The Photography Mentor

The Photography Mentor Sustainable growth.

Helping photographers & small business owners grow online. ✨
📸 13+ years full-time photographer
🎥 Content Studio Owner & Business Coach
🚀 Teaching content, Meta Ads & sold-out mini sessions
🤍 Real strategies.

05/09/2026

One of the biggest mistakes I see photographers make during family sessions is telling people to “just act natural.”

Because… what does that actually mean? 😂

They’re standing in front of a camera, probably already feeling a little self-conscious, and now they’re trying to figure out how they’re supposed to look natural.

I don’t wait for candid moments to magically happen.

I create something for them to react to.

I give Dad something to say that makes Mum laugh.
I give the kids something to do instead of asking them to smile.
I create movement when everyone starts getting stiff.
I use prompts that give me a reaction rather than asking for an expression.

And suddenly I’m photographing the little looks, belly laughs, movement and connection that actually feel like them.

Knowing what to say is such an underrated photography skill.

And if your mind tends to go completely blank mid-session, I’ve put together the prompts I actually use with families into a FREE Family Photography Prompt Cheat Sheet.

Comment PROMPTS and I’ll send it to you 📸

05/09/2026

Please don’t make the mistake of thinking a beautiful set, a cute location and a “BOOKINGS ARE OPEN!” post are enough.

They’re not.

I sell 300+ Christmas mini sessions every year, and one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that the selling starts BEFORE the booking link goes live.

Before I launch, I’m thinking about:

Who exactly am I trying to book?

Why would they choose my minis over every other photographer advertising them?

What is going to make them want to book NOW instead of “thinking about it”?

How am I creating demand before I ask them to buy?

What happens after they book, and how can I turn these short sessions into more revenue?

Because when bookings are slow, the answer usually isn’t to panic, slash the price or throw more money at ads.

You need a strategy.

That’s exactly why I created The Mini Session System™.

It’s the system behind how I plan, price, market and sell my own mini sessions, including the strategies that have helped me sell hundreds of Christmas minis year after year.

And it’s only $27 USD.

If you want to stop hoping your minis sell and actually learn HOW to sell them, comment MINI SESSION and I’ll send you the details. 🤍

05/09/2026

US photographers, fall mini season is coming. 🍂

And one of the biggest mistakes I see photographers make is waiting until their minis AREN’T selling to start thinking about marketing.

By then, they’re panicking.

Posting the booking link again.

Dropping the price.

Adding an extra date.

Offering a discount.

Wondering if their market is just “too saturated.”

But selling mini sessions starts BEFORE bookings open.

I sell 300+ Christmas mini sessions every year, and I’m not waiting until launch day to convince people they want one.

I’m creating demand beforehand.

I’m thinking about the offer, the pricing, the dates, the marketing, the customer experience and exactly how I’m going to turn a short mini session into a profitable part of my business.

Because a pretty fall location and a “NOW BOOKING 🍂” graphic aren’t a sales strategy.

There is an actual system behind selling minis.

And I put mine inside The Mini Session System™.

It walks you through how I plan, price, market and run the mini sessions that have become one of the biggest revenue streams in my photography business.

It’s $27 USD because I want photographers to be able to implement it BEFORE they find themselves staring at an empty calendar wondering what went wrong.

Comment MINI SESSION and I’ll send you the details. 🍂

05/09/2026

US hobby photographers: that camera sitting in your closet could be making you money. 📸

And no, I don’t mean quitting your job tomorrow and suddenly calling yourself a professional photographer.

Start smaller.

Learn how to confidently photograph ONE family.

Learn how to use your camera properly without second-guessing every setting.

Learn where to put people so they actually look good.

Learn what to say when Dad feels awkward, the kids won’t stand still and Mum tells you she “hates having her photo taken.”

Learn how to create those natural, connected images families actually want on their walls.

And most importantly, learn how to walk into a session knowing exactly what you’re doing.

Because THAT is what gives you the confidence to start charging.

I’ve been photographing families professionally for 14 years, and I can tell you that you do not need the most expensive gear, a studio or years of experience before you start.

You need the foundations.

That’s why I created The Family Photography System™.

I teach you the camera settings, lighting, posing, prompting, shooting workflow AND editing process I actually use with my own clients.

So instead of watching another 47 random YouTube videos and trying to piece it all together yourself, you can learn the entire process from someone who has been doing this professionally for over a decade.

Your camera doesn’t have to stay an expensive hobby.

It could become your first side income.

Then your first $1,000.

And maybe eventually something much bigger.

Comment FAMILY SYSTEM and I’ll send you the details. 🤍

04/09/2026

Knowing your camera is one thing.

Knowing what to do when five people stand in front of you and suddenly you’re responsible for everyone’s hands, faces, body positions AND expressions is another. 😂

And this is where I think photographers put way too much pressure on themselves to learn more poses.

After 14+ years photographing families, I rarely think:

“What pose should I do next?”

I’m thinking:

What can I SAY next that will create something worth photographing?

Because once I’ve placed a family where I want them, the words I use are what turn that setup into 10 completely different images.

A prompt can get Dad to relax.

It can get the kids looking at Mum instead of the camera.

It can create movement, laughter, cuddles and those tiny interactions that don’t happen when you keep saying:

“Okay, everyone look at me and smile.”

And the best part?

When you know what to say next, you feel more confident too.

You stop panicking about the next pose and start actually watching what’s happening in front of you.

I’ve put some of the prompts I use with real families into a FREE Family Photography Prompt Cheat Sheet.

Comment PROMPTS and I’ll send it straight to you. 📸

04/09/2026

I remember when photography was the thing I desperately wanted to do full time.

But wanting it and knowing how to actually build a business from it are two very different things.

I’ve now been a photographer for 14+ years, and if there’s one thing I wish I understood earlier, it’s that becoming a great photographer is only one piece of the puzzle.

You need to learn your camera.
You need to know how to work with real people.
You need to create an experience clients want to come back to.
You need to understand pricing.
Marketing.
Selling.
Content.
And eventually, systems that make all of those things easier.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, figured out what works, built a multi-six-figure photography business and created a career that I genuinely love.

And now I share what I’ve learned here.

So if you’re building your photography business between work shifts, editing after the kids go to bed, or wondering whether you could ever actually make this your full-time income…

Follow me. You’re exactly who I create this content for. 📸

04/09/2026

So you want to become a photographer in 2026… and then you find me.

I’ve been a professional photographer for 14+ years, photographing newborns, families and maternity sessions, and I’ve photographed more than 1,000 newborns and sold 300+ Christmas mini sessions year after year.

And the biggest thing I’ve learned?

Being a good photographer is about so much more than owning a good camera or having pretty presets.

You need to know how to use your camera properly.
How to read light.
How to direct a family without making them feel stiff.
What to say when your mind goes blank.
How to create movement and connection.
How to work quickly when kids are done.
How to edit consistently.
And how to build a business around all of it.

That’s exactly what I teach.

The Family Photography System is for photographers who want to feel more confident behind the camera and stop second-guessing every decision during a session.

I walk you through the camera foundations, natural light, family settings, posing and prompting, a real behind-the-scenes family session, my full editing workflow, my outdoor preset and more.

If you want to learn the system I’ve built over more than a decade of photographing real families, comment FAMILY SYSTEM and I’ll send you the details.

03/09/2026

The best family photos usually happen AFTER I’ve stopped asking everyone to look at me.

When a family tells me:

“Dad hates photos.”

“Our kids probably won’t cooperate.”

“I’m so awkward in front of the camera.”

I don’t need them to suddenly become comfortable, photogenic people.

I need to give them something better to do than think about being photographed.

That’s where prompting comes in.

Instead of:

“Everyone look at each other and laugh.”

I might get everyone close and ask Dad to whisper something in Mum’s ear that will make her laugh.

Instead of repeatedly asking a child to look at me and smile, I might tell them:

“Whatever you do, DON’T smile at me.”

Instead of telling everyone to walk naturally while they suddenly forget how human legs work 😂, I’ll give them something to do while they’re moving.

Because there’s a big difference between giving someone a pose and giving them a reason to react.

And this is something newer photographers often miss.

The prompt itself isn’t necessarily the photograph.

The reaction to the prompt is.

I’m watching what happens immediately afterwards.

The way Mum looks at Dad.

The kid who starts belly laughing.

The little hand that reaches for Mum.

The siblings annoying each other.

The moment everyone forgets about me for a few seconds.

THAT’S when I’m shooting.

And once you learn how to prompt properly, one family setup can give you so much more than one photo.

You can get connection, movement, laughter, cuddles, details and those little in-between moments without constantly moving everyone into another pose.

The best part?

You don’t have to invent these things on the spot while five people stare at you waiting for instructions.

I’ve put together a FREE Family Photography Prompt Cheat Sheet filled with prompts you can keep on your phone and pull out whenever your brain goes blank mid-session.

Comment PROMPTS and I’ll send it straight to you 👇

03/09/2026

You’re not checking the photo.

You’re checking yourself.

Was my shutter speed fast enough?

Did I actually nail focus?

Is the exposure okay?

Should I change my aperture?

Why does this look different from the last session?

And while you’re thinking about all of THAT, you’re also supposed to be talking to Mum, making Dad feel comfortable, getting the kids to engage, finding beautiful light and somehow creating those natural, connected photographs you see other photographers producing.

This is the part of learning photography that can feel incredibly overwhelming.

Because you don’t just want someone to tell you:

“Shoot at 1/500.”

You want to understand WHY.

You want to know what to change when the kids start running.

What to do when the light drops.

Where to put the family in relation to the sun.

How to get everyone interacting without awkwardly saying, “Okay… now laugh.”

That’s exactly what I teach inside The Family Photography System™.

After 14+ years photographing families, I’ve taken the process I use every week and broken it down so you can actually see how it all works together.

Camera settings.

Manual mode.

Shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

Focus and photographing moving kids.

Finding and using natural light.

My outdoor camera settings.

Posing and prompting families naturally.

And my complete editing workflow.

But I don’t just sit there and tell you how I do it.

You actually watch me photograph a real family session.

You’ll hear what I say.

See where I position everyone.

Watch how I direct the kids.

See where I place the sun.

Then you’ll watch me take those RAW files and edit the complete gallery from start to finish, so you can see exactly how my images go from camera to final delivery.

You’ll also get my outdoor preset and Family Photography Guide to keep.

The Family Photography System™ is $47 USD with lifetime access.

If you’re ready to stop piecing everything together from random reels and start understanding what you’re doing behind the camera and WHY you’re doing it…

Comment FAMILY SYSTEM and I’ll send you the details

03/09/2026

The quickest way to convince yourself you’re not good enough at photography is to compare your beginning to someone else’s decade of experience.

You see the finished image.

You don’t see the thousands of photos they took before they understood their settings without thinking about them.

You don’t see the sessions where they had absolutely no idea what to say to the family.

The missed focus.

The shutter speed that was too slow.

The editing phases they’d probably rather nobody ever saw 😂

The awkward poses.

The galleries that took HOURS to edit.

Or the years it took to figure out what actually worked.

I’ve been photographing families for over 14 years.

When I walk into a family session now, I’m not constantly thinking:

What should my settings be?

Where should I put them?

What pose should I do next?

What do I say to get the kids to engage?

That confidence didn’t come because I woke up one day and suddenly became a “good photographer.”

It came from repetition, education and having a process I could rely on.

And that’s the part you miss when you compare yourself to someone further ahead.

You’re comparing your current work to the result of YEARS of theirs.

So instead of looking at another photographer and thinking:

“Why am I not as good as her?”

Start asking:

“What does she understand that I haven’t learned yet?”

Because that question gives you somewhere to go.

And if the things you’re still trying to figure out are Manual mode, camera settings, focus, natural light, posing, prompting, creating variety and editing efficiently, those are exactly the things I teach inside The Family Photography System™.

You’ll even watch me photograph a real family session so you can see how I actually put everything together, then watch my complete editing workflow from RAW files to finished gallery.

I’ve taken what took me YEARS to learn and put it into a system you don’t have to spend years figuring out alone.

Comment FAMILY SYSTEM and I’ll send you the details 👇

Address

7/12 Victoria Street
Hall, ACT
2618

Telephone

+61421354268

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Photography Mentor posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Photography Mentor:

Shortcuts

Share

Category