Between the Frames

If you've ever stood in front of a family and gone completely blank, this episode is your fix. This is the companion episode to 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 (𝙀𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙙𝙚 3) — if that one was about how you talk to families, this one is about what you're building toward.EP 3 → https://youtu.be/j0mNho_CgtcTɪᴍᴇsᴛᴀᴍᴘs00:00 — Introduction + episode overview 02:11 — Mom life update: birthday weekend chaos, car key mystery, and summer sessions ahead 09:25 — Why pose at all? Posing vs. prompting — and the "close the gaps" trick 13:26 — 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙉𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙀𝙎 (𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 1–12) 1. Peek-a-boo / hide between parents 2. Whisper a silly word or favorite animal 3. Boop the nose 4. Nose kisses, butterfly kisses, head kiss 5. Tickle 6. Does baby's hair smell like strawberries? (sibling + newborn gold) 7. Surprise blanket hug8. Kids hug parents from behind 9. Secret handshake (ages 4–5+) 10. Row your boat 11. Cloud watching 12. Read a book / interact with nature 25:48 — 𝙈𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙀𝙎 (𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 13–19) 13. Walking: lead mommy/daddy to that big rock 14. Running: toward, away, or as a family race 15. Piggyback, shoulders, hip carry 16. Dancing + the twirl tip 17. Animal prompts: stomp like a dino, fly like a bird 18. Climbing: fences, rocks, logs 19. Blanket run 33:27 — 𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙔𝙁𝙐𝙇 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙀𝙎 (𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 20–31) 20. Superman on a parent 21. Family pile-on 22. Flying toward camera 23. Flying with a spin 24. Spinning under the armpits 25. Play tag 26. Ring around the rosy (facing in and facing out) 27. Airplanes 28. Blanket drag 29. Blanket swing 30. Rocket ship / blast off Bonus: dad toss (how to read the room on this one) 47:43 — How to flow through a session: the wave analogy, my go-to favorites, and how to wind things down at golden hour 53:55 — Wrap-up + listener invitation: share your go-to poses!

What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say at Family Photo SessionsEver freeze up at a family session and wonder what to actually say to get real, genuine moments? In this episode, Roz breaks down the difference between posing and prompting — and why that shift changed everything about how she shoots. You'll walk away with a practical toolkit of prompts organized by purpose: getting kids to cooperate, creating genuine connection, and what to do when something falls completely flat. [00:01] Welcome + Episode Intro [01:33] Mom Life Update [05:15] Being New to This + Doing the Hard Thing [05:59] Posing vs. Prompting — The Real Difference The distinction that changes everything. Posing is about where you place people and how their bodies look. Prompting is about creating conditions where something real can develop. Roz shares how she started her photography career leaning into posing — and why it quickly became clear that prompting was a better fit for lifestyle and family work. [09:05] What to Do After a Prompt Lands One of the most overlooked skills: give the prompt, then stop talking. Roz talks about the importance of letting the moment unfold rather than over-directing, and why the in-between moments are usually the ones worth capturing. [10:42] Episode Structure Overview A quick roadmap — kid cooperation prompts, connection-based prompts, and what to do when things flop. [11:57] Setting Expectations With Families Before You Start Roz's go-to move before any family session: a quick five-minute chat that normalizes the chaos. Kids crying, toddler meltdowns, someone needing a time-out — all of it is fine. The goal isn't perfect smiles; it's connection and real moments. [14:38] Getting Kids to Trust You First Before any prompt lands, you need the child. Roz talks about getting low, using the client questionnaire to gather talking points, and giving toddlers a sense of ownership and control — because toddlers who feel in control are toddlers who cooperate. [18:04] Kid Cooperation Prompts Six prompts specifically designed to get kids engaged, interacting, and (occasionally) forgetting there's a camera:[29:20] Connection-Based Prompts The prompts that make parents tear up when they get their gallery back. Roz talks about reading the room before pulling these out — high energy is not the moment for a deeply emotional prompt. [42:10] Reading the Room + When Prompts Flop Prompts fall flat. It's normal. Roz's real-session story: trying the airplane prompt with a toddler who said no — and how she eventually got him flying by having mom do it first. The lesson: timing matters more than the prompt itself. If you're talking too much and the family isn't buying in, move on. Come back to it later. [46:38] How Roz Approaches the Flow of a Session She tells families upfront: we're going with the flow today. No rigid list, no working through poses in order. Just try something, see where it goes, stay in observation mode. That's where the organic moments come from. [47:53] Wrapping Up + What's Coming Next A tease for the next full episode: 30 poses organized by category and energy level — the complete session toolkit. Plus Roz's reminder that all of this gets easier with practice. Work with friends, work with families you're already comfortable with, and let the prompts become second nature. CONNECT WITH ROZ ACKERMAN:Instagram: @rozackermanphoto Website: https://rozackerman.com Submit a question or topic: [email protected] Roz Ackerman is a lifestyle family & couples photographer based near Denver, Colorado.

Episode Summary:If you're thinking about starting a photography business — whether you're launching in 2026 or planning ahead for 2027 — this episode is your starting point. Roz breaks down the 10 things you actually need to get off the ground, drawn from her own experience of building a business while navigating early motherhood. No fluff, no overwhelm — just an honest, practical framework from someone who's been there.ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴇᴘɪsᴏᴅᴇ:00:00 Welcome & Intro00:46 Why 2026 is a great time to start02:57 Personal update: daughter's dance recital was this weekend07:18 #1: Headshots — why you are the brand and why hiding behind a logo is costing you connection09:42 #2: Gear — what you actually need, focal lengths for family photography, and why your kit lens probably isn't cutting it14:42 #3: Posing — free resources, the Unscripted Posing app, and why even candid photographers need to ask about shot lists18:39 #4: Making connections — building your network in the community, vendor relationships, and why other photographers are not your competition25:06 #5: Getting a mentor and building a mood board — finding your style before someone else's preferences define it for you30:16 #6: Portfolio — how many shoots you need before you launch, and how to get them32:02 #7: Website — platform options, what your site needs at minimum, and an honest note about blog content and platform migration37:51 #8: Social media — choosing your platforms, showing up consistently, and why a content calendar is non-negotiable39:58 #9: Run Ads — why organic reach alone isn't enough in 2026 and how to start small41:54 #10: Pricing — why undervaluing yourself leads to burnout, and how to figure out what to charge46:01 Roz's origin story52:54 Outroʟɪɴᴋs & ʀᴇsᴏᴜʀᴄᴇs ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ:*Unscripted Posing App — a great tool for posing guidance, especially when you're starting out. *Denver Photo Collective — an example of what a local photo community can look like (owner Becky Durigan) save $50 on your first month's membership with code ROZ50 *Pricing / Cost of Doing Business Calculator — use this before you set your rates. ɢᴇᴀʀ:Camera - Canon R6Lens - Canon RF 24-70mm Links in my Amazon Store ᴘʟᴀᴛꜰᴏʀᴍs:* Honeybook - save 30% off your subscription * Showit - get a free month of Showit * Pixieset galleries - save $20 with pixieset galleries or any of their apps.ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ: * Mentorship - Hello Miss Lovely / Autumn Beury →   / hello_miss_lovely  * Posing - Kierstin Jones →   / kierstinjones   Cassidy Lynne →   / cassidylynne   ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴏᴢ ᴀᴄᴋᴇʀᴍᴀɴ:Instagram: @rozackermanphoto →   / rozackermanphoto  Website: https://rozackerman.comSubmit a question or topic: [email protected]ᴀꜰꜰɪʟɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴅɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ:Some of the links in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend tools and resources I genuinely believe in. Thank you for supporting the show. 🤍

Welcome to the very first episode of Between the Frames — a podcast for photographers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the beautifully messy reality of building a business and a life they love. In this intro episode, my husband Jason Ackerman joins me behind the mic for a relaxed, honest conversation about my journey into photography, the realities of entrepreneurship, creativity, motherhood, and what inspired me to finally start this podcast.We talk about:• how photography became more than just a hobby• who Roz the creative really is• balancing ambition and family life• the 1 thing you should do if you're a new photographer• why photography matters • and the kinds of conversations you can expect here moving forward This episode feels a little like sitting on the couch with us — candid, conversational, and imperfect in the best way. I’m so glad you’re here.Subscribe for future episodes covering photography, business, creativity, behind-the-scenes stories, editing workflows, gear conversations, motherhood, and everything happening between the polished moments.Follow along:Instagram: @rozackermanphotoWebsite: rozackermanphotography.comJason Ackerman is a life-long entrepreneur in the fitness space & founder of Best Hour of Their Day.Also, here's the link to the gallery mentioned in this episode:https://rozackermanphotography.pixieset.com/bodhis-third-birthday/