Most photography advice is aimed at beginners or those who’ve already “made it”, but what about everyone in between?

In this episode, we’re talking about the awkward middle of a photography business, the stage where you’re no longer new, you’ve made real progress, but you’re not yet where you want to be. Motivation starts to dip, responsibility increases, and it can feel like you’re working harder without the clarity or confidence you expected to have by now.

We unpack why this phase feels so uncomfortable, how comparison and pressure creep in and why feeling stuck is often a sign of growth rather than failure. If you’ve lost some of the beginner excitement, feel caught between levels or are quietly questioning your next move, this episode is for you.

This conversation is about perspective and understanding that the middle isn’t a problem to fix, it’s a phase to move through.

The Maternity Academy, Spain - Use code MBU25 for 25% off! - https://www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk/the-maternity-academy

Join the conversation in our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/690300729099443/

The Photographer's Power Pack FREE DOWNLOAD - https://www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk/the-photographers-power-pack

Join this channel to get access to members only live streams and more -

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqorebmeGsNQQ9mK-jDNaVw/join

Chapters

00:00 – The Awkward Middle Most Photographers Hit

02:45 – When Growth Slows and Excitement Fades

05:55 – Why Success Stops Feeling Like Success

08:35 – The Reality of Stability, Money & Self Employment

11:30 – Imposter Syndrome, Risk & Playing It Safe

14:05 – Feeling Overlooked (Even When You’re Showing Up)

16:50 – Why Most Photographers Quit in the Middle

18:55 – The Middle Is a Building Phase

21:40 – Perspective, Support & Long Term Confidence

25:45 – Final Thoughts: The Middle Isn’t a Dead End

www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk

Abigail Lewis Photography are an international award winning, Maternity and Newborn Specialist photography team. Focusing their time and experience in creating breathtaking artwork that will be treasured by your growing family for generations to come. Abigail is the force behind the camera, immortalising your memories and Kristie is Creative Director, ensuring your experience and needs are met. Together they work as one to make sure your journey into parenthood and beyond is empowering and unforgettable.

Being a photographer isn’t just about taking beautiful images. For many of us, especially those working in maternity, newborn and family photography, it means holding space for people during some of the most emotional moments of their lives.

In this episode, we talk about the emotional weight of being someone’s once in a lifetime photographer, the pressure to get it right, the responsibility that comes with documenting fleeting moments and the invisible labour that often goes unseen.

We explore why burnout in photography isn’t always about workload, how emotional responsibility can quietly build over time and why so many photographers feel exhausted even when they “love their job”.

This is an honest, grounded conversation about the side of photography that’s rarely talked about but felt by so many.

If you’ve ever carried the emotional load of your clients home with you, questioned why the work feels heavier some seasons than others, or wondered if it’s okay to acknowledge this part of the job, this episode is for you.

Remember My Baby Charity - https://remembermybaby.org.uk

Join the conversation in our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/690300729099443/

The Maternity Academy Spain - https://www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk/the-maternity-academy

The Photographer's Power Pack FREE DOWNLOAD - https://www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk/the-photographers-power-pack

Chapters

00:00 — Intro

00:18 — Trigger Warnings

00:43 — Being a Once In A Lifetime Photographer

01:46 — Pressure in Maternity and Newborn Photography

03:50 — Dealing with Anxiety

10:12 — Safe Space For Our Clients

13:28 — Having A Community of Photographers

15:39 — Nothing To Fix

17:42 — Outro

www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk

Abigail Lewis Photography are an international award winning, Maternity and Newborn Specialist photography team. Focusing their time and experience in creating breathtaking artwork that will be treasured by your growing family for generations to come. Abigail is the force behind the camera, immortalising your memories and Kristie is Creative Director, ensuring your experience and needs are met. Together they work as one to make sure your journey into parenthood and beyond is empowering and unforgettable.

Is your camera really the thing holding you back, or is that just what we’ve been taught to believe?

In this episode of Mother, Baby & Us, we unpack one of the most common misconceptions in photography: that better gear automatically leads to better images.

We talk honestly about why so many photographers feel stuck, frustrated or tempted to upgrade their equipment before they’ve truly learned to use what they already own. From entry level cameras to professional bodies, we share real world insight from years of photographing maternity, newborn and family sessions, and explain what actually makes the biggest difference to your work.

This episode covers:

- Why new gear often feels like the solution

- The skills that matter more than camera bodies and lenses

- How learning light, posing and intention impacts your images far more than specs

- When upgrading your gear does make sense

If you’ve ever wondered whether your camera is the problem or felt pressure to invest in expensive equipment before you’re ready, this conversation will help you refocus on what really moves your photography forward.

Canon R50 vs R5 Comparison Video - https://youtu.be/i2sZd8SFayE

Join the conversation in our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/690300729099443/

The Maternity Academy Spain - https://www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk/the-maternity-academy

The Photographer's Power Pack FREE DOWNLOAD - https://www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk/the-photographers-power-pack

Join this channel to get access to members only live streams and more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqorebmeGsNQQ9mK-jDNaVw/join

Chapters

00:00 — Intro

00:34 — Where Gear Myths Come From

04:29 — Gear Does Matter, Just Not In The Way You Think

07:39 — Practise Is Magic

13:45 — What Actually Improves Your Images

22:05 — When Gear Does Matter

26:25 — How To Know When It's Time To Upgrade

28:05 — Proving Our Point

30:17 — Outro

www.abigaillewisphotography.co.uk

Abigail Lewis Photography are an international award winning, Maternity and Newborn Specialist photography team. Focusing their time and experience in creating breathtaking artwork that will be treasured by your growing family for generations to come. Abigail is the force behind the camera, immortalising your memories and Kristie is Creative Director, ensuring your experience and needs are met. Together they work as one to make sure your journey into parenthood and beyond is empowering and unforgettable.