On this episode of The Motherhood Anthology Podcast, host Kim Box sits down with photographer and educator Katie Lamb to talk about a major shift at TMA: the launch of an official mentor program built on years of trust, relationships, and hard-won business experience.
Kim and Katie dig into why community is what makes a photography business sustainable, and why the people you learn from matter just as much as what they teach.
A New Chapter for TMA
Kim opens the episode by sharing a philosophy she leans on during times of change: when you’re met with a challenge or a pivot, ask what it makes possible. After seven years of TMA, member feedback made it clear it was time for a refresh, and one of the biggest changes is a new mentor program. Rather than positioning herself as the sole expert, Kim wanted to formally recognize the educators who had already been showing up for the community for years, offering advice, encouragement, and real expertise inside the private group.
Katie Lamb was one of the first people on that list. Kim describes choosing mentors not based on follower counts or polish, but on years of genuine relationship, integrity, and a track record of helping others succeed. That distinction matters, because it shapes what members can expect from TMA going forward: education from people who have actually walked the path.
Katie’s Path to Becoming a Mentor
Katie has been in business for 16 years, and her journey is a reminder that expertise builds over time. She’s known for her work with session videos, a marketing tool she’s used in her own business since 2012, long before video marketing became the norm for photographers. Over the years she’s watched it become a genuine game changer, not just for creativity, but for increasing profit per client and setting her work apart.
What comes through in the conversation is Katie’s willingness to share the parts of her business that actually work, from client wardrobe strategy to pricing models that stay profitable without becoming complicated. Kim points out that this is exactly the kind of experience TMA wanted to formalize with its mentor program: people who have already been quietly generous with their knowledge, now given the platform to teach it more intentionally.
Why Community Outweighs Having All the Answers
One of the most honest moments in the episode is Kim’s admission that she doesn’t have all the answers, and that she never has. She shares that her podcast producer once pushed back on her habit of downplaying her own experience, but Kim sees it differently. She believes no one can hand a photographer a formula for their business, because everyone’s goals, priorities, and life circumstances are different.
Katie echoes that sentiment, pointing out that real leadership means knowing what you don’t know and surrounding yourself with people whose strengths fill the gaps. That’s the thinking behind TMA’s private community as a whole. With members ranging from brand new photographers to those who have been in business for decades, the value comes from many different perspectives answering the same questions in different ways, so members can choose what actually fits their business.
Listen and Learn More
This episode is worth a listen for anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at how TMA is growing, and why mentorship built on real relationships makes such a difference for photographers navigating their own business seasons.
Find Katie at katielamb.com or on Instagram at @katiebethlamb.
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.
