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Some transformations are born in quiet moments. Others are forged in fire.

In this conversation with Stef Graston, we go far beyond the highlight reel of running a photography business. Stef shares her journey from building success in a small Colorado town, to starting over in Charlotte, NC — and facing setbacks that would make most people walk away. From losing her studio to navigating the raw grief of miscarriage, Stef’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and turning pain into profound purpose.

You’ll hear:

• Why moving markets doesn’t guarantee success — and how to rebuild when your safety nets are gone
• The hidden cost of “survival mode” and how it impacts creativity and growth
• The power of connecting your work to your deepest values and lived experiences
• How The Nova Project is helping women process and honor miscarriage and child loss through art, storytelling, and community
• Why campaigns that are rooted in heart — not just revenue — can create both deep impact and sustainable business

This episode is about more than photography or business strategy. It’s about reclaiming your story, creating meaning from what was meant to break you, and allowing your work to be an extension of your own healing.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a season of loss into a legacy — or if you’ve felt the pull to create something bigger than yourself — Stef’s journey will remind you that your next chapter can start right here, right now.

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ABOUT CAT FORD-COATES

Cat Ford-Coates has been told to soften her whole career.

She didn't.

She built a multi-six-figure business teaching photographers that the thing keeping them stuck was never the market, the portfolio, or the pricing. It was the voice. The one that sounds like wisdom. The one that keeps moving the goalpost and calling it patience.

She's spent over a decade in rooms with photographers who are extraordinarily talented and somehow still convinced they should be grateful for what they have.

She disagrees. Loudly.

Cat serves photographers who already know what they want. Who know what they're capable of. Who have known for a while, actually, and have spent years finding sophisticated reasons not to claim it.

The question was never whether you're ready.

You already know you are. Stop pretending that you don't.