Two years ago, photographer Brielle Pepper was charging $75 for a session and hoping it would be enough to keep her business afloat. Today, her average session sits at $2,150, and she credits one decision, tackling her photography pricing head on, with completely changing the course of her business. In this follow up episode of The Motherhood Anthology Podcast, host Kim Box catches up with Brielle a year after her first appearance on the show to talk about what happened after she raised her rates, and how she found her way through the uncertain season that followed.
When Brielle first joined the podcast, she had just raised her prices and was bracing for what came next. A year later, she’s back to share the whole story, the quiet after the price increase, the fear that she’d made a mistake, and the work that finally turned things around. Her experience offers real encouragement for any photographer standing in that same uncertain gap between deciding to charge more and actually seeing it pay off.
The Pricing Leap That Changed Everything
When Brielle and her husband Jacob first ran the numbers on their cost of doing business, the results were sobering. They needed to charge around $1,250 just to break even, a far cry from the $75 to $300 sessions they had been booking. Raising prices to a $300 creative fee with digitals priced separately felt like a leap, but it was only the beginning. Over the following year, Brielle continued adjusting until she landed at her current average of $2,150 per session.
The jump wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t just Brielle who needed convincing. Jacob, who is 50 percent of their business, initially thought the new pricing was absurd. It took sitting down together with their cost of doing business spreadsheet for him to see the change as necessary rather than extreme. Over time, he became one of Brielle’s biggest supporters, especially in the moments she was ready to walk away and get a different job entirely.
From Doubt to $2,150: Brielle’s Journey
After raising her prices, Brielle expected clients to keep coming. Instead, things went quiet. She second guessed the decision constantly, wondering if she had made a mistake that would cost her the business entirely. It took several months before she booked her first client at the new pricing, and even longer before bookings became consistent.
Rather than waiting for clients to find her, Brielle got to work. She hired TMA mentor Melissa Arlena to overhaul her SEO, and within a few months, Google became her top source of leads, surpassing Instagram. She also invested in Laura Esmond’s in person sales education, which helped her clarify her offerings and get comfortable presenting her pricing with confidence. Somewhere along the way, she also hired a copywriter to rework her website so it spoke directly to the clients she actually wanted to reach.
The results speak for themselves. Brielle’s ideal clients shifted too. Instead of booking her for the next Instagram post, her current clients hire her because they want to preserve real memories for their families, a shift she says has made the work feel even more meaningful.
Why Community and Continued Education Matter
Brielle points to more than one mentor when she talks about what changed her business. Beyond the SEO work and the sales training, she found encouragement in the friendships and support that came out of being part of a community of photographers walking a similar road. That kind of camaraderie, she says, made the lonely stretches of building a business feel far less isolating.
This is part of what The Motherhood Anthology is built around. Alongside expert mentors like Melissa Arlena and Laura Esmond, TMA gives photographers a place to be honest about the hard seasons, not just the highlight reel. Brielle’s advice to anyone standing where she once stood is simple: keep your blinders on, focus on what works for your family, and don’t be afraid to keep investing in your business even when it feels like you’ve already done enough.
Listen and Learn More
Brielle’s story is proof that the quiet, uncertain middle of a pricing change doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong decision. It just means the work is still catching up to the leap you already took. Tune in to hear the full conversation between Kim and Brielle, including more on how she rebuilt her confidence and what she hopes for her business in the year ahead.
Find Brielle Pepper at jacobandbriellephotography.com or on Instagram at @jacobandbriellephotography.
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.
Episode Sponsor: Willow Canvas
This episode of The Motherhood Anthology Podcast is brought to you by Willow Canvas. Speaking of creating work that is distinctly yours, every Willow Canvas is a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted backdrop created by artist Sara Bywaters-Baldwin. No two are alike, and they bring something truly unique to every studio session. If you want your work to stand out in a way that no mass-produced backdrop ever could, check out Willow Canvas.
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.
