If you’ve ever built a beautiful portfolio and still found yourself wondering why the bookings weren’t coming in, you’re not alone. On this episode of The Motherhood Anthology Podcast, host Kim Box sits down with newborn and family photographer Ana Dufreche to talk photography marketing tips that actually book clients, straight from a photographer who tripled her income in her first year going full-time.
Ana started her business in the fall of 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, with three kids under three and a camera she’d previously only used for family trips and her honeymoon. Just a few years later, she’s shooting around 40 sessions a month in Dallas and stepping into a new role as an educator inside the TMA membership. Her story is a reminder that pretty photos alone don’t fill a calendar, but a clear, consistent marketing plan will.
Instagram First, Then Everything Else
When Ana first went all in on her business, she quickly realized her stunning portfolio wasn’t translating into bookings. So she sat down and built a real marketing plan, starting with the platform that mattered most for her ideal client: Instagram. That meant getting honest about consistency. She had been posting sporadically, mixing in content that didn’t speak to her ideal client, and skipping weeks at a time out of self doubt. Once she committed to a consistent, on brand feed, figured out when her audience was most active, and leaned into captions and a tone of voice that actually reflected her clients, her engagement started to climb.
But the real shift came from relationship building, not just posting. Ana spends real time engaging with her clients’ content, celebrating their milestones and showing up in their comments the same way she’d want them to show up in hers. From there, she layered in a referral program that rewards both the referring client and the new client with a discount, plus a handful of local partnerships with a boutique, a sleep consultant, a nutritionist, and micro influencers whose followers overlap with her own ideal clients. None of it happened overnight. It came from a plan she built on purpose and then followed.
A Client Experience Built to Keep Bookings Coming
Ana is upfront that her market is full of talented photographers, so she leans hard into client experience as her differentiator. Every client gets an inquiry call, a prep guide, and the option to book a planning call to talk through outfits, location, and what to expect. She offers a client closet for moms and kids to try on outfits in her studio ahead of their session, at no extra charge, along with an optional hair and makeup add on. After delivery, she keeps the relationship going through newsletters and social media so her business stays top of mind.
That consistency has paid off. In her first year as a full time photographer, Ana tripled her previous corporate income, something she credits to sticking with a plan even when it felt uncertain. She’s candid, too, about the tension that comes with growth: booking close to 40 sessions a month while raising three young kids means real trade offs, and she’s still figuring out what sustainable looks like for her own season of life.
Why Community Makes the Difference
What stands out most in Ana’s story isn’t a single tactic, it’s that she built a plan, followed it, and kept adjusting as she learned. That’s exactly the kind of growth The Motherhood Anthology exists to support. Inside the membership, photographers get access to expert mentors, live coaching, and monthly marketing suites so they don’t have to figure out their own version of Ana’s marketing plan alone. Ana herself is joining TMA as an educator, bringing her Instagram and marketing strategy directly to members, which is a great example of how this community keeps growing through the real experience of the photographers in it.
Listen and Learn More
Ana’s episode is full of practical, tested marketing tips for booking more clients. From building an Instagram strategy to structuring a referral program that clients actually use. If you’ve been circling your own marketing plan without quite landing on one, this episode is worth a listen.
Find Ana at anadufrechephotography.com or on Instagram at @anadufrechephoto.
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.
