Styles change, fashion has seasons, and photographers grow and evolve throughout their careers too. So, how do you navigate stylistic changes while staying true to yourself and without surprising clients?

Marta Ponsko is here to help! She’s navigated her own style as it’s grown and developed throughout the years. While her style is influenced by her love of fashion, Marta has spent years experimenting with styling and lighting techniques, eventually adopting a less-is-more approach when it comes to her closet of props and garments.

In this episode, she shares how that evolution has looked for her, how she’s documented her career through social media in a way that resonates with her clients, and how the brave leaps she has taken have paid off throughout her career.

If you need a little encouragement to do something out of the ordinary in your photography career, this episode with Marta Ponsko will give you the kick in the pants that you need!

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[02:53] The family history that influenced Marta’s photography career

[08:27] How Marta’s photography style has evolved and how she incorporates fashion into her photography style

[12:26] Marta’s lighting preferences and how she plays with light and color in her photography

[23:20] How Marta uses social media to grow her photography brand

[33:56] How Marta handles the inevitable artistic block that comes her way

[43:27] The bravest leap Marta has taken in her career and how it’s paid off

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

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As a photographer, you probably started taking photos because you loved some aspect of it, right? Maybe the artistry or the relationships you built, or the freedom that career seemed to offer you.

But at some point, many of us find ourselves overwhelmed, overworked, and out of love with the career we once dreamed of. So, if that’s where you find yourself today, how do you recover? How do you find your spark again?

Well, in this episode, Eden Strader is here to help. She’s a photographer turned business coach, helping other creatives rediscover their passion for their work, while building a life they love outside of work too.

If you’ve fallen out of love with photography and are trying to find your way back, this episode is just for you.

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[01:58] How Eden began mentoring other photographers and creatives

[05:40] How to create a business of your dreams that also creates the life you want too

[08:27] The first step photographers can take to climb out of the pit of despair we sometimes find ourselves in

[16:04] The psychology of sales and how understanding this aspect can help you find more joy and balance in your work

[26:04] How to find passion for your work again as a photographer

[31:08] What success looks like to Eden

[41:06] How Eden channels her ADHD and builds her flexibility into her work patterns

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

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It’s a new year, and a time for looking ahead. So, what do you want your next year to look like? Does the prospect of planning and setting intentions for the upcoming year feel overwhelming?

Well, if that’s been your experience, you’re in the right place, because in this episode, I’m going to walk you through how I think about intentions and my process for setting them that takes a little bit of the pressure off, while still offering clarity for the future.

Grab a pen and notebook and let’s get started!

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[00:48] Why setting intentions can feel overwhelming sometimes

[03:03] How I approach setting intentions for the new year

[07:01] My perspective on intentions and how I’ve taken some of the pressure off of them

Tune in to this episode for a little walkthrough in setting intentions for the new year with confidence and without stress!

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: [LINK]

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The holiday season can be wild. Presents and events and finalizing projects can get overwhelming, and we might find ourselves stressed out and overworked.

But, the holidays also offer us the perfect moment to just… stop for a second. We have the opportunity to rest, reflect, and reset for the upcoming year.

So in this episode, I’m sharing a few questions you might want to ask yourself this holiday season, and six steps you can take as you reflect on the previous year. Let’s dive in!

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[00:45] An important question to ask yourself this holiday season

[02:43] How to reflect on your business this holiday season

[04:08] 6 things we can reflect on for our business in the coming year

Tune in to this episode for a little kick in the pants about resetting for the upcoming year!

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: [LINK]

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When Paige first started out in senior photography, she spent… more time than you’d think explaining that it was for teenagers, not senior citizens. But that comes with the territory when you’re building a brand new niche in your area!

In this episode, Paige Puglisi sits down with me to explain what led her to senior photography in the first place. She shares her top tips for building a strong brand in a specific niche, what it’s like working with teens (including how she builds trust with them), and how she maintains the relationships she’s built throughout her client’s lifetimes.

If you’re thinking of diving into senior photography, this episode will get you started! Let’s dive in!

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[02:13] What led Paige down the path to senior photography

[06:56] How to build a strong brand in a niche market

[14:29] How to navigate potential pitfalls and connect with teenage clients at photoshoots

[20:17] How Paige incorporates a variety of locations into her photography business

[26:39] How Paige creates and maintains strong client relationships

[36:19] The best business advice Paige ever received

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/creating-a-brand-new-market-how-to-build-a-photography-niche-that-fits-your-dreams-with-paige-puglisi/

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We all have that thing, perhaps we’ll call it a dumpster fire. This fire is something that we know we should take care of, put to rest, deal with, etc, but we just… don’t.

Maybe we’re scared or it just feels too big, but whatever the reason, this fire haunts us, saps our energy, and distracts us from the work that we could be doing.

So in this episode, I’m sharing four steps we can take to identify and address our dumpster fires, and avoid this kind of self-sabotage in the future! Let’s dive in!

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[01:08] How little problems that we ignore instead of fix sap our energy over time

[02:49] How to identify where we’re losing time and energy

[05:20] My own story of facing the “dumpster fire” and taking back my time and energy

[08:20] How to identify self-sabotage and then do something about it

Tune in to this episode for a little pep talk on how to confront our problems head on and avoid self-sabotage!

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/whats-tripping-you-up/

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When it comes to our photography careers, things can get complicated fast. Adding more sessions, more price tiers, more options and locations, etc. And while that can be good for building your business in the short term, it can also be a fast-track to burnout.

In this episode, I’m joined by Ingvild Kolnes who is sharing how she keeps her business simple and sustainable. She is offering some great advice on how she sets (and holds) boundaries in her photography business, how she stays connected to the parts of photography that she loves the most, and how all of that helps her to avoid burnout.

She’s also sharing a little about her mentorship program and how she teaches other photographers to build stable business too!

If you feel like you’ve been getting lost in your photography business, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in!

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[02:03] How Ingvild found herself becoming a mentor to photographers

[05:41] Ingvild’s advice on not overcomplicating your photography business

[07:00] How to avoid burnout and find the joy in photography again

[15:10] How photographers can set boundaries and avoiding the “yes” trap

[19:04] Ingvild’s advice for building confidence in your photography work

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/simplicity-systems-and-sustainability-how-to-keep-your-photography-brand-stable-and-consistent-with-ingvild-kolnes/

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As creatives, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of tying our self-worth to our work. Our creative work is so meaningful and special to us… But what happens when we have to step back from that work?

In this episode, I’m sharing how I’ve had to work through this myself, as I’ve stepped back from being a full-time photographer in the last few years. We’re diving into all facets of this: external validation, identity, balance, and more. Let’s dive in!

What’s in this episode:

[00:00] Intro

[00:30] How I’ve struggled with my identity as my life has changed in the past few years

[03:08] What happens when we don’t get external validation for our work

[05:46] What happens when you embrace being more than your job

Tune in to this episode for a little kick in the pants if you struggle with your identity outside of your work!

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/separating-work-from-worth/

Grab your spot for the 2025 Online Newborn Retreat!