Focus and Flourish

Your portfolio might be full of beautiful images - but is it actually helping you book the work you want?
In this episode, we’re unpacking some of the most common portfolio myths photographers are taught early on, and why so much of that advice ends up doing more harm than good. From the pressure to show everything you can do, to the idea that more variety equals more opportunities, we talk honestly about what we were told, what didn’t work, and what shifted once we started treating our portfolios as positioning tools - not proof of versatility.
We explore why portfolios are meant to communicate clarity, not range for the sake of it, how too much variety can confuse potential clients, and what actually changes when you start showing the work you want to be hired for. We also touch on how to approach portfolio shifts if you’re not booking your dream projects yet.
If you’ve ever wondered why your most loved images aren’t converting into aligned enquiries, this episode will help you rethink how your portfolio works for your business.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build intentional, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by food photographers Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show blends honest conversations with practical insight around portfolios, pricing, pitching, workflows, marketing, and mindset - helping photographers position themselves clearly, attract aligned clients, and grow with confidence.

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If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

Our Food Photography Business Mastermind is now open for enrollment: subscribepage.io/photo-business-mastermind 🫶

What would it actually feel like to work with more clarity, confidence and ease in 2026?
In this episode, we’re reframing business operations - not as boring admin, but as creative protection and freedom. We talk about the moment most photographers reach when winging it is no longer sustainable, even if the work is coming in.
We explore what life and business feel like before solid systems are in place, the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that operations aren’t working, and where photographers quietly leak time, money and confidence when everything lives in their head.
Rather than giving step-by-step systems, this conversation is about awareness: what changes when you know exactly what happens from first enquiry to final delivery, and how strong operations support better pricing, boundaries and decision-making.
We also share why Business Operations is the first pillar we focus on inside the Focus & Flourish Business Mastermind in Q1, why this season of the year is so powerful for setting foundations and what kind of momentum becomes possible when you stop putting this work off.
If you’ve ever thought 'My business could feel calmer and more intentional than this', this episode is for you.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative business owners who want to build sustainable, profitable businesses without burnout. Hosted by Marta and Linda, each episode explores the behind-the-scenes decisions that shape long-term success - from systems and pricing to marketing, mindset, and client experience - helping photographers grow with clarity and intention.

Join our 2026 Food Photography Business Mastermind 🫶

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If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

Join our free, 2-day workshop on 21 & 22 January 2026: ⁠⁠subscribepage.io/businessworkshopwaitlist⁠⁠

'How far can you really go with natural light in food photography?'

This listener question sparked a conversation we had to have.

Spoiler: this is not a natural vs artificial debate, and it’s definitely not about picking sides.
In this episode, we unpack the very real pressure many food photographers feel online to move toward artificial lighting and whether that pressure actually reflects real client work.

We share our personal journeys with light, where we started, what we use now, and how our lighting choices have evolved alongside our businesses. We talk honestly about fear, identity, confidence and the misconception that using one lighting approach makes you more or less 'professional'.

You’ll walk away with a clear framework for deciding when natural light makes sense, when artificial light is the better tool and why learning to understand light matters far more than the gear itself.

If you’ve ever felt unsure, behind, or pressured by what you see on Instagram - this episode is your permission slip to do things your way.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers who want to build sustainable, confident, and creatively fulfilling businesses. Hosted by Marta and Linda, the show explores the real decisions behind photography careers - from lighting and workflow to pricing, marketing, mindset and long-term growth - helping photographers make choices that support both their work and their lives.

Join our free, 2-day workshop on 21 & 22 January 2026: ⁠⁠⁠subscribepage.io/businessworkshopwaitlist⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

Join our free, 2-day workshop on 21 & 22 January 2026: ⁠subscribepage.io/businessworkshopwaitlist⁠

If your photography business feels busy but inconsistent, creative but chaotic, or successful yet fragile - this episode will bring clarity.
In today’s conversation, we’re introducing the four foundational pillars that now guide how we run our photography businesses. This framework didn’t come from theory or textbooks - it came from years of trial, error and learning the hard way what actually creates stability, confidence and growth as a photographer.
We walk through each pillar at a high level - business operations, money & pricing, client experience, and marketing & sales - explaining why each one matters, what happens when one is weak, and how they work together as a system.
This episode also gives you a clear look into why we built our 2026 Mastermind around these pillars, and how consistent, supported focus across all four can transform the way you experience your business throughout the year.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build stable, intentional, and sustainable businesses. Hosted by Marta and Linda, each episode blends real-world experience with thoughtful guidance on systems, pricing, marketing, mindset, and long-term growth - helping photographers create businesses that truly support their lives.

Join our free, 2-day workshop on 21 & 22 January 2026: ⁠⁠subscribepage.io/businessworkshopwaitlist⁠⁠

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

Join our free, 2-day workshop on 21 & 22 January 2026: subscribepage.io/businessworkshopwaitlist

If goal setting has ever left you feeling overwhelmed, behind, or unsure where to focus at the start of the new year - this episode is for you.
This conversation has been months in the making, and we talk about something we genuinely wish had existed earlier in our photography careers. In this episode, we’re sharing how we actually approach goal setting as photographers - and why that process led us to create our free 2-day business clarity workshop happening on 21-22 January 2026 followed by the year-long Business Mastermind.
We talk openly about how the start of a new year can feel emotionally loaded for creatives, why traditional goal-setting advice doesn’t always work for photographers, and how shifting toward structure, big picture and short-term planning can completely change the way you show up in your business.
This episode gently walks you into why we built our free workshop, who it’s for, and how guided support can help photographers move from vague intentions to a clear, realistic 90-day plan without pressure or burnout.
👉 You can find more about our upcoming Workshop and join the waitlist for our Business Mastermind here:
subscribepage.io/businessworkshopwaitlist

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative business owners who want to grow with clarity, confidence, and intention. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, each episode blends honest conversation with practical guidance on mindset, marketing, goal setting, and sustainable business growth - supporting photographers at every stage of their journey.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️