78. Why Your Photography Business Feels Stuck (And How to Break Free)
05/14/25 • 27 min
Register for our Free Training Tuesday, May 20th at 7:30PM EST!
What does a 13-year journey of building a thriving photography business actually look like? Not the polished highlight reel we see on social media, but the raw, unfiltered truth—complete with struggles, pivotal moments, and breakthroughs.
In this deeply personal episode, I pull back the curtain on my evolution from a college student making $35 prints to running a multi-faceted photography enterprise with three distinct branches. You'll discover how my business now encompasses high-end equine portraits, volume dance studio photography, and nationwide horse show coverage—all managed with surprisingly simple systems and minimal staff.
The journey wasn't easy. I vividly recall the early days—meeting clients at Starbucks with printed proofs, calling my mom excitedly after an $800 sale, then ending the year wondering where all the money went. For years I followed conventional photography business advice without understanding the deeper principles behind it. The real transformation came when I started studying business, marketing, and pricing from experts outside the photography industry and—most critically—when I finally addressed the mindset issues keeping me locked at a certain income level.
Perhaps most valuable are the lessons learned from my mistakes. I share the four specific factors that keep photographers trapped with low-paying clients (averaging $300-$800 sales) and reveal what actually unlocked the door to consistent $5,000+ client experiences. This isn't theoretical advice—it's battle-tested wisdom from someone who built a business from nothing, once lived in a camper to make ends meet, and now enjoys a thriving photography career.
Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck at a frustrating income plateau, this episode offers both practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement. Success as a photographer is absolutely possible, and your journey doesn't have to be as long or difficult as mine was.
Join me on May 20th at 7:30pm for a special training where I'll dive deeper into breaking through those low-paying client barriers. Let's build the photography business you deserve—one that serves both you and your clients extraordinarily well.
Connect with Karinda!
- Ready to Sell More Wall Art? Join us in Your Magic Year to Sell More Wall Art
- Website
- Photography Business Tune-Up with Karinda K. - Free Facebook Group
- IG @Masteryourmindmoney
Thanks for listening!
Register for our Free Training Tuesday, May 20th at 7:30PM EST!
What does a 13-year journey of building a thriving photography business actually look like? Not the polished highlight reel we see on social media, but the raw, unfiltered truth—complete with struggles, pivotal moments, and breakthroughs.
In this deeply personal episode, I pull back the curtain on my evolution from a college student making $35 prints to running a multi-faceted photography enterprise with three distinct branches. You'll discover how my business now encompasses high-end equine portraits, volume dance studio photography, and nationwide horse show coverage—all managed with surprisingly simple systems and minimal staff.
The journey wasn't easy. I vividly recall the early days—meeting clients at Starbucks with printed proofs, calling my mom excitedly after an $800 sale, then ending the year wondering where all the money went. For years I followed conventional photography business advice without understanding the deeper principles behind it. The real transformation came when I started studying business, marketing, and pricing from experts outside the photography industry and—most critically—when I finally addressed the mindset issues keeping me locked at a certain income level.
Perhaps most valuable are the lessons learned from my mistakes. I share the four specific factors that keep photographers trapped with low-paying clients (averaging $300-$800 sales) and reveal what actually unlocked the door to consistent $5,000+ client experiences. This isn't theoretical advice—it's battle-tested wisdom from someone who built a business from nothing, once lived in a camper to make ends meet, and now enjoys a thriving photography career.
Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck at a frustrating income plateau, this episode offers both practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement. Success as a photographer is absolutely possible, and your journey doesn't have to be as long or difficult as mine was.
Join me on May 20th at 7:30pm for a special training where I'll dive deeper into breaking through those low-paying client barriers. Let's build the photography business you deserve—one that serves both you and your clients extraordinarily well.
Connect with Karinda!
- Ready to Sell More Wall Art? Join us in Your Magic Year to Sell More Wall Art
- Website
- Photography Business Tune-Up with Karinda K. - Free Facebook Group
- IG @Masteryourmindmoney
Thanks for listening!
Previous Episode
77. Are You Frustrated that It Doesn't Work For You- Even Though It Works For Everyone Else?
Join our free Masterclass for photographers February 17th-19th, 2025. Save your seat now using the link! https://masteryourmindmoney.com/unicorn-masterclass
Is the "cookie cutter coaching syndrome" stifling your photography business? Discover how to break free from generic coaching methods that leave you feeling stuck and inadequate. In this episode, we promise to equip you with the tools to transcend one-size-fits-all strategies and embrace personalized approaches that truly resonate with your unique business needs. We'll share insights from our own journeys and tackle the frustration of following scripts and guides that just don't work as expected.
Join us as we unravel the complexities of pricing and overcoming business plateaus, particularly in the creative industry. Learn how to approach your passion with the mindset of a CEO, using trial and error to optimize your business model. We'll explore how valuing your work and adopting customized strategies can elevate your confidence in pricing decisions, turning your photography into a thriving enterprise. Plus, get a sneak peek into the Unicorn Photographer Masterclass for even more ways to boost your success. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your passion into a flourishing business!
Connect with Karinda!
- Ready to Sell More Wall Art? Join us in Your Magic Year to Sell More Wall Art
- Website
- Photography Business Tune-Up with Karinda K. - Free Facebook Group
- IG @Masteryourmindmoney
Thanks for listening!
Next Episode
79. How the Smallest Tweaks Can Change Everything In Your Photography Business with Guest Corrie Lindroos
Join our Free Event Tuesday May 20th at 7:30pm EST. Register here.
Discover how one photographer doubled her sales average with tweaks to her process after already being in business for ten years. Corrie Lindroos, a portrait photographer from Canada specializing in horses, families, and headshots, shares her remarkable transformation from struggling with just six sessions per year to confidently booking 40 annual clients while actually working fewer hours.
The secret wasn't in complex marketing strategies or raising prices, but in counterintuitive techniques like completely eliminating her price list (with no clients ever asking for it), systematizing her workflow, and making subtle changes to her sales approach. Within days of implementing these changes, Kori's average jumped from $1800-2200 to $3800, and she began selling albums for the first time in a decade.
What makes Corrie's journey particularly powerful is her initial skepticism. "I don't think these little tiny changes are really going to make that big of a deal," she remembers thinking before seeing the results firsthand. Now she advocates for following proven systems exactly as taught: "Just do exactly what Karinda says, how she says to do it. Just trust that what she's saying is going to work."
Perhaps most surprising is how Corrie maintains authentic connections while dramatically increasing sales. As a self-described "small town girl" who's "a little rough around the edges," she shares how finding her deeper "why" helps her confidently recommend photography services without feeling "sleazy" - even at personal events like her father's memorial, where she realized the profound importance of family portraits after having no adult photos with her dad.
Through practical examples like drop-shipping products directly from labs (saving time and money) to implementing systematic marketing approaches, this episode offers tangible strategies any photographer can implement immediately to transform their business while creating more freedom and financial success.
Meet Corrie Lindroos
Corrie Lindroos is a portrait photographer based in Canada who specializes in photographing horses, families, and headshots. Despite her growing success, Corrie remains grounded and authentic—proudly calling herself a “small town girl” who’s “a little rough around the edges.” She confidently shares the importance of what she does, knowing her work has lasting impact.
Follow Corrie and see her beautiful work at www.corrielindroosphotography.com or on Instagram at @corrielindroosphotography.
Connect with Karinda!
- Ready to Sell More Wall Art? Join us in Your Magic Year to Sell More Wall Art
- Website
- Photography Business Tune-Up with Karinda K. - Free Facebook Group
- IG @Masteryourmindmoney
Thanks for listening!
Mindset & Money Mastery for Photographers with Karinda K. - 78. Why Your Photography Business Feels Stuck (And How to Break Free)
Transcript
Welcome to Mindset and Money Mastery for Photographers the podcast . We help overwhelmed photographers make more money while simplifying their business by mastering their you guessed it mindset and money . Tune in each week for practical and actionable tips to take your photography business up a notch . Let's dive right in .
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