Your Energy Is a Luxury Item; Not Everyone Can Afford It

The Art & Soul Show - Photography Podcast for Newborn and Family Photographers

The Art & Soul Show - Photography Podcast for Newborn and Family Photographers
Your Energy Is a Luxury Item; Not Everyone Can Afford It
Oct 15, 2025 Episode 260
Lisa DiGeso, The Milky Way

“Your energy is a luxury item—and not everyone can afford it.”

When Taylor Swift said this, it hit me right in the gut. Because it’s true: your energy, presence, and emotional labor aren’t disposable. They’re rare, valuable, and worth protecting.

In this episode, I share how I've learned to guard my energy in my photography business and life. From saying no to summer sessions that drained me, to slowing down during newborn shoots, to setting boundaries that honor my time and creativity, you’ll see how important it is to reframe the value of your energy for yourself and your clients.

What’s in this episode:

  • [00:35] Why your energy is not cheap or disposable
  • [02:12] How energy leaks show up in photography work and life
  • [06:45] A personal story about saying “no” to client sessions for rest
  • [12:20] How calming energy transformed a stressful newborn shoot
  • [16:40] Practical ways to protect your energy as a photographer

Tune in to learn how protecting your energy helps you show up more fully as a photographer, create sustainably in your business, and live with intention.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/

Episode Artwork Your Energy Is a Luxury Item; Not Everyone Can Afford It 9:05 Episode Artwork Big Moves, Big Changes: Reinventing Your Photography Style with Confidence with Natasha Sewell 38:09 Episode Artwork Burnout is not a badge of honor 7:52 Episode Artwork Learning to Rest, Not Quit 10:50 Episode Artwork Buckets, Boundaries, and Breathing Room: Creating a Business That Doesn’t Run You with Tiffany Crenshaw 34:41 Episode Artwork Navigating Creative Jealousy: When Someone Else Has Your Dream 6:45 Episode Artwork Love in Ordinary Places: Romantic Storytelling Through Photography with Melissa Barnes 22:45 Episode Artwork Booked and Balanced: How to Align Your Calendar with Your Capacity with Cally Petersen 43:12 Episode Artwork Messy Middles: How to Navigate the In-Between Stage When You’re Not Where You Were, But Not Yet Where You Want to Be 11:08 Episode Artwork Elevate, Educate, Inspire: Inside the Maternity & Newborn Photographers Summit with Cydnee Jex 39:39 Episode Artwork Slow Down and Tune In: Photographing Families with Intention with Kim Hildebrand 41:50 Episode Artwork Dealing With Feedback in Photography: Pricing Criticism, Tough Clients, Constructive Critiques, and Handling Online Trolls 11:07 Episode Artwork Crafting Content That Connects: Strategic Storytelling with Tania from Soulful Story Co. 46:56 Episode Artwork Navigating Business When the World Feels Chaotic: Focusing on What You Can Control 11:00 Episode Artwork Personality-Packed Portraits: Rebecca Hunnicutt’s Approach to Kids and Families for Lifestyle Family Photography 35:10 Episode Artwork Creativity as Self-care 9:33 Episode Artwork The Psychology of Sales: How to Guide Your Clients to In-Person Sales with Maggie Robinson of Tog Academy 1:01:56 Episode Artwork Embracing Failure and Failing Forward 10:22 Episode Artwork Making Waves: The Art & Business of Underwater Photography with Karen Bagley 1:08:10 Episode Artwork How to “Find” Your Motivation When You’re Feeling Less Than Awesome About Your Business or Art 14:23 Episode Artwork Lighting the Way: Building a Photography Style and Business with Marta Ponsko 51:25 Episode Artwork Sales Psychology, Strategy, and Soul: Unlocking Your Unique Magic with Eden Strader 49:36 Episode Artwork Setting Intentions for a New Year 10:37 Episode Artwork The Season of Reflection Reset & Rest 7:29 Episode Artwork Creating a Brand New Market: How to Build a Photography Niche That Fits Your Dreams with Paige Puglisi 39:13