My Math Isn't Your Own Math

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

The Art & Soul Show - Photography Podcast for Newborn and Family Photographers
My Math Isn't Your Own Math
Apr 01, 2026 Episode 280
Lisa DiGeso, The Milky Way

“My math is not your own math.”

Every photographer has been told what they should charge, how they should structure their packages, and which business model is the only “real” or “professional” one. And for many of us, those formulas feel more like pressure than clarity.

In this episode, I’m sharing the hard truth I learned the long way: your math is not supposed to look like anyone else’s. Your expenses, your goals, your energy, and your definition of success are completely unique. The moment you stop trying to copy someone else’s formula is the moment your business starts to feel like yours again.

What’s in this episode:

[00:35] The moment pricing shame made me question everything
[01:40] Raising rates because you were told to and how it can backfire
[02:30] Why copying someone else’s formula rarely works
[03:50] The problem with one-size-fits-all pricing and business advice
[04:40] How IPS and other business models only work when they fit you
[05:20] The four pillars of your personal math
[06:00] How defining success changes everything
[07:00] Numbers, fear, shame, and the stories we attach to them
[08:10] What your business can look like when it aligns with your life

Your business does not need to follow someone else’s equation to be legitimate. When you build your pricing and structure around your life, your goals, and your energy, everything becomes more sustainable.

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


Episode Artwork My Math Isn't Your Own Math 9:22 Episode Artwork Is This Mine to Carry? 8:02 Episode Artwork Stop Playing Small: Shifting Mindset, Habits, and Confidence with Johl Dunn 42:52 Episode Artwork The Shock Absorber 6:55 Episode Artwork The Psychology of Posing with Jodi Hendricks, Founder of Posers 1:14:03 Episode Artwork Am I Invited or is My Camera? 7:25 Episode Artwork Branding, Burnout & Breaking Free: How Understanding Money and Brand Archetypes Can Revitalize Your Photography Business with Stacey Owen 30:37 Episode Artwork Rising From the Rubble: When Your Business Feels Like It’s at Rock Bottom 6:53 Episode Artwork When You Stop “Shoulding” and Start Listening with Fruzsina Jonas 37:53 Episode Artwork Building a Profitable Photography Studio Without Burnout with Talea Wright 38:45 Episode Artwork The Art of Connection in Photography with Russell Jackson 53:14 Episode Artwork Mind Your Own Business: Artistic Clarity with Victoria Burcusel 41:17 Episode Artwork From Trend Cycles to Original Creations: How the Newborn Nerds Built a Thriving Prop Brand 33:56 Episode Artwork How to Build a High-End In-Home Newborn Brand with Chelsea Hickey 35:02 Episode Artwork How Do I Know I'm Ready to Charge? 6:36 Episode Artwork Long Form Sessions, Audacious Self-Love & The Art of Noticing with Rachel Larsen Weaver 43:24 Episode Artwork The Client That Lives Rent Free in Your Head 8:42 Episode Artwork Creating with Intention: Artistry, AI & Authenticity with Olguta Goddard 32:21 Episode Artwork When Raising Your Rates Backfires 9:25 Episode Artwork A Photographer’s Journey of Reinvention and Resilience with Kelsey Freeman 46:28 Episode Artwork Table for One: The Hidden Loneliness When It Feels Like Your Clients Become Your Only Social Life 6:36 Episode Artwork Patience, Props & Purpose: The Evolution of a Newborn Photographer with Johna Musarra 33:54 Episode Artwork The Business You Want Doesn’t Look Good on Instagram 5:37 Episode Artwork Stretch, Strengthen, Shoot: The Secret to Longevity in Photography with Jamie Noyes 37:24 Episode Artwork Your Energy Is a Luxury Item; Not Everyone Can Afford It 9:05