Called to Both - Balancing Motherhood and Business for Photographers
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/.
Episodes
218 episodes
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 fo...
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...
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 gro...
175: Stop Working Like a Photographer. Start Thinking Like a CEO.
There is one shift that will completely change the way you run your business—and it has nothing to do with strategy. In today’s episode, I’m diving into a powerful identity shift that I’ve been seeing come up again and again in my coaching conv...
The Real Strategy Behind Audience Engagement That Actually Converts
How do I get my audience to respond to my content so it feels more like a dialogue and less like a one sided conversation? There’s a real reason we want our audience to respond, as it's an essential part of the sales process. In today's episode...
174: 3 Problems I Coached My Clients On This Week (What Really Happens Inside My Coaching Calls)
I’m pulling back the curtain on real coaching conversations—and what I found might surprise you.This week, I did something I’ve never done before: I’m walking you through three real client case studies from inside my coaching sessions. T...
How Photographers Can Create Passive Income Through Their Content with Affiliate Marketing
Ever wondered if there’s a way to make money in your photography business without taking on more clients or working more hours? In this episode, I’m diving into one of my favorite revenue streams—affiliate marketing. I'm breaking down exactly h...
173: Building Stability for Photographers in 2026 ft. Laura Esmond
What do you do when your industry feels different, inquiries feel slower, and the strategies that used to work don’t hit the same way anymore?In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation that originally aired on Laura Esmond’s podcast, wh...
172: Ambitious Motherhood: The Rhythms Powering My Business as a Mom of 3
What if your business could actually support you in your hardest seasons instead of draining you even more? In this episode, I’m sharing what I’m leaning on this year to show up, get paid, and stop feeling like I’m constantly on the struggle bu...
171: How Long Will It Take To Add A New Revenue Stream To Your Business?
What if building a new revenue stream in your photography business didn’t take two years, but instead took 90 days or less? In this episode, I’m answering a question a client asked me this week: How long does it really take to start seeing ...
How I Built a 20-Hour Work Week: 7 Scheduling Changes That Actually Worked
If you work less than full-time hours in your business, than you are in good company today. Five years ago, when my daughter was born, I made an intentional decision to scale back on how much I worked. Now my hours are half of what they were be...
The Photographer’s Guide to More Predictable Income
When you run a service-based business, especially one that is seasonal, managing your cashflow can be a struggle. In today's episode, we're exploring the importance of financial stability, how to diversify your revenue, and creating accountabil...
Expanding Beyond Photography: How I Diversified My Revenue and Repositioned My Brand
Feeling curious about how to make money outside of photography? Maybe you love your role as a photographer, but you're curious about diversifying your income and creating endless revenue potential. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my story of gr...
170: Why Diversifying Revenue Is a Power Move (Not a Sign You’re Falling Out of Love With Photography)
What if your booked-out calendar and successful photography business weren’t the final destination, but the launchpad to something even better?The truth is, wanting to diversify your income isn’t a sign that you're falling out of love wi...
169: Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Time: How to Decide What to Work on Next
Every day in business and life, we make hundreds of decisions, both big and small. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose what truly matters when everything feels important, this episode is for you. I’m unpacking exactly how I make choices in my...
168: What’s Working, What’s Not: A Business Audit for Established Photographers
If you’re booked, busy, and still not seeing the income you want, It’s time to pause and take a closer look at your business. In today’s episode, we’re taking you on a guided audit to help you identify what’s working, what’s not, and where smal...
167: The Invisible Sales Leak: Why Your Clients Stop Paying Attention After They Inquire
If you've ever said, “I just need more visibility,” this episode is for you. What if your problem isn’t in your reach, but instead it’s what happens after someone reaches out?You don’t just need more eyeballs on your brand. You ...
166: 5 Minute Mindset Reset: For When You Feel Stuck Under Old Expectations of You
Feeling stuck under the weight of old content expectations? Let’s reset that. If you’ve been creating content for a while, you’ve likely evolved—personally, professionally, and energetically. Your business may have shifted. Your offers may have...
165: The Emotion Nobody Talks About: Creative Resentment — and How to Reset Before a New Year
You’re not burnt out. If anything, you’re probably resentful. There’s an emotion many creative business owners carry into the new year without even realizing it: creative resentment. It comes from the quiet frustration that grows when you’re un...
164: 2025 Year in Review: Highs, Lows, Lessons, and What’s Coming Up Next
This year taught me more than I ever expected. There were wins, challenges, business growth, motherhood, maternity leave, and more. In this episode, I’m walking you through my full Year in Review, highlighting what worked, what didn’t, the surp...
163: If I Were Coaching You Today, Here’s What I’d Ask…
What if the clarity you’ve been looking for in your business was just a few powerful questions away? Today I’m bringing you to a coffee shop with big mugs filled to the brim and walking you through the questions that help reveal what’s hol...
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...
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 an...
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 ...
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 mo...
