The Work We Keep

Planning your first Disney World vacation with kids? There are a few things I wish someone had told me before we went!In this episode of The Work We Keep, I'm sharing our family's experience at Walt Disney World, what I would do differently, and my biggest Disney World planning tips for moms. From using a Disney travel agent to find better resort and ticket deals to choosing the best time to visit, navigating Lightning Lane passes, and surviving those incredibly long lines, we're talking about how to make your family vacation a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.I'm also sharing why I would consider pulling my daughter out of school for a few days to avoid holiday crowds, how I used Disney park maps and the My Disney Experience app to plan our days, and why even being physically fit did NOT prepare me for that much standing and walking.Because Disney World is magical, but let's be real, it's also exhausting.Resources Mentioned in This EpisodePixie Vacations | Disney Travel PlanningWe used Pixie Vacations to help plan our trip, find resort and ticket discounts, and choose the best parks and experiences for our family. Their Disney vacation planning services are complimentary when booking through them.https://pixievacations.com/My Disney Experience AppDisney's official app for checking attraction wait times, viewing park maps, finding showtimes, making dining reservations, and managing Lightning Lane selections.https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/my-disney-experience/mobile-apps/Disney Lightning Lane PassesLearn about Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Pass, and Premier Pass, including how reservations work, purchasing windows, and available attractions. Prices vary by park and date.https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/lightning-lane-passes/Walt Disney World Official WebsiteExplore park tickets, resorts, attractions, vacation packages, and current offers.https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/Let's Keep the Conversation GoingHave you taken your kids to Disney World? What's one thing you wish you knew before your first trip?I'd love to hear your best Disney World tips for families, especially when it comes to avoiding crowds, saving money, and keeping little kids happy.Share this episode with a mom who's planning her first Disney vacation!Listen to more episodes of The Work We Keep wherever you get your podcasts.

If I had to start my photography business over from zero, these are the marketing strategies I would focus on first.In this episode of The Work We Keep, Kayla shares how she would build a photography business today using SEO, AI search optimization, social media marketing, strategic networking, styled shoots, local partnerships, email marketing, and word-of-mouth referrals. From working with an SEO specialist to help your photography website rank on Google and appear in AI-driven searches, to building brand advocates, connecting with your ideal clients locally, and growing an email list you actually own, this episode is a practical roadmap for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to get found by the right people.If you're a photographer trying to book more clients, grow your local business, improve your photography SEO, or build a marketing strategy that doesn't rely entirely on Instagram, this episode is for you.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEPLANNMy go-to social media planning and scheduling tool for organizing content and staying consistent across platforms.https://www.plannthat.com/FlodeskWhat I use to build my email list, create opt-ins, and send newsletters that keep my business top of mind.https://flodesk.com/c/HD4ZNMPicture Perfect Rankings / Melissa ArlenaSEO support specifically for photographers to help optimize your website, improve Google visibility, and get found by the people already searching for what you offer.https://pictureperfectrankings.com/done-for-you-seo/

What photographs will you wish you had five years from now?In this episode of The Work We Keep, Kayla reflects on how becoming a mother changed the way she approaches family, newborn, and Fresh 48 photography. After never having Fresh 48 or newborn photos of her own, she shares why she now finds herself documenting the ordinary details other mothers may not realize they'll miss yet, from hospital rooms and tiny newborn hands to pizza boxes, imperfect moments, and the way a baby fits against their mom.It's a conversation about motherhood, memory, and why the photographs that feel insignificant today often become the ones we treasure most as our children grow.If you're a mom in the Dallas-Fort Worth area ready to preserve what this season of your family actually feels like, book your own family, motherhood, newborn, or Fresh 48 photography experience at kaylamariphotography.com.

Links to Sources:The most important source is the actual Seventh Circuit opinion in United States v. Anderegg. The court explicitly says modern generative AI can create virtual abuse imagery “virtually indistinguishable” from imagery involving actual children, expresses concern about how old Supreme Court precedent applies to modern AI, and says it is bound by that precedent. The opinion also confirms that Meta originally reported the Instagram transmission to NCMEC. Read the Seventh Circuit opinionNCMEC's Generative AI resource provides the numbers used in the episode. NCMEC reports more than 400,000 CyberTipline reports with a generative-AI nexus in 2025, more than 158,000 images/videos categorized as AI-generated between January 2023 and December 2025, and more than 275 identified direct victims during 2024–2025. It also explains AI deepfakes, sextortion, peer victimization, CyberTipline and Take It Down. NCMEC: Generative AI and child exploitationThe new Meta lawsuit, Alvarez v. Meta Platforms was filed September 4, 2026. Parents and children allege that Facebook and Instagram photographs were used in connection with biometric, facial-recognition and generative-AI systems without legally required consent. Importantly, these are allegations, and Meta says the lawsuit is without merit. The Meta AI children's-information incident was reported by Business Insider and The Verge. Meta acknowledged that its AI should not have generated the invasive suggested prompts concerning a user's children and said it fixed the issue. The Meta advertising investigation found prohibited AI-generated exploitative imagery in ads running on Meta platforms. Subsequent reporting identified hundreds more problematic ads, some involving imagery of real children. Meta says it does not tolerate the material and removed offending ads. Senator Mark Warner also formally requested answers from Meta about its advertising review systems. The New Mexico child-safety judgment against Meta is a separate case. The New Mexico DOJ says Meta's financial exposure reached $942 million and the court ordered five years of reforms involving teen safety, sextortion, sexual exploitation, privacy and other protections.New Mexico DOJ: Meta judgment and child-safety reforms

Modern motherhood can feel incredibly lonely, especially when family lives far away, friendships are hard to maintain, and working moms are expected to juggle careers, childcare, relationships, and everything in between. In this episode of The Work We Keep, Kayla talks about why the “village” so many mothers are searching for may need to be intentionally built. From making mom friends and connecting with neighbors to childcare, babysitters, grandparents, chosen family, and learning to ask for help, this episode shares practical ways to create a stronger support system and find more community in motherhood.

In this episode of The Work We Keep, Kayla explores the difference between building a creative business alongside a full-time job and making creative entrepreneurship your full-time career. She unpacks the comparison, guilt, financial pressure, time constraints, and subconscious beliefs that can make side-hustle creatives feel “less than” while also challenging the idea that full-time entrepreneurs have endless time and freedom. If you’re a photographer, creative entrepreneur, working mom, or business owner navigating career growth, work-life balance, and the decision to go full-time, this episode offers a more honest definition of success.

In the Season Two premiere of The Work We Keep, Kayla reflects on balancing motherhood, a full-time job, and a growing creative business while entering a new season of life. From hosting The Kindred Path photography workshop in Virginia to navigating kindergarten, changing routines, and evolving creatively, this episode explores sustainable entrepreneurship, work-life balance, creative identity, and building a business that actually fits your life. If you’re a photographer, creative entrepreneur, or working mom trying to grow without burning out, this episode is for you.The Kindred Path | www.instagram.com/thekindredpath

In this solo episode of The Work We Keep, Kayla reflects on what feels like the growing loss of real human connection in a world consumed by phones, content, productivity, and constant digital noise. From leaving your phone in the car at dinner to taking your kids to the playground without distractions, this episode explores small but meaningful ways to reconnect, with your family, your friendships, your creativity, and yourself.