In this episode, Laura Esmond dives into the intricacies of portrait photography pricing, especially for photographers transitioning into premium pricing. Laura discusses four common pricing mistakes that many photographers make, such as offering the wrong session length, overdelivering in petite sessions, copying competitor pricing without real market research, and staying at starter rates for too long. She provides actionable advice on how to avoid these pitfalls, ensuring a more sustainable and profitable business. If you're a photographer ready to refine your pricing strategy and grow your business, this episode is for you.

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist: lauraesmond.com/getrooted
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp: lauraesmond.com/bootcamp
• Instagram: @reeseandcoportraits
• Website: lauraesmond.com

Balancing Business and Motherhood: From Wedding to Portrait Photography with Caroline Klaar

Join Laura Esmond as she welcomes wedding and portrait photographer Caroline Klaar to discuss her transition from focusing on wedding photography to portrait photography. Caroline shares her journey of building a sustainable business while raising young children, pricing strategies, the impact of burnout, and creating balance between work and family life. Discover valuable insights on mindset shifts, the importance of charging your worth, and how intentional pricing can create more time for your family and improve your artistry. This episode dives into practical advice for photographers who want to pivot in their business and cultivate a healthy work-life balance.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:28 Caroline's Photography Journey

02:08 Balancing Motherhood and Photography

03:11 Struggles and Burnout

05:52 Transitioning from Weddings to Portraits

08:17 Pricing and Mindset Shifts

12:31 Contentment and Work-Life Balance

19:28 Current Pricing Strategy and Challenges

22:13 Strategies for Pricing and Packaging

23:12 Pre-Sales Conversations and Client Engagement

23:59 Testing Sales Strategies and Client Reactions

24:38 Building Confidence in Selling Artwork

25:10 Understanding the Value of Your Service

29:38 Transitioning from Weddings to Portraits

32:32 Balancing Work and Family Life

40:08 Setting Boundaries and Avoiding Burnout

45:35 The Importance of Community and Support

46:48 Final Thoughts and Farewell

You can find Caroline on Instagram at @klaarphotography.

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist: lauraesmond.com/getrooted
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp: lauraesmond.com/bootcamp
• Instagram: @reeseandcoportraits
• Website: lauraesmond.com

Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in constant hustle mode? You’re not alone. In this episode, Laura talks about the photographer’s burnout cycle — that endless loop of editing, marketing, posting, and pushing — and how slowing down might actually be the most productive thing you can do for your portrait photography business. Laura shares four powerful ways to slow down as a photographer so you can find balance, boost creativity, and build a sustainable business you love. You’ll learn why rest isn’t lazy, how your brain and body respond when you pause, and why giving yourself (and your clients) space leads to better focus, happier clients, and more profit.

In This Episode:

• How slowing down can actually speed up your photography business
• Why portrait photographers struggle with balance and boundaries
• The science behind burnout — and how to reset your nervous system
• How 10 minutes of rest or connection can fuel creativity and clarity
• Why a simple coffee date or short walk can change your productivity
• How to slow down with your clients for better service and faster sales
• The power of slowing down to learn new systems that save hours later
• How planning from a calm state leads to clarity, confidence, and growth

Key Takeaways for Portrait Photographers:

• You don’t need more hustle — you need margin.
• Slow moments create the brain space for your next big idea.
• Burnout is not a badge of honor; it’s a sign you’ve been over-giving.
• The most successful photographers build rhythm, not chaos.
• Balance in business begins with balance in your body and mind.

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website

In this episode, I’m diving into something so many of us feel but don’t always talk about—burnout during busy season. Especially if you're juggling work, motherhood, and the ever-present pressure to grow your business, this one’s for you.

I share a bit about my own journey, from the early days of running a tiny, high-touch studio (think: Pinterest boards and custom sessions for every client) to moving into a high-volume retail studio where mini sessions and cashflow ruled. Spoiler: it didn’t end well. I completely overdid it and hit a wall.

But burnout taught me some pretty important lessons, and I’m sharing the six guardrails I use now to protect my energy, calendar, and joy. From blocking editing time like a boss to selling value over volume, from knowing my true capacity to carving out quiet time for my brain—I’ve learned that a sustainable business isn’t just possible, it’s necessary.

If you’re feeling stretched thin or already burned out, I hope this episode feels like a deep breath and a gentle nudge toward change.

00:00 Introduction: The Struggles of Balancing Work and Life

00:33 Early Days: Building a Business from Scratch

01:10 The Mini Session Revelation

02:38 Transition to a Retail Studio

03:33 Burnout from Overbooking

04:32 Implementing Guardrails for a Sustainable Business

04:57 Step 1: Block Your Calendar Like a Boss

06:38 Step 2: Sell Value, Not Just Volume

07:53 Step 3: Respect Your Capacity

10:42 Step 4: Use Tools and Habits That Save Your Sanity

12:44 Step 5: Protect Your Mental Space

14:57 Step 6: Share the Workload

18:02 Conclusion: Respecting Capacity and Building a Sustainable Business

Hyperfocus drops I mentioned can be found here.
That brainwave app I mentioned.

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website

n this episode of the podcast, Laura Esmond explores the concepts of confidence and conviction. She articulates that confidence doesn't precede action but develops through the act of doing, often emerging from stumbles and mistakes. Laura distinguishes conviction as a firmly held belief or gut feeling that motivates one to start something new. She outlines a five-step process to build confidence: starting with conviction, taking imperfect action, learning from failures, reflecting on growth, and celebrating small progress. Emphasizing the importance of quiet perseverance, Laura encourages listeners to trust the process and see challenges as opportunities for growth, ultimately building a resilient and confident business.

00:00 Introduction to Confidence

00:20 Understanding Conviction vs. Confidence

04:01 Building Confidence Step-by-Step

04:23 Embracing Imperfection and Learning from Failures

05:21 Reflecting on Growth and Celebrating Progress

08:39 Quiet Perseverance and Long-Term Growth

14:23 Parenting Parallels and Teaching Through Mistakes

16:32 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website

In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend and incredibly talented portrait photographer, Kate Marie. We talk about what it really looks like to slow down, set boundaries, and build a photography business that supports your life, not the other way around.

Kate shares how she transitioned from a low priced business model to a slower-paced, high-touch experience that feels more aligned with the kind of artist and mom she wants to be.

We also talk about:

• How to stop overbooking yourself during busy season
• Why raising your prices might actually save your creativity
• What to do when clients show up with Pinterest boards and big expectations
• Creating calm, connected client experiences in a busy world
• And how our boundaries are actually a gift to our people, not a barrier

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s really possible to grow a thriving business without burning out, this episode will give you the encouragement and clarity you need.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Connect with Kate on Instagram → @katemarieportraiture

Want help mapping out your own high-touch model? Get on the waitlist for my mindset workshop where we will pair up an unstoppable mindset with strategy to grow the business you've always dreamed of owning.

If you loved this episode, would you leave a quick review? It helps more photographers find the podcast—and it means the world to me.

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website

What if the business you’ve been building isn’t actually the one you want? In this episode, I’m sharing the story of how I created a “successful” studio that looked great on the outside but left me drained on the inside. The turning point came when I finally asked myself a simple but life-changing question. This conversation will help you quiet the noise, uncover your own definition of success, and give you permission to start building a business that feels aligned with your life, not just impressive on paper.

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website

Marketing for Your Portrait Photography Business

In this episode, Laura Esmond, a seasoned portrait photographer and educator, discusses the significance of focusing on marketing to grow your photography business. She emphasizes that while elements like logos, websites, and pricing are important, marketing should be the primary focus, especially within the first three years of operation. Laura shares actionable marketing strategies, including optimizing your Google Business profile, maintaining a consistent blogging and email marketing routine, effectively using social media, and building local partnerships. Additionally, she points out common pitfalls to avoid, such as neglecting online presence, inconsistent social media activity, and lack of tracking results. Laura concludes with encouraging advice to start small and build consistent marketing habits, showcasing that sustainable growth requires continuous effort and strategic planning.

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Marketing

00:38 When to Focus on Marketing

02:00 Actionable Marketing Steps: Online Presence

03:54 Blogging and Email Marketing

06:25 Social Media Strategies

13:11 Building Community Relationships

18:54 Common Marketing Pitfalls

20:40 Conclusion and Final Tips

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website

Mastering Mini Sessions: Strategies for Photographers

In this podcast episode, Laura Esmond delves into the importance of mini sessions for photographers. She emphasizes the need to reflect on current practices to improve future outcomes and discusses the two main reasons photographers offer mini sessions: providing quick updates for clients and ensuring reliable cash flow. Laura shares her own experiences in managing a photography business with high overheads and explains how mini sessions helped sustain her. She also outlines three types of sessions she currently offers and provides detailed insights into streamlining mini sessions through mindset, boundaries, systems, and marketing strategies. The episode serves as a comprehensive guide for photographers looking to effectively plan, execute, and market mini sessions to enhance their business.

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of Mini Sessions
00:55 Why Photographers Offer Mini Sessions
01:44 Personal Experience with Mini Sessions
04:02 Structuring Different Types of Sessions
06:10 Streamlining Mini Session Events
06:36 Key Strategies for Successful Mini Sessions
10:12 Conclusion and Call to Action

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website

Entrepreneurship can be thrilling, creative, and empowering... but also incredibly lonely. In this episode, I’m sharing a story I’ve never fully told before—the late night I realized just how isolated I felt in my business. No team, no coworkers, no one to bounce ideas off of. Just me, working in silence while everyone else seemed to have support.

If you’ve ever wondered, "Is it just me?"—it’s not. We’re diving into the hidden loneliness that can come with building a photography business, especially in those early years of motherhood. I’ll walk you through the five types of community every creative entrepreneur needs and how to find the people who will help you feel supported, grounded, and excited again.

This one’s part pep talk, part story, and part strategy... and I think you’re going to feel seen. 

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist
• Peace & Profit Bootcamp
• Instagram
• Website