Finding Joy | For Family Photographers

Can you make connected work somewhere other than a client’s home? Anna Nelson is proof that you can.

Anna makes some of the most heartfelt family work out there, and she’s almost always in a field or on a beach. We talk about how she gets families playing (patty cake, airplane, “how fast can you run past mom and dad”), the notes she writes on her hand before every session, and why she’ll happily celebrate you for wanting photos in a pretty dress in a field.

Plus grumpy dads, toddlers who run the show, her first big year of traveling for work, and the little prayer she says before every shoot.

Connect with Anna
Website: https://www.annanelsonphoto.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna.nelson.photo/

Free class: The grumpy dad, the perfectionist mom, and the kid who says no. What’s actually happening in those moments and what to do and say.
https://simply-by-suzy-2.kit.com/112cf2056d

The Family Posing Playbook: How to lead families into real connection, whether you’re in their home, a studio, or a field.
https://simplybysuzy.com/family-posing-playbook

It’s October. If you’re a photographer, then I knoooow you’re in it.

This one’s about staying present for your family (and yourself) when there’s a lot going on.

Inside:

The mantra I keep coming back to: fight for your presence right now.

Small ways to connect with your kids fast. Silly bedtime questions, night walks, a note tucked in a book.

How gratitude gets me to my sessions when I’ve got nothing left.

Why staying connected to your life is good for your business too.

For family photographers:

Free class: The 3 Moments That Derail a Family Session

The Family Posing Playbook

Tell me what landed in the comments!

xo

Suzy

Today’s episode is a little different. I’m talking with my friend Ann Helyer, a family photographer in Dallas.

Ann came into my world through the Family Posing Playbook, and I’ve loved every DM and email reply from her since. She has a background in philosophy and conflict management (yes, really), and it shapes everything about how she shows up for families.

Because let’s be honest. Every family session has some tension in it. A toddler bouncing off the coffee table. A partner who didn’t want to come. A mom worried about what you think of her kids.

We talk about:

• Why fall is our busiest season when everything in nature is slowing down
• How Ann uses love languages in her prep calls to quietly help couples fill each other up during the shoot
• The newborn session where a wild three-year-old got to just be himself (and what that gave his parents)
• Why self-compassion actually motivates us more than being hard on ourselves
• Turning the hard stuff from your own childhood into something you give to families
• Clients choosing “undone” sessions at home, even when it costs more
• Dopamine, oxytocin, and why serving your family feels better than scrolling

Also my six-year-old makes a guest appearance. I left it in. Because this is the job (and having your kids lose it while you're trying to do work is sooooo normal).

Find Ann:
Instagram: @annhelyerphoto
Website: [Ann’s website]

Free class: The Three Moments That Derail Us at a Family Session (the grumpy dad, the perfectionist mom, and the kid who says no to everything) [SIGN UP HERE]

The Family Posing Playbook [JOIN HERE]

Can you create real connection at family photos anywhere other than the home?

This question keeps coming up for me. It came up in my free class, in conversations with other photographers, and on a recent coaching call with one of my Family Posing Playbook students.

So many things in our industry get taught as rules when we should view them as options on a menu. From there you pick what feels good to you.

In this episode I talk about:

• All the different ways connection happens in real life (and what that means for your sessions)
• The moment my student's whole face changed when we started talking about taking her families out into nature
• Why what excites you matters so much when you're explaining your sessions to clients
• How my own sessions are changing now that my kids are getting older (and why I want to do less, which surprised me)
• Yes, I really do think you could have a connected, meaningful session at a JCPenney studio

When you're done, be sure to check out -

My Free class: The 3 Moments That Derail a Family Session (the grumpy dad, the perfectionist mom, and the kid who says no to everything) → LINK

Family Posing Playbook: learn to pose and lead families through the whole session, in any location, no matter what happens → LINK

One of my OG families, two rowdy boys, a long drive to the Indiana Dunes... and a little one who wanted to spend the whole session digging a hole in the sand.

In this episode I'm walking you through that shoot from start to finish. The planning call where mom told me "we don't have any moments of ease." The logistics decision I agonized over all week (and why I finally let go of chasing golden hour). What I said to mom when she started to stress about the hole. And that moment at the very end, the one I shoot for every single time, when a family realizes they did it together.

Plus why I think the real path to your best work runs through how much you appreciate the families in front of you.

xo Suzy

Free class replay: The 3 Moments That Derail a Family Session (and what to do in each)
https://simply-by-suzy-2.kit.com/5ea018e216

Ready for the whole method? The Family Posing Playbook
https://simplybysuzy.com/family-posing-playbook

In this raw, unedited episode of the Finding Joy Podcast, Suzy shares a deeply personal, stream-of-consciousness reflection on the themes of efficiency, decision-making, healing old patterns, and the quiet triumph of presence in a busy life.

From her evolving relationship with productivity to the transformative power of “The Big Leap,” Suzy opens up about the inner shifts she’s making to create space for joy, clarity, and true alignment. She also speaks directly to the hearts of parents in the thick of it, offering gentle encouragement that yes, it does get easier—and you’re doing better than you think.

This one feels like a cozy, late-night conversation with a friend who just gets it.

If you're interested in learning more from me or joining The Old Joy Club, check out my shop - ⁠https://simplybysuzy.com/shop or my Substack Chasing Joy.

Connect with me ⁠@simplybysuzy⁠ on Instagram or ⁠simplysuzy.com

In this heartfelt episode, we dive into the quiet power of storytelling—how it shapes our joy, our relationships, and the way we see ourselves. Suzy shares a deeply personal moment from early postpartum life that led to unraveling a story she'd carried for years: that she wasn’t the kind of person who had close friendships. What followed was a journey of rewriting that narrative—and building a life full of connection, fulfillment, and fun. We explore how the stories we hold—about parenthood, creativity, business, and self-worth—can either limit us or set us free, and how photographers especially can create more meaningful work by releasing judgment and holding space with curiosity. This episode is an invitation to tune in, reflect, and start rewriting the stories that no longer serve you.

If you're interested in learning more from me or joining The Old Joy Club, check out my shop - ⁠⁠https://simplybysuzy.com/shop⁠ or my Substack ⁠Chasing Joy⁠.

Connect with me ⁠⁠⁠@simplybysuzy⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠simplybysuzy.com⁠

In this episode of the Finding Joy Podcast, I’m reflecting on a whirlwind weekend in Southern California — two heartfelt family photo sessions, lots of driving, and an even deeper reminder of why I love doing this work. I share what it means to live a full, aligned life (and how that sometimes means feeling totally used up in the best way), why creativity requires courage, and the magic that happens when families embrace the beautifully ordinary. From a pajama-clad breakfast in Echo Park to a dad asking for one final photo of his favorite view in Laguna Beach, this episode is a love letter to presence, playfulness, and finding joy in the in-between moments of real family life.

If you're interested in learning more from me or joining The Old Joy Club, check out my shop - ⁠⁠⁠https://simplybysuzy.com/shop⁠⁠ or my Substack ⁠⁠Chasing Joy⁠⁠.

Connect with me ⁠⁠⁠⁠@simplybysuzy⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠simplybysuzy.com⁠

If life has felt heavy lately—like you're juggling way too much and still feeling like you're somehow not doing enough—this episode is the gentle reminder you didn’t know you needed. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about the realweight modern parents carry, the unrealistic expectations placed on us, and how to soften the inner critic that tells us we're failing when we're actually doing something amazing. I’m sharing stories from my own life—parenting without screens, running a business, navigating chosen stress—and how shifting my mindset (and practicing radical self-compassion) has helped me stay grounded, even in the chaos. This one’s for anyone who needs to hear: you are doing an incredible job, even if it’s imperfect.

If you're interested in learning more from me or joining The Old Joy Club, check out my shop - ⁠⁠⁠https://simplybysuzy.com/shop⁠⁠ or my Substack ⁠⁠Chasing Joy⁠⁠.

Connect with me ⁠⁠⁠⁠@simplybysuzy⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠simplybysuzy.com⁠

In this episode of Finding Joy, we’re talking about saying no—but not just any no… the kind that feels a little scary, a little risky, but also deeply aligned. I’m sharing a recent experience where I had to turn down a work opportunity (even though the money would’ve been nice) in order to protect something even more valuable: my time, my energy, and the future I’m building. If you’re a parent, creative, or entrepreneur who struggles with people-pleasing or gets stuck in that fear of “missing out” on opportunities, this episode will remind you how powerful it is to say no from a place of intention—and how every no is really a yes to something else.

If you're interested in learning more from me or joining The Old Joy Club, check out my shop - ⁠⁠⁠https://simplybysuzy.com/shop⁠⁠ or my Substack ⁠⁠Chasing Joy⁠⁠.

Connect with me ⁠⁠⁠⁠@simplybysuzy⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠simplybysuzy.com⁠

In this very first episode of Finding Joy, we’re talking about something real: the art of getting comfortable with discomfort. Whether it’s parenting, partnership, or photographing people for a living, there’s one truth I’ve been learning (and re-learning): we cannot control how others feel—but we can learn to stay steady in the storm. From a breakfast-table meltdown to tender client moments behind the lens, I’m sharing stories from my own life that remind us how powerful it is to let others feel their feelings… without making it mean something about us. If you’ve ever felt rattled when someone doesn’t agree with you, misunderstands you, or just feels big emotions around you—this one’s for you. 🫶

If you're interested in learning more from me or joining The Old Joy Club, check out my shop - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://simplybysuzy.com/shop⁠⁠⁠ or my Substack ⁠⁠⁠Chasing Joy⁠⁠⁠.

Connect with me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@simplybysuzy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠simplybysuzy.com⁠