I’m sharing three honest lessons I learned from scaling my portrait photography business, and then intentionally scaling it back. If you're a family photographer, brand photographer, or creative entrepreneur who’s ever been tempted to "go big" with a studio, team, and all the trappings of growth, this is a must-listen.

We’re getting real about what happens when your business looks successful on the outside but starts to feel misaligned on the inside. I’ll walk you through what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently now.

Whether you're in your first five years of photography business or considering opening a studio, this episode will help you build a photography business that’s profitable, sustainable, and truly aligned with your life.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why scaling your photography business doesn’t automatically lead to time freedom
• What it really looks like to run a brick-and-mortar photography studio with a team
• How overhead, burnout, and decision fatigue can creep in quietly
• The difference between ego-driven growth and value-driven decisions
• How to protect your creativity and peace as a portrait photographer

Connect with Laura:

• Private Mentoring: lauraesmond.com/mentor
• Instagram: @reeseandcoportraits
• Website: lauraesmond.com

In today’s episode, I’m inviting you behind the scenes of the full client experience I’ve refined over the last two decades as a portrait photographer. From that very first inquiry to the moment artwork is installed in their home, every touchpoint is intentionally crafted to make clients feel safe, seen, and deeply cared for.

Whether you’re new to business or ready to elevate your systems with more ease and clarity, this episode will walk you through the thoughtful steps I take to nurture trust, communicate with intention, and create an experience that feels effortless for both you and your client.

In This Episode, I Share:

• How to set a tone of warmth and professionalism from the first inquiry
• My approach to automated systems that still feel personal and human
• Why planning calls are essential for connection and clarity
• How I guide families with care during the session (even in the chaos of toddlerhood)
• Why the ordering appointment is never the beginning of the sale
• The subtle ways we build loyalty, trust, and referrals through genuine service

Connect with Laura:

• Private Mentoring: lauraesmond.com/mentor
• Instagram: @reeseandcoportraits
• Website: lauraesmond.com

Creative Local Business Partnerships: A Real Approach to Growth

In this episode, host Laura Esmond shares her personal journey and unique approach to growing her business by forming meaningful partnerships with local businesses, rather than relying on social media or elaborate marketing strategies. She emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships by offering support and generosity, like walking into local businesses with small gifts, such as a basket of muffins and a handwritten note. Laura details actionable steps to identify potential business partners who share your target audience, such as florists, interior designers, real estate agents, and boutique owners. By partnering with these businesses, you can foster mutual growth and community connection. Esmond also provides three practical ways to collaborate with local businesses: supporting existing events, cross-promotion, and creating service-based bundles. The episode concludes with an open invitation to think creatively about local partnerships and a call to action for listeners to reach out to local businesses they admire.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Growth Journey

00:26 The Power of Local Partnerships

01:43 Identifying Potential Business Partners

02:44 Effective Strategies for Collaboration

04:46 Leading with Service and Follow-Up

06:43 Creative Event Ideas and Cross-Promotion

10:27 Successful Partnership Case Studies

13:04 Building Trust and Long-Term Relationships

15:24 Your Invitation to Take Action

16:44 Conclusion and Mentorship Opportunity

Connect with Laura:

• Private Mentoring: lauraesmond.com/mentor
• Instagram: @reeseandcoportraits
• Website: lauraesmond.com

Keywords: motherhood photographer, family photography, newborn photographer, maternity sessions, photography pricing tips, portrait photography business, money mindset for creatives, IPS for photographers, work-life balance, photographers who are moms, client experience photography, raising photography prices

In this episode of 'with Laura Esmond,' Laura dives into the essentials of crafting effective inquiry responses for portrait photographers. She discusses how to tailor your response to align with your business and offerings, emphasizing the importance of understanding your core product and unique differentiator. Laura also announces a potential name change for the podcast and provides insights on making personal connections with clients via phone calls and videos. Key concepts include portrait photography pricing, creating a personalized inquiry response, and balancing business with motherhood.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Update

01:26 Understanding Your Unique Selling Proposition

05:29 Crafting an Effective Inquiry Response

10:26 Personalizing Your Client Interaction

13:13 Using Video to Enhance Inquiry Responses

17:31 Summarizing Key Points for Inquiry Responses

19:53 Conclusion and Final Tips

Connect with Laura:

• Get Rooted Waitlist: lauraesmond.com/getrooted
• Instagram: @reeseandcoportraits
• Website: lauraesmond.com

In this episode of the podcast, Laura Esmond shares reflections from a month-long break during the holiday season, including time spent with her family, prepping for the Peace and Profit Bootcamp, and welcoming new students into her Get Rooted program. She opens up about the common guilt many motherhood portrait photographers feel when stepping back from business tasks like social media, blogging sessions, or sending marketing emails.

Laura encourages photographers—especially those balancing motherhood and running a photography business—to honor the natural ebb and flow of life and business. She also shares powerful insights from the Peace and Profit Bootcamp, including mindset shifts around money, how to raise your prices with confidence, and how to ensure your portrait photography packages reflect the full value of the experience you provide.

Whether you're a newborn photographer, maternity photographer, or specializing in family sessions, this episode will help you reframe how you approach pricing, marketing, and the emotional load of growing a photography business while raising a family.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back
00:46 The Importance of Taking Breaks
02:55 Holiday Reflections and Family Time
04:13 Peace and Profit Bootcamp Insights
08:14 Money Mindset and Pricing Strategies
16:51 The True Value of Money
25:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Keywords: motherhood photographer, family photography, newborn photographer, maternity sessions, photography pricing tips, portrait photography business, money mindset for creatives, IPS for photographers, work-life balance, photographers who are moms, client experience photography, raising photography prices

In this inspiring episode of the podcast, Laura Esmond sits down with portrait photographer Tawni Adams to unpack the real and raw journey of transforming a photography business—from charging $300-$600 per session and burning out, to confidently booking consistent $1500+ sessions and even landing a nearly $12,000 sale.

Tawni opens up about the mindset hurdles she faced, the emotional rollercoaster of raising her prices, and how she almost gave up before things finally clicked. If you’re a photographer feeling stuck at lower price points or wondering if sustainable, high-profit portrait sessions are possible, this conversation is your permission slip to believe in what's possible.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Tawni originally thought no one would pay more than $500 for a session
• The exact mindset shift that helped her move from “overwhelmed and underpaid” to building a thriving, profitable portrait business
• How Get Rooted helped her break down her pricing, boundaries, and value
• The emotional weight of changing your business model while raising a family
• Why your first $1500+ client might be closer than you think
• How Tawni learned to trust the process and “let it simmer”
• What actually happens between $300 sessions and a $12,000 artwork sale

Resources Mentioned:
LEARN MORE ABOUT GET ROOTED – https://www.lauraesmond.com/getrooted
Follow Tawni Adams on Instagram: @tawniadamsphoto
Tawni’s website: https://www.tawniadams.com/

SEO Keywords:
photography pricing strategy, raise photography session rates, profitable portrait business, $1500 photography session, photography business coaching, Get Rooted program, luxury portrait pricing, family photographer success story, photography business mindset, how to increase photo session prices, photographer burnout recovery

In today’s episode, we’re talking about one of the most powerful ways to grow your portrait photography business: creating a little spectacle. But don’t worry, I don’t mean hopping on every trend or becoming a human highlight reel.

This is about showing up with intention, creativity, and a little bit of wow factor that feels true to you.

Whether you’re in year one or five of business, creating a buzz around what you do is how you get seen by the right people and start booking the kinds of clients you love. In this episode, I’m walking you through 5 concrete ideas to help you do exactly that.

We’ll talk about:

• How to create portfolio work that actually attracts your dream clients
• Why fun, low-stakes portrait events can build big-time momentum
• The simple monthly habit that books more sessions than Instagram ever has for me

This one’s packed with practical ideas you can use right away, no matter how busy life is. Grab your notebook or just listen in while you edit!

Links & Resources:

• Sign up for the Peace & Profit Bootamp: lauraesmond.com/bootcamp

• Apply for Get Rooted—now open for enrollment: lauraesmond.com/getrooted

portrait photography business, photography business strategy, in-person sales photography, IPS tips, IPS for photographers, pricing for photographers, photography business reflection, goal setting for photographers, profitable photography business, how to sell photo products, photographer workflow, client experience for photographers, get rooted, laura esmond podcast

Welcome back to part three of this four-part planning series. If you’re dreaming about a 2026 that feels aligned, profitable, and actually doable, this episode is for you.

So far, we’ve walked through gratitude (what’s already working) and reflection (what needs to shift). Today, we’re stepping into planning your photography business—but not just numbers on a spreadsheet. This is where photography business strategy meets mindset in the most powerful way.

Inside this episode, we’re talking all about:
– Why manifestation for photographers isn’t magic (and what it actually is)
– How photography pricing strategy impacts your time, energy, and sustainability
– The key questions to ask before planning your 2026 photography calendar
– Why your real life deserves to be in the plan

You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on how to create intentional business goals that fit your life, not just your Instagram grid—and how to take those dreamy goals and turn them into something real.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
– Get the free photography reflection worksheet, https://www.lauraesmond.com/reflections

– Join the Peace & Profit Bootcamp for photographers, https://www.lauraesmond.com/bootcamp

– Apply for Get Rooted: Business Coaching for Portrait Photographers, https://www.lauraesmond.com/getrooted

photography business planning, portrait photography pricing, sustainable photography business, how to plan your photography business, profitable photographer tips, photography income goals, intentional business strategy, photography coaching, business planning for photographers, 2026 photography goals

NEXT UP:
Don’t miss next week’s episode—our final step in the series—where we’ll bring it all together and talk about action. Plus, there's a fun bonus episode dropping tomorrow about marketing for photographers (and creating a spectacle in the best way). Can’t wait to share that one with you!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
– Get the free reflection worksheet -- https://lauraesmond.com/reflections
– Join the Peace & Profit Bootcamp https://lauraesmond.com/bootcamp
– Apply for Get Rooted -- https://lauraesmond.com/getrooted

NEXT UP:
Don’t miss next week’s episode—our final step in the series—where we’ll bring it all together and talk about action. Plus, there's a fun bonus episode dropping tomorrow about marketing (and creating a spectacle in the best way). Can’t wait to share that one with you!