Building a photography business doesn’t always mean choosing just one lane and staying there forever. For many photographers, the most sustainable paths are layered, seasonal, and shaped by the realities of life.
That’s exactly the story of my guest today, Rebecca Hunnicutt, a lifestyle family photographer based in Portland, Oregon. Rebecca and I first connected in real life at Reset Conference, and in this conversation we dive into the many branches of her work—from family photography to school photography to teaching both photographers and kids.
We talk about how school photography became not just a revenue stream, but a strategic and sustainable foundation that supports her family work, and what it really looks like to juggle multiple niches.
Make School Photos a Part of Your Photography Business
If you’ve been thinking about adding school photography to your offerings, the Picture Day course is exactly what you need. Learn how to market, book, photograph, and deliver outdoor school photography for local daycares and schools to fuel your family photography business and boost your income.
How It All Started: From Nurse to Photographer
Like most photographers, Rebecca didn’t take the traditional path into photography. Her first career was in nursing, specifically pediatric care, which set the stage for her natural connection with children and families. That background in nursing and educating parents and kids through their illnesses, morphed into her unique approach to photography education.
School Photography as a Strategic Marketing Funnel
Many family photographers think of school photography as a completely separate beast. For Rebecca, it’s become the backbone of her business in both revenue and marketing.
“I see my school business not only as what it is itself, but as a way to fuel my family business.” – Rebecca
She photographs around 1700 kids each fall and uses school email lists to generate new family session leads. It’s also work she can do during school hours, which is perfect for managing work-life balance as a parent.
The real magic is in her systems. She developed a self-service help desk in Airtable to reduce the customer service load, something many photographers overlook until they’re deep in the weeds. It’s a beautiful blend of artistry and automation.
By creating an automated response for each intentional question that a family could have, Rebecca has reduced the customer service tasks of 1700 families to only the ones that really need custom support.
Running Kids’ Photography Camps That Actually Inspire
One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation was how Rebecca runs summer photography camps for kids—and how much she gains creatively from them. The camps started during the pandemic and have evolved into a highlight of her year.
The camps are open to kids in grades 4–7, and each camper gets to use a real DSLR camera. They explore shutter speed, composition, and even color theory through hands-on experimentation.
And yes, they also serve a strategic purpose: the camps build community, brand recognition, and even uncover unexpected opportunities (like connecting with a school principal!).
Education for Adults: Teaching Photographers How to See Differently
In addition to working with kids, Rebecca teaches adult photographers how to elevate their work through composition, color, and creative location usage. Whether it’s a model call strategy or maximizing a less-than-perfect shooting spot, her philosophy centers on shifting the way we see.
“It’s really interesting that the thread through everything I teach is how to see differently.” – Rebecca
This focus applies to all her offers: from school to camp to family photography. It’s what makes her work visually rich and emotionally resonant. Consider how you see things differently from others and is that something you could leverage for your own offers?
Systems, Outsourcing, and Scaling a Multi-Offer Business
Rebecca doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of managing multiple business arms. She’s transparent about the cognitive load, especially during school portrait season. But she leans on outsourced help, from editors to VAs, to keep things flowing.
What keeps her grounded is clarity: knowing which seasons support which offers, and not trying to scale all the things at once.
Travel as Creative Fuel
When she’s not working, Rebecca’s photo fuel comes from traveling with her kids and photographing their adventures with intention. It’s not just personal documentation; it’s a space to experiment, play, and feel connected to her craft outside of client work.
Find It Quickly:
01:53 – Meet Rebecca Hunnicutt
03:02 – Rebecca’s Photography Journey
04:22 – The Intersection of Family and School Photography
06:54 – Teaching Photography to Kids
08:49 – Challenges and Rewards of Photography Camps
10:49 – Balancing Multiple Photography Ventures
15:08 – The Importance of Seeing Differently
18:59 – Exploring New Ideas for Photography Courses
20:10 – Balancing Multiple Business Angles
20:58 – Challenges of Managing School Photography
23:06 – Streamlining Family Photography Operations
26:58 – Innovative Customer Service Solutions
29:57 – Future Goals and Personal Motivation
30:42 – The Joy of Travel Photography
33:36 – Creative Solutions for Business and Personal Life
Mentioned in this Episode:
School Photography Course Waitlist
Photography Education: elenasblair.com
Connect with Rebecca
Website: hunnicuttphotography.com
Instagram: instagram.com/rebecca.hunnicutt.photography
Instagram: instagram.com/rebecca.hunnicutt.education
You might also like:
Episode 5: 6 shifts that helped me grow my family photography business | Photo Fuel Ep 05
Episode 6: The Key Ingredient to Your (Family Photography) Success
Episode 62: Micro-Pivots – You don’t have to burn it all down.
