What if living creatively wasn't about forcing inspiration, but about finding your own natural rhythm?

This week's conversation with international photographer Riley Hitchner explores exactly that. From starting her photography journey at 16 to now balancing motherhood and a thriving business, Riley shares how she's intentionally carved her own path at every turn.

In this Part 1 of this conversation, Riley shares:

Join us next week for Part 2 and the rest of our soul-filling conversation with Riley!

Connect with Riley Hitchner:

https://www.ryleehitchnerjournal.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ryleehitchner/

Melissa Arlena offers SEO services and a group coaching program to help photographers rank higher on Google - Get 20% off with code "motherhood" at pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA

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 

Brielle Pepper from Jacob & Brielle Photography is back on the podcast this week to share an update. If you remember, Brielle was a guest over a year ago sharing about making a BIG pivot with the help of the resources in the TMA Community. Now, she's here to update us about how it's gone since she made some big decisions, raised her prices, and what you can expect in your own business when making a pivot, too.

Listen to Brielle's previous episode:

https://themotherhoodanthology.com/the-motherhood-anthology-podcast-ep-59-success-story-with-brielle-pepper/

Connect with Brielle:

https://jacobandbriellephotography.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jacobandbriellephotography/

Elevate your portraits with Willow Canvas' beautiful, hand-painted Fine Art backdrops - get free shipping and 25% off multiple canvases with code "multi25" at WillowCanvasBackdrops.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, our Community Manager Ali and group expert, Shannon Griffin, went live in our Facebook group and the conversation was so good we just had to share it here on the podcast, too. Shannon is sharing her pivot from wedding photography to family and boudoir, her unique positioning when she tells people what she does that sets her apart, her pricing and marketing strategy for booking high-value clients and selling physical products, and so much more. You are going to want to take notes for this one!

Connect with Shannon & Ali:

https://www.shannongriffin.com

Ali's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/alipayne__/

Melissa Arlena offers SEO services and a group coaching program to help photographers rank higher on Google - Get 20% off with code "motherhood" at pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA

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, I am chatting with the talented Kate Grabowski of Kate Marie Portraiture. Kate and I dive into the importance of setting boundaries, taking breaks, and staying inspired as creative entrepreneurs. We discuss Kate's incredible photography style and her client process, from initial inquiries to session planning and delivery. We also explore the sources that fuel our creativity, from nature and dance to film and interior design, while emphasizing the need to stay true to our authentic selves.

Elevate your portraits with Willow Canvas' beautiful, hand-painted Fine Art backdrops - get free shipping and 25% off multiple canvases with code "multi25" at WillowCanvasBackdrops.com

Connect with Kate:

http://katemarieportraiture.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 

Today I'm joined by Laura Esmond, the creator of the "Get Rooted" coaching program for motherhood photographers. We cover topics like simplifying business processes, pricing strategies, balancing business and personal life, and standing out in a saturated market... and so much more!

Connect with Laura:

https://www.lauraesmond.com/getrooted

Melissa Arlena offers SEO services and a group coaching program to help photographers rank higher on Google - Get 20% off with code "motherhood" at pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA

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 

One of our featured mentors in TMA is Katie Lamb, and in today's episode, we are excited for Katie to guest host the podcast. She's talking all about setting and maintaining clear boundaries to thrive while running a photography business.

Connect with Katie:

https://www.katielamb.com/

Elevate your portraits with Willow Canvas' beautiful, hand-painted Fine Art backdrops - get free shipping and 25% off multiple canvases with code "multi25" at WillowCanvasBackdrops.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, our resident SEO expert, Melissa Arlena is taking the mic to share some SEO Basics.

Melissa Arlena offers SEO services and a group coaching program to help photographers rank higher on Google - Get 20% off with code "motherhood" at pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA

Elevate your portraits with Willow Canvas' beautiful, hand-painted Fine Art backdrops - get free shipping and 25% off multiple canvases with code "multi25" at WillowCanvasBackdrops.com

Connect with Melissa:

https://pictureperfectrankings.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 

Marie of Marie Elizabeth Photography is taking over the mic today to outline the steps she took to transition from a teaching career to running a successful full-time photography business., In this episode, she emphasizes the importance of raising prices to a profitable level, developing a strong brand, and implementing effective marketing strategies focused on SEO and social media to gradually grow her client base.

Elevate your portraits with Willow Canvas' beautiful, hand-painted Fine Art backdrops - get free shipping and 25% off multiple canvases with code "multi25" at WillowCanvasBackdrops.com

Connect with Marie:

Marie's Website

Marie's IG

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 

Adrianne Shelton is back this week to discuss the "mini membership" program in her photography business, which offers shorter and more affordable photography sessions throughout the year as a way to provide options for clients who may have been priced out of her full session offerings, allowing them to continue documenting their family. We are also discussing the pricing and structure of the mini membership, as well as how she hopes it will complement her existing full-session offerings.

Melissa Arlena offers SEO services and a group coaching program to help photographers rank higher on Google - Get 20% off with code "motherhood" at pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA

Connect with Adrianne:

https://beatificvisionsphotography.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 

As we head into the new year, I'm thrilled to welcome back mentors Adrianne Shelton and Sara Bywaters-Baldwin to the podcast for a conversation about finding inspiration and setting ourselves up for growth in 2025. We also discuss practical tips for managing stress, avoiding burnout, and cultivating a supportive community - all essential for sustainable growth.

Key Takeaways:

Elevate your portraits with Willow Canvas' beautiful, hand-painted Fine Art backdrops - get free shipping and 25% off multiple canvases with code "multi25" at WillowCanvasBackdrops.com

Connect with Adrianne and learn about the Alight Retreat:

https://beatificvisionsphotography.com/alight-retreat-2025

Connect with Sara:

https://www.willowcanvasbackdrops.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