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There comes a point in almost every creative business owner’s journey where you realize that being great at your craft is only part of the equation.

The other part? Learning how to build a business.

This week’s podcast episode is a conversation with Shauna Cooney, one half of Shauna & Jordan Photography, a husband and wife photography team based in Florida. Shauna joined Kelley to talk about what nearly a decade in business has taught her about growth, leadership, family, and building a business that actually supports the life you want to live.

One thing I loved about this conversation is that it wasn’t about some massive overnight breakthrough. It was a reminder that most growth happens slowly. It’s the result of small decisions made over and over again. Investing in education. Staying curious. Learning from people who are a few steps ahead. Being willing to adapt when your business or priorities change.

We also talked about something I think many photographers and filmmakers wrestle with, especially as the years go on. At first, it’s easy to define success by bigger numbers. More weddings. More revenue. More opportunities.

But eventually you start asking different questions.

What kind of business do I actually want? How do I want my days to feel? What am I optimizing for in this season of life?

For some people, growth looks like building a team and increasing capacity. For others, it looks like creating more flexibility, protecting family time, or simplifying their business so it supports the life they want outside of work. Neither path is right or wrong. The important thing is being intentional about the direction you’re headed instead of chasing someone else’s version of success.

Another theme that came up throughout the conversation was trust. Trusting your team or your business partner. Trusting yourself enough to let go of the things that may be holding your growth back. So many of us unknowingly become the bottleneck in our own businesses because we struggle to hand things off or step fully into a leadership role.

And maybe my favorite reminder from the episode is that nobody starts with it all figured out. Every business owner you admire has made mistakes, experienced uncertainty, and learned lessons the hard way. The difference is that they kept going. They stayed open to learning and continued showing up, even when they didn’t have all the answers.

If you’re in a season where you’re thinking bigger about your business, your goals, or the life you’re trying to build alongside it, I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation.

And if you’re looking for support from people who are walking a similar path, we’d love to have you inside The Luxury Mastermind. You can learn more at thelevelupco.com/mastermind. Spots are currently available inside of our next 10-week cohort!