Lifestyle and Lenses: Real Talk on Photography, Business & Mom Life

We love a good business pivot, and this week’s guest is proof that sometimes the best opportunities come from leaning into what you already do well!

On this episode of Lifestyle & Lenses, Lauren and Paige welcome Victoria Rayburn, a former wedding photographer turned SEO and GEO strategist, to our Built Different series.

Victoria shares how she turned a skill she found success with in her photography business into an entirely new career helping entrepreneurs and small businesses get found online. We’re talking about recognizing opportunities, having the courage to pivot, and building a business around your strengths and the needs you see around you.

And because we love a conversation that goes a little deeper, we get vulnerable about what happens when the needs of others intersect with your own life experiences. Sometimes that’s exactly where the biggest things begin!

Victoria’s story is such a good reminder that building a business differently doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes it means seeing what’s already right in front of you.

Our Top 3

A little bit of everything we’re loving lately!

Lauren & Paige’s Picks:

• Lauren’s New Favorite Hair Mask
• High Potential — your next binge-worthy TV show!
• Ella Fitzgerald & 1930s-inspired music — Lauren’s latest obsession

Victoria’s Picks:

• Victoria’s Espresso Machine of Choice
• Emily Ley Planner
• Short Story Box

Connect with Victoria

Instagram: @victorialrayburn

Website: victoriarayburn.com

Connect with Lifestyle & Lenses

Follow along with Lauren and Paige for more conversations about entrepreneurship, photography, community, and building a business that actually fits your life.

Instagram: @lifestyleandlenses

Website: lifestyleandlenses.com

Because there’s no one-size-fits-all blueprint for success, and that’s exactly how we like it.

What does it take to launch a business right before the world shuts down? This week on our Built Different series, we’re sitting down with Selina Stanford, owner of Houston’s Frock Shop!

We’re talking about the early days of entrepreneurship, trusting your gut, recognizing the signs (and encouragement!) from the people around you, and finding the courage to take the leap.

Selina shares her journey of building Frock Shop and some business advice we all need to hear: Don’t make decisions out of fear.

This episode is a gut check for every entrepreneur. Are you making decisions based on fear or on what you actually want to build? Get ready for an honest conversation about trusting yourself, taking risks, and building a business that’s truly your own.

Our Top 3

• Cat Eye Nails & Builder Gel: Paige’s newest nail obsession and Selina’s favorite!
• Minnow Wellness: Paige gave it a try and is officially a fan. Highly recommend!
• Content Room Chandelier: A little design inspiration we’re loving.
• Homecourt: Bringing luxury scents into your home.
• The Stanford Family Mantra: “Be kind and be brave, just be you and work hard!” Words to live by!
• Divine Mercy Prayer: A meaningful favorite we’re sharing this week.

Let’s Connect!

Selina Stanford & Frock Shop

Find Selina and shop Frock Shop on Instagram @frockshoptx and through their website.

Lifestyle & Lenses

Follow along with Lauren and Paige on Instagram @lifestyleandlenses and visit lifestyleandlenses.com.

We’re all about building businesses that fit our lives, finding community over competition, and reminding you that there’s more than one way to do this whole entrepreneurship thing!

What if the business everyone tells you to build… isn’t actually the business you want?

In this episode of our Built Different series, Lauren and Paige are tackling one of our favorite hot takes: there is no one-size-fits-all model for building a successful business.

It’s easy to scroll Instagram, see what someone else is doing, and start believing you should be doing it too. But here’s the thing: someone else’s version of success doesn’t have to be yours.

We’re talking about how to learn from the people and businesses you admire without simply copying their blueprint, why your current season of life matters when making business decisions, and how to get clear on what you actually want your business—and your life—to look like.

Because you can build a wildly successful business and still realize you’ve been building someone else’s dream.

Our Top 3

1. Paige: Her go-to Hair, Skin & Nails vitamin 
2. The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst 
3. Listening to audiobooks while running + her current listen, The Serpent and the Wings of Night 
4. Belvedere vodka for her new favorite dirty martini—no vermouth required
5. A heated eyelash curler, which feels extra enough to belong to Paige 😂
6. Dermaplaning—and her tip is to do it while you’re in the shower 

If you’ve ever looked around at what everyone else is doing and wondered if you’re doing business “right,” this episode is for you.

Build the business that fits your life—not someone else’s blueprint.

Follow Lifestyle & Lenses on Instagram at @lifestyleandlenses and find more coaching info from us at lifestyleandlenses.com

What happens when you get really clear on who you serve — and get bold enough to build a business around it?

This week, Lauren and Paige welcome Maddie Peschong — brand photographer extraordinaire, business coach, and studio owner — for a conversation about building a business you actually love and one that serves a clearly niched-down audience.

Maddie shares her perspective on finding your lane, leaning into what makes your business different, and having the confidence to make bold moves as an entrepreneur. We talk about what it looks like to create a business that works for you instead of following someone else’s blueprint — and why getting specific about who you serve can actually open more doors, not close them.

Get ready for lots of laughs, practical advice, and more than a few truth bombs. Maddie’s approach to business fits right into our Built Different series, and we can’t wait for you to hear this one.

Our Top 3… Times Two

1. Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso — Fall in a cup. Enough said.
2. Baby wipes in the car — The simple car hack you’ll wonder why you weren’t already doing.
3. Only Murders in the Building — Add it to your watch list.
4. The personal style journey + Madewell — Finding what actually feels like you.
5. Gap Outlet — A reminder not to sleep on the outlet finds.
6. Anthropologie — Because there’s always something we want.

Connect with Maddie

Follow Maddie on Instagram @maddiepeschong and find more from her at maddiepeschong.com.

Connect with Lifestyle & Lenses

Follow Lauren + Paige on Instagram @lifestyleandlenses and find more from Lifestyle & Lenses at lifestyleandlenses.com.

If you loved this episode, follow the podcast, leave us a review, and send it to a business bestie who needs the reminder that you don’t have to build your business like everyone else.

What happens when the business you worked so hard to build starts taking more from you than it gives?

This week, Lauren and Paige are joined by business coach, podcaster, and former photographer Laylee Emadi for a conversation all about burnout — how to spot it, how to avoid it, and what to do when you know a fuller season is coming.

Having spent years in the photography industry before moving into coaching, Laylee has seen firsthand how easy it is for creative business owners to fall into the cycle of doing more, saying yes to everything, and realizing a little too late that something has to change.

We talk about the signs of burnout we tend to ignore, the checks and boundaries you can build into your business before you hit your limit, and Laylee’s advice for navigating seasons when life and business simply feel more full.

And continuing our Season 4 theme, Built Different, Laylee shares what building a business differently means to her — and why success doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s version of it.

Our “Top 3” (that is never actually three)

1. 20-second hugs — Give this one a listen, then go find someone you love and give them a full 20-second hug. Trust us.
2. The Bottle Rocket at Jonathan’s The Rub — Lauren + Paige may have officially found a new favorite cocktail.
3. Sculptra — Another stop on Paige’s Road to 40, and we’re talking about the experience.
4. First Aid Beauty serum + Kiehl’s mineral SPF serum — Two skincare finds making the current rotation.
5. Book rec: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — If you haven’t read it yet, add it to the list.
6. Oura Ring 5 — The honest review after previously trying another model and not loving it. Did this one change her mind?

Find Laylee

Follow Laylee on Instagram @laylee_emadi and find more of her coaching, podcast, and resources at layleeemadi.com.

Follow Lifestyle & Lenses

Come hang with your business besties, Lauren + Paige, for more conversations about photography, entrepreneurship, life, and building a business that actually fits the life you want.

Instagram: @lifestyleandlenses
Website: lifestyleandlenses.com
Hosts: Lauren Holub + Paige McInturff

Follow along, share the episode with a business bestie who needs it, and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next episode of Built Different.

Lauren and Paige are back with Season 4 — and we’re kicking off our brand-new Built Different series with Alex Lane of laneMKTG.

Because apparently sometimes the path to entrepreneurship starts with watching Mad Men and thinking, “Yeah…I could do that.” Plus who doesn’t want a martini in the middle of work days! 

Alex built her marketing business from two pretty simple things: a network and a need. She heard from her clients what they needed, and it pushed her over the edge to find a solution, and built the kind of business she actually wanted to be a part of.

In this episode, we talk about what entrepreneurship really looks like as a woman and a mom, how relationships and community helped Alex grow laneMKTG, and what happens when you stop waiting for the perfect blueprint and just start building.

And yes, we sprinkle in some marketing talk too — what actually matters, what businesses tend to overcomplicate, and why knowing your people might be more important than having the perfect strategy.

We also land on a theory we feel pretty confident about: maybe every entrepreneur needs just a little bit of crazy. Because at some point, you have to believe enough in an idea to actually jump.

We talk about:

• Going from Mad Men inspiration to owning a marketing agency
• Building a business from a network + a need
• Entrepreneurship while also being a mom
• Creating the business you actually want instead of following someone else’s blueprint
• Why relationships matter so much in business
• Marketing without overcomplicating it
• And why a little bit of crazy might actually be required to become an entrepreneur

Top 3

This week we’re talking:

1. Nuuly — tips for getting the most out of your subscription
2. Deep chemical peels — a WIN, but plan accordingly because the downtime is real
3. Paige’s outdoor chairs — perfect for nice nights outside while the kids play with the neighbors
4. Home Chef — one less dinner decision to make
5. Heatless curlers — anything that makes getting ready easier gets our vote
6. Dune — because apparently we have movie reviews now too

Season 4 is all about women who looked at the traditional way of doing things and decided, “Yeah…that’s not going to work for me.”

They built businesses around their strengths, their families, their lives, and their own definitions of success.

They Built Different.

And we can’t think of a better way to kick it off than with Alex Lane.

Grab your coffee (or your cocktail) and come hang out with us. 💚🩷

Listen now and come hang out with us @lifestyleandlenses.

You asked, and we answered! In this fun and unfiltered episode, Lauren and Paige are tackling your questions—from photography business milestones to random current obsessions and everything in between.

We share the moments that made us realize our photography businesses were no longer just side hobbies, but real businesses. We also answer a photographer’s favorite question: if we could only use one lens forever, which one would make the cut?

Along the way, we dive into the investments that delivered the biggest return in our businesses, the most random things we’re currently obsessed with, and the comfort shows we can’t stop watching. Plus, we’re sharing our current lip color favorites and a few laughs along the way.

Whether you’re here for the business insights or just want to hang out with us for a bit, this episode feels like catching up with friends over coffee (or an espresso martini).

Some Questions We Cover

• What made you feel like, “Oh wow, this is a real business”?
• If you could only use one lens forever, what would it be?
• What investment gave you the biggest return?
• What’s the most random thing you’re into right now?
• What’s your current comfort show?
• Our current lip color obsessions.

Top 3

1. Paige’s Espresso Martini Recipe (see below!)
2. The Nespresso machine Paige can’t stop talking about
3. A tennis update from Paige 😂
4. Lauren’s newest hobby: cross-stitch
5. Cricut machine favorites
6. Horse medallions—are you on the trend yet?

Connect with us on Instagram @lifestyleandlenses and let us know what questions we should answer next!

Paige’s Espresso Martini ☕️✨

Ingredients

• 2 oz coffee or freshly brewed espresso (cooled)
• 2 oz Belvedere vodka
• 1 oz Kahlúa
• A splash of Baileys Irish Cream
• Ice

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add the coffee or espresso, vodka, Kahlúa, and a splash of Baileys.
3. Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds until well chilled and frothy.
4. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
5. Garnish with a few coffee beans, if desired.

Paige’s Tip: If you’re using espresso, let it cool slightly before shaking to get that perfect creamy foam on top. Cheers! 

What does it really look like to build a business from the ground up?

In this candid episode, Lauren and Paige pull back the curtain on entrepreneurship and share the realities that don’t always make it to social media. After spending time talking with business owners across different industries, they realized one thing is true no matter what business you’re in: success rarely follows a straight line.

From navigating setbacks and taking risks to building confidence and staying the course when things get hard, this conversation is an honest look at the entrepreneurial journey. The highs are worth celebrating, but the challenges are often where the biggest growth happens.

Whether you’re just getting started or have been in business for years, this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone in the ups and downs of chasing your dreams.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why grit can be the difference between giving up and breaking through
• How every entrepreneur’s path looks different
• The risks involved in building something of your own
• Why the rewards can make the hard seasons worth it
• Building confidence through action and treating confidence like a muscle
• Lessons learned from entrepreneurs in a variety of industries

We are firm believers in creating an email list if you do not already have one for your business today is the day! Check out our preferred email marketing platform FloDesk — try it here! 

Top 3

Lauren’s Picks

1. Espresso machine with espresso pods
2. Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
3. Glamorous Wash by Tyler Candle Company

Paige’s Picks

1. Primally Pure Armpit Detox
2. Primally Pure Everything Spray
3. Partin Family Chili Recipe — a true Texas favorite

Connect with Lifestyle & Lenses

Follow along for more conversations about photography, business, motherhood, and building a life you love.

📸 Instagram: @lifestyleandlenses
 🎙️ Podcast: Lifestyle & Lenses
 🌐 Website:  Lifestyle and Lenses

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur who needs a reminder that the journey is worth it.

Paige and Lauren are joined by Kim Brown, founder of Belong Kitchen — a nonprofit grab-and-go kitchen in the Memorial area of Houston that employs adults with intellectual differences while creating meaningful community connection through food and service.

Kim shares the incredible story of how Belong Kitchen began literally in her own backyard and grew into something the Houston community has fully wrapped its arms around. From the moment you walk through the doors, the joy, purpose, and heart behind the mission is undeniable.

On this episode, we dive into:

• How Belong Kitchen was created from a simple idea with a big purpose
• Why creating opportunities for underserved communities matters so deeply
• The power of a community rallying behind a mission
• What makes Belong feel so different the second you walk in
• Kim’s vision for expanding Belong into communities across the country
• The beauty of serving others while building connection and belonging

This episode is a reminder that sometimes the most impactful businesses are the ones built with heart first.

Follow along with Belong Kitchen on Instagram @belongkitchen and online at  Belong Kitchen.

If you’re local to Houston, stop by their Memorial storefront for coffee, grab-and-go meals, and a truly special experience that’s making a difference in the community every single day.

Top 3 

1. Paige’s Lash update: current faves Lilly faux mink in Blushing 
2. Apple Watch — parental controls
3. Skylight calendar — new favorite family device. Paige’s take, go big or go home! 
4. Theo of Golden book 
5. Sourdough baking — have you started this hobby yet??!!
6. Yia Yia’s restaurant in Houston

Melissa Musso, NP, joins Paige and Lauren for a follow-up conversation diving deeper into the ever-evolving world of GLP-1 medications and the conversations surrounding them. From stigma to science, this episode unpacks the latest updates, misconceptions, and the very real emotional weight women often carry while balancing motherhood, business, and everyday life.

Melissa breaks down what’s new in the GLP-1 space, the latest medications coming to market, and why these treatments are becoming about so much more than just weight loss.

Topics discussed include:

• Have stigmas around GLP-1s improved, or are they still present? Melissa shares her honest perspective — and why the answer is both yes and no.
• New products and medications entering the market and what makes them different
• The growing medical benefits of GLP-1 medications beyond weight loss:
• Improved liver enzymes and treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Helping prevent progression of chronic kidney disease
• FDA-approved use for obstructive sleep apnea
• The emotional side of “doing it all” as women, moms, and business owners
• Why unrealistic expectations placed on women can become a stigma of their own

Melissa also shares a book that deeply impacted her perspective on motherhood, partnership, and mental load: Fair Play by Eve Rodsky.

Top 3’s:

1. Mary Ruth’s multivitamin hair growth 
2. Divi scalp serum 
3. Olaplex hair mask 
4. Barebells coconut flavor
5. LMNT electrolytes 
6. Menoxidyl for hair growth 

Connect with Melissa on Instagram at @melissamusso.np or through Contour Health RX.

Connect with Lifestyle & Lenses and follow along on Instagram at @lifestyleandlenses.