Photo Fuel | The Vision, Art, and Business of Family Photography

You're halfway into a session, things are flowing, and then — nothing. The energy drops, your brain goes blank, and you're thinking - WHAT NOW. 

This is the final part of the four-part in-home family photography series, and I'm giving you eight specific moves to pull out when a session stalls or you need to jolt yourself in to a new perspective. 

Stay to the end for a preview of what's coming this summer!

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In Part 1, we prepped. In Part 2, we got the ball rolling. This episode is all about how to open your dang eyeballs, guide with your heart, and sink into a session that is less pose and more honest family gold.

I originally learned the concept of "elements of family story" from Brooke Schultz, and Story Filters are my evolution of that over the last 5 years.

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You've done your prep. You've watched the walkthrough video. You knock on the door - now what?

I'm walking through five things that shift the energy in those opening minutes and two things I'm careful not to do in a session to help get it rolling on a good foot. 

This is Part 2 of a four-part May series on practical in-home family photography tips. The guiding principles and recommendations for each episode can be found in the companion resource for free called : The In-Home Session Field Guide. You'll find swipe copy, pep talk language, and go-to moves for every stage of the session. 

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If you're working on improving your process for in-home family photography or adding home as a location this year, this series is for you! This first episode is one of four that kicks off a short, practical series on in-home family photography, starting with the one thing I do before every session to walk in feeling prepared.

This is the biggest asset to preparing for an in home shoot - without requiring a consult call, zoom meeting, or in-person scouting trip: the walkthrough video. I share how I ask for it about two weeks before an in-home session and what I'm looking for when I watch it. I also cover what to do when clients don't send a video, and why the goal of all this prep isn't a rigid plan but a confident, settled mindset before you even knock on the door.

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Episode 55: Set the Table - how to stop expecting your clients to perform for you

A few weeks out from the first PhotoFuel Retreat and Mastermind, this episode is the honest debrief — what I got right, what surprised me, what I'd do differently, and one big decision I made about the future of the program.

Regular reflection is tool I use often in my photography business so I want to model what that looks like and how it can lead to purposeful alignment. If you're curious about the inner workings of crafting something new, I hope this episode models what it looks like to be in development rather than just seeing the end result. 

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Have you ever wondered what working with a mentor actually looks and feels like over time?

Lydia Fine is back as our first-ever returning guest. She's a purposely part-time photographer with a full-time marketing career and two kids, and over the past few years she and I have worked together across just about every format. In this episode, she breaks down exactly what that journey has looked like: the doubts going in, the breakthrough that changed how she thought about her business, the numbers, and what it's meant for her life outside the business.

We also get into the harder questions — when someone is actually ready for mentoring, how to choose the right person, and what you have to be willing to bring to it. Lydia now mentors other photographers herself, specifically around systems and marketing strategies for part-time photographers, so her perspective comes from sitting on both sides of the table.

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The last thing you as a photographer want is for your family photo sessions to feel stiff or overly posed. That's why I believe in exploring the idea of creative play inside your sessions.

We just hosted the very first Photo Fuel Retreat and Mastermind, where we got to do exactly that. We not only found ways to bring more of each photographer into their businesses, but we also got to play with how they can break through the technicality of our work and bring more honesty and personality into it. That's what creates beautiful images for your families.

In this episode, I’m walking you through how to move beyond rigid posing and into something more alive and collaborative. Listen in as I share how curiosity (both about yourself and your clients) can completely transform the energy of your work.

Ready to reconnect with why you started and fall back in love with your business? The Photo Fuel Retreat is an intimate, in-person experience designed for family photographers who care deeply about storytelling, sustainability, and doing work that actually feels good. Think of it as your space to slow down, think deeply, and build real connection—with your craft, your values, and a small circle of like-minded creatives.

Join the Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/retreat

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1:29 - Why Sessions Feel Stiff

3:28 - Curiosity Over Perfection

6:10 - Curiosity with Yourself

7:09 - Breathe and Notice

10:36 - Curiosity With Your Subjects

13:37 - Trust the Unscripted

15:50 - Practice and Experiment

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Photo Fuel Retreat: leahoconnell.com/retreat

What if the next step in scaling your business isn’t just about adding something new, but about building something that finally matches what you’ve believed all along? For a long time, I thought being a photography educator meant I needed a shop full of templates, mini-courses, and downloadable resources. While I've found that courses and digital products have their place, what I was longing for in my educational offerings went deeper. It needed real, in-person connection: Enter the Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind.

In this episode, I’m sharing how Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind became what it is today (and all the iterations that led to it). Listen in to hear how I started my educational offerings with digital products and found my way to building an in-person, immersive experience for family photographers who want real transformation, not just more information.

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01:06 - Digital Products Felt Shallow

01:55 - Mentoring to Group Coaching Lessons

03:55 - Retreat Idea Takes Shape

06:13 - The Seed Planted Years Ago

07:26 - A Retreat That Changed Me

09:30 - Why Online Learning Falls Short

13:09 - Designing the MVP Retreat

14:30 - No Styled Shoots Real Sessions

17:20 - Community Over Competition

18:54 - Slow Impact Over Scaling

Mentioned in this Episode:

Join The Photo Fuel Retreat Waitllist: leahoconnell.com/schools-waitlist

 Brooke Schultz's Love Soaked Retreat: brookebschultz.com/love-soaked

Ep 18 with Caitlin Alohilani Photography: leahoconnell.com/photo-fuel-episode-18-the-benefits-of-being-an-introverted-photographer-switching-careers-shooting-multiple-genres-and-more-with-caitlin-alohilani-photography/

Episode 9 with Mary Catherine Wickman: leahoconnell.com/connecting-with-clients-by-owning-your-story-photo-fuel-ep-09/

Have you ever looked at your work and thought, This is fine… but something feels off? In this episode, I’m talking about the sneaky middle season no one prepares you for—the growth plateau. It’s not burnout or failure. You’re seeing success, booking clients, and producing solid work. Deep down, though, you know what got you here isn’t going to get you there - wherever there may be for you.

I’ve been hearing this over and over in mentoring conversations lately. Photographers who feel bored, invisible, resentful about pricing, creatively flat, or just quietly craving something more—but they can’t quite name it. Listen in as we explore what might be holding you back.

Ready to reconnect with why you started and fall back in love with your business? The Photo Fuel Retreat is an intimate, in-person experience designed for family photographers who care deeply about storytelling, sustainability, and doing work that actually feels good. Think of it as your space to slow down, think deeply, and build real connection—with your craft, your values, and a small circle of like-minded creatives.

Join the Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/retreat

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00:26 - The Sneaky Middle: Understanding the Growth Plateau

03:21 - Signs You’re on a Plateau

07:29 - Plateaus as Transition Points: Steady Seasons vs. It’s Time to Change

09:56 - Breaking Through: Better Questions, Discomfort, and Taking Creative Risks

13:35 - Self-Coaching Prompts: Find What’s Boring, Safe, and What You’re Avoiding

16:37 - Why Support Systems Matter

21:00 - The Retreat Details

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Photo Fuel Retreat: leahoconnell.com/retreat

Building a photography business doesn’t always mean choosing just one lane and staying there forever. For many photographers, the most sustainable paths are layered, seasonal, and shaped by the realities of life.

That’s exactly the story of my guest today, Rebecca Hunnicutt, a lifestyle family photographer based in Portland, Oregon. Rebecca and I first connected in real life at Reset Conference, and in this conversation we dive into the many branches of her work—from family photography to school photography to teaching both photographers and kids.

We talk about how school photography became not just a revenue stream, but a strategic and sustainable foundation that supports her family work, and what it really looks like to juggle multiple niches.

Make School Photos a Part of Your Photography Business

If you've been thinking about adding school photography to your offerings, the Picture Day course is exactly what you need. Learn how to market, book, photograph, and deliver outdoor school photography for local daycares and schools to fuel your family photography business and boost your income.

Join the Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/schools-waitlist

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01:53 - Meet Rebecca Hunnicutt

03:02 - Rebecca's Photography Journey

04:22 - The Intersection of Family and School Photography

06:54 - Teaching Photography to Kids

08:49 - Challenges and Rewards of Photography Camps

10:49 - Balancing Multiple Photography Ventures

15:08 - The Importance of Seeing Differently

18:59 - Exploring New Ideas for Photography Courses

20:10 - Balancing Multiple Business Angles

20:58 - Challenges of Managing School Photography

23:06 - Streamlining Family Photography Operations

26:58 - Innovative Customer Service Solutions

29:57 - Future Goals and Personal Motivation

30:42 - The Joy of Travel Photography

33:36 - Creative Solutions for Business and Personal Life

Mentioned in this Episode:

Photo Fuel Retreat Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/retreat

School Photography Course Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/schools-waitlist

Airtable: airtable.com

Photography Education: elenasblair.com

Connect with Rebecca

Website: hunnicuttphotography.com

Instagram: instagram.com/rebecca.hunnicutt.photography

Instagram: instagram.com/rebecca.hunnicutt.education