014: Raising Businesses and Raising Babies with Leah O'Connell

Hannah and Maddie welcome photographer and business owner Leah O’Connell, creator of the weekly “Firefly Letters,” to discuss building a photography business from scratch and evolving it through major life seasons. Leah shares how an early passion for storytelling led from mall portrait studios and camp media work to mentoring opportunities in Hawaii after repeated rejections from a college program and an unplanned career shift. She explains how entrepreneurship required a growth mindset, willingness to look inexperienced, and raising her hand for opportunities, and how motherhood, moves, pregnancy/postpartum cycles, miscarriages, and financial ebb and flow shaped her definition of success. Leah describes choosing sustainability over constant scaling, managing creative energy, serving clients intentionally, and “tinkering” with small pivots rather than chasing novelty, emphasizing grit and not giving up. Connect with Leah: https://leahoconnell.com/centralvirginiamarketing.comnine2ohmarketing.com00:00 Beyond Business Intro00:39 Meet Leah O'Connell02:51 Photography Origins04:58 Hawaii Turning Point06:09 Mentorship And First Clients09:05 Paying It Forward10:12 Entrepreneur Mindset13:25 Motherhood And Business Seasons16:10 Scaling With Energy17:26 Redefining Success19:04 Flexibility Versus Stability21:16 Redefining Success Seasons22:43 Hardest Parts Entrepreneurship23:14 Grit And Tinkering27:29 New And Noteworthy28:44 Spring Photos Push30:45 Key Takeaways Recap33:33 Blending Life And Work34:53 Marketing Outro And CTA