Off the Memory Card: A Photographer’s Podcast

This weekend, Jeremy and I photographed an elopement for a friend...and it reminded me that one hour is the perfect dose of wedding bliss for us. We used to be full-time wedding photographers, and we loved it. So why did we walk away? In this episode I'm sharing the whole story: the exhaustion after Benji was born, the weekend we shot three weddings in three days, how hard it was to give up something we were really good at (and that made us a lot of money), and the client we were sure we'd lose for good...who came back to us years later. Plus my two big takeaways: trust your gut, and being good at something doesn't mean you have to keep doing it.

• The Camera Confidence Club is coming soon. Want to be first to know when the doors open? Join the waitlist: https://usethatcamera.com/community-waitlist

• Website: https://www.usethatcamera.com

• Podcast: https://www.offthememorycard.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burnsexposures (come tell me: what are you holding on to that doesn't fit anymore?)

If this episode meant something to you, I'd be so grateful for a quick review...it really does help the show grow. Be kind, work hard and stay humble.

Almost 11 years ago, I left my full-time job as a TV news reporter to do photography full time...before I'd even hit my one-year mark behind the camera. It was a total leap of faith. In this episode I'm sitting down with my year-one self and telling her the three things I wish someone had told me: that photography isn't the hard part, the business is (including the B&O tax audit that caught me completely off guard), charge what you're worth (and what our "pay what you can" headshots taught me about it), and the big one...it's going to be okay. Plus why confidence is what got me through, and why that's exactly what the Camera Confidence Club is built on.

Fall is one of my favorite times of year for photography, so in this episode, I'm sharing five of my favorite fall photoshoot ideas!

From pumpkin patches and farm sessions to chasing fall color, shooting downtown, and adding a little spooky magic with gels and haze, these are all ideas Jeremy and I have actually tried ourselves.

And the best part? You don't need a fancy studio or a huge budget. Sometimes the best locations are already sitting right outside your door.

Plus, I'm sharing a little reminder for photographers who are heading into one of the busiest seasons of the year: don't get so caught up in the work that you forget to enjoy the season, too.

Grab your camera, pick an idea, and go make some fall magic! 🍂

If you walked into my studio right now, you'd think I'd lost my mind. There's a whole area filled with Christmas trees for my tree farm set, holiday props stacked in piles everywhere, and it's September. But that beautiful chaos is how the magic starts. In this episode I'm pulling back the curtain on how I actually dream up and build my seasonal sets, and more importantly, how I do it without spending a fortune. We'll talk about starting with one feeling instead of a whole Pinterest board, shopping what you already have before you buy a thing (my Hobby Lobby January tree habit is literally how the tree farm exists), why thrift and antique stores are gold (I have a whole herd of rocking horses to prove it), why a few hero pieces and a tight crop do all the work, and building everything to reuse for years. But here's the part I care about most: the set is just the doorway. What we're really making is a feeling people get to keep. So if a big seasonal set has ever felt out of reach, this one's for you. Pick one corner...and let your creativity grow like kudzu.

After months of hints, it's finally out loud: I'm building a membership. In this episode I share the why behind it (years of mentorships, workshops, and our online course, and the itch to make something affordable that helps as many photographers as possible), what I've been head-down building since late July, and everything that's inside The Camera Confidence Club: curriculum, coaching, community, library, and bonuses. The whole thing is built around one word: confidence, which comes from knowing your craft and knowing how to sell it. A small beta kicks off in November, and we launch right after Christmas.

Want to be first to know when the doors open? Join the waitlist: usethatcamera.com/community-waitlist

Be kind, work hard and stay humble.

What if your mini session launch day could actually feel...easy?

In this episode of Off The Memory Card, I’m sharing how planning ahead turned my Christmas mini session launch from what used to be a stressful, chaotic morning into something I actually get to enjoy...with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and my booking notifications rolling in.

I’m breaking down the four things I did before launch day to make it happen: planning my season, setting up my booking system, writing my emails ahead of time, and front-loading the work so launch morning required almost nothing from me.

If you’re a photographer who loves mini sessions but hates the last-minute scramble that comes with them, this episode is for you. We’re talking mini session planning, booking systems, marketing, client communication, and why being proactive can make such a huge difference in your photography business.

And if you want to take this process even further, check out my mini course, Mini Sessions Made Simple, designed to help photographers create profitable mini sessions without letting them take over their lives.

Learn More: https://usethatcamera.app.clientclub.net/courses/offers/777bdb3f-3daa-499e-9894-509ca8cafee6

This episode is a little different.

After spending the past week reflecting on Dolly Parton, I realized just how many lessons she left behind; not just about music and success, but about being a good human and a smart business owner.

So I’m sharing three lessons I’m taking to heart as a photographer: be yourself and embrace what makes you different, know when to give and when to stand your ground, and dream big without ever forgetting where you started.

I hope this one gives you a little encouragement to trust yourself, keep working toward your dreams, and remember the people who believed in you along the way.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go listen to Jolene for approximately the 57th time this week. ❤️

Summer is winding down, school is back in session, and I'm heading into one of my busiest seasons of the year.

And honestly? I'm kind of excited to get back into a routine.

In this episode of Off The Memory Card, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing what a typical day looks like for me as a photographer, business owner, mom, and someone who is constantly trying to figure out how to get everything done without working myself into the ground.

From early-morning school drop-offs and coffee to answering emails, updating QuickBooks, fitting in a gym class, editing, afternoon ice cream stops, evening photoshoots, and protecting family time, I'm sharing how I try to structure my days as we head into the busy fall and holiday season.

But this episode isn't about telling you to copy my schedule. Your life is different. Your family is different. Your business is different. The point isn't to follow someone else's routine; it's to find a rhythm that works for you.

When you work for yourself, nobody hands you a schedule. There's no boss telling you when to clock in or clock out. That freedom is one of the best parts of being your own boss, but it can also leave us constantly reacting, playing catch-up, and wondering where the day went if we're not intentional with our time.

In this episode, I'm talking about:

Why I'm actually excited to get back into a routine after summer

What a typical workday looks like for me during photography busy season

Why I start my mornings by getting the "boring" business tasks out of the way

Why scheduled gym classes are the only way I stay accountable

How I balance editing, parenting, and evening photoshoots

Why we almost always stop for ice cream after school

The importance of protecting family time and creating boundaries around work

Why Jeremy and I don't schedule photoshoots on Wednesdays

Why I believe rest is actually part of being productive

Why your schedule doesn't need to look anything like mine

The difference between being proactive with your time and constantly being reactive

As we head into fall and the holiday rush, I want to encourage you to take an honest look at your own days. You don't need to schedule every single minute, and you definitely don't need a perfect routine. But having some structure to come back to can make a huge difference when life, and your calendar, starts getting busy.

Your future self, in the middle of the holiday rush, might just thank you for it.

What does a normal week look like when you’re a husband-and-wife photography team?

Well… there really is no such thing as a normal week!

In this episode of Off The Memory Card, Jeremy and I take you along for a very real, and pretty random, week in our lives. We had just gotten back from vacation, and before we could really settle back in, we were right back into work mode with photoshoots, editing, Christmas set prep, promotional photos, and a special event all packed into one week.

One of the highlights was an event we photographed for Exceptional Possibilities, a nonprofit doing incredible work for children with special needs. Their annual fashion show is a fundraiser featuring kiddos with exceptionalities as the models, and we’ve had the privilege of photographing it every year. It’s one of our favorite events because so many of the kids who participate are also regular photography clients of ours. Getting to watch them grow and then cheer them on from behind the camera is pretty special.

And because photography doesn't exist in a vacuum, our week also included getting our son ready to head back to school; shopping for clothes, finding a backpack and lunchbox, tracking down a water bottle, and dealing with all of the other little details that come with the end of summer.

From vacation mode to work mode, from photographing an amazing fundraiser to building Christmas sets in the middle of summer, this episode is a pretty honest look at the beautifully chaotic reality of running a photography business while raising a family.

Sometimes the most interesting part of running a photography business isn't the actual photography.

It's the editing at night, the Christmas sets in July, the unexpected events, the family schedule, the school shopping, the emails, the promotional photos, the constant switching between photographer/business owner/parent and everything else life requires.

This episode is just a little glimpse behind the curtain at what our life actually looks like.

Because this is what life looks like… Off The Memory Card.

Next month marks 11 years since I left my news reporting career to do photography full time...and almost immediately, I was met with skepticism. In this episode I'm getting honest about the misconceptions people have about photographers: that all we do is take photos, that it isn't a "real" full-time job, and the one that still gets under a lot of our skin...being called "a mom with a camera." I'm sharing the actual comments I've gotten over the years, how things shifted from photography being seen as a career to being written off as a hobby, and a little encouragement for anyone still fighting to be taken seriously. Push past it, prove yourself, and keep making that money.

Learn with me

Our membership is in the early stages...more on that to come. Want to be first to know? Join the waitlist: https://usethatcamera.com/community-waitlist

Let's connect

Website: https://www.usethatcamera.com

If this episode resonated, I'd be so grateful for a quick review...it really does help the show grow. Be kind, work hard and stay humble.