402: Katie Kolenberg – Take control and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic

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Katie Kolenberg of www.heartstoryphotography.com.au and www.katiek.com.au was interviewed for episode 112 of the podcast – around five years ago. I felt then, as I do now, she and her husband Jeremy are two of the most hardworking photography business owners out there. In this interview, Katie shares how to take control and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic.

I was not surprised when Katie told me their business has recently seen HUGE growth. They had their biggest quarter, biggest ever month and biggest ever week – $30K in sales – all this in the last four months.

She said we made some deliberate decisions and changes that have made this happen, and we still work only 30 hours a week each!

That was just before the holidays. Since returning to work, I learnt they had 16 shoots booked in the first week!

Katie posted the following thoughts on Facebook a few years ago, and I feel they are the perfect jumping-off point for this interview… she said:

Starting my photography business seven years ago, I had no idea what the future held.

Had I known the amount of hard work, stress and heartache that self-employment would bring, I *may* have thought it through a little more. I'm glad I didn't.

I have worked harder in the last seven years than I've ever worked in my life, and I have had many, many tantrums along the way.

But I've also had the most incredible time.

I've created 1000s of pieces of artwork that are hanging in homes all over Canberra, bringing smiles to faces.

Running a small business feels insurmountable. Sometimes I get sick of people, and I tune out of the space I need to be in because I'm exhausted, and I've temporarily lost my creative mojo.

Sometimes people can be downright disrespectful, it hurts, and I realise I have to grow thicker skin.

Sometimes I'm my own worst critic, so it's an uphill battle to be a better photographer and a better person and a more successful business owner. It's relentless, and you can never really let it go, even when you're on holidays.

But a quick look back over your shoulder can be dizzyingly satisfying.

In this interview, Katie shares what's working in her business right now and the things she's implemented to see massive growth during the pandemic. 

Here's some more of what we cover in the interview:

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Business growth is made up of lots of small things. It's not generally one big move. It's lots of little tiny steps that all contribute. – Katie Kolenberg

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