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It’s January. Your Instagram feed is flooded with photographers already marketing spring sessions. Everyone seems ten steps ahead and you haven’t even begun to think about a plan for your photography business.
Here’s what I want you to know: you’re not behind.
In our Season 5 premiere of The Motherhood Anthology podcast, Kim and Ali talk about something counterintuitive for the new year. Not planning. Not goal-setting. Rest.
Why Rest Puts You Ahead
Kim said something that really had us thinking:
“I promise you, a few weeks of slow days, rest, pouring into yourself a little bit will actually put you ahead of the game instead of behind.”
We give ourselves four days between Christmas and New Year’s, then panic that everyone else is already marketing. But your best ideas come when your brain has white space. The holidays were supposed to give you that, but four days isn’t enough.
Kim’s advice? Stay in your pajamas. Have slow coffee mornings. Let the kids go back to school before you dive into business planning.
“February 1st is the new January 1st.“
The Balance Myth
Ali’s word for 2026 is “balance”, although Kim lovingly reminds us that there’s no such thing.
“What you have to do is be where you are, all in. If you’re working, work. If you’re at home with your kids, be at home with your kids. It’s when we try to multitask that we feel out of whack.”
Her suggestion? When planning your year, put personal stuff on the calendar first. Then fill in work. And be where your feet are.
Less But Better
Kim couldn’t pick one word for 2026, but she kept coming back to this phrase: less but better.
The recurring advice she’s heard from people accomplishing big things? Not to do more. To do less. Every single time.
What would “less but better” look like for your photography business? Fewer sessions at higher prices? Streamlined workflows? Saying no to draining clients so you have energy for the ones who light you up?
Connection Over Information
Kim noticed a shift happening across the industry:
“There’s been no shortage of content and information. But the shift we’re feeling is less information, more connection.”
So many TMA members say the same thing: “I came for the education and stayed for the community.”
The photographers thriving right now aren’t just consuming more courses. They’re finding their people.
Join Us for Coaching Week
Ready to ease back into planning mode? Join us for Coaching Week January 12th-16th. Five days of live coaching on pricing, mindset, SEO, branding, and knowing your enough number. It’s time to plan your photography business for the year.
Featuring Laura Esmond, Suzy Brown, Shannon Griffin, Melissa Arlena, Jen Olmstead from Tonic, and Shanna Skidmore.
Sign up at themotherhoodanthology.com/coaching-week
Rest first. Plan together. Build a business you love. ✨
This episode is brought to you by Willow Canvas.
If you’re looking to elevate your portraits in 2026, Willow Canvas offers stunning hand-painted backdrops created by artist and TMA mentor Sara Bywaters-Baldwin. Each backdrop is a one-of-a-kind work of art that brings depth, texture, and timeless beauty to your sessions.
Whether you’re shooting newborns, motherhood portraits, or studio family sessions, a Willow Canvas backdrop can transform your work and set you apart from other photographers in your area. It’s the kind of investment that elevates not just your images, but your entire client experience. Your clients will notice the difference, and so will your portfolio.
Learn more at willowcanvas.com
