Motherhood Anthology: Photography Education for a Business You Love
Kim Box from the Motherhood Anthology
Kim Box from the Motherhood Anthology
Welcome to The Motherhood Anthology podcast: photography education to create a business you love. This podcast will serve as an invaluable resource to guide you in the world of motherhood photography and owning your own successful photography business. Tune in weekly to hear from us and some of our most admired friends and colleagues as we share some of our greatest tools, how-tos, successes, failures, and everything in between.
3d ago
In this episode of The Messy Middle, Ali sits down with Carly Matthews—a motherhood and newborn photographer, mom of four, and TMA member—to talk about building a profitable photography business while raising babies. Carly shares her biggest wins from 2025, including how she pivoted her scheduling to better serve her family, traveled for three weeks without stopping her business momentum, and shifted her mindset around client communication. This conversation is full of practical encouragement for photographers navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Topics Covered: Pivoting your schedule to fit your season of life (weekdays vs. weekends) Running your business while traveling with young kids Staying neutral in client communication to reduce stress Building long-term client relationships through genuine connection Knowing yourself as a creative and setting boundaries accordingly Finding work-life balance when you're a mom of multiples Check out Pic-Time: https://motherhoodanthology.pic-time.com/referral Check out Picture Perfect Rankings: Group Coaching: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/found-booked/ Learn more: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/ Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
Dec 9
In part two of this conversation, Kim and Allison Rodgers dive into the practical side of building a sustainable photography business. Allison shares her approach to in-person sales, how to find and keep ideal clients, and why slowing down might be the best thing you can do for your business. She also opens up about loss, creativity, and her new self-portrait project. If you've ever wondered how to charge what you're worth or felt like you're doing too much, this conversation will give you permission to do less and create more. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Your best advertising isn't social media. It's getting your work on your clients' walls where their friends can see it What feels old to you is completely new to your clients, so don't get bored with your signature work too quickly Success isn't about working harder. It's about being compensated well enough to buy back your time Getting in front of the camera yourself reminds you how hard it is for your clients and makes you a better photographer The fastest way to grow creatively is to create something for yourself, not just for what you think will sell Connect with Allison: https://www.allisonrodgers.com/ Check out Pic-Time: https://motherhoodanthology.pic-time.com/referral Willow Canvas: http://willowcanvasbackdrops.com/ Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
Dec 2
In part one of this two-part conversation, Kim sits down with photographer Allison Rodgers to talk about building a photography business that lasts. Allison shares her journey from art director to full-time photographer, and opens up about pricing, client experience, and why she believes in doing less but doing it better. If you've ever felt mad during a session or wondered how to charge what you're worth, this honest conversation is for you. KEY TAKEAWAYS: When prices feel too low, create something new and exciting instead of announcing a price increase across the board You know it's time to raise your prices when you're angry during sessions and feel like a button-pusher instead of an artist In-person sales appointments help you become a better photographer because you see how clients respond to your work People attach emotions to images based on the experience of creating them, not just how the photos look Doing less work with more intention creates better results than trying to do everything for everyone Connect with Allison: https://www.allisonrodgers.com/ Check out Pic-Time: https://motherhoodanthology.pic-time.com/referral Check out Picture Perfect Rankings: Group Coaching: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/found-booked/ Learn more: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/ Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
Nov 25
In this hot seat episode, Katie Lamb coaches photographer Pola Seely on becoming the go-to in-home newborn photographer in Columbia, South Carolina. They discuss strategic approaches to portfolio building, marketing messaging, and creating an exceptional client experience. Katie provides actionable advice on niching down, building authority, and leveraging word-of-mouth marketing. Key Themes: Portfolio Consistency & Positioning – Creating recognizable work and ensuring your online presence clearly showcases your in-home newborn specialty Brand Messaging & Marketing Strategy – Developing authentic messaging that addresses client hesitations and articulates why in-home sessions are ideal Building Local Authority – Establishing expertise through educational content, hyper-local partnerships, and SEO optimization Exceptional Client Experience – Creating referral-worthy experiences by eliminating stress points and adding thoughtful touchpoints throughout the process Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
Nov 18
If you get stressed out about algorithms, hashtags, engagement, and how to grow your photography business on Instagram, then this episode is for you! Today, Kim is joined by TMA educator, Amber Courtney, talking all things Instagram. Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
Nov 11
Building a photography business while juggling a full-time job, kids at home, and financial uncertainty might feel impossible, but it's not. In this Messy Middle episode, community manager Ali Payne and TMA group expert Ellen Wagner tackle the most common obstacles that keep photographers stuck between starting out and running a profitable business. From pricing fears to mom guilt, they offer real, unfiltered advice on pushing through to build a business that truly supports your life. **In This Episode:** - How to grow your photography business while working a full-time job - Carving out time for your business when you have kids at home - Why investing in education before you're "making enough" is essential - Overcoming pricing fears and charging what you're worth - The power of one "yes" to start your momentum Connect with Ellen https://www.instagram.com/ellenwagnerphoto/ Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
Nov 4
In part two of our conversation with Aga and Nirit from Pic-Time, we're exploring the practical steps photographers can take to start selling prints, the role AI plays in supporting creative work, and the trends shaping the future of our industry. This is part two of our conversation! If you missed part one, go back and listen for the full picture. Topics Covered: Choosing the right products to sell The power of abandoned cart and early bird automations Starting the conversation about prints with clients How Pic-Time uses AI to support photographers The future of interactive, personalized galleries And so much more! In a world increasingly dominated by screens and digital overload, tangible memories matter more than ever. Your clients are ready, are you? Check out Pic-Time: https://www.pic-time.com/ Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
Oct 28
If you've been waiting for the right moment to prioritize print sales, this is it. The last quarter of the year isn't just busy, it's when your clients are most ready to invest in tangible memories. The strategies shared in this episode can help you create gallery experiences that feel personal, professional, and impossible to resist. Your images deserve to be printed, and your clients deserve to experience them in a way that lasts. Be sure to tune in next week for part two of this conversation where we'll continue exploring even more ways to maximize your print sales with Pic-Time. Topics Covered in Part 1: Why printing matters in a digital-first world The origin story of Pic-Time Creating personalized gallery experiences The power of smart automation for print sales Why Q4 is your biggest sales opportunity How to use Black Friday campaigns effectively Pre-designed products and packages that convert Check out Pic-Time: https://www.pic-time.com/ Connect with The Motherhood Anthology Join TMA! Enrollment link - https://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
