Simplicity, Software, and the Strength of the Human Spirit (ft. Daniel Usenko)

Heirlooms, Boundaries, and the Beauty of a 15-Year Journey (ft. Michael & Laura)

This week on High, Low, and Unexpected, Shaun sits down with Michael and Laura, a husband-and-wife photography team based in Richmond, Virginia. With 15 years in the industry, their story is a beautiful testament to what happens when you prioritize relationship over transaction and intention over scale. In this episode, you’ll hear: * The "Full-Time Leap" High: Laura shares the emotional journey of leaving a 9-year career as an elementary school teacher to go full-time in photography. Discover how "teacher skills" translate to wedding days and how this leap allowed them to expand their family through foster care and adoption. * The "Square Footage" Low: A real-talk look at the challenges of running a business together in a small home office. Michael and Laura discuss the seasons where work-life balance felt like a myth and the difficult (but necessary) conversations required to find a healthy line between being business partners and being a married couple. * The "15-Year Celebration" Unexpected: How a business built on community leads to clients who stay for a decade and a half. From receiving gifts for their children to throwing a 15th-anniversary party for their past couples, Michael and Laura explain why they don’t want "high-end" clients—they want "their people." Michael and Laura’s story is a raw reminder that while we document "perfect" days for others, our own success is found in the boundaries we set, the resilience we build in the lows, and the legacy we leave within our own four walls. Listen now on High, Low, and Unexpected. * 🎙️ Want to connect with Michael & Laura? Check out their work at MichaelAndLauraPhotography.com [https://michaelandlauraphotography.com/] or follow their journey and DIY projects on Instagram @michaelandlauraphotography

Simplicity, Software, and the Strength of the Human Spirit (ft. Daniel Usenko)

This week on High, Low, and Unexpected, Shaun sits down with Daniel Usenko, the visionary founder and CEO of Pixellu (Smart Albums). A photographer turned tech innovator, Daniel has spent over a decade revolutionizing how our industry handles album design, but his journey is about much more than just software. In this episode, you’ll hear: * The "Integration" High: A deep dive into the two-year mission to integrate Smart Albums with KISS Books. Daniel shares why "simplicity is addictive" and how this breakthrough aims to rescue a new generation of photographers from the tedious Photoshop workflows of the past. * The "Broken Back" Low: A raw and humbling look at the physical cost of pushing limits. After completing a full Ironman for his 40th birthday, Daniel discovered he had been living and working with a broken back for months—forcing a difficult conversation about health, aging, and what it means to be present for your family. * The "Reinvention" Unexpected: How losing his personal domain name led to a two-year hiatus from the web, and how a recent spark at a creative conference inspired him to relaunch his site and embrace "boring" family photos as the ultimate proof of life.Daniel’s story is a refreshing blend of tech-forward thinking and old-school appreciation for the tangible. Whether you’re struggling with business growth or a personal setback, this conversation will remind you that while technology moves fast, the most valuable things—our health and our memories—require us to slow down.Listen now on High, Low, and Unexpected.🎙️ Want to connect with Daniel? Check out SmartAlbums.com [https://smartalbums.com/], his new photography site at Usenko.co [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://usenko.co], or follow his personal journey on Instagram @danielsenko.

Vulnerability, Value, and the Power of 'Yes' (ft. Amanda Waltman)

This week on High, Low, and Unexpected, Shaun sits down with Seattle-based family photographer and podcast host Amanda Waltman. With over 23 years in the industry, Amanda’s journey is a masterclass in reclaiming your identity and finding strength in life’s most humbling moments. In this episode, you’ll hear: * The "Legion of Youth" High: How a random connection led to a decade-long partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, allowing Amanda to document the stories of homeless and at-risk youth during the team's Super Bowl era. * Reclaiming Autonomy: The "Low" that forced Amanda to quit photography for a year after being told her laugh was "too loud" for a corporate studio—and how she returned on her own terms. * Redefining Success through Loss: A heartbreaking and honest look at navigating back-to-back miscarriages, and how motherhood finally broke her addiction to the 80-hour "hustle" culture. * The 'Series of Unfortunate Events' Unexpected: From her husband’s tech layoff to a freak accident that left Amanda with a broken foot and surgery during her busiest season, she shares the lesson her therapist gave her: "Just say yes to the help." Amanda’s story is a raw reminder that entrepreneurship isn't a straight line. It’s a series of peaks and valleys that test our resolve and force us to decide who we want to be when we can no longer "do it all" ourselves. Listen now on High, Low, and Unexpected. 🎙️ Want to hear more from Amanda? Check out her podcast at TheEditWeekly.com or follow her photography journey on Instagram @amandawaltmanphoto!

Systems, Scaling, and Small Town Success (ft. Kylee Maughan)

This week on High, Low, and Unexpected, Shaun sits down with northern Utah photographer and business coach Kylee Maughan. With 15 years in the industry, Kylee has mastered the art of the "mompreneur" shuffle—growing a multiple six-figure brand while remaining a present, hands-on mom. In this episode, you’ll hear: * The "Groove" High: How Kylee reached the point where her business generates $500K+ while she still has time to volunteer at her kids' school and read 75 books a year. * The Adrenal Failure Low: A vulnerable look back at 2016, when running a high-volume business with 75+ weddings and zero systems led to a stress-induced health crisis. * The Power of the First Hire: Why outsourcing editing and bringing on a Virtual Assistant (VA) is the only way to move from "owning a job" to "owning a business." * The Pivot to Branding: How the 2020 lockdown forced a shift from weddings to baby brand photography, eventually leading to a dream collaboration with the iconic Gerber Baby brand. Kylee’s journey is a powerful reminder that we don’t rise to the level of our goals—we fall to the level of our systems. Whether you are feeling burnt out in the "editing cave" or looking to scale your team, this conversation offers a roadmap to building a business that serves your life, not the other way around. Listen now on High, Low, and Unexpected. 📸 Ready to stop the hustle and start scaling? Check out Kylee Maughan’s coaching and photography at KyleeAnne.com or follow her behind-the-scenes on Instagram @kyleeann.maughan!

Perspective, Resilience, and The Gray Areas (ft. Jes Workman)

This week on High, Low, and Unexpected, Shaun sits down with Los Angeles-based wedding photographer Jes Workman to talk about the soulful side of film photography and the grit required to sustain a global creative business. Jes has built an incredible brand centered on deep, lasting connections, often transitioning from "the photographer" to a lifelong friend for her clients. In this episode, you’ll hear: * The "Alignment" High: How Jes shifted her business to attract clients who share her values, and why being invited into their homes years later to document their next chapters is the ultimate success. * The 2020 Reality Check: A vulnerable look at the year Jes went from 38 scheduled weddings to just 4, and the hard lessons learned about financial stability, survival, and calling on family for support. * The "Fairness" Trap: Jes shares an unexpected story of a high-profile wedding that appeared perfect on the outside but challenged her professionally behind the scenes. * Building Business Muscles: How navigating "heavy-weight" challenges—like a global pandemic or unfair treatment—builds the resilience needed to handle the daily stresses of entrepreneurship with ease. Jes’s story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about the beautiful end product—it’s about the strength we gain through the struggle and the perspective we find in the clouds. Whether you’re looking to find your own creative spark, navigate a difficult season, or simply be reminded that your unique voice matters—this conversation will meet you there. Listen now on High, Low, and Unexpected. 📸 Want to see Jes’s incredible film work and follow her global adventures? Check out JesWorkman.com or follow her on Instagram @jesworkman!