In This Episode We Cover

Why workshops and retreats are so good for us as creatives, especially when we spend most of our day-to-day working alone in our own little void

The connection and community piece, and how being around other photographers reminds you that you're not the only one wrestling with the same wins and struggles

Marie's recap of the Kindred Path workshop, from the two horse sessions running at once to the very real Virginia summer humidity that the out-of-state folks were not ready for

Watching another photographer work and stealing that one tiny thing they do differently (like the relaxed way Marie's friend Tiffany would adjust dresses)

What you can learn from photographers whose work looks nothing like yours, because different light, posing, colors, and genres all hold ideas you can make your own

Amber's goal to get messier and less linear with posing, moving away from everyone smiling at the camera toward natural, unposed moments that still have that geometric design underneath

The mindset shift that being really good at what you do and still having tons to learn are allowed to be true at the same time

Adapting vs. learning, and the AI tools Marie has folded into her business and editing workflow

Why the business changes felt scarier than the creative ones when this is your primary income, and doing them anyway because the market and your clients (who keep getting younger) are always shifting

Playing with trends like high f-stop, Dutch angles, and direct sun without letting them take over, so you stay relevant but still anchored in your romantic, whimsical, dreamy brand

Being less judgmental of your own work, and letting yourself post the beautiful session that happened to be in cloudy or harsh light even when it isn't your signature look

A Few Things We Mentioned

The Kindred Path / GATHER Workshop: thekindredpath.com/gather-2026

AI tools Marie uses in her business and editing: Claude, ChatGPT, Imagen, and Evoto

Your Assignment This Week

At your next session, get all your safe shots first (the must-haves, the combos, the ones you know your client is expecting), and then give yourself full permission to try one thing that scares you a little. A weird angle, a trendy technique, an unposed prompt, whatever. If it flops, that's not a sign to quit. Take what you learned, tweak it, and try it again next time. That little experiment is where the real growth lives, and the pressure is low because the essentials are already in the bag.

Takeaway

There's no shame in still learning. If anything, wanting to get better is exactly what makes you a good photographer, a good artist, and a good businesswoman. Keep experimenting, keep watching how other people work, and be a whole lot kinder to yourself while you do it. You can be proud of your work and still leave room to grow.

Connect With Us Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | marie-elizabethphotography.com Amber: @light_livin_photography | lightlivinphotography.com

Enjoyed this episode? We'd love a review, it helps other photographers find the show and join this community. And if this one hit home, DM us the last new thing you tried in a session. We'd love to cheer you on. See you next week! 💛