This week in the guest chair we have Amy Anaiz, a celebrated photographer turned product founder and the creator of OZAIZ, a sustainable home goods and fragrance brand. After building a successful wedding and portrait photography business for over a decade, Amy made a powerful pivot—launching a line of sculptural, multi-use glassware inspired by beauty, intention, and function.

In this episode, Amy opens up about her transition from side hustler to full-time creative, and how becoming a mother—while navigating unimaginable grief—reshaped her purpose and path. She shares the behind-the-scenes of building OZAIZ, from manufacturing and funding the business herself, to designing for sustainability and meaning.

*Trigger Warning:

This episode includes discussions of infant loss and stillbirth.

In this episode she shares:

How she prepared financially to leave her 9-to-5 and pursue photography full-time
The story behind her product brand OZAIZ and why it took years to bring to life
How grief, motherhood, and purpose shaped her new business direction
What she’s learned about manufacturing, design, and funding a product-based business
The intentional design and sustainability philosophy behind OZAIZ

Highlights Include

00:00 – Intro

01:30 – Amy’s pivot from PR to photography

07:00 – Building her photography side hustle

10:00 – Leaving her full-time job and creating a financial cushion

13:00 – Losing her daughter and navigating grief while becoming a mom

21:00 – Why she launched OZAIZ and what sets the brand apart

28:00 – How she self-funded her entire business

36:00 – The complexities of manufacturing glassware and candles

44:00 – Designing for sustainability and versatility

50:00 – Balancing personal storytelling with branding

58:00 – What's next for OZAIZ and how Amy honors her daughter's legacy

Watch episode 469 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

OZAIZ Website: https://www.ozaiz.com
Amy Anaiz Photography: https://www.amyanaiz.com
Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyanaizphoto
OZAIZ on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ozaizhome
Side Hustle Pro Podcast: https://www.sidehustlepro.co/podcast
Kunbi (Amy’s lawyer):https://www.instagram.com/legallyset/

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Announcements

Join my new coaching program, SHIFT

Even the expert needs support. That’s exactly why I created SHIFT—a six-month, one-on-one podcast coaching experience for the podcaster who’s done playing the DIY game. In SHIFT, we’ll clarify your message, attract your ideal audience, build a monetization path that aligns with your values, and create a content engine that works with your real life. Apply now at sidehustlepro.co/shift.

Join our Facebook Community here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital accessibility: What payments firms need to know in 2026