This episode is releasing on the week of Thanksgiving, which is also a big time for holiday deals and making purchases for your business. This is a short and sweet chat to share my Top 4 Essentials as far as software for running my business. This powerful combo is the nuts and bolts of my marketing, sales, communication and delivery - the tech stack of dreams. 

If you're thinking of upleveling your tooling or getting started with some client experience systems to scale your work, listen in to learn more about what each tool does, why I chose it, how they connect to one another, and what to consider most if you’re shopping for smarter systems this season.

// LINKS MENTIONED //

Episode: 25: Navigating Black Friday for family photographers

Episode 46: Why I switched to Honeybook and how it’s going: (on spotify)

Honeybook referral link: https://share.honeybook.com/leah9738526

Pictime referral link: https://leahoconnell.pic-time.com/referral

Flodesk referral link: https://flodesk.com/c/PHOTOFUEL

Showit referral link: https://showit.com/r/jt922s

In this episode, I chat with the wise and wonderful Brooke Schultz — photographer, educator, and creative force behind Heartful Magazine— for a deep dive into the art and evolution of a career in family photography.

Brooke Schultz is a Utah based family photographer + industry educator who helps family photographers create their own unique style instead of mimicking trends. She is the founder of the Love Soaked method for family photographers and her work has been featured by Oprah, Martha Stewart, Kodak, Rangefinder, Parents and more. Her work across mediums from podcasting to music to writing explores what it means to live a wildly creative life in art and everyday living through intention, fun, and ingenuity.

We go through so many topics in today's conversation, but Brooke generously shares how she first discovered lifestyle family photography, what it means to take messy action, and why naivete can be one of your greatest creative assets. We unpack what it means to develop a signature style, why your story and values must be part of your work, and how to balance serving clients with honoring your own artistic fulfillment.

If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, comparison, or feeling like your clients are running the show, this conversation will help you find your footing as both an artist and a leader. It weaves between practical and big-picture in the best of ways. 

How Brooke transitioned from digital weddings to soulful in-home family sessions

The power of messy action and why your early “bad” images matter

Why your personal story is the foundation of your style

The truth behind the phrase “the only sustainable art is selfish”

What it means to “set the temperature” and lead sessions with confidence

Why being the calm, grounded presence your clients crave is part of your job

How personal growth and artistic growth go hand-in-hand

Connect with Brooke: Website | Instagram

       - The Emotive Bootcamp: https://brookebschultz.com/emotivebootcamp

       - Heartful Magazine: https://heartful.brookebschultz.com/

Dr. Becky Kennedy — mentioned in connection to “sturdy leadership”

       - The Photo Fuel Retreat and Mastermind: https://www.leahoconnell.com/retreat

WHAT EVEN IS A MASTERMIND?!

We’ll explore:

Even if the Photo Fuel Retreat isn't for you right now, this episode is full of insight into next-level education and what it looks like so when you *are* ready to take that step in your career, you know what to look for. 

This week's Photo Fuel is time to get candid and answer some of your direct questions! From the reality of avoiding burnout (is it even possible?!) to the behind-the-scenes of school photography, I've got some THOUGHTS.

We’ll talk about setting yourself up for success in your first years, film vs. digital (gasp) how to handle feedback or rejection when it comes to things like magazine submissions,  and stick around until the end of this episode becaaaaause—I have a big announcement!

Whether you’re just starting your family photography business or you’ve been at it for a while and are looking for perspective and some relatable honesty about the industry, this AMA episode has something for you!

School Photography Course Interest : Sign up here

THE PHOTO FUEL RETREAT & MASTERMIND: https://www.leahoconnell.com/retreat

In this episode of Photo Fuel, I’m joined by Michelle Franzetti for a conversation that will knock your socks off, make you laugh, and make you think. It's part marketing lesson, part mindset shift, and all about building a family photography business that actually works in today’s world.

We dig into what 2025 requires from small businesses, how to create a marketing plan that’s more than just “share and hope,” and the importance of designing seasons in your marketing so you have rhythm, clarity, excitement, and traction.

Michelle talks about why in-person connections are so powerful, even when they aren’t directly related to photography and what the real criteria is for a "successful" gathering. 

Michelle’s unexpected entry into marketing and how it shapes her business today

A simple but timeless take on marketing: be interesting & connect with people

What 2025 demands from small businesses (and how to adjust)

Why posting and hoping is not a plan—and what’s missing from the equation

How marketing seasons can keep you focused and motivated

The overlooked magic of in-person connections

Why hosting meaningful & FUN gatherings can fuel both your community and your business longevity 

This is a thoughtful, energizing conversation for any photographer who wants marketing to feel more human and more effective.

Website: https://franzettiphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_franzetti/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Michelle_Franzetti

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/558214206287176

Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

Voxer Coaching: https://www.leahoconnell.com/voxer

The Firefly Letters (weekly longform newsletter) - https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter

Today's episode is coming in short and sweet with a pep talk / tough love about a trend I've been seeing in the family photography industry. If you've been frustrated about working with families who aren't showing up and looking or acting the way you hoped, you need to take a listen. Have an open mind and humble spirit for this one, friends.

We are the vision casters and it's time we set a table that is welcoming. 

**Two 1:1 and/or Voxer mentorships open for the last quarter of 2025. If you want extra support in real time through your fall family photography season, learn more about mentoring at https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring

Free Resources for family photographers: https://www.leahoconnell.com/education

// CONNECT WITH LEAH // 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com

Mentoring: https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Lyndsay McNiff of Lyndsay Hannah Photography. This one’s packed with the kind of perspective that only comes from learning through the doing (for a very long time!) and so much knowledge about creative growth in family photography.

We talk about what it really looks like to fill a calendar season by season—not just chasing bookings, but shaping a business that fits your life. Lyndsay shares so many real-life insights about the early years of running a family photography business, from finding her footing with marketing to figuring out her offers, and how she has grown a reputation and repeatable business in her local area.

We also get into ideas around creative evolution—like how your style shifts over time. Lyndsay shares how learning off-camera flash changed the game for her in-home sessions and the horrible session experience story that set the whole thing off. Since then, Lyndsay has also grown from family photography into adding brand photography as well, and working with associates to support her demand.

Whenever we're talking about sustainability and growth in family photography, we obviously have to touch on boundaries, too. Lyndsay's tactical perspective on scheduling sessions with flexibily for both her clients and her own family is so insightful and might offer an alternative to the classic advice you've heard before.

If you’re somewhere in the middle of building your business—or honestly, just figuring it out season by season—this one’s going to meet you right where you are.

Fall photography season can feel like a whirlwind. Once you're in it, it's full steam ahead. Sure it's typically the most profitable for family photographers, but it can also be the most overwhelming. In this episode, I'm candidly breaking down four common fall pitfalls that can derail your season, plus practical strategies to set yourself up for success. 

The four traps we unpack are

Plus, I won't leave you spinning - this episode wraps with a pre-fall pep talk to remind you are the BOSS. Trusting yourself to make those choices is where the real power lies. Let's prep for fall together by getting ahead of the mess and choosing to be in charge. 

// LINKS MENTIONED //

The Complete Guide to Flodesk for Family Photographers: https://leahoconnell.com/the-complete-guide-to-flodesk-for-family-photographers/

Try Flodesk for 50% off - https://flodesk.com/c/PHOTOFUEL

Try Honeybook: https://share.honeybook.com/leah9738526

Other CRM's options for photographers: 

Cloudspot

Shootproof

In this week’s episode of Photo Fuel, I sit down with Annemie Tonken—photographer, educator, and host of the This Can’t Be That Hard podcast—for a thoughtful, no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to run a sustainable photography business in a changing world.

This conversation goes beyond productivity hacks or pricing formulas, because while all those logistics are so important, they are secondary to the heart and brains of your business. So today we’re talking about things like how handle discomfort and failure, the parallels between business and parenting, and how to find peace and momentum even when things feel hard.

We talk about things like:

// LINKS // 

Connect with Annemie:

Connect with Leah: 

Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com

Education + *NEW* Voxer Coaching https://www.leahoconnell.com/education

Join The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter

Join the Email List for Photographers - https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn

We’re now over 50 episodes into the Photo Fuel Podcast, and I’m coming to you from the messy middle with some real talk. In this episode, I’m sharing a big update on the future of the podcast and why I’m choosing to step back from weekly episodes—for now.

If you’ve been tuning in regularly, you know I’m all about sustainable business practices and aligning your creative work with your actual life. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my own quarter-end reflection around creating educational content and the red flags that have me pausing.  

Whatever your dreams and visions were for the first part of the year, I hope you'll give yourself grace to consider the full picture. 

// LINKS MENTIONED // 

Episode 6 - The Key Ingredient to your success

Episode 8 - Resetting your inspiration when you don't feel like shooting

The Shop - https://www.leahoconnell.com/shop

Learn Page - https://www.leahoconnell.com/learn

// CONNECT WITH LEAH //

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter