Motherhood Anthology: Photography Education for a Business You Love

It's been a hard year for a lot of photographers, and the questions keep coming back to the same place: how do you build something steady enough to weather the slow seasons? For this best-of episode, we revisited the four conversations from Season 5 that resonated most deeply with the TMA community, the ones that kept showing up in the group, on coaching calls, and in late-night DMs. Together, they paint a clear picture of what a business with strong foundations actually looks like.

In This Episode:

Why slow seasons are normal, necessary, and even useful, and how the photographers who stay calm are the ones still standing on the other side

The mindset shift from running a hobby to running a business, and why investing in support pays you back

How a clear membership structure and confident pricing can transform what a single client relationship is worth

Why showing up consistently, both online and in your community, is what helps the right people find and trust you

The throughline across all four conversations: artistry and strategy belong together

Each of these women is part of TMA in some way, whether as a mentor, a featured educator, or a member who turned a hard year into a defining one. If these conversations leave you wanting to be in the room where the work happens between episodes, this is your invitation.

Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: ⁠⁠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 ⁠⁠⁠

Some of the most memorable images of childhood aren't the polished, smile-on-cue portraits. They're the unguarded, in-between moments that capture who a kid really is. In this episode, Kim sits down with TMA mentor and Tampa-based photographer Laura Gattis to talk about her signature Childhood Narrative project, and what it looks like to build an offering that's entirely your own.

Topics Covered

How the Childhood Narrative was born and why it's different from a mini session, heirloom session, or personality portrait

Building a once-a-year signature offering that stands apart from what everyone else is shooting

The art of capturing authentic connection over posed perfection

Why a child mirrors the energy you bring, and how that shapes your approach behind the camera

Finding creative inspiration outside the photography world

Creating an offering rooted in your own style rather than chasing what's trending

The long-term payoff of treating clients well and building lasting relationships

Laura's approach is a reminder that the work that resonates most is the work that's truly yours. If you've ever felt the pull to create something different, this conversation will leave you inspired to lean into your own creative voice.

Connect with Laura:

http://www.lauragattis.com

http://www.instagram.com/lauragattisphotography

Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: ⁠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 ⁠⁠⁠

This week, Jen Olmstead of Tonic Site Shop joins the show for a real-talk conversation on why brand and website have become the true differentiators in 2026, plus a Q&A on the website questions photographers actually wrestle with.

In This Episode:

The new buyer's journey and why today's client is more cautious than ever

The shift from being "the best" to being "the only" in a saturated market

Why brand is the real moat that separates you in 2026

Why your story is the secret ingredient AI cannot copy

A practical Q&A on pricing, where to invest first, and Tonic templates built for photographers

The photographers who thrive in 2026 will not be the ones with the prettiest portfolios. They will be the ones whose websites sound, look, and feel like them. Your story is the secret ingredient, and this conversation is a clear-eyed look at how to put it to work.

Mentioned in This Episode:
Get 25% off Tonic Templates on 5/19 only, and 20% off through 5/22. Use code TMA at checkout: tonicsiteshop.com/shop

Get on the wait list for our next Coaching Week: 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 ⁠⁠⁠

This week, get a sneak peek inside a Coaching Call with TMA Mentor, Katie Lamb. In this conversation, Katie provides detailed advice on increasing prices, leveraging Instagram reels and keywords, delivering a high-quality client experience, and more.

Listen in for:

Recommendations for raising prices gradually or jumping to a higher price point

Strategies for consistent, targeted Instagram content and reels

Tips for natural newborn posing and efficient gallery editing

Insights on hiring an associate and implementing a client referral program

Guidance on email marketing and newsletter content

Connect with Katie Lamb:

⁠https://www.katielamb.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

This episode brings two photographers from very different chapters of business into the same conversation. One is in her thirteenth year. The other is in her first. What unfolds is an honest, real-time look at the questions, doubts, and decisions that shape a sustainable photography business at every stage.

In this episode:

Why investing in education and community early can shorten the learning curve and build confidence faster

Building a home studio with intention, including how to think through client experience when work and family share the same space

The power of client communication and boundary-setting, and how transparency around your schedule actually strengthens trust

Film photography as a creative medium, from how it shapes the way you shoot to what it gives back to your clients

The role of a trusted mentorship community in cutting through information overload and helping photographers grow with clarity

Whether you are just starting out or refining your approach after years in the industry, this conversation is a reminder that sustainable growth happens in community. Press play to hear how two photographers, in two very different chapters, are building businesses that support both their art and their lives.

Connect with Valerie:

https://www.instagram.com/valeriecallanphotography/

Connect with Janet:

https://www.jmphotography.life/

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 ⁠⁠⁠