Leah O'Connell

Charlottesville family photographer

for photographers

Interview on The Art And Soul Podcast

I'm Leah!

I’m obsessed with stories of family, creativity, and simple joys.  A nostalgia nerd, educator, wife, and mom of 3, I believe life’s most fun when you’re dreaming big and having kitchen dance parties. 

Education and articles for family photographers

TOp categories

FAQ's and guidance for stress-free family and newborn sessions 

Essays, letters, favorites

Highlighted family and newborn photography sessions

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Lisa from The Milky Way in this interview on The Art and Soul podcast. We talked all about building sustainable systems as a family photographer and building confidence when shooting in homes!

Lisa and I dug into the ins and outs of how to build a foundation for your business that supports a flexible lifestyle and how to untangle previous systems, too. When photographers start out, we often self-educate and cobble together processes that are over-complicated, or get stuck in a way of doing things that no longer serve us and drive us into burnout.

I loved how we addressed the need to flip the script on burnout in our industry in favor of the “pre-burnout pivot,” using curiosity, mentorship, and evaluation as your life and business evolve.

We also chatted about how to build confidence as a family photographer.

This is especially unique for photographers who work with in-home family sessions and without the awe of epic surroundings, client closets, etc.

I’m so passionate about empowering other photographers with both skills and mindset to approach in-home family photography with more openness and bravery. It’s so vital to the expansion of social expectations around family photography that come straight from past experiences and the mainstream media.

It takes bravery and resilience to step out of your comfort zone, to take feedback, to seek out support, and to try new things. We close out the interview with the best advice I ever received and how new photographers (really all photographers!) can apply it to skyrocket their confidence and growth.

You can listen to this full interview on the Art and Soul Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or watch the recorded interview here on Youtube!

I’m also super excited that I get to teach even more on in-home family photography with a behind-the-scenes class with The Milky Way 2023 Online Family Photography Retreat.

If you’ve ever wanted to shadow a photographer in real session, this is even better! You get to see everything I do within the session and hear the commentary on why I’m making certain choices as I go, how I handle different challenges, and big takeaways/tips to apply to your next in-home session!

Not to mention, you’ll have access to 24 other experts on other topics within the family photography industry as well, all from the comfort of home and anytime access.

Whoa, right!?

Learn more about the retreat and get your ticket here to dive into a no-fluff, totally approachable style of family photography at home with me!

Interested in working with me one on one? Learn more about my mentoring options here and sign up for my email list just for family photographers with behind-the-scenes stories, recommendations, updates, new offers, and bonuses just for the inside Firefly tribe.

You may also like:

My 2023 Book List

How to photograph families in any home

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Hi, I'm Leah.
Family photographer, writer, educator.

I’m  one of the first to meet your newborn baby, the one who won't judge your clothes baskets and unmade beds, and the one who can capture the way your husband looks at you with a twinkle in his eye after 12 years of marriage. I believe in honoring people and telling stories.

I believe art has the power to light up the world in dark places, starting at home.