Called to Both - Balancing Motherhood and Business for Photographers

Hosted by Joy Michelle, Coach for Photographers

Business Entrepreneurship Education

Website RSS feed

Episodes

225

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Called To Both® is the podcast for ambitious photographers and creative small business owners wanting better clients & diversified revenue, while also building a life you love! Finally, a fresh perspective on business and marketing from a mom who works less than 20 hours per week! On this podcast Joy Michelle talks about what it takes to pursue both Motherhood and entrepreneurship, balance these two worlds, and provide you with tools and lessons to help you thrive in both areas of life. While learning about business is so valuable—where is the business advice for women doing BOTH? At Called to Both, we truly don’t believe you have to choose between these two worlds tugging at your heart. You can be Called to Both. Called to Both Podcast will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired with new episodes each week, walking away with tangible yet simple steps to make your business and life work for you. Photographers, if you feel Called To Both you’re in the right place. Join us each week as we discuss time management, affiliate marketing, business strategy, marketing tips, and work life balance as if you were chatting one-on-one with your business coach. You can find show notes, links, and resources mentioned in each episode at https://calledtoboth.com Connect with Joy over on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joyymichelle/.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 202611 min

180: You Don't Have to Choose Between Summer and Momentum: 3 Strategies That Help Me Stay Productive

How do you successfully run a business in the summer while also being a present mom? In today’s episode, I’m sharing 3 strategies that help me to stay productive while also spending intentional time with my kids.In This Episode You’ll: Learn how I help my clients stay intentional and productive during the summerGet 3 strategies that I use to keep my business momentum going while still spending time with my kidsFind it quickly:How to have a productive summer (2:10)What do you need to make space for? (4:11)Get real about what the summer will look like (5:11)Advocate for your business (6:10)Resource yourself well (7:19)Mentioned in this Episode:The Rise Collective: learn.joymichellephotography.com/Rise-collective-WaitlistIf you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

June 8, 202623 min

A Simple Marketing Strategy to Attract More Clients Without Burnout

It's time to attract your ideal clients and convert more in 2025. In this episode, I'm sharing the marketing plan that is going to get you there with more intention and less work. Listen in as I walk you through the three strategies I use to attract and convert paying clients.In This Episode You'll:Hear my own marketing plan.Explore content, visibility, and conversion for your business.Know what to avoid in your marketing plan.Find it quickly:02:37 - The Three-Part Marketing Plan02:53 - Content Plan: Building a Strong Foundation08:38 - Visibility Plan: Expanding Your Reach11:45 - Conversion Plan: Turning Leads into Clients15:52 - Common Marketing Mistakes to Avoid18:51 - Leveraging Tools and AI for Efficient MarketingMentioned in this Episode:ShowitEpisode 21: Get More Visibility On Your Content With This 1 ShiftEpisode75: Affiliate Marketing for Content CreatorsPitchPower Email TemplatesHoneyBookRiversideMetricoolGoogle Search ConsoleChatGPTMore ways to connect:JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAMWORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACHJOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITERead the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

June 1, 20269 min

Why Your Website Isn’t Converting Every Type of Buyer

What if your website is turning away the very people who want to buy from you? This week, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes conversation I had with one of my coaching accelerator clients all about aligning your brand and website with different buyer personalities. The reality is that you don’t have just one type of ideal client. You have many and they all shop and inquire differently.We’re diving into practical ways to accommodate analytical, relationship-driven, impulsive, and skeptical buyers within your current website and content.In this episode:The most common buyer personalities (and what each needs to say “yes”)How different buyer types prefer to reach out and why ignoring DMs is costing you moneyThe key contact options every creative service provider needs to offerFind It Quickly02:24 - Understanding Different Buyer Types04:27 - How Buyers Reach Out07:16 - Optimizing Your Website for All BuyersMore ways to connect:JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAMWORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACHJOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITERead the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

May 25, 202623 min

179: Building a Coaching Empire: The Tools I Depend On As An Educator

What if the right tools could help you scale your business without adding more chaos to your life? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the exact digital and non-digital tools I use to run my coaching and education business—from course platforms and AI tools to productivity systems, banking, podcasting, and content creation. After nearly 10 years of creating content online, I’ve refined the systems that actually save me time, simplify my workflow, and help me serve clients better. I’m sharing the platforms I personally use every day, the mistakes I made early on (yes, including trying to avoid paying for Zoom 😅), and the tools I recommend most often to photographers and creatives who want to step into coaching, mentorship, courses, or education.In This Episode You’ll: Get my list of top tools that I recommend to my clients who are branching into education Learn to use the tools to save time and make your coaching business more effectiveLearn what it takes to bridge the gap between being a service provider and being an educatorFind It Quickly:Zoom (3:37) Notion (6:08)Youtube (7:23)Kajabi (7:36)Riverside (9:41)Canva (10:56)Honeybook (11:10)Buzzsprout (11:43)Claude (12:14)Manychat (14:16)Relay (14:42)Planner (15:54)Timer cube (17:31)Ring light (18:39)Camera (19:23)Joby light (20:25)Mentioned in this Episode:Riverside: joymichelle.co/riversideKajabi: joymichelle.co/kajabiYouTube: youtube.comNotion: joymichelle.co/notionZoom: zoom.comCanva: canva.comHoneybook: joymichelle.co/honeybookBuzzsprout: joymichelle.co/buzzpsproutClaude AI: claude.aiRelay: joymichelle.co/relayManychat: manychat.comMy Amazon List: joymichelle.co/amazon (Zen & Flow, Timer Cube, Ring Light, Nikon Z30, Joby Light)If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

May 18, 202620 min

178: Inside The Rise Collective: What Photographers Are Actually Working On

How are established photographers refining their business? Today I’m sharing a peek behind the curtain into the Rise Collective, my group coaching program. Listen in to hear what kinds of questions are coming up in our coaching sessions, and how the photographers in the program are building their authority and visibility. In This Episode You’ll: Get an inside look into my group coaching program, the Rise CollectiveLearn about the results that have come from the program so farGain insight into how photographers are refining their business for better visibilityFind it quickly:What we’re focusing on inside this Rise Collective cohort (2:57)The results from the Rise Collective so far (6:02)Where to focus visibility efforts (6:53)Refining the client journey (8:37)A group visibility sprint (11:34)Having better conversations (15:40)Mentioned in this Episode:Waitlist: learn.joymichellephotography.com/Rise-collective-WaitlistIf you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

May 11, 202612 min

How I Make Passive Income with Affiliate Marketing Without Being an Influencer

If you’ve been dabbling in affiliate marketing and you’re ready to make more money with it, this episode is for you. I’m sharing my top three advanced tips and strategies to help you get to the next level with affiliate marketing. These affiliate marketing tips are designed for creatives and service providers ready to turn casual links into a consistent revenue stream and grow their affiliate marketing business with intentional affiliate relationships.In This Episode You'll:Learn three advanced strategies for affiliate marketingUse these strategies to save time in your businessFind it quickly:2:46 - Use a link shortener 5:43 - Use your email welcome sequence to highlight your links 7:34 - Never link away from your website unless it’s an affiliateLinks: Affiliate Boss: joymichelle.co/affiliate-bossRead the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.More ways to connect:Joy Michelle Website: joymichelle.coJoy Michelle Instagram: instagram.com/joyymichelleJoy Michelle Facebook: facebook.com/joymichellephotographyJoy Michelle Coaching: joymichelle.co/coachingIf you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

May 4, 202615 min

You're Aiming For Your Highest Revenue Year in Business, But Growth Feels Flat. Try This 4-Step Business Reset Plan

What if the growth you’re chasing doesn’t require doing more—but rebuilding what’s underneath it? Today we're replaying an episode that originally aired two years ago as part of our four-part Business Reboot series. This series was designed to help you step out of reaction mode and back into the CEO seat of your business. We talk about resetting your foundation, clarifying your direction, increasing visibility, and making intentional moves that support long-term growth. We’re bringing this episode back now because every business owner hits seasons where what once worked no longer feels aligned. Sometimes the answer isn’t to push harder—it’s to pause, reassess, and rebuild stronger. So if you’re ready for more clarity, more momentum, and a business that actually supports the life you want, let’s get into it.In This Episode You'll:Reset the foundations of your business.Assess and reflect on what's working.Explore what you'll bring with you in the future of business.Find it quickly:4:40 - Setting the Foundation5:18 - Assess6:08 - Reflect8:48 - Clarity10:26 - HomeworkMentioned in this Episode:NotionGiant Post-It NotesListen to the Full Business Reboot Series:Part 1 | Assess & Reflect: Setting the FoundationPart 2 | Building Your Strategic RoadmapPart 3 | 3 Ways to Boost Your VisibilityPart 4 | How You Can Start Making Better Decisions in Your BusinessMore ways to connect:JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAMWORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACHJOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITECALLED TO BOTH COMMUNITY Read the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

April 27, 202620 min

How to Build a Sustainable Business: 3 Growth Practices That Actually Work

If you take your business growth seriously and you also like having a life and having margin very intentionally built into your life, then you are actually going to be a big fan of this episode. Today I'm sharing intentional growth practices for a sustainable business.In This Episode You'll:Explore the importance of radical honesty and accountability.Be challenged to establish your dream schedule today.Learn the power of systems and softwares.Find it quickly::53 - The Power of Accountability in Business4:48 - Radical Honesty and Accountability8:42 - Establishing Your Schedule 13:04 - Systems & SoftwaresMentioned in this Episode:Episode 10: The Softwares, Tools, and Apps I Use to Run My BusinessEpisode 102: Ask Joy: Team Building, Delegation, & Running Multiple BrandsJasmine StarHoneyBookBook a Call with me!More ways to connect:JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAMWORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACHJOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITERead the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.CLICK HERE TO GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

April 20, 202624 min

177: Building a Business You Actually Enjoy, Feels Fun, & Brings Contentment

If your business doesn’t feel fun anymore, this episode is your reset button. Today, I’m talking about a theme that’s been coming up again and again with the women I coach: how to build a business that actually feels good to run. Because here’s the truth—your business can feel aligned, joyful, and deeply fulfilling.In this episode, I’m reflecting on my own sabbatical I took when I realized I had lost the spark in my business, along with the exact questions and shifts that helped me rebuild something I truly love.You’ll walk away with a new lens for evaluating your business and practical ways to bring more joy, contentment, and alignment into your work right now.In this Episode:How to identify what actually brings you joy in your business The powerful questions that helped me realign my work and life Why “someday” thinking is keeping you stuck—and how to change it Mentioned in this Episode:Your Dream Life Starts HereRead the full show notes from today’s episode HERE.If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!

April 13, 202612 min

176: Here’s What Separates Photographers Who Rise to The TOP From Photographers Who Plateau

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right, but you're still not seeing the growth you expected—this episode is going to shift everything. In today’s episode, I’m unpacking the real reason some photographers continue to grow year after year while others plateau. Spoiler alert: it’s not talent, effort, or even how much you want it.I’m sharing what I’ve observed after years of coaching photographers and building my own business—and the truth might surprise you. If you’re someone who wants to raise your prices, attract better clients, and build a thriving business without sacrificing your life, this episode is for you.In this Episode:Why working harder isn’t the answer to breaking through your current level The hidden ceiling that comes from building your business alone The three growth accelerators that actually move the needleFind It Quickly:2:23 - Why Some Photographers Stall3:40 - Stop Building in Isolation5:30 - Perspective Changes Everything6:22 - Sequencing Your Investments7:45 - Accountability to Break Blocks9:11 - Momentum From the Right RoomMentioned in this Episode:DM for Rise Collective information: instagram.com/joyymichelleIf you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group!Join Now >>CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!