Beyond the Camera

What if the version of yourself you've worked so hard to perfect is actually the very thing keeping you from experiencing freedom? Have you ever felt like you have to have it all together before you can show up? Like your photos need to be perfect, your website needs to be polished, your Instagram needs to look curated, and even *you* need to look the part? For Erica, perfectionism went much deeper than simply wanting to do good work. In this deeply personal episode of Beyond the Camera, she opens up about how perfectionism became a way of coping, people-pleasing, and trying to create happiness for the people around her - and how photography gave that unhealthy pattern an easy place to hide and grow. Through grief, healing, honest conversations, and a lot of peeling back the layers, Erica and Jon unpack what it really looks like to break free from the pressure to be "pretty, polished, and perfect." They talk about the difference between giving your best and needing to *look* your best, how perfectionism can actually be rooted in pride and the belief that everything depends on us, and why copying someone else's business, brand, voice, or strategy will never replace being fully yourself. Most importantly, this conversation is an encouragement to photographers and entrepreneurs who feel trapped by perfectionism: you don't have to mask who you are to build a successful business. You can show up as the person God created you to be - and that's where true freedom, connection, purpose, and impact begin.  In this episode:✔️ How perfectionism became an unhealthy identity for Erica and why it went far beyond simply wanting to do things well✔️ The connection between grief, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and the desire to "fix" other people's pain✔️ Why the photography industry can easily reinforce the pressure to be pretty, polished, perfect, and scroll-stopping ✔️ The difference between **giving your best** and feeling like you have to **look your best**✔️ How perfectionism and pride can convince us that our efforts are responsible for holding everything together✔️ Why copying another photographer, entrepreneur, or successful business can actually keep you from finding what works for *you*✔️ How letting go of perfectionism created more freedom, authenticity, connection, and business growth✔️ The reminder that God created you with a unique purpose - and your truest self has an important place in His plan Subscribe for new episodes of Beyond the Camera, where we have honest conversations about faith, business, marriage, parenting, and building a life that's bigger than your portfolio.👍 If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to like the video, subscribe, and share it with another photographer or entrepreneur who feels trapped by perfectionism. It may be the reminder they need that they don't have to be perfect to make an impact.Ready for more? Dive deeper with Erica + Jon:RESOURCES:Join our community on InstagramExplore our Brand Photography ShopFREE Brand Photography Training!FREE Personal Brand Shot List GuideUnderstanding Brand Photography PricingSHOW RESOURCESLiving Fearless by Jamie Winship https://amzn.to/4gwk9LtA book Jon shares as having made a significant impact on this journey of identifying the lies we believe about ourselves, replacing them with God's truth, and stepping more fully into our purpose.

Have you ever wondered if it's actually possible to build a business while raising a family...without your kids growing up to resent the business you built?When we started our business, we were already parents. And pretty quickly, we realized that a lot of the advice we were learning from other entrepreneurs didn't account for one very important reality: we had kids.Our kids didn't choose entrepreneurship. We did.And that realization has shaped the way we've built our business ever since.Because the goal was never simply to build a successful business. We wanted to build a business that allowed us to spend more time together as a family - without accidentally creating a life where our kids felt like the business always came first.In this episode of Beyond the Camera, we're talking honestly about what it looks like to build a business with kids in the picture, the sacrifices they make along the way, and the practical things we've learned to help our kids experience the life-giving side of entrepreneurship instead of resenting it.Whether you're already building a business with a family, thinking about starting one, or trying to figure out how to balance ambition with the people you love most, this conversation is for you.In this episode:✔️ Why building a business as parents required us to approach entrepreneurship differently✔️ The moment we realized our kids were sometimes with other people more than they were with us✔️ Why separating “parent life” and “business life” wasn't the answer for our family✔️ How bringing our kids into the business helped them understand what we're building and why✔️ Why your kids can experience the exact same sacrifice in completely different ways✔️ The importance of remembering that our kids never signed up for the sacrifices that come with entrepreneurship✔️ Why our kids need to share in the wins - not just experience the sacrifices✔️ How communicating the “why” behind our work can completely change the way our kids see the business✔️ What a family trip and a handwritten card from our son taught us about working while raising kids✔️ Why we're constantly asking ourselves what our work ethic is modeling for our kids✔️ How to build a business without accidentally teaching your kids to become workaholics✔️ Why the goal isn't to hide entrepreneurship from our kids, but to show them the good that can come from building something togetherSubscribe for new episodes of Beyond the Camera, where we have honest conversations about faith, business, marriage, parenting, and building a life that's bigger than your portfolio.👍 If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to like the video, subscribe, and share it with another entrepreneur or parent who's trying to build something meaningful without losing sight of what matters most.Want more from Erica + Jon? Check these out:RESOURCES:Follow E+J on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/ericaandjonCheck out our Brand Photography Resourceshttps://www.ericaandjon.com/shopFREE Brand Photography Class!https://ericaandjon.com/bpb-free-class-eoFREE Personal Brand Shot Listhttps://ericaandjon.com/shot-listBrand Photography Pricing Explainedhttps://ericaandjon.com/priced-for-profitSHOW LINKS:CloudSpot50% off your first yearhttps://cloudspot.io/?af2=_Z5fR5R3ueoZHeidi Powell - Power Promiseshttps://heidipowell.net/62470/goal-setting-guide/At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor by Carey Nieuwhofhttps://amzn.to/45FxsDaThrow Throw Burrito Gamehttps://www.target.com/p/throw-throw-burrito-by-exploding-kittens-a-dodgeball-card-game/-/A-76386656#lnk=sametab

Have you ever wondered if it's actually possible to build a business with your spouse...without sacrificing your marriage?Over the last decade, we've been asked that question more times than we can count.The truth is, working together hasn't always been easy. We've navigated changing roles, difficult seasons, personal loss, and the everyday challenges that come with running both a business and a family. But through it all, we've discovered one truth that has shaped everything:We never built a business to be successful. We built it so we could build a life together.In this episode of Beyond the Camera, we're sharing the story behind our journey as a husband-and-wife team, the lessons we've learned after more than ten years of working side by side, and why we believe your business should always serve your marriage -not the other way around.Whether you work alongside your spouse, run your business solo, or simply want to protect your closest relationships while pursuing big dreams, this conversation is for you.In this episode:✔️ Why entrepreneurship was never the dream -it was simply the vehicle✔️ The mindset that's helped us enjoy working together for more than a decade✔️ How we divide responsibilities based on strengths instead of splitting everything 50/50✔️ Why clearly defining roles reduces conflict and creates healthier teamwork✔️ How we've navigated seasons where one of us had to carry more than the other✔️ The simple mindset shift that's helped us separate business conversations from marriage conversations✔️ Why your business should support your life instead of competing with itSubscribe for new episodes of Beyond the Camera, where we have honest conversations about faith, business, marriage, and building a life that's bigger than your portfolio.👍 If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to like the video, subscribe, and share it with another entrepreneur - or couple - who's trying to build something meaningful without losing sight of what matters most.Want more from Erica + Jon? Check these out:RESOURCESFollow E+J on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericaandjon⁠Check out our Brand Photography Resources: https://www.ericaandjon.com/shopFREE Brand Photography Class!: https://ericaandjon.com/bpb-free-class-eoFREE Personal Brand Shot List: https://ericaandjon.com/shot-listBrand Photography Pricing Explained: https://ericaandjon.com/priced-for-profitSHOW RESOURCESBob Goffhttps://www.bobgoff.com/Enneagram Testhttps://ianmorgancron.com/The Working Genius Assessment by Patrick Lencionihttps://www.workinggenius.com/

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you're working...nothing seems to be working?Not slower than you'd hoped. Not "it's just a tough season." We mean nothing.The strategies that used to work stop working. The content that used to connect falls flat. The launches you thought would help barely make a ripple. And your first instinct? Work harder. Do more. Push through.In this episode of Beyond the Camera, we're sharing a season we're walking through right now and the unexpected lessons God has been teaching us in the middle of it. We talk honestly about our natural tendency to hustle harder when things aren't working, why that often leaves us more exhausted and confused, and how God has been inviting us to stop striving, simplify, and trust Him in the "nothing."We also unpack a powerful message from Christine Caine, revisit the story of Elijah waiting for rain, and share a recent experience that reminded us no business success is worth sacrificing the people we love most.If you've been questioning your calling, wondering why what used to work no longer does, or simply feel like you're stuck in a season where nothing is happening, we hope this conversation reminds you that God is still working—even when you can't yet see the evidence.In this episode:✔️ Why seasons where "nothing is working" are a normal part of growth as an entrepreneur✔️ The dangerous tendency to hustle harder, compare, and chase every new idea✔️ How striving often creates more confusion instead of clarity✔️ The subtle pride behind believing it's all up to us to fix✔️ What God taught us through a recent season of disappointment and sacrifice✔️ The encouragement found in Elijah's story of waiting for the rain✔️ Why peace may be God's first provision before anything changes externallySubscribe for new episodes of Beyond the Camera, where we have honest conversations about faith, business, purpose, and building a life that's bigger than your portfolio.👍 If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to like the video, subscribe, and share it with another entrepreneur who's walking through a season where it feels like nothing is working. It may be exactly the encouragement they need today.Christine Caine's Instagram PostWant more from Erica + Jon? Check these out:RESOURCESFollow E+J on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ericaandjonCheck out our brand photography resources - https://www.ericaandjon.com/shopFREE Brand Photography Class! - https://ericaandjon.com/bpb-free-class-eoFREE Personal Brand Shot List - https://ericaandjon.com/shot-listBrand Photography Pricing Explained - https://ericaandjon.com/priced-for-profit

In a culture obsessed with speed, it’s easy to believe that faster growth, more content, and bigger results are always the answer.But what if real growth doesn’t come from speeding up… but from slowing down?In this episode, we explore the power of pausing long enough to recognize how far you’ve actually come, and why constantly moving the goalpost may be the very thing fueling burnout, imposter syndrome, and lack of fulfillment.Through personal stories from building a photography business, behind-the-scenes moments of breakthrough, and reflections on gratitude and perspective, we unpack what it really means to stop and take inventory of your journey.You’ll learn why:Most entrepreneurs underestimate their own progressMoving goalposts quietly erodes confidenceImposter syndrome often comes from lack of reflection, not lack of abilityGratitude is a powerful tool for long-term growthSlowing down can actually accelerate clarity and momentumWe also share a powerful reminder: growth becomes visible when you take time to notice it.Challenge for this episode:Take 30–60 minutes and ask: “How am I different today than when I first started?”Write it down. Don’t rush it. Let it land.Want more from Erica + Jon? Check these out:RESOURCESFollow E+J on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ericaandjonCheck out our brand photography resources - https://www.ericaandjon.com/shopFREE Brand Photography Class! - https://ericaandjon.com/bpb-free-class-eoFREE Personal Brand Shot List - https://ericaandjon.com/shot-listMusic Attribution: Faded PromisesARABVNQSENU42MZM

What if the breakthrough you're looking for is on the other side of a decision that makes absolutely no sense on paper?In this episode, we're sharing the story behind some of the biggest leaps of faith we've taken in our lives and business - from leaving a six-figure corporate career and moving across the country to pivoting our entire photography business and stepping into entrepreneurship.Looking back, every major breakthrough we've experienced had one thing in common: we had to move before we had all the answers.We're talking about fear, uncertainty, faith, and why clarity often comes after taking action - not before. If you've been feeling stuck, waiting for the "right time," or wrestling with a decision that feels scary, this episode is for you.In this episode, you'll learn to:• Recognize why waiting for certainty may be holding you back• Understand how faith and action work together to create momentum• Reframe fear as a sign of growth rather than a reason to stop• Take the next step even when the full path isn't visible• Trust that clarity often follows actionWe hope this episode encourages you to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start moving toward the life and business you're being called to build.Want more from Erica + Jon? Check these out:RESOURCESFollow E+J on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ericaandjonCheck out our brand photography resources - https://www.ericaandjon.com/shopFREE Brand Photography Class! - https://ericaandjon.com/bpb-free-class-eoFREE Personal Brand Shot List - https://ericaandjon.com/shot-listAdditional ResourcesAmy & Jordan's Photography Workshop - https://amyandjordan.com

It's finally here - our very first podcast episode! We're so excited to bring this to you and to share the story of how Beyond the Camera came to be.And as you'll learn, the journey to get here was anything but easy. So we're sharing about all of the failures that we racked up on the way to finally publishing our podcast and - in a way that may surprise you - why we're actually grateful for them.In this episode, you'll learn to:Reframe your failures as a tool for growthUncover hidden lessons in the setbacksTransform frustration into curiosity and progressWe're so happy to have you here with us and hope this episode leaves you feeling encouraged and transforms how you view your own business 'failures.'Want more from Erica + Jon? Check these out:RESOURCESFollow E+J on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ericaandjonCheck out our brand photography resources-https://ericaandjon.com/shop

Hey! Welcome to Beyond the Camera with Erica and Jon.We’re a husband-and-wife brand photography team, business owners, and homeschool parents building a life centered on faith, family, and purpose.There’s a whole lotta content out there teaching you how to take better photos or grow your business…But not much about why you’re doing it or who you’re becoming along the way.So this is a little different.
This is a non-photography photography podcast…
Where we talk about faith, purpose, and building a business that supports your life, not just your portfolio.Because your camera is just a tool…but your purpose is the bigger picture.