The Art & Soul Show - Photography Podcast for Newborn and Family Photographers

Some artists teach by accident. Others teach because they can’t help but pay attention: to connection, to people, and to themselves. Today’s guest, Rachel Larsen Weaver, is absolutely the latter.Rachel is an artist, educator, and photographer whose work celebrates audacious self-love, body affirmation, and the beauty of everyday life. In this conversation, we explore long form sessions, the power of noticing, how motherhood shapes creativity, and why self-portraiture is often the key to accepting ourselves more fully.Rachel also shares deeply encouraging insight about self-perception, authenticity, and why your energy and presence matter more than perfection.If you’ve ever struggled with confidence, boundaries, or believing you belong in your own work, this episode is the gentle, grounding guide you need.What’s in this episode:[02:00] Rachel’s journey from writing to photography[05:00] How teaching helped her reverse-engineer her creative process[07:00] Personalizing sessions through deeper client connection[08:00] What long form sessions are (and what makes them so powerful)[11:00] Why “behind-the-scenes” isn’t always worth the distraction[16:00] Representation, body diversity, and “finding myself in portraits”[20:00] Audacious self-love and how our own baggage affects clients[23:00] Self-portraiture as a pathway to seeing yourself with kindness[26:00] Motherhood, interruptions, and using life as creative fuel[29:00] The practice of noticing as a doorway to presence[34:00] One small detail photographers miss in sessions[36:00] Using thoughtful questions to shift energy and build trust[38:00] Why clients want to feel heard, not just photographedIf you’ve ever wrestled with confidence or felt unsure about stepping into your own images, this conversation will show you how self-love and visibility can transform both your art and the way you move through the world.For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/Grab your spot for the 2025 Online Newborn Retreat!

“We remember the handful of tough clients louder than the hundreds who adored us.”Every creative knows this feeling. You have a mountain of glowing reviews, grateful clients, emotional gallery reveals, and people who sing your praises, yet your brain fixates on that one person who wasn’t happy.In this episode, I talk about the clients who live rent free in your head and why our brains cling to negativity so fiercely. I share real stories from my own fifteen years in business, the painful lessons those clients taught me, and how to finally stop letting one unhappy client define your worth or your work.You will hear how to reclaim your confidence, reinforce your boundaries, and release the emotional weight of people who were never meant to stay.What’s in this episode:[00:30] Why one unhappy client feels louder than ninety-nine good ones[01:40] Real stories of clients who shook my confidence[02:10] Why pain imprints deeper than praise[04:00] When clients drain your energy and cross boundaries[04:50] Why resentment is a warning sign[05:20] The importance of policies, limits, and saying no[06:00] Rewiring your brain to stop letting negativity lead[07:15] How to evict a client from your mental real estate[07:45] A mindset shift to reclaim your confidence and energyThe tough clients are not the full story. When you let them take up less space in your mind, you can finally focus on the clients who valued you, the work you are proud of, and the truth of the business you have built.For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

Art is changing and very fast. But even as technology evolves, our creativity and human touch will always matter most.In this episode, I’m joined by Olguta Goddard of Oh My Goddard Photography to talk about artistry, authenticity, and navigating creativity in the age of AI. Olguta shares how she’s stayed grounded in her artistic vision, protected her energy, and kept creating from the heart, even when trends, tools, and expectations shift around her.We talk about finding your creative rhythm again, balancing rest and reinvention, and trusting your instincts when it feels like the industry is moving faster than ever.If you’ve been questioning what creativity looks like in a world of AI and constant change, this episode is for you.What’s in this episode:[02:18] Why authenticity matters more than algorithms[05:32] How AI is changing the conversation around art and inspiration[10:07] Staying connected to your creative voice through rest and reflection[13:45] When comparison creeps in and how to reclaim your energy[17:58] Boundaries that protect your art and your sanity[21:34] A reminder that your art is still needed in a changing worldIf you’ve been craving permission to slow down, reconnect with your creativity, and trust your own artistic eye again, this conversation with Olguta will help you remember why your art still matters.For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/Grab your spot for the 2025 Online Newborn Retreat!

“Everyone tells you to charge more. No one tells you what happens when you actually do.”Photographers love success stories. The ones where raising your rates brings dream clients, bigger sales, and overnight growth. But what about the other side? The side no one talks about online. The side where you raise your prices and the inquiries slow to a halt, your confidence cracks, and you wonder if you just broke your business.In this episode, I share what really happened when I raised my rates before I was ready. You’ll hear the emotional rollercoaster that followed, the pressure of industry expectations, and the mindset spiral that so many photographers silently go through.More importantly, we’ll talk about why pricing is personal, why your math will never look like anyone else’s, and how to build a definition of success that actually fits your life, energy, and goals.What’s in this episode:[01:40] The shame and pressure photographers feel around pricing[02:20] Photographer emotional math and why it wrecks confidence[03:30] Why pricing is not one size fits all[04:40] Understanding the real cost of your life and business[06:20] How your definition of success evolves over time[07:25] What it really means when inquiries slow after raising rates[08:00] The four reminders you need before changing your pricesYou’re allowed to define success in a way that fits your life, your energy, and the clients you want to serve. Your pricing doesn’t have to match anyone else’s to be valid.For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

“Is overdelivering actually just overcompensating because you’re scared?”That thought struck me because sometimes the urge to give more and more isn’t just generosity, it’s fear. Fear of not being enough, fear of disappointing clients, fear of rejection.In this episode, I’m unpacking the tension between generosity and overcompensation. I’m sharing how I’ve learned to find the sweet spot where giving feels joyful, not draining and why believing your work and presence are enough might be the most generous gift of all.What’s in this episode:[00:35] Why overdelivering isn’t always generosity[01:45] How fear sneaks in and moves the bar higher and higher[03:00] What clients actually want (hint: not hundreds of images)[04:15] The endless loop of overdelivering and exhaustion[05:45] Experiments with setting limits and boundaries[07:20] Learning to sit with “enough” and trust your art[08:00] Why generosity rooted in fear isn’t generosity at allIf you’ve ever felt caught in the loop of ‘more, more, more,’ this episode is a reminder that your art, your presence, and your energy are already enoughFor full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/