As this year comes to a close, I found myself less interested in numbers or accomplishments—and more curious about how this year shaped me.
This isn’t a highlight reel episode. It’s a reflection on what surprised me, what humbled me, what didn’t work, and what I’m carrying forward into the next season.
In this solo episode, I reflect on:
The nuance I’ve learned to hold in birth work
Letting go of “right vs. wrong” and choosing presence instead
What clearer communication taught me in my photography business
Staying with a business model long enough to build real conviction
This episode is for anyone ending the year feeling quieter, steadier, or more humbled than expected. Growth doesn’t always look loud—and that doesn’t mean you’re behind.
In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what my days actually look like as a mom of two, a family photographer, and a doula/birth photographer.
My routines have changed drastically over the years — from those unpredictable baby days full of naps, nursing, and squeezing work in whenever I could… to now having a few precious hours each morning while both kids are in preschool.
I’m walking you through:
✨ What life used to look like in the baby and toddler seasons
✨ How our routines function now that my kids are 3 and 5
✨ How I structure work during school hours
✨ What evenings and sessions look like depending on the season
✨ The reality of balancing birth work with childcare
✨ And the workflows that keep my business running smoothly behind the scenes
If you’re a parent growing a business in the thick of life, this one’s for you. You’ll feel seen, supported, and hopefully inspired to create rhythms that fit your season — without guilt or comparison.
In this cozy, heart–filling episode, I’m sharing all of the Christmas traditions that make this season feel magical in our home. From our simple salt dough ornaments (that somehow get sweeter every year as the kids grow) to chilly nights spent stargazing in the yard searching for Santa, these are the little rituals that anchor us in the whirlwind of the holidays.
I’m talking about the practical things too—like my make-ahead cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole that keep Christmas morning slow and stress-free, our “no travel on Christmas Day” rule that lets us soak in every moment at home, and the joy of putting the tree up early so the season doesn’t pass us by.
You’ll also hear about the traditions we’re adding this year in our new neighborhood!
If you're craving inspiration for creating or reviving meaningful traditions—ones that feel intentional, joyful, and doable—this episode will leave you feeling cozy, nostalgic, and excited to make a little magic in your own home.
Grab a blanket, pour something warm, and enjoy. 🎄✨
Feeling buried under your editing queue? In this episode, I’m sharing practical ways to take back control of your time without sacrificing client experience or quality. From culling smarter and communicating clearly, to using tools like Imagen AI and setting real boundaries, I'll walk through what it looks like to create systems that actually work for you!
If you’re tired of letting your to-do list dictate your life, this one’s for you — because your editing queue doesn’t have to keep you up at night, my friend!
You don’t need 10,000 followers to have a thriving photography business.
In today’s episode, Chelsea breaks down why going viral doesn’t automatically lead to more bookings — and why even the most talented photographers sometimes struggle to fill their calendar.
She shares how to shift your focus from numbers and algorithms to connection and clarity — the things that actuallybuild trust and attract the right clients.
Whether you’re tired of playing the Instagram game or wondering why your work isn’t converting to paid sessions, this episode is your permission slip to breathe, simplify, and realign.
You’ll hear:
✨ Why a big following doesn’t equal a booked calendar
✨ The mindset shift every photographer needs during busy seasons
✨ The real reasons clients aren’t booking (even when your work is good)
✨ What to focus on instead of chasing the algorithm
By the end, you’ll walk away feeling grounded, inspired, and clear on what really matters in your business — and spoiler: it’s not virality.
It’s that time of year when your feed is flooded with photographers offering Black Friday discounts, but here’s the truth — you don’t have to.
In this episode, Chelsea shares why running sales can actually hurt your brand, how discounting your work trains clients to wait for deals, and what to do instead to keep your business both profitable and intentional.
You’ll learn:
✨ Why discounting your core offer waters down your value
✨ How to strategically use promotions during slow months (without undercutting yourself)
✨ Creative ways to add value instead of lowering prices
✨ The hidden risks of offering gift cards — and how they can attract clients who aren’t your best fit
Before you post that Black Friday “deal,” tune in for a dose of real talk about running your business from a place of confidence and strategy — not pressure and comparison.
Your client experience doesn’t end with a beautiful gallery — it begins the moment someone lands on your website.
In this episode, Chelsea walks you through how to audit your client experience from start to finish: from that first inquiry email to gallery delivery and everything in between. You’ll learn how to spot friction points, simplify your systems, and create an experience your clients can’t stop raving about.
Because even if your images are incredible, if the process feels confusing or stressful… they might not come back.
We’re talking:
✨ Why experience matters as much as the final gallery
✨ Signs your process might be overcomplicating things
✨ A step-by-step “client experience audit” you can do this week
✨ How to make your business feel more effortless for both you and your clients
If you’re ready to refine your workflow, elevate your brand, and build long-term loyalty — this one’s for you.
Are you over-delivering your galleries and overwhelming your clients in the process? In this episode, Chelsea breaks down how to ruthlessly cull your galleries — and why less is actually more. She shares her personal workflow, how she decides what stays or goes, the “frame-worthy gallery” mindset that guides her, and why continuing to cull while editing will completely transform your final delivery.
In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Cunningham, a past Milestone Collection client, to talk about the journey that’s shaped her growing family.
Kelly shares the wild story of how she discovered she was pregnant, the giddy excitement captured in their announcement session, and how her maternity images made her feel more beautiful than she could have imagined. She also talks about why she and her husband made the decision to leave Wilmington and return to Ohio — realizing how precious it was to raise babies close to family.
Through every step — from announcement to maternity to newborn — Kelly’s Milestone Collection became a way to preserve the heart of this season. Her story is a beautiful reminder that photographs don’t just document our lives; they let us relive the moments we never want to forget.
As photographers, we’re not just selling albums — we’re creating an experience. An album is more than a product; it’s a way for clients to relive their story years from now, even before they realize how much they’ll treasure it.
In this episode, I sit down with Shaun Gordon, founder and CEO of Kiss Books, to talk about how albums can transform your client experience.
We dive into:
- Why albums are so much more than a finished product
- How anticipating your clients’ future needs changes the way you sell
- The heart and story behind Kiss Books
- Practical steps to start offering albums with confidence
If you’ve ever wondered how to make albums feel essential (and not just an add-on), this conversation will completely reframe the way you think about print.
Connect with Full Hands, Full Heart:
Printed with Purpose: A Photographer's Guide to Selling Albums
📸 Join my next workshop retreat!
✨ Follow Shaun on Instagram → @shaunaustin
✨ Follow Kiss Books on Instagram → @kissbooks
✨ Follow me on Instagram → @chelseaallegra
🎙 Follow the podcast on Instagram → @fullhandsfullheartpod
As photographers, we often feel the pressure to deliver all the images from a single session — thinking it makes us look generous. But in reality, giving clients too many choices can create overwhelm instead of joy.
In this episode, I’m sharing a story from my wedding photography days that completely shifted how I think about image delivery. You’ll learn:
✨ Why more images doesn’t always mean a better client experience
✨ How curation is actually a gift to your clients
✨ The way limiting images protects your time, creativity, and business sustainability
✨ A simple exercise you can try this week to start curating with more intention
If you’ve been afraid that limiting image counts makes you look stingy, this conversation will help you reframe that fear — and step confidently into your role as an artist and guide.
In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with my past Milestone Collection client, Meredith Rakowski, to talk about the journey of documenting her first baby — from an announcement session to maternity and newborn photos.
Meredith shares what it’s like raising her little girl on their family farm, the beauty and challenges of motherhood, and the hesitations she felt stepping in front of the camera during pregnancy when her feet were swollen and her body felt so different. She opens up about how seeing her maternity images made her feel more beautiful than ever, and why the album from her Milestone Collection has become one of her most treasured keepsakes — a book she and her husband proudly carried everywhere in those first weeks to share with family and friends.
If you’ve ever wondered whether capturing every stage of motherhood is worth it, Meredith’s story will remind you just how meaningful these memories can be.
As photographers — and especially as moms — it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle: saying yes to every session, editing late into the night, and sacrificing weekends with our families just to keep up. I’ve been there, and honestly? It left me anxious, overwhelmed, and starting to resent the work I once loved.
In this episode of Full Hands, Full Heart, I’m sharing the exact shifts I made to create margin in my life and business. From protecting my weekends, to restructuring my shooting schedule, to practical rhythms like meal prep and AI editing, I’ll walk you through how I built a business that supports my family and my sanity.
If you’ve been craving more space, more peace, and more sustainability in your photography business, this one’s for you.
Connect with Full Hands, Full Heart:
📸 Join The Prosper Workshop Retreat
Try Imagen AI and get 1500 free edits!
✨ Follow me on Instagram → @chelseaallegra
🎙 Follow the podcast on Instagram → @fullhandsfullheartpod
Do shorter vs longer sessions really serve your clients… or just the clock?
In this solo episode, I’m sharing why I stopped putting time limits on my sessions — and how that shift changed everything. From toddler meltdowns to creative freedom, we’ll dig into why session length isn’t where the real value lies, and how letting go of the clock can actually help you deliver better images, create a smoother experience, and serve your clients at a higher level.
Connect with Full Hands, Full Heart:
✨ Follow me on Instagram → @chelseaallegra
🎙 Follow the podcast on Instagram → @fullhandsfullheartpod
Mini sessions can be a fun and profitable part of your photography business...but only when they’re offered with intention. In this episode, I’m sharing my personal approach to mini sessions, why timing and structure matter, and how to make them a true bonus for your business instead of chaos in an already busy season.
We’ll cover:
When minis actually serve your business (and when they don’t)
How to make your minis truly mini and unique
Why they should complement your full sessions, not replace them
Tips for offering minis to past clients, album events, or travel days
Whether you love minis or feel pressure to offer them, this episode will give you permission to make decisions that honor your energy, your family, and your long-term sustainability.
Connect with Full Hands, Full Heart:
✨ Follow me on Instagram → @chelseaallegra
🎙 Follow the podcast on Instagram → @fullhandsfullheartpod
In this episode, I’m chatting with Makenzie Bachman, a past Milestone Collection client, about capturing life’s most meaningful moments—from maternity to newborn sessions and beyond.
We talk about why scheduling a portrait session is about more than just photos—it’s a way to preserve the feelings, strength, and beauty of a season in your life. Makenzie also shares how the Milestone Collection allowed her to create memories for her family while navigating life as a working mom with a little one in daycare.
If you’ve ever wondered whether investing in maternity or newborn photography is worth it, this episode is full of insight, encouragement, and real-life perspective.
🎧 Listen in and be inspired to capture your own story!
This is the episode I’ve been waiting to share with you! ✨
Today I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the heart and vision behind The Prosper Workshop Retreat happening February 20-22, 2026.
This retreat has been years in the making, born out of my own journey of feeling burned out, stretched too thin, and almost walking away from photography altogether.
But instead of quitting, I found a way to build a business that is sustainable, life-giving, and impactful—and I want the same for YOU.
Inside this episode, you’ll hear:
✨ The big shifts that helped me create a business that supports my life
✨ Why this retreat will be unlike anything else you’ve experienced
✨ How you can join the waitlist + snag your ticket before anyone else
If you’ve been craving clarity, community, and a business that feels GOOD again—this is the episode to listen to. And friend, I can’t wait to see you at the retreat.
🎧 Tune in now + get ready to join the waitlist.
Here’s the truth: even the most beautifully styled family sessions aren’t immune to toddler meltdowns, messy hair, or a little chaos. But what if that’s exactly where the magic happens?
In this episode, I’m sharing how I guide my families from those “hard moments” into connection and joy—so their photos reflect the feeling of this season, not just the way it looks.
I’ll walk you through:
- The moment that changed how I approach family sessions forever
- Why your energy as a photographer matters more than any pose
- A sneak peek at my favorite prompts and tips for natural, emotive photos
If you’ve ever wondered how to create galleries full of life, laughter, and love—this one’s for you.
Links + Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
📸 My Family Posing Guide
✨ Follow me on Instagram → @chelseaallegra
🎙 Follow the podcast on Instagram → @fullhandsfullheartpod
In this heartfelt conversation, Chelsea sits down with past doula client Payton Matthews to reflect on the birth of her second baby—and her decision to pursue an unmedicated induction. Payton shares what led her to want both a doula and a birth photographer, how she prepared emotionally and physically for labor, and what it felt like to be fully supported throughout the process.
You’ll hear:
How she navigated the unknowns of an induction without pain medication
The moments she remembers most vividly during labor
What her birth photos mean to her now, months later
Her advice to any mama considering hiring a doula or documenting their birth
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or your fifth, this episode is a beautiful reminder that birth can be both sacred and supported!
Follow Payton: @payton.herring.photography
Follow the Podcast: @fullhandsfullheartpod
Follow Chelsea (host): @chelseaallegra
Work with Chelsea and/or inquire about the podcast: www.chelseaallegra.com
Amber Beasley is a Charleston-based family photographer, mom of three, and creative entrepreneur with a gift for making families feel completely at ease in front of the camera.
In this episode, Amber shares her journey into photography, how she balances motherhood with running a thriving business, and her fun, intentional approach to posing families in a way that captures their true connection. We also talk about creativity, identity, and the lessons she’s learned about building a business that works for her life—not the other way around.
Find Amber on Instagram: @6ftamber
Follow the Podcast: @fullhandsfullheartpod
Follow Chelsea (host): @chelseaallegra
Work with Chelsea and/or inquire about the podcast: www.chelseaallegra.com