With Laura Esmond

What Shannon Griffin Taught Me About Letting Go

As business owners, it's easy to believe that success means doing everything ourselves. Editing the images. Answering every email. Keeping the house clean. Being present with our kids. Growing the business. Holding it all together. But what if that belief is exactly what's keeping us exhausted? In this honest conversation, photographer Shannon Griffin and I talk about the surprising freedom that comes from letting go. From outsourcing editing and household tasks to releasing the guilt about not wanting to play with Barbies, we explore what it looks like to build a business around who you actually are, not who you think you're supposed to be. Shannon shares her journey as a low-volume, high-end photographer, mother, editor, and entrepreneur, and why embracing support and a secondary source of income has allowed her to create a business and life she truly loves. Together, we discuss: * Why doing everything yourself isn't a badge of honor * The emotional challenge of letting go of control * How outsourcing can create more space for creativity and family * The reality of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship * Why your business should reflect your personality, values, and season of life * The difference between being busy and being intentional * How understanding your "why" can guide every business decision * The guilt many women feel around work, motherhood, and wanting more * Building a low-volume business that prioritizes relationships and artistry * Learning to trust others with parts of your business Whether you're struggling to delegate, feeling stretched thin, or simply wondering how to create more breathing room in your life, this conversation will remind you that you don't have to carry it all. Sometimes the greatest growth comes from letting something go. Connect with Shannon Griffin: https://www.shannongriffin.com/ [https://www.shannongriffin.com/] Connect with Laura: https://www.lauraesmond.com/ [https://www.lauraesmond.com/] If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs the reminder that she was never meant to do it all alone.

Why Photographers Discount — and What It's Really About

Why Photographers Discount — and What It's Really About If you are a portrait photographer who has ever built a discount into your pricing hoping it would make clients more likely to say yes, this episode is for you. We talk about why the impulse to discount makes complete sense on the surface, what is actually driving it underneath, and why a simple package structure will always outperform a complicated incentive every single time — whether you are shooting family photography, newborns, or motherhood sessions. In this episode: * Why discounting your digitals, bundling add-on products, and building in savings rarely moves the family photography clients you are hoping to reach * What is actually happening in a client's brain during the ordering meeting and why she does not need a discount to say yes * The real reason portrait photographers reach for incentives when building their pricing guide * Why simplicity is not a shortcut for family photographers, it is the strategy Links: The Art of Selling — lauraesmond.com/ips [https://www.lauraesmond.com/ips]

Katie Lamb On How To Stop Getting Price Shopped

If it feels harder than ever to stand out as a portrait photographer right now, you’re not imagining it. In this conversation, Laura sits down with photographer and educator Katie Lamb to unpack one of the biggest challenges in today’s industry: everything looks the same. From identical editing styles to repeated locations and trends pulled from Instagram and Pinterest, photographers are unintentionally blending in and when that happens, clients default to one thing: price shopping. But standing out isn’t about being more talented. It’s about being more intentional. In this episode, Laura and Katie break down what actually differentiates a photography business today (hint: it’s not your presets), how to create an experience clients can’t compare, and why adding something like video + a guided sales process can completely transform your profit per session. What You’ll Learn *  Why photographers are blending together more than ever  *  The real reason clients price shop (and how to stop it)  *  Why your photography style alone isn’t enough anymore  *  The two key ways to stand out: experience + product *  How video creates an emotional, undeniable “I have to have this” moment  *  What happens when you guide clients instead of just delivering a gallery  *  Why in-person sales (IPS) isn’t about pressure—it’s about service  *  How to create a full-circle client experience that leads to higher sales and stronger referrals  The Create & Sell Bundle [https://www.katielamb.com/bundle]: www.katielamb.com/bundle * Katie’s Creating Session Videos Course * Laura’s The Art of Selling Course * A one hour live Q&A with both of us Together, these approaches help photographers: *  Create something unique your clients will love *  And confidently guide clients to go beyond digitals 🔥 Why This Matters Your clients aren’t just buying photos. They’re navigating: *  Busy schedules  *  Emotional expectations  *  The pressure of “getting it right” for their family  If the experience ends with a digital gallery they never print, the value fades. But when you: *  Create something tangible  *  Guide them through decisions  *  Help them see the meaning behind the images  You don’t just sell more, you create lasting impact. About Katie Lamb Katie Lamb is a photographer and educator who has been in the industry since 2008. With a background in fine art photography, she’s known for simplifying complex things and helping photographers create meaningful, standout work—especially through session films. Find her education at: www.katielamb.com [https://www.katielamb.com/] Instagram: @katiebethlamb [https://www.instagram.com/katiebethlamb/]

How To Stop Competing With The Photographer Down The Street

There’s a version of working on your business that feels productive… but doesn’t actually move anything forward. In this episode, we’re pulling apart one of the biggest traps photographers fall into, especially in a slow season. Posting more. Tweaking captions. Trying to “stay consistent.” And still feeling like nothing is really changing. This is not a visibility problem. It is a differentiation problem. We’re talking about why being seen more does not lead to being chosen, what clients are actually deciding between when they hire a photographer, and the one question that will shift how you approach your marketing moving forward. Because the goal is not to compete. The goal is to be chosen. In This Episode *  Why “working on your business” can feel productive but still keep you stuck  *  The hidden problem with posting more content  *  What happens when your marketing looks like everyone else’s  *  The difference between being visible and being chosen  *  Why beautiful photos, good service, and fast communication are not enough  *  The trap of relying on style or trends to stand out  *  The question that changes how you approach your marketing entirely  Connect Come find me on Instagram at @lauraesmondeducation [https://www.instagram.com/lauraesmondeducation/] for more conversations like this and a behind-the-scenes look at how this work actually gets implemented.

The Industry Is Shifting, Are You Ready? A Conversation With Suzy Brown

In this episode, I’m joined by family photographer and educator Suzzane Brown for a conversation that feels a little different, in the best way. We didn’t come in with a strict plan, but what unfolded was an honest, layered discussion about what it looks like to be a photographer right now, in an industry that’s changing quickly, in a world that feels louder than ever, and in a season where so many of us are questioning how we want to show up. Suzzane is known for creating deeply connected, high-touch client experiences, especially with families in the luxury market, and she brings such a thoughtful, intuitive perspective to both her work and her business. Together, we explore everything from building trust with our clients to navigating the growing conversation around sharing children’s images online, to the pressure of social media and what it might look like to step outside of it. But underneath all of that, this episode is really about something deeper: coming back to yourself. Your voice. Your values. Your way of creating and connecting. We talk about what happens when your work starts to feel disconnected, how to rediscover what actually lights you up, and why the future of this industry may look a lot more human, relational, and experience-driven than we’ve been taught. If you’ve been feeling a little burnt out, a little unsure, or like you’re craving something more aligned in your business, this conversation will meet you right where you are. In this episode, we cover: * Why over-planning sessions can actually block connection, and what to do instead * What high-end clients really want, and why trust matters more than ever * The evolving conversation around sharing children’s images online * Social media fatigue and alternative ways to grow your business * The opportunity to rebrand family photography around connection and experience * How to rediscover your voice when your work starts to feel stale * Why burnout often has more to do with overwhelm than creativity * The power of in-person connection and community-based marketing * How repetition and discomfort lead to real growth * The mindset shifts that separate photographers who feel stuck from those who move forward This one feels like sitting down with a friend and talking through the big questions, the ones that don’t always have clear answers, but are so worth exploring.