Called to Both - Balancing Motherhood and Business for Photographers

Have you ever found yourself saying, "I can't create today because I'm just not feeling it." You may have bought into the lie that you need to be inspired to create. Maybe it's not as obvious, but it could be that you're putting off non-creatives tasks as well.

Inspiration is fickle and you can't wait for it to show up for you to work in your business. Your business needs you whether you're inspired or not. In today's episode, I'm sharing two stories in my own business around inspiration.

In This Episode You'll:

1. Learn why inspiration isn't a requirement for success.
2. Explore the story behind naming Photoboss.
3. Hear why I think a coach can help you take action.

Find it quickly:
:55 - The Lie of Needing Inspiration
2:03 - The Birth of Photo Boss
4:10 - Taking Uninspired Action
4:59 - Hiring a Business Coach

Mentioned in this Episode:
Photoboss® Facebook group

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

Are you stuck trying to plan with an unpredictable schedule? Being both a mom and an entrepreneur, every day can be different. That’s why today I am sharing a few solutions that have made a world of difference in my productivity and business. 

Today's episode is brought to you by Forewarn:

As photographers and creatives, we often walk into sessions with little to no background on the people we're meeting. That changes with Forewarn.

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In This Episode You’ll:

• Hear how to shift your mindset around what your schedule should look like and let go of beliefs that are holding you back.
• Discover a flexible framework built for the “call to both” life.
• Explore concrete tactics to make the most of the scattered pockets of time you do have.

Find It Quickly: 

2:04 - Traditional planning methods just don’t work

4:43 - Adjusting our expectations around our schedules

9:50 - Weekly priorities vs. a daily to-do

11:07 - Digital dashboard over a paper planner

14:12 - Plan in shorter timespans 

16:14 - Blocking my days by categories

17:18 - Creating buffer blocks

18:56 - Building your goals into a theme day

20:33 - Making the most of my childcare time

Mentioned in this Episode:

Episode 150 How to Reclaim Your Energy with Kim Perez: joymichelle.co/reclaim-your-energy-focus

Episode 60 How to Create an End-Of-Day Work Routine: joymichelle.co/end-of-day-work-routine

Episode 59 How to Create a Start-Of-Day Work Routine:

joymichelle.co/start-of-day-work-routine

Episode 14 3 Steps to Reset Your Mindset: joymichelle.co/3-steps-to-reset-your-mindset

Notion: joymichelle.co/notion

Forewarn

More ways to connect:
JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM
WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH
JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

Feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in your business, even though you’re doing all the things? In today’s episode, I’m sharing the 3 productivity traps that myself and other business owners commonly fall into. If you’re feeling more busy than productive and unsure how to get out of it, this episode is for you. 

In This Episode You’ll:

1. Learn the 3 common productivity traps that business owners fall into
2. Learn the common symptoms of each trap
3. Get fixes to implement and finally get unstuck

Find It Quickly: 

3:24 - The busyness equals productivity trap

10:02 - The perfection paralysis trap

14:58 - The over-researcher and scroller trap 

20:31 - The 3 productivity traps and fixes summary

Mentioned in this Episode

Notion

Timer Cube

Kajabi

Voxer

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

Have you ever felt like creating content in your business was a complete waste of time? Whether you're not seeing the payoff or you're simply discouraged in your content creation cycle, this episode will help ensure that your content makes you money! When your content strategy starts with income, you'll see the results you're looking for.

Want to make more money in your business without taking on more clients? Affiliate Boss is my signature course designed specifically for photographers and creatives who want to turn content into passive income through affiliate marketing. Learn how to start, grow, and maximize affiliate income—even with a small audience.

Learn More >>

In This Episode You'll:

1. Hear which types of content you can easily make money from.
2. Explore monetization opportunities for your content.
3. Understand a simple strategy for making money from your content.

Find it quickly:

1:10 - Creating Intentional Content
4:31 - Building an Email List
6:49 - Use affiliate links
8:04 - Build a community
9:57 - Talk about your own products & services

Mentioned in this Episode:
Flodesk
Kajabi
Affiliate Marketing Jumpstart Guide
Episode 74: Growing Beyond Services: Building Diverse Revenue Streams
Episode 75: Affiliate Marketing for Content Creators
Episode 28: Growing a Facebook Group to 10k Members and My Best Community Growth Tips
Hobby to Pro Toolkit
Coaching & mentorship
PitchPower Email Templates

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

It's not that you hate your business—you might have just outgrown it. This week, I’m sharing a deeply honest conversation inspired by a Voxer message from one of my clients who realized that she no longer wants her current business to be her reality five years from now. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your own work or unsure how to pivot, this episode is for you.

I walk you through the first three steps to take when you realize it’s time to make a shift—without throwing everything away or burning out. Whether you're staring down a total reinvention or a subtle shift, this episode will help you ground your pivot with clarity and direction.

In this episode:

• How to determine if your pivot is a tweak or a total overhaul
• Why understanding your income dependency is essential before making moves
• The role of support and accountability when everything feels uncertain

Find It Quickly

02:11 - Welcome to Pivoting School 101

04:28 - Step 1: Establishing the Nature of Your Pivot

05:50 - Step 2: Assessing Income Dependency

08:12 - Step 3: Seeking Support and Accountability

10:00 - Client Success Story: From Weddings to Dog Photography

Mentioned in this Episode

Accelerator Coaching

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

What if your website is turning away the very people who want to buy from you? This week, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes conversation I had with one of my coaching accelerator clients all about aligning your brand and website with different buyer personalities. The reality is that you don’t have just one type of ideal client. You have many and they all shop and inquire differently.

We’re diving into practical ways to accommodate analytical, relationship-driven, impulsive, and skeptical buyers within your current website and content.

In this episode:

• The most common buyer personalities (and what each needs to say “yes”)
• How different buyer types prefer to reach out and why ignoring DMs is costing you money
• The key contact options every creative service provider needs to offer

Find It Quickly

02:24 - Understanding Different Buyer Types

04:27 - How Buyers Reach Out

07:16 - Optimizing Your Website for All Buyers

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

I’ve been getting lots of DMs lately asking: How do you homeschool your kids while growing a business? In today's episode, I peel back the curtain on my life as a 2nd generation homeschool mom, including the decisions, curriculums, schedule, and mindset I use so both my business and my kids can thrive. Since I grew up homeschooled, this path has always felt familiar, but now I’m doing it in a unique-to-me season, with a baby, young learners, client calls, and deadlines.

In This Episode You'll:

1. How I chose which curriculum to use.
2. What a week in our homeschool and business life actually looks like.
3. How I juggle my role as teacher, business owner, mom.

Find it quickly:

02:19 - Personal Homeschooling Journey

04:49 - Homeschooling Q&A

12:54 - Choosing the Right Curriculum

25:06 - Weekly Schedule and Balancing Entrepreneurship

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Homeschool Hive

Thrive Homeschool & Christy Faith

The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart 

In Vital Harmony: Charlotte Mason and the Natural Laws of Education by Karen Glass

The Good and The Beautiful

Treehouse Schoolhouse

100 Easy Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read

CTC Math

Money Kit

Watercolor Book

Notion

My Homeschool Amazon Storefront

Nature Study Supplement

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

What’s on your reading list for your business? Today’s episode features five of my top recommendations for business books to read over the next year.

In This Episode You'll:

1. Find 5 new books to add to your reading list for your business.
2. Explore the different styles of business finance books available.
3. Hear why I recommend each of these for every entrepreneur!

Find it quickly:
:41 Top 5 Business and Money Books for 2025
2:17 - Book 1
4:46 - Book 2
5:59 - Book 3
7:33 - Book 4
9:01 - Book 5

Mentioned in this Episode:
Free Money by Austin L. Church
Out of the Maze by Spencer Johnson
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Undistracted: Bob Goff
10x is Easier than 2x: by Dan Sullivan

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

Are you hoping for more clients in your business? Whether you're new to your business or you've been in the gam for a while, you know that unless you have customers, you can't have a successful business. So what's the answer to getting in front of those potential customers? A visibility plan.

Our visibility marketing activities are often the first to get dropped in our business when we get busy, which slows down our inquiries and leads to less new clients. In today's episode, I am highlighting the timeline of your marketing efforts and how you can create a visibility marketing plan in your business.

In This Episode You'll:

1. Learn about Visibility Marketing
2. Explore Visibility Marketing Activities
3. Set Aside Time for Your Visibility Plan

Find it quickly:

3:13 - What is Visibility Marketing?

6:06 - Visibility Marketing Activities for Your Business

7:21 - Repurpose and Share Older Content that Performed Really Well in the Past

9:23 - Pitch Yourself to Collaborate with Another Business Owner

10:52 - Show Up in Facebook Groups 

11:21 - Optimize for SEO

12:37 - Keep Evergreen & Video-Based Content Top of Mind

14:06 - Schedule Your Visibility Activities

Links + Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 33
• Episode 21
• Brands that Book with Davey Jones
• Episode 3

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

The power in entrepreneurship is that we get to determine our own pricing, but then we're faced with our potential clients being the ones who determine if they're willing to pay that price. In today's episode, we're discussing pricing strategies for creatives so that you can determine how to set or raise your prices!

In This Episode You'll:

1. Learn how to raise your prices.
2. Four ways to approach your pricing.
3. Three things you need to review in your business.

Find it quickly:
01:58 - Why Pricing Matters for Your Business
3:33 - Personalizing Your Pricing Strategy
4:06 - Four Key Pricing Reminders
13:43 - Three Steps to Raise Your Rates

Mentioned in this Episode:
Free Money by Austin L. Church
Episode 113: Top 3 Ways to Improve Your Google Business Profile & SEO
Affiliate Marketing Jumpstart Guide

More ways to connect:

JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAM

WORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACH

JOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITE

Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.

Are you ready for one-on-one support in your business? Let's work together to grow a business that you love, without taking away from the people you love. Let's chat on a free consultation call!

Book now: joymichelle.co/coaching

If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!

Join Now >>

CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!