When I first met Mycah Bain, I knew she embodied everything we talk about here on The Dream Biz® Podcast: sustainable success, intentional living, and building a business that truly supports your life. Mycah is a Minneapolis-based photographer, business coach, and world traveler. She leads a photography brand with a team of ten women and helps creatives learn how to scale sustainably without sacrificing freedom or joy. In this conversation, she opened up about how she built her dream team and what it really takes to create time wealth. She also shared with us how to take a sabbatical as a creative entrepreneur without losing clients. Let’s dive in!

From Passion to Purpose: A 14-Year Photography Journey

Before Instagram existed, Mycah was already chasing light and stories across the world. Her photography journey began during a summer abroad in the Middle East, followed by time in Uganda — experiences that sparked her love of capturing people and places. What started as a creative pursuit grew into a thriving photography business that’s evolved many times over the years.

“I’ve relaunched my business multiple times,” Mycah shared. “Now I focus more on brand and business photography while leading a team. I’ve had a lot of fun successes and huge failures — but I always try to learn and share from both.”

That commitment to growth and transparency is part of what makes her such a grounded leader in the creative industry.

Building a Team That Supports the Dream

Today, Mycah runs two sides of her business: a local team of photographers and a behind-the-scenes operations crew. Her Minneapolis photographers each specialize in different areas — weddings, brands, families, seniors — and get to focus purely on taking photos, not editing or admin work.

“They get to do the part of the job they actually love,” she explained. “And behind the scenes, my team handles customer support, social media strategy, systems, and automation. My goal is to have everything running smoothly so I can focus my energy on dreaming up new ideas and creating an amazing experience for both clients and my team.”

It’s clear that Mycah’s leadership style is rooted in empowerment — helping others do what they do best while creating opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Time Wealth: How to Take a Sabbatical Every Year

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was when Mycah talked about time wealth. Since 2018, she’s taken two to three months off every winter — an intentional sabbatical that lets her rest, travel, and recharge creatively.

“That time looks different every year,” she said. “Sometimes I’m getting yoga certified, traveling through Patagonia, or hosting a retreat in Guatemala. Other years, I’m just home reading books on my couch. But every time, I come back re-energized and full of ideas.”

Her sabbatical tradition started after a burnout crash — a point many creative entrepreneurs can relate to. At first, she didn’t have systems or a plan, just the need to step back. Over time, she built the structure and support to make those breaks sustainable. Now, her team keeps things running while she’s away, and her business continues to grow year after year.

The Power of Boundaries and Abundance

Taking extended time off each year requires strong boundaries and a deep belief in abundance — something Mycah has cultivated intentionally.

“When I first started taking time off, I was afraid of missing out on bookings,” she admitted. “But I’ve learned that taking care of myself always leads to better, more aligned opportunities later. Saying no isn’t a loss; it’s an investment in my energy.”

That abundance mindset shows up in how she leads her team, too. Every hire is intentional, with clear systems and expectations to ensure both creative freedom and reliability. Her approach to leadership is equal parts structure and trust — empowering her team to take ownership while holding everyone to a high standard of excellence.

Travel, Creativity, and Living Fully

Mycah’s love of travel started early — thanks to her adventurous dad who turned everything, even a family road trip mishap, into an exploration. That sense of curiosity has shaped her career and her worldview.

“I’ve been to nearly 50 countries now,” she shared. “I love going places most people don’t think about visiting. Every trip teaches me more about people, the world, and myself.”

These experiences don’t just fuel her creativity; they remind her that business is a tool for creating a rich, full life. She’s even built systems that allow her team to handle weddings and sessions while she’s abroad — a true example of business freedom in action.

Scaling Sustainably Through Systems, AI, and Trust

When asked what she’s working toward now, Mycah shared that her dream is to triple her business while working part-time — and she’s already laying the groundwork to make it happen.

She’s invested in automation, hired experts to manage social media and systems, and leaned heavily into AI tools to save time and boost efficiency. “If people say AI is bad,” she laughed, “they’re just bad at using it.”

By staying curious and adaptable, she’s creating a business model that supports long-term sustainability — not constant hustle.

Practicing Time Abundance and Letting Go of “Busy”

Beyond financial and time freedom, Mycah’s current focus is on developing what she calls time abundance — a mindset that helps her release the pressure to constantly do more.

“I’ve been learning that there will always be more to do,” she said. “That’s just life. But that doesn’t mean I’m behind.”

She credits a relationship coach for helping her understand her patterns and practice better communication — not just with her partner, but with herself. Now, she creates daily to-do lists based on realistic time estimates and schedules rest as intentionally as work.

“Giving myself permission to be done working for the day sounds so simple, but it’s revolutionary,” she said. “And it’s made me a better business owner and human.”

A Season of Gratitude and Growth

When asked what she’s most proud of, Mycah shared something deeply personal. In the past year, her father passed away, and she’s been navigating both grief and gratitude.

“I’m proud of how I’ve taken care of myself and my family,” she said softly. “I’m proud that I built a business that could support me through it — that I didn’t have to choose between work and being there for the people I love.”

It’s a powerful reminder that building a dream business isn’t just about scaling or strategy — it’s about creating space for life to happen.

Connect with Mycah

You can follow Mycah Bain on Instagram @mycahbainphoto and download her free Money Mindset Guide at mycahbain.com/money.

Her story is such a beautiful reflection of what’s possible when you build your business around your values — not your to-do list. More time, freedom, and joy. That’s what time wealth is all about.

Listen to more episodes of The Dream Biz Podcast here! And if you want help achieving your Dream Life that gives you time wealth, I’d love to work with you! Connect with me here!