Some of the best conversations happen when you’re not expecting them. That’s exactly how this episode of the Motherhood Anthology Podcast came together, a spontaneous, unscripted phone call between host Kim Box and TMA mentor Valerie Vaughan of Valerie Callan Photography. What started as a quick check in turned into an honest conversation about balancing motherhood and photography business life, four months postpartum, in the middle of a very full house.
Valerie has been running her photography business since 2012, after eight years as an art teacher. She’s now a mother of three, a film photographer, and this month’s featured mentor inside the TMA membership. In this episode, she talks candidly about maternity leave, outsourcing, and what she’s telling the next generation of photographers coming up behind her.
Rest First, Outsource Second
When Kim asked Valerie what advice she’d give to someone running a business with a baby (or two, or three) in tow, her answer was simple and refreshingly unglamorous. Take the time off. Valerie had just welcomed her third daughter and made a point of planning a real maternity leave for herself, something she says she doesn’t take for granted. She was clear that this wasn’t a “bounce back immediately” story. It was a season she gave herself permission to actually be in.
The second piece of her advice was just as practical. Outsource. Valerie admitted she came back from leave a little overbooked and is now working on finding help with her editing so she isn’t carrying the entire workload solo. For any photographer balancing motherhood and photography business demands, her point lands clearly: leaning on others isn’t a failure, it’s a strategy.
A Full Studio, a Full House, and New Projects on the Way
Even mid-leave and mid-chaos (at one point in the conversation she’s mid-nursing session while negotiating a Lego request from one of her kids), Valerie is fully booked in the home studio she and her family built out two years ago. She’s also gearing up to launch a film photography guide with a group of close friends, built around the questions they get asked most often by photographers curious about shooting film. Alongside that, she’s rolling out a set of client communication email templates for TMA members this month, plus a personal project sharing how she documents her own family on film, and a large batch of creative prompts to help photographers get unstuck.
It’s a lot happening at once, and that’s really the point. Valerie’s business hasn’t stopped moving just because her family has grown. It’s adapted, season by season, alongside it.
Why Community Makes the Path Easier
When Kim asked Valerie to name her favorite thing about being part of the Motherhood Anthology, she didn’t hesitate. It was the community. Valerie shared that her own family’s photos have been taken by TMA members across the country for the past five years, and that those sessions have grown into real friendships. For a business that can feel isolating, especially in the newborn and postpartum stretch, that kind of connection matters.
Valerie also spoke to the newer photographers inside the membership who sometimes feel overwhelmed comparing themselves to more established peers. Her reminder was gentle but firm: everybody’s path looks different, and it takes time to get where you’re going. Patience with your own process is part of building something that’s actually yours.
Listen and Learn More
This episode is a reminder that a thriving photography business doesn’t require having it all figured out. Rest, outsourcing, and a strong community can carry you through the seasons that feel the most unpredictable.
Find Valerie at valeriecallan.com or on Instagram at @valeriecallanphotography.
Ready to build a business that reflects your own creative voice? The Motherhood Anthology membership gives you access to expert mentors, live coaching, monthly marketing suites, and a private community of photographers who are invested in your success. Learn more and join at themotherhoodanthology.com.
The Motherhood Anthology is a community and educational resource for photographers who want a profitable and sustainable business they love. With 15+ expert mentors and 7+ years of proven content, TMA helps portrait photographers build confident, thriving businesses through monthly education, mentorship, and a supportive community of 700+ members.
