Does your quiet January inbox have you spiraling about your prices? You’re not alone. This time of year has a way of bringing out the darkest corners of our business fears.

Questions like, “Did I price myself out of my market?” or “Will I ever get inquiries again?” swirl in the silence of a post-holiday lull. If we can learn to spot the pattern, we can break the cycle and make better decisions for the long game.

Get Clear on Your Big Picture:

If you’re feeling swirly about your business right now, it’s probably not because you need a new strategy—it’s because you haven’t slowed down enough to see the big picture. The Big Picture Workbook walks you through 10 thoughtful prompts to help you zoom out, get clear on your direction, and make confident decisions as a family photographer. You can print it or journal digitally and revisit it anytime you need grounding.

Download Now: https://leahoconnell.com/bigpicture

Find It Quickly:

00:24 - Understanding Pricing Anxiety

02:25 - Seasonal Nature of Family Photography

04:34 - Data-Driven Decision Making

11:59 - Client Communication and Feedback

15:50 - Financial Strategies and Adjustments

20:30 - Mentoring and Support Options

Mentioned in this Episode:

Big Picture Workbook: https://leahoconnell.com/bigpicture

Photographers-Only Email List: https://leahoconnell.com/newsletter

Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind Waitlist: https://leahoconnell.com/retreat

Voxer Coaching: https://leahoconnell.com/voxer

Connect with Leah Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com

Leah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

Dave Herring is a photographer, educator, and founder of Very Good CO. He’s also a creative nomad and a long time friend.

In this episode of Photo Fuel, I chat with Dave about how curiosity led him to a whole new career as a photographer and educator. From leaving the East Coast and relocating his family to California with no concrete plan, to working with brands like Leica and Hasselblad, Dave shares how paying attention to what felt meaningful—and staying generous along the way—shaped his career and a life that supports his ultimate measure of success: being in charge of his time.

We talk about blending past experience into creative work and how free content and generosity have become foundational to his business. This conversation is packed with stories that will inspire you and leave you feeling hopeful for all that’s possible.

Even though Dave is primarily a landscape photographer, this episode offers new perspective we all need on the value of metrics, making decisions in your business, and what it really means to make art your work—one thoughtful step at a time.

// LINKS MENTIONED //

Blog Post: "Generosity changed everything:" https://dave.online/writings/how-generosity-changed-everything

Very Good CO: shopverygood.com

Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/

STEPHEN SHORE Photo books:

Stephen Shore by STEPHEN SHORE - Book: 9781633450486 | Rizzoli Bookstore

// CONNECT WITH DAVE // Dave’s youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@davidherring DAVE’S WEBSITE: Dave.online // CONNECT WITH LEAH // Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com Leah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo

What if you didn’t need to burn down your photography business to feel better in it?

In this solo episode of Photo Fuel, we'll explore the idea of micro-pivots—small, intentional changes that can bring more clarity, energy, and alignment to your work without rebranding, quitting, or announcing a brand-new niche.

This conversation is for family photographers who still love what they do, but feel a quiet sense of restlessness. Maybe sessions feel heavier than they used to. Maybe your creativity has shifted before your business has caught up. Or maybe you just know something needs to change—but you don’t know what yet.

We talk about:

• What micro-pivots are (and what they’re not)

• Signs you may be craving a small shift, not a big overhaul

• Creative, structural, and offer-based micro-pivots you can try

• How to experiment without risking your income or identity

• Why sustainable change often happens quietly

If you’ve been wondering whether it’s possible to evolve without starting over, this episode offers permission, perspective, and practical ways forward.

// LINKS MENTIONED //

Episode 61: From Families to Brand Photography with Nicole Hodgson

Episode 59: Messy Action, The Artful Pivot, and Creating from the Inside Out with Brooke Schultz

Episode 56: The Missing LInk to your Photography Marketing with Michelle Franzetti

The Micro-Pivots Journalling Workbook : https://leahoconnell.myflodesk.com/pivot

// CONNECT //

Leah's website: https://www.leahoconnell.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo