Shine and Thrive Photography Podcast

"This felt hard to do, but my soul feels nourished and free!" - Sara
Sara records a voice note while waiting to pick up Ben and announces she’s pausing the education side of her business, including the podcast, and will not relaunch Outsourcing Made Easy (OME) with group coaching calls this fall after running it each y for 6 years.

She explains the shift is about honoring her evolving self, and she’ll accept education opportunities like mentoring or VIP days case-by-case; the OME course-only library and Facebook community will remain available.

She shares a major personal season of uncertainty involving selling their house, losing their 16-year-old dog Abby in December, and eventually finding a better home with a river in the backyard, which contributed to her need for spaciousness. She encourages listeners to accept ebbs and flows, practice self-compassion, and design a business to meet personal needs rather than chase constant growth.

Timestamps
00:00 Car Voice Note Intro
01:49 Big Business Pause
02:55 Why OME Is On Hold
05:48 What Still Available
08:50 House Hunt And Loss
13:20 Ebb Flow Lessons
17:31 Self Compassion Reset
23:14 Design For Your Needs
26:29 Stay Connected Outro

Resources

- To inquire about Outsourcing Made Easy or 1:1 mentoring, inquire directly with Sara on IG @saramonikaphoto or her email sara@saramonika.com

- Intuitive Wedding Storytelling self-paced course

- Crystal Clear Marketing self-paced mini course

After feeling lost and pressured to have everything figured out in the evolution of my business, I share a new approach of taking the pressure off, following my excitement, and recording raw, low-production podcast episodes with no expectations or fixed schedule. 
I also go into how using Jenna Zoe’s human design app, Align (especially its “Ask Jenna” AI feature) helped me get HUGE clarity by answering questions based on my personal chart! THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER!
I then tell a post office story about discovering a cheaper way to ship client packages after a frustrating return, illustrating the lesson that events are neutral and we can’t label them as good or bad.
Jenna Zoe's Align App
Connect with me on IG @saramonikaphoto

In this short solo episode, I share a simple mindset shift I use when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or procrastinating during busy seasons. This is a quick, grounding practice to help you finish what you’ve committed to with more presence and energy.
You’ll hear about:
• A grounding breath and embodiment practice to bring you back into the present moment
 • How I connect to the future joy and gratitude of my clients to fuel my energy now
 • Why this works through the law of reciprocity
 • Why it’s okay to use a “band-aid” mindset shift during intense seasons
 • How gratitude and focused intention can help you work more efficiently!
This episode is meant to be a quick hit of encouragement to help you get through the end of season! :)

Connect with my on Instagram here > @saramonikaphoto

In this episode, I share the two identities I didn’t realize I was still clinging to—and how releasing them has created more ease, creativity, and connection in my life.
This is a grounding, heart-led riff on:
Why we resist change (even when we crave it)
What your morning routine might be trying to tell you
Identity evolution as a creative and a mother
The sneaky programming we inherit around “success” and “womanhood”
Why the real power is in the pause
If you’ve been feeling like the version of you that once worked… no longer fits, you’re not broken. You’re evolving!!
Resources mentioned (not sponsored just sharing what I love):
- My morning green juice: THRIVE peach flavour
- Theralite SAD Lamp
- Organic Adaptogen Coffee with Ashwagandha
- Manifestation Babe Academy
- Meghan Markle’s “With Love” series on Netflix 
🌞Dm me your takeaways: @saramonikaphoto

What if you could take 300 hours of editing, culling, and admin off your plate — and fall back in love with your photography business in the process?
In this episode, I chat with OME student Anika about how she reclaimed her time, creativity, and peace of mind — after nearly giving up on weddings for good.
We dive into:
How she went from “burnt to a crisp” to booked and balanced
The exact tasks she outsourced (and what she still does herself)
Why hiring a specialized editor changed everything
What happened when she had to fire her VA mid-season
How outsourcing let her enjoy fall again, spend time with family, and actually rest
This is the final student story in the series — and it’s the perfect dose of motivation for any photographer who feels overworked right now.
🎧 Listen now and imagine what 300 hours back could look like for you.
🔗 Links & Resources:
Join Outsourcing Made Easy here 🌞
Connect with Anika on IG: @amari_studios
Check out Anika’s presets on her website