure that gets you there in a way that fits your market, your clients, and the business you actually want to run

You don't have to abandon a model you love because someone else earns more with a different one, and you don't have to adopt IPS to be taken seriously. You do have to make the math work. This episode gives you the framework to run those numbers with clarity instead of comparison.

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 190: How to Break the Awkward First 30 Minutes of a Family Photo Session Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

What does it actually take to feel confident walking into a family session? In this episode, guest host Suzy Brown, a Chicago family photographer nearly two decades into her career, sits down for a real, unscripted coaching call with TMA member Kailey, a photographer just six months into taking on clients. The questions Kailey asks out loud are the same ones photographers are still wrestling with 10 and 15 years in.

Topics Covered

Why the first 30 minutes of a session feel awkward for almost everyone, and the simple walk-in-the-door approach that dissolves the wall for you and your families
How to handle the family member who does not want to be there, and why setting the tone before you lift the camera changes the whole session
Whether you can show up as your full self on your business account when you do not feel like your own ideal client, and how sharing "from a scar, not a wound" attracts the people who want exactly you
Why an exceptional client experience will outperform pure artistry financially, and what that means for photographers early in their journey
The mindset shift Kailey reached at six months in that many photographers take decades to find: you do not have to be perfect, and imperfect work is often the work families treasure most
When to use a pre-session Zoom call in your booking process, and how a 15-minute conversation gets families on board before you ever arrive

This conversation is a reminder that the people side of photography is learnable, that the pressure to be perfect is what stands between you and the work you want to make, and that none of us have to figure this out alone. Press play to listen in on the full coaching call.

About the Suzy Brown

Suzy Brown is a family photographer based in Chicago with nearly 20 years behind the camera. She has built her career on transforming family photos from a dreaded obligation into an experience families look forward to, and today she teaches other photographers how to lead family sessions with confidence. Suzy will be TMA's guest educator this November, going deep on leading a family session no matter who shows up or what mood they are in. Find her on Instagram at @simplybysuzy.

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 189: How to Plan a Styled Photography Session from One Simple Idea Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Ever wonder what actually goes into those breathtaking styled sessions you see other photographers pulling off? In this episode, Ali Payne sits down with TMA mentor Marie of Marie Elizabeth Photography to get nosy about her Becoming Styled Sessions, an afternoon of four fully styled shoots she opened up to fellow photographers. From a nautical romance session on a sailboat to blue Portuguese tiles in a historic farmhouse kitchen, Marie shares how one small detail can grow into an entire creative vision.

In This Episode

What a styled session actually is, and why it is far more achievable than most photographers assume
Why building at least one styled session a year keeps your creativity fresh and prevents your work from going on repeat
How styled sessions play the long game for your business, bringing in client inquiries years after you shoot them
Marie's process for planning a session from one simple idea, like a scarf, a location, or a feeling, into a complete mood board
How to stretch into trends while keeping the core of your brand intact
Leading a room of photographers: giving attendees creative autonomy while holding your vision
Why a styled session event is the perfect low-lift entry point if hosting a workshop or retreat feels intimidating

Whether you are dreaming up your first solo styled session or feeling called to invite other photographers into your vision, this conversation is proof that it all starts with one simple idea. Press play and get inspired to create something just for the joy of it.

About Marie

Marie is a motherhood, newborn, family, and maternity photographer serving DC, parts of Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Now in her tenth year of business, she taught for 13 years while building her photography business on the side before going full time nearly five years ago. She is a TMA mentor and the creator of the Becoming Styled Sessions.

Website: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/home/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marie.elizabeth.photo

Blog post: https://themotherhoodanthology.com/styled-session-for-photographers/

Marie's Becoming styled session waitlist: http://marie-elizabethphotography.com/waitlist-the-becoming

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 188: What's Next for TMA Education: Meet TMA's New Director of Education, Katie Lamb Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Kim Box has said before that spotting talent is one of the few things she'll claim to be good at. This week, she gets to prove it. Katie Lamb, longtime TMA mentor and educator, has officially joined the team as Director of Education, and the two sit down to talk about what she has already built, what members have been asking for, and where TMA education is headed next.

In This Episode

Why Katie said yes, and what a dedicated education role makes possible that no one person can do alone
The redesigned member dashboard: seven years of education, now searchable by topic, mentor, and need
The shift from selling information to delivering results, and why "less, but better" is the goal
What it means for a membership to feel like home, from the community to the education library
The education members are requesting most right now, including behind-the-scenes sessions, Fresh 48, product-based business transitions, and CRM workflows
How the community itself has become one of the most valuable parts of the $49 membership
A peek at what the team is exploring for members who want smaller groups, accountability, and support beyond the basics

Katie's vision is simple: you focus on the art you're making, and TMA makes sure you always know what you need to know. If you're already a member, she wants to hear what you're stuck on. That feedback goes straight into what she's building. If you've been thinking about joining, enrollment opens quarterly, and you can add your name to the waitlist at themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/.

Connect with Katie Lamb

Katie Lamb is a photographer, educator, and longtime mentor inside The Motherhood Anthology, now serving as TMA's Director of Education.

Website: https://www.katielamb.com/

Instagram: @katiebethlamb

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 187: Your Google Business Profile Is Doing More Than Your Instagram (If You Let It) with Melissa Arlena Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Your Google Business Profile might be doing more for your business than your Instagram, but only if it shows signs of life. In this solo episode, TMA mentor and SEO expert Melissa Arlena of Picture Perfect Rankings shares her simple monthly maintenance routine for keeping your profile active, accurate, and working to book you clients, all in about 20 minutes a month.

In This Episode:

Why an abandoned Google Business Profile signals to Google (and clients) that you may be out of business
The five-move monthly rhythm: posts, photos, reviews, performance check, and profile accuracy
What to post weekly and how to reframe blog shares so clients actually care
Using the performance tab as free keyword research for future blog content
Why Google changes your profile without asking and which rogue services to remove
A bonus tip on holiday hours that proves your business is alive and legit

Grab the Checklist

Melissa created a free printable checklist with all five monthly moves in order. Grab it at pictureperfectrankings.com/GBP, then make the first Monday of every month your marketing Monday.

If you're a TMA member, the replay of Melissa's full Google Business Profile setup workshop is waiting in the new TMA dashboard, and she's inside the membership year round answering your SEO questions. Not a member yet? Get on the VIP list so you're first to know when enrollment opens.

Connect with Melissa:

Google Business Profile Monthly Checklist: pictureperfectrankings.com/GBP
Picture Perfect Rankings: pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA (code TMA250)
Melissa's podcast: Get Booked

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 186: The Secrets of Santa Sessions with Kate Marie Portraiture Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Private Santa sessions are one of the most beloved offerings a portrait photographer can add to her calendar, but building them into a smooth, fully booked experience takes more strategy than most people expect. In this episode, Ali sits down with Kate Grabowski of Kate Marie Portraiture, an eight-year Santa session veteran based just outside of Dallas, Texas, who has refined her process from zero bookings in year one to selling out 24 spots in a matter of days.

In This Episode

Why early marketing (we're talking July) is the single most important factor in booking out Santa sessions, and why you shouldn't panic when spots don't fill immediately
How Kate structures a tiered launch, from a VIP client list to a "Nice List" sign-up to a public release, and why that sequence creates genuine urgency
The case for private, unhurried sessions and why marketing the experience (not just the photos) is what sets boutique Santa offerings apart
What Kate has learned about session length, scheduling logistics, and why she scaled back to one day after two exhausting back-to-back event days
Creative gifting ideas that elevate the client experience, from homemade gingerbread Play-Doh to jingle bells tied with velvet ribbon
How to get strong promotional images before you've ever run a single session, including working directly with your Santa for a pre-season shoot

Whether you're considering Santa sessions for the first time or looking to refine what you're already doing, Kate's honest, experience-driven perspective is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes the difference between a stressful day and a magical one.

If today's episode has you thinking about adding Santa sessions to your calendar and doing them well, the TMA membership is where that planning gets real support. Every month goes deep on one piece of the photography business, with live coaching calls, featured educators, and a community of photographers working through the same questions. Join the waitlist at themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/ and you'll be the first to know when enrollment opens.

Connect with Kate Marie Portraiture:

Kate Marie Portraiture: https://katemarieportraiture.com/
Kate's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemarieportraiture/
The Motherhood Anthology Membership: themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 185: How to Run a Profitable Photography Business Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

What does it actually take to build a photography business that's profitable? Not just busy, not just booked, but genuinely sustainable. This best-of episode pulls five conversations from the TMA archive to answer that question from five different angles, and the picture they paint together is more practical and more honest than any single episode could deliver on its own.

In This Episode

Laura Esmond on why simplifying your offer is the fastest path to profitability, and the "let go list" practice that helps photographers get there
Jodi Nemetz on the psychology-based niche that took her from $41,000 to multi-six figures, and what that arc reveals about the power of dialing in on one specific thing
Kayla Marie on the real framework for deciding what to outsource and what to own, including how your market type should drive that decision
Shannon Griffin on how a clear artist statement becomes a business operating principle, and why vision is a profit driver, not a creative luxury
Katie Lamb on why boundaries are the piece that makes everything else stick, and the mindset shift that turns "no" into a business strategy

Every photographer you'll hear today has found profitability through a different door. But the through-line is the same: clarity, intentionality, and the willingness to make decisions that align with the life you actually want to build.

If today's episode has you thinking about the deeper work behind a profitable photography business, the TMA membership is where that work continues. Every month goes deep on one piece of the photography business, with live coaching calls, featured educators, and a community of photographers working through the same questions. Join the waitlist at themotherhoodanthology.com and you'll be the first to know when enrollment opens.

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 184: Consistent Editing, Skin Tones, and Style Boards: Building a Photography Brand You Can See Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

You spent time and love building your brand, choosing your colors, your fonts, the feeling you want clients to have when they land on your website. But have you ever thought of your editing as part of that same visual identity? In this episode, guest host Shannon Griffin sits down with professional photo editor Nina Cornelison to talk about why the way you edit is just as much your brand as your logo, and how getting clear on your visual direction can finally solve the consistency struggles so many photographers face.

Topics covered in this episode:

Why your editing style is a visual identity of its own, and how treating it that way builds recognition and trust with clients across your portfolio, website, and Instagram
How creating a style board or reference board for your editing (just like a brand board) trains your eye and gives you something to come back to when you feel all over the place
The consistency question every photographer asks: how to keep your greens, whites, and skin tones cohesive across summer and winter sessions, studio and outdoor light, and even film and digital
Why a better preset will not fix your editing, and the observe, diagnose, adjust approach to use before you ever reach for one
Editing skin tones with care, including why consistency should never mean making everyone's skin look the same, and practical tips for masking and staying true to each person's real skin color
How overconsuming inspiration can pull you away from your own style, and how to put the blinders on and refine what is already working
Knowing your ideal client and how it shapes everything from black and white copies to gallery sizes to how much you retouch

Connect with Nina:

With more than two decades of creative and post-production experience, Nina Cornelison brings a discerning eye to photo editing and image curation. She is known for her careful attention to detail, mastery of color, and deeply collaborative nature, making her an integral extension of every team. Her background in fine art elevates her work beyond the expected and infuses every image with a transformative quality, remarked upon by photographers and photo editors alike. Nina is the leading post-production editor for some of the most sought-after photographers in the country and takes on a select number of new clients each year. Nina has had the privilege of supporting photographers whose work has been featured in Vogue, Town & Country, NY Times, and Brides.

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 183: How to Stand Out as a Photographer Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Standing out as a photographer isn't about being better than everyone else. It's about being the only. In this best-of episode, Kim pulls four conversations from the archive that together answer the question we hear more than almost any other: why should a client choose you specifically? With insights from Jen Olmstead, Anna Claire Collier, Annemie Tonkin, and Suzanne Brown, this episode gives you a working framework for positioning, niche, and brand in a market where beautiful work is everywhere.

In This Episode

Why "be the only, not the best" changes how you think about your brand
How an entirely new photography niche was built from nothing
Why staying relevant means noticing that trends never stop shifting
What actually creates value for clients beyond a pretty picture
How your own passions and personality become the thing that draws in your people

If you've been listening and thinking, "I want to figure out what makes me the only," that's exactly the work we do inside The Motherhood Anthology membership, with monthly featured educators, live coaching calls, and a community of photographers working through the same questions you are. Enrollment is open now at themotherhoodanthology.com.

Connect with TMA:

Website | Membership | Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.themotherhoodanthology.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/themotherhoodanthology ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/themotherhoodanthology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kim:

Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimbox.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimbox ⁠⁠⁠

Episode 182: Newborn Photography Secrets from the OG: Pricing, Slow Seasons, and Baby-Led Sessions with Danielle Hobbs Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

What do you do when business is slower than last year and your first instinct is to slash your prices? In this episode, Kim sits down with Danielle Hobbs, TMA's featured mentor for July and a veteran newborn photographer who has rebuilt her business from scratch multiple times as a military spouse. Danielle shares the honest, grounded perspective that only comes from nearly two decades behind the camera.

In This Episode:

Why lowering your prices is rarely the answer in a slow season, and what to do instead
Creative pricing strategies like entry-point collections and a "secret menu" back pocket offer
How Danielle structures the first 15 minutes of a newborn session for calm, unhurried success
Why lighting matters more than posing, and the case for baby-led sessions
What it really takes to rebuild a client base in a brand new city
The business decision that had the biggest impact on Danielle's success: shooting only what she loves

Whether you're navigating a slower year or building your newborn portfolio from the ground up, this conversation is a reminder that sustainable success is a long game built one client at a time. Danielle is TMA's featured mentor this July, and enrollment is open now. Join us inside the membership to see her brand new unfiltered behind-the-scenes session with a mom, two toddlers, and a newborn: https://themotherhoodanthology.com/photography-mentoring/

Connect with Danielle: