Photo Fuel | The Vision, Art, and Business of Family Photography

Hosted by Leah O’Connell

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Jun 2026

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About the show

This is a podcast specifically for family photographers all about the swirl of vision, art, and business. Through stories, interviews, and nearly 20 years of experience in the family photography industry, host Leah O’Connell will help pack your creative toolbox and build confidence to fuel your sessions, your business, and your life. We’ll tackle family photography education with topics around the logistics and the skills, along with mindset, marketing with alignment, and more. This podcast will help you fan your own flame towards doing more of what you love and loving how you do it. Free, full, and fun family photography education every Monday - grab your Photo Fuel and let’s get creating.

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 7647 min

Falling for Lifestyle, Session Prep, and Playing the SEO Long Game with Becca Lueck

Becca Lueck has been photographing families in the Portland, Oregon area for 16 years, but she didn't find lifestyle photography until year seven. Once she did, everything changed. We talk about the before and after of learning to fall in love with the work you're doing, how it changes, and how to keep it interesting. Becca is the founder of Becca Jean Photography, a membership for family photographers, and a suite of courses covering everything from business systems to video. She's also been blogging and building her SEO for years, to the point where she can now publish a post and rank on the first page within days. In this episode, we talk about how she got there and how things look now. We also get into her video workflow — how she moves between photo and video inside a family session without losing momentum — and her honest take on where new photographers should put their energy. Find It Quickly: 3:30 - Getting started 7:00 - Mini sessions and slow early growth 12:00 - Discovering lifestyle photography in 2017 20:00 - Client prep: email sequences other tools 27:00 - Styling guidance and client closets 30:00 - Adding video inside a family session 37:00 - SEO over Instagram 41:00 - Becca's membership 44:00 - Photo fuel: in-person events Mentioned in this Episode: Becca's Membership: https://courses.beccajeanphotography.com/p/family-photography-collective Style and Select: https://styleandselect.com/ Becca's CRM: https://17hats.com/ How Becca edits film: Adobe Premiere Pro How Becca edits photo: Imagin AI Tristin Tracy: @tristentracy_photography Connect with Becca: Education: https://beccajeanphotography.com/education Instagram: @beccajeanphotography Connect with Leah: PhotoFuel Retreat and Mastermind: leahoconnell.com/retreat Free resources: leahoconnell.com/learn

June 1, 2026Episode 7516 min

Guide to In-Home Family Photography Part 4 - 8 Tips for What to Do When You're Stuck

You're halfway into a session, things are flowing, and then — nothing. The energy drops, your brain goes blank, and you're thinking - WHAT NOW. This is the final part of the four-part in-home family photography series, and I'm giving you eight specific moves to pull out when a session stalls or you need to jolt yourself in to a new perspective. Stay to the end for a preview of what's coming this summer! Find It Quickly: 2:56 - 1: Three focal ranges 4:37 - 2: Shoot through something nearby 5:34 - 3: Doorways 6:41 - 4: Invite music 7:55 - 5: Invite play 9:00 - 6: Look for the moment, not the space 10:57 - 7: Use furniture in non-conventional ways 11:38 - 8: Let the mess be the story 13:10 - Recap 13:43 - Series wrap-up + how to get the field guide 14:52 - What to expect next on the podcast Mentioned in this Episode: In-Home Session Field Guide (free): leahoconnell.com/home-fieldguide Photo Fuel Retreat and Mastermind: leahoconnell.com/retreat

May 25, 2026Episode 7416 min

Guide to In-Home Family Photography Part 3: Story Filters

In Part 1, we prepped. In Part 2, we got the ball rolling. This episode is all about how to open your dang eyeballs, guide with your heart, and sink into a session that is less pose and more honest family gold. If you often leave sessions feeling like you checked the boxes but you never really GOT anywhere emotional, this is your next-level. I originally learned the concept of "elements of family story" from Brooke Schultz, and Story Filters are my evolution of that over the last 5 years. They're themes you carry into a session like a scavenger hunt — lenses for seeing what's actually in front of you rather than hunting for your next pose. I'm sharing what they are, how they work in practice, and a two-step process for developing your own. It's the thing that made the difference between galleries that are fine and work that actually means something. Find It Quickly: 1:49 - Introducing Story Filters (your personal in-shoot scavenger hunt) 3:37 - Story filter examples 5:06 - Filters in action: how they change the way you see and direct 7:52 - Why filters matter: seeing people not subjects 9:28 - Direction vs. documentary: finding the middle ground 10:51 - How to develop your own filters 14:09 - Series recap + next episode preview 15:03 - How to get the Field Guide for all these tips in writing to reference for your next shoot Mentioned in this Episode: In-Home Session Field Guide (free): leahoconnell.com/home-fieldguide Episode 72: Part 1 — The Walkthrough Video: https://leahoconnell.com/guide-to-in-home-family-photography-sessions-part-1-the-walkthrough-video/ https://leahoconnell.com/guide-to-in-home-family-photography-sessions-part-1-the-walkthrough-video/ Episode 73: Part 2 — The First 10 Minutes: https://leahoconnell.com/in-home-family-photography-series-part-2-the-first-10-minutes/ Also listen to: Episode 59 with Brooke Schultz: https://leahoconnell.com/episode-59-messy-action-the-artful-pivot-and-creating-from-the-inside-out-with-brooke-schultz/

May 18, 2026Episode 7325 min

Guide to In-Home Family Sessions Part 2: The First 10 Minutes

You've done your prep. You've watched the walkthrough video. You knock on the door - now what? The first 10 minutes of an in-home session do more than most photographers realize. They're where trust gets built in person, the tone is set, and where you either make it feel like an experience or a performance. I'm walking through five things that shift the energy in those opening minutes and two things I'm careful not to do in a session to help get it rolling on a good foot. This is Part 2 of a four-part May series on practical in-home family photography tips. The guiding principles and recommendations for each episode can be found in the companion resource for free called : The In-Home Session Field Guide. You'll find swipe copy, pep talk language, and go-to moves for every stage of the session. Find It Quickly: 2:30 - Why the first 10 minutes matter more than you think 5:00 - Tip 1 - hospitality 10:30 - Tip 2: Kid level 13:00 - Tip 3: Notice the good 15:30 - Tip 4: The loop 17:30 - Tip 5: The pep talk 21:00 - Transitional shooting before direction 22:30 - What not to do Mentioned in this Episode: In-Home Session Field Guide (free): leahoconnell.com/home-field-guide Episode 72: Part 1 — The Walkthrough Video - https://leahoconnell.com/guide-to-in-home-family-photography-sessions-part-1-the-walkthrough-video/ Episode with Rachel Larsen Weaver: https://leahoconnell.com/an-interview-with-rachel-larsen-weaver-on-pursuing-the-love-of-art-business-and-people-photo-fuel-podcast-episode-13/

May 11, 2026Episode 7212 min

Guide to In-Home Family Sessions Part 1: The Walkthrough Video

If you're working on improving your process for in-home family photography or adding home as a location this year, this series is for you! This first episode is one of four that kicks off a short, practical series on in-home family photography, starting with the one thing I do before every session to walk in feeling prepared. This is the biggest asset to preparing for an in home shoot - without requiring a consult call, zoom meeting, or in-person scouting trip: the walkthrough video. I share how I ask for it about two weeks before an in-home session and what I'm looking for when I watch it. I also cover what to do when clients don't send a video, and why the goal of all this prep isn't a rigid plan but a confident, settled mindset before you even knock on the door. Find It Quickly: 1:30 - The two traps in in-home sessions 3:00 - The mental shift required 4:30 - Asking for the walkthrough video 7:00 - When they don't send it 8:30 - What to look for : Light, Life, and Layers framework 12:30 - The real win, regardless of how it's executed in the end 14:30 - Part 2 preview + The In-Home Session Field Guide Mentioned in this Episode: In-Home Session Field Guide: leahoconnell.com/home-fieldguide >> Episode 69: Stop Posing, Start Playing >> Episode 55: Set the Table - how to stop expecting your clients to perform for you Free resources: leahoconnell.com/learn >> CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: @leahoconnell.photo

April 27, 2026Episode 7126 min

What I Learned From Hosting a Photography Retreat and Mastermind

A few weeks out from the first PhotoFuel Retreat and Mastermind, this episode is the honest debrief — what I got right, what surprised me, what I'd do differently, and one big decision I made about the future of the program. Regular reflection is tool I use often in my photography business so I want to model what that looks like and how it can lead to purposeful alignment. If you're curious about the inner workings of crafting something new, I hope this episode models what it looks like to be in development rather than just seeing the end result. Find It Quickly: 0:00 - Free resources at leahoconnell.com/learn 1:15 - Intro 3:00 - What I got right 8:30 - Why the in-between moments were king 12:30 - What I'm changing for the next round 16:30 - The biggest reason I think it worked 21:30 - The surprising tax I wasn't expecting 24:30 - A big decision about future rounds Mentioned in this Episode: PhotoFuel Retreat: leahoconnell.com/retreat Episode 68: Why I Started a Retreat for Family Photographers

April 13, 2026Episode 7035 min

Thoughtful growth & the power of mentoring with Lydia Fine

Have you ever wondered what working with a mentor actually looks and feels like over time? Lydia Fine is back as our first-ever returning guest. She's a purposely part-time photographer with a full-time marketing career and two kids, and over the past few years she and I have worked together across just about every format. In this episode, she breaks down exactly what that journey has looked like: the doubts going in, the breakthrough that changed how she thought about her business, the numbers, and what it's meant for her life outside the business. We also get into the harder questions — when someone is actually ready for mentoring, how to choose the right person, and what you have to be willing to bring to it. Lydia now mentors other photographers herself, specifically around systems and marketing strategies for part-time photographers, so her perspective comes from sitting on both sides of the table. Find It Quickly: 2:30 - Where Lydia started: lack of confidence, scared to raise prices, feeling alone in decision-making 7:00 - The first doubt: was mentoring worth the cost if she was just making $15k a year? 9:00 - The 2024 breakthrough: you don't have to compete on photos alone 15:00 - How she helped me form my Voxer coaching package around making micro decisions and the in-between moments 21:00 - "Like a therapist for my business" 26:00 - The numbers: revenue doubled, then grew another 50% 30:00 - From $300 sessions to $1,025 to $1,850 (and her first $2k+ booking) 33:00 - When is someone ready for mentoring? 38:00 - How to choose the right mentor — and what to avoid 43:00 - Intentional rest, boundaries, and how support has helped her be a more present parent Mentioned in this Episode: PhotoFuel Retreat & Mastermind: www.leahoconnell.com/retreat 1:1 Mentoring: leahoconnell.com/education Illuminate Courses: illuminateclasses.com Connect with Lydia: Photography Instagram: @lydia_apolloandivy Education Instagram: lydiafine_forphotographers Mentoring with Lydia: https://www.apolloandivy.com/for-photographers/photography-business-mentor/

March 30, 2026Episode 6919 min

Stop Posing, Start Playing

The last thing you as a photographer want is for your family photo sessions to feel stiff or overly posed. That's why I believe in exploring the idea of creative play inside your sessions. We just hosted the very first Photo Fuel Retreat and Mastermind, where we got to do exactly that. We not only found ways to bring more of each photographer into their businesses, but we also got to play with how they can break through the technicality of our work and bring more honesty and personality into it. That's what creates beautiful images for your families. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to move beyond rigid posing and into something more alive and collaborative. Listen in as I share how curiosity (both about yourself and your clients) can completely transform the energy of your work. Ready to reconnect with why you started and fall back in love with your business? The Photo Fuel Retreat is an intimate, in-person experience designed for family photographers who care deeply about storytelling, sustainability, and doing work that actually feels good. Think of it as your space to slow down, think deeply, and build real connection—with your craft, your values, and a small circle of like-minded creatives. Join the Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/retreat Find It Quickly: 1:29 - Why Sessions Feel Stiff 3:28 - Curiosity Over Perfection 6:10 - Curiosity with Yourself 7:09 - Breathe and Notice 10:36 - Curiosity With Your Subjects 13:37 - Trust the Unscripted 15:50 - Practice and Experiment Mentioned in this Episode: The Photo Fuel Retreat: leahoconnell.com/retreat

March 16, 2026Episode 6823 min

Why I Started a Retreat for Family Photographers—The Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind

What if the next step in scaling your business isn’t just about adding something new, but about building something that finally matches what you’ve believed all along? For a long time, I thought being a photography educator meant I needed a shop full of templates, mini-courses, and downloadable resources. While I've found that courses and digital products have their place, what I was longing for in my educational offerings went deeper. It needed real, in-person connection: Enter the Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind. In this episode, I’m sharing how Photo Fuel Retreat & Mastermind became what it is today (and all the iterations that led to it). Listen in to hear how I started my educational offerings with digital products and found my way to building an in-person, immersive experience for family photographers who want real transformation, not just more information. Find It Quickly 01:06 - Digital Products Felt Shallow 01:55 - Mentoring to Group Coaching Lessons 03:55 - Retreat Idea Takes Shape 06:13 - The Seed Planted Years Ago 07:26 - A Retreat That Changed Me 09:30 - Why Online Learning Falls Short 13:09 - Designing the MVP Retreat 14:30 - No Styled Shoots Real Sessions 17:20 - Community Over Competition 18:54 - Slow Impact Over Scaling Mentioned in this Episode: Join The Photo Fuel Retreat Waitllist: leahoconnell.com/schools-waitlist Brooke Schultz's Love Soaked Retreat: brookebschultz.com/love-soaked Ep 18 with Caitlin Alohilani Photography: leahoconnell.com/photo-fuel-episode-18-the-benefits-of-being-an-introverted-photographer-switching-careers-shooting-multiple-genres-and-more-with-caitlin-alohilani-photography/ Episode 9 with Mary Catherine Wickman: leahoconnell.com/connecting-with-clients-by-owning-your-story-photo-fuel-ep-09/

March 2, 2026Episode 6725 min

How to Break Through a Growth Plateau in Your Photography Business

Have you ever looked at your work and thought, This is fine… but something feels off? In this episode, I’m talking about the sneaky middle season no one prepares you for—the growth plateau. It’s not burnout or failure. You’re seeing success, booking clients, and producing solid work. Deep down, though, you know what got you here isn’t going to get you there - wherever there may be for you. I’ve been hearing this over and over in mentoring conversations lately. Photographers who feel bored, invisible, resentful about pricing, creatively flat, or just quietly craving something more—but they can’t quite name it. Listen in as we explore what might be holding you back. Ready to reconnect with why you started and fall back in love with your business? The Photo Fuel Retreat is an intimate, in-person experience designed for family photographers who care deeply about storytelling, sustainability, and doing work that actually feels good. Think of it as your space to slow down, think deeply, and build real connection—with your craft, your values, and a small circle of like-minded creatives. Join the Waitlist: leahoconnell.com/retreat Find It Quickly: 00:26 - The Sneaky Middle: Understanding the Growth Plateau 03:21 - Signs You’re on a Plateau 07:29 - Plateaus as Transition Points: Steady Seasons vs. It’s Time to Change 09:56 - Breaking Through: Better Questions, Discomfort, and Taking Creative Risks 13:35 - Self-Coaching Prompts: Find What’s Boring, Safe, and What You’re Avoiding 16:37 - Why Support Systems Matter 21:00 - The Retreat Details Mentioned in this Episode: The Photo Fuel Retreat: leahoconnell.com/retreat