Called to Both - Balancing Motherhood and Business for Photographers

<p>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! <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />You can find show notes, links, and resources mentioned in each episode at https://calledtoboth.com <br /><br />Connect with Joy over on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joyymichelle/.</p>

162: Is It Time to Work With a Business Coach? Here Are 7 Signs You Are Ready

What if the thing holding your business back isn’t strategy, but the fact that you’re trying to build it alone? Whether you're bumping up against an income ceiling, drowning in ideas, or craving clarity in your next season, there are real signs that you’re ready for support in your business. In this episode, we’re diving into the seven signs you might be ready to work with a business coach. I’m breaking down what to look for, how to know if it’s the right time, and the shifts that become poss...

12-01
15:41

161: The Perfectionist’s Guide to Actually Hitting Publish and Gaining More Visibility Online

Feeling stuck in draft mode again? If you're constantly tweaking, editing, and saving your content for “later,” only to never hit publish, you’re not alone. Today we’re diving into the very real cost of perfectionism in your content strategy and what it’s stealing from your business. I’m sharing tangible strategies, mindset shifts, and personal insights on how to get out of your own way and actually publish. From setting "good enough" benchmarks to leveraging team support and time-blocking ha...

11-24
19:14

160: The 3 Revenue Streams Every Creative Should Have in 2026 (Beyond Your Core Offer)

What if the only way you were making money in your business was about to shift and you didn’t have to say yes to one more client to do it? As a service provider I got comfortable: one offer, bookings flowing, dream clients, but I also knew there was a cap. If I didn’t add something, I was stuck trading time for money forever. So I took action. And you can too. In today's episode, I'm sharing 3 revenue streams that every creative should have in their business! Plus, you'll hear a bonus r...

11-17
22:58

159: My Wall Calendar Method for Staying on Track with my Business Goals as a Busy Mom

What if your wall calendar transformed the way you run your business? I know a wall calendar might not sound thrilling, but hear me out. In this episode, I’m walking you through how I made the big wall calendar in my office become one of the most helpful tools I’ve used all year in my business. As a mom of three navigating maternity leave, shifting seasons, and ambitious business goals, this simple, low-tech solution gave me clarity and traction in a chaotic year. In this Episode: How I track...

11-10
21:10

Why Waiting for Inspiration Is Holding You Back

Have you ever found yourself saying, "I can't create today because I'm just not feeling it." You may have bought into the lie that you need to be inspired to create. Maybe it's not as obvious, but it could be that you're putting off non-creatives tasks as well. Inspiration is fickle and you can't wait for it to show up for you to work in your business. Your business needs you whether you're inspired or not. In today's episode, I'm sharing two stories in my own business around inspiration. In ...

11-03
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158: How to Plan Your Week When Every Day Looks Different [Productivity for Working Moms]

Are you stuck trying to plan with an unpredictable schedule? Being both a mom and an entrepreneur, every day can be different. That’s why today I am sharing a few solutions that have made a world of difference in my productivity and business. Today's episode is brought to you by Forewarn: As photographers and creatives, we often walk into sessions with little to no background on the people we're meeting. That changes with Forewarn. With just a phone number, you can instantly verify some...

10-27
26:16

157: 3 Productivity Traps That Keep Creative Business Owners Stuck (and How to Fix Them)

Feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in your business, even though you’re doing all the things? In today’s episode, I’m sharing the 3 productivity traps that myself and other business owners commonly fall into. If you’re feeling more busy than productive and unsure how to get out of it, this episode is for you. In This Episode You’ll: Learn the 3 common productivity traps that business owners fall intoLearn the common symptoms of each trapGet fixes to implement and finally get unstu...

10-20
24:32

How I Turn Every Piece of Content Into Profit

Have you ever felt like creating content in your business was a complete waste of time? Whether you're not seeing the payoff or you're simply discouraged in your content creation cycle, this episode will help ensure that your content makes you money! When your content strategy starts with income, you'll see the results you're looking for. Want to make more money in your business without taking on more clients? Affiliate Boss is my signature course designed specifically for photographers and c...

10-13
16:58

156: I Don’t Like My Business Anymore… Now What?—How to Pivot a Photography Business

It's not that you hate your business—you might have just outgrown it. This week, I’m sharing a deeply honest conversation inspired by a Voxer message from one of my clients who realized that she no longer wants her current business to be her reality five years from now. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your own work or unsure how to pivot, this episode is for you. I walk you through the first three steps to take when you realize it’s time to make a shift—without throwing everything away ...

10-06
14:12

155: Appealing to Different Buyer Types on Your Website and Within Your Marketing Strategy

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 buyer...

09-29
09:49

154: Homeschooling While Building a Business: My Real‑Life Schedule & Curriculum Choices

I’ve been getting lots of DMs lately asking: How do you homeschool your kids while growing a business? In today's episode, I peel back the curtain on my life as a 2nd generation homeschool mom, including the decisions, curriculums, schedule, and mindset I use so both my business and my kids can thrive. Since I grew up homeschooled, this path has always felt familiar, but now I’m doing it in a unique-to-me season, with a baby, young learners, client calls, and deadlines. In This Episode You'll...

09-22
36:50

5 Books About Business & Money You Should Read as an Entrepreneur

What’s on your reading list for your business? Today’s episode features five of my top recommendations for business books to read over the next year. In This Episode You'll: Find 5 new books to add to your reading list for your business.Explore the different styles of business finance books available.Hear why I recommend each of these for every entrepreneur!Find it quickly: :41 Top 5 Business and Money Books for 2025 2:17 - Book 1 4:46 - Book 2 5:59 - Book 3 7:33 - Book 4 9:01 - Book 5 Menti...

09-15
12:21

Visibility Made Simple: A Marketing Plan You’ll Stick To

Are you hoping for more clients in your business? Whether you're new to your business or you've been in the gam for a while, you know that unless you have customers, you can't have a successful business. So what's the answer to getting in front of those potential customers? A visibility plan. Our visibility marketing activities are often the first to get dropped in our business when we get busy, which slows down our inquiries and leads to less new clients. In today's episode, I am highlightin...

09-08
15:15

Capacity, Confidence, & Cashflow: Pricing Strategies That Work for Creatives

The power in entrepreneurship is that we get to determine our own pricing, but then we're faced with our potential clients being the ones who determine if they're willing to pay that price. In today's episode, we're discussing pricing strategies for creatives so that you can determine how to set or raise your prices! In This Episode You'll: Learn how to raise your prices.Four ways to approach your pricing.Three things you need to review in your business.Find it quickly: 01:58 - Why Pricing Ma...

09-01
19:07

153: The 5 Most Common Mistakes Moms Make When Balancing Business & Family

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to grow your business while being the present mom you want to be, this episode is for you. I’m diving into the five most common mistakes I see over and over again in my coaching work with entrepreneurial moms. These are the traps that keep us spinning our wheels, feeling like we’re failing in both motherhood and business, and I want to help you avoid them. I'm sharing these five pitfalls not to call you out, but to offer you clarity, peace, and practical steps...

08-25
22:47

The Introvert’s Guide to Growing Your Business

Being an introvert comes with its own challenges, but can you build a business and be successful as an introvert? As a business owner who identifies as an introvert, I'm here to tell you YES! In today's episode, I'm sharing how you can grow a business as an introvert by using it to your advantage, without letting it get in the way of your success. In this Episode: Why “introvert” is a descriptor, not a limitation—and how to shift your mindset.The subtle power of perceptiveness and listening i...

08-18
21:35

152: Time, Talent, Tools - Which should you invest in?

When the options for investing in your business feel endless, how do you actually choose the right one? From hiring a team member or coach to buying new software, there are so many places to spend your money. In this episode, I'm sharing the exact 3 T’s Framework I use to figure out where my next investment should go and how I’ve applied it to my own business. This approach will help you assess what’s out of balance in your business and make strategic, confident investment decisions that driv...

08-11
20:53

How to Become Every Podcast Host’s Favorite Guest

If you're thinking about being a guest on more podcasts this year, you're in the right place! In today's episode, I'm sharing how you can become a favorite podcast guest that is remembered and asked back! From creating a wonderful experience for the host, providing unique and valuable education to their listeners, and going above and beyond to stand out, it's time to get visible through podcast guesting this year! [This episode is a re-run. It originally aired on February 5th, 2024.] In This ...

08-04
14:23

151: My Home Birth Story

I’m back—and this time, I’ve got a new baby in my arms and a whole birth story to share. This episode is a deeply personal one. I’m pulling back the curtain on my third maternity leave, giving you an honest look into my home birth with baby Wesley, and talking about what postpartum has looked and felt like this time around. It’s my first time experiencing birth while also being a podcast host, so I figured it was finally my turn to share what I’ve listened to so many other women do: tell thei...

07-28
44:57

150: How to Reclaim Your Energy & Focus as a Mom & Entrepreneur with Kim Perez

Feel like you're running on fumes? You’re not alone. As a newly postpartum mom of three, this episode could not have come at a better time—and I know it’ll meet you where you are too. I invited functional nutritionist Kim Perez of Root and Branch Nutrition to walk us through why mom entrepreneurs are especially prone to exhaustion and how to reclaim our energy without adding more to our plate. We dig into the physiological side of burnout and Kim shares incredibly actionable steps to support ...

07-21
26:50

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