Firstly, I am a relatively new photographer and have been a member of KJ all access. You are my inspiration!! I love that you are doing families! My question is… do you struggle charging friends and family “high end” prices ??? I always struggle with what to charge people I am close to. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Katelyn you should feel so empowered by doing something that you said you never would, not embarrassed. I tell my kids this all the time… you tried something different, something you weren’t crazy about, something you didn’t want to do, and you’re crushing it- that’s a win! But just the fact that you got out of your comfort zone and tried something like that- you pushed yourself instead of holding yourself back like so many do- that’s the big win!! ❤️
I've done family photos for years, but I have dabbled in personal branding photography and I LOVE it. I love the meaning of family portraits, but the branding photography gets me way more excited to actually shoot than family portraits do. I totally have the freedom to make this shift, bc I'm not the bread-winner in the family, but I think I'm just scared to totally let go and pivot.
YES! You totally *can* do it! It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing, you can make the adjustment slowly- it took me 2-3 years to make the pivot from weddings to branding, it doesn't have to happen overnight!
Thanks for this. I am a family photographer who has no interest in adding weddings (with the exception of taking on a few micro weddings on request), but I started second shooting weddings last year. I homeschool my two boys and the behind the computer work is getting hard to get done. I am looking into outsourcing, but in the meantime, second shooting has allowed me to do what I love but hand over the photos afterward so there is no culling or editing on my part and I don't have to do any of the client communication work. Now it seems my name has been passed around enough that I have to make a conscious decision to keep certain weekends for family time and also keep time in my schedule for my own family sessions. It's hard for me to say no when asked to work a day that there is nothing on my calendar, but it's becoming really important to me to load sessions and weddings into certain weekends while keeping a few weekends wide open for my family. (It's also led me to think about raising my hourly rate as a second shooter, but I am so afraid to tell photographers that I've been working with to pay me more next time!)
I was driving home from a quick trip to NYC with my friend when this was posted. And the whole trip, I kept telling my friend how ultimately, something will have to change for me. I miss friendships. I miss family activities and parties and normal weekends. I've been doing weddings since I was 19 and I feel the shift coming. During Covid, I had "only" 15 weddings and the best summer of my adult life because I had a few weekends for camping etc (although we couldn't really go anywhere else or see anyone). I don't know what my pivot will be but I've been thinking about it for awhile.
Thanks for sharing all of this. Just a heads up - this pivot idea is a constant change in life. We did weddings for 25 years and then decided to do portraits totally. Then the changes of what type of portraits we do has changed. It's the great thing about being a photographer - so many options! Thanks for allowing us into your life - I love your spirit and that God's Spirit shines through you. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for this, K. I am not a professional photographer. I just LOVE photography. I am a small business owner. My service business has provided for my family for 20+ years. My product-based business is an infant that I LOVE. Everything you said clicked with me big time. I've been thinking about scaling down my service business to dedicate more time to my product-based business. This was an amazing nudge. Also, having family portrait sessions in your All-access makes me a future student for SURE. Thank you
My professional work is for a part time income. I got my start with weddings and shot a lot of them. However, my kids are older and it’s harder to schedule weekends so far ahead. Over the past year or so, I’ve pivoted to more senior portraits. They’re easier and more convenient to schedule and I honestly enjoy these shoots the most. I’d like to add branding at some point. I also haven’t ruled out training and classes for novices (I’m a teacher full time).
Just wanted to say that I think the whole idea of having to "specialize" as a photographer is "so yesterday". . . ha ha! You're totally right in doing what brings you joy! I've been following your journey pretty much since 2010 and through it all you've always been open and honest and just really easy to follow:) Thanks Katelyn!
Squeeeeel! There aren’t words for how happy this makes me! I’m really not a wedding photographer but I love family and senior photography! I’m so excited! Thank you, Katelyn!
KJ & friends.. thanks for making this video. This is exactly where i am .. making a pivot but for different reasons. Im 59 and had 2 mini strokes last year & shoulder damage & tears from falls & more. I love weddings! But i cant physically do it anymore. I love photography & cant let it go.. I’ve lost so much already (like independence). This is where i am at too but at a loss of where to start… all over again. Im thinking my focus (when i am ready) will be portraits. Sooo your video reaches many avenues of people .. like me. It gives me hope i can figure this out .. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Have fun with your pivot! Thanks again! Cheryle~
This is AMAZING! There is no better feeling than walking into a friends home and seeing the family portrait you took. Serving moms and families is so important! Way to go KJ Team! So Stoked!
This seems like a very natural pivot! I did the same thing a few years ago when I started having kids. Family photography is so much fun!!! Congrats KJ!!
Haha I have to say too that I resonate with never say never! :D I said, "I'll NEVER move from California!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and I moved to Arizona. "I'll NEVER marry someone that has been in military!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and brought my husband who served for 6.5 years in the army into my life. "I'll NEVER move to the west side--ESPECIALLY not to Glendale!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and moved us to Glendale, AZ. "I'll NEVER work the kids ministry at church!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and we stepped up to leadership with the kids and we are LOVING it! I've stopped saying, "I'll never!" because God knows that those things are the very things I/we need. Haha, I'm tempted to saying, "God, I'll NEVER be a millionaire!" lol :D Thanks for this video! I love consuming your videos each time you post.
Amen, Katelyn! I'm in a time of "pivoting" right now and I couldn't be more thankful for your video (well, I'm thankful for a lot of your videos... how in the WORLD are you so timely?!?!)! Thank you for having the confidence to share this journey and your reasons. It really helps and encourages those of us who have to make similar evaluations of where they're at in the photography journey.
Love this so much, friend- you constantly inspire with your willingness to take chances and share not just the results, but the process, too! You're a gift, Katelyn!
Thank you for this video. I do not put myself in a box of a type of photographer. I love just creating memories no matter what the photoshoot is. People keep telling me to just focus on one style but I love the freedom to shoot what makes me happy. I do have to say, I do not like to do infants.
I’m so thrilled for you! My business is in the middle of a pivot and this gave me a lot of hope and perspective. I’m also hoping to grow education for my birth business and see those rewards also!
As always - you hit the nail square on the head! Thank you so much KJ! I've found myself in a season of pivot recently & trying to navigate it mentally, emotionally - it's a bit overwhelming. I'm still trying to process what I want/need & what everything might look like in the weeks & months to come, but I am so encouraged by this! Thank you!
I think everyone moves through their seasons of photography. I started out as a newspaper photographer for ten years, then weddings, then children and now I prefer to do adults in studio. Also, as I got older, I just couldn't do those long wedding days or run around after kids. No, at 65 years old, I've pretty much did all 4 seasons of photography. (Maybe a season or two of burnout as well.). Just chalk it up to experience.
I love this, sometimes the shift is needed in order to realign with the purpose God has for you - and I am so excited for when you do kick this up a notch and start shooting for the public because I know then there's going to come a lot of business structuring for family photography pricing and what not!! :D :D :D
I am pivoting in my business as well. I'm only photographing weddings now for clients and their families and friends so that I can focus more on family photography which is really my specialty. :) Just because the flow is one way at one point of my career doesn't mean it needs to be the same every time. :)
Your videos are so good to watch and informative. Which camera and lens you usually use to shoot UA-cam videos? Which software you use to edit these UA-cam videos to upload?
@@Libinkttm she did respond to your comment! We shoot with the Canon C70 and this episode was shot with the EF 24-70 f/2.8L. Editing in Premiere Pro 👍🏼
I sort of understand, but at the same time you are leaving weddings at a time when the wedding photo genre and wedding industry is hitting it's peak post-covid.
Firstly, I am a relatively new photographer and have been a member of KJ all access. You are my inspiration!! I love that you are doing families! My question is… do you struggle charging friends and family “high end” prices ??? I always struggle with what to charge people I am close to. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
yes, I was thinking this too...
Katelyn you should feel so empowered by doing something that you said you never would, not embarrassed. I tell my kids this all the time… you tried something different, something you weren’t crazy about, something you didn’t want to do, and you’re crushing it- that’s a win! But just the fact that you got out of your comfort zone and tried something like that- you pushed yourself instead of holding yourself back like so many do- that’s the big win!! ❤️
Love it! Thanks Kelly!!
I've done family photos for years, but I have dabbled in personal branding photography and I LOVE it. I love the meaning of family portraits, but the branding photography gets me way more excited to actually shoot than family portraits do. I totally have the freedom to make this shift, bc I'm not the bread-winner in the family, but I think I'm just scared to totally let go and pivot.
You can do it!
YES! You totally *can* do it! It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing, you can make the adjustment slowly- it took me 2-3 years to make the pivot from weddings to branding, it doesn't have to happen overnight!
Thanks for this. I am a family photographer who has no interest in adding weddings (with the exception of taking on a few micro weddings on request), but I started second shooting weddings last year. I homeschool my two boys and the behind the computer work is getting hard to get done. I am looking into outsourcing, but in the meantime, second shooting has allowed me to do what I love but hand over the photos afterward so there is no culling or editing on my part and I don't have to do any of the client communication work. Now it seems my name has been passed around enough that I have to make a conscious decision to keep certain weekends for family time and also keep time in my schedule for my own family sessions. It's hard for me to say no when asked to work a day that there is nothing on my calendar, but it's becoming really important to me to load sessions and weddings into certain weekends while keeping a few weekends wide open for my family. (It's also led me to think about raising my hourly rate as a second shooter, but I am so afraid to tell photographers that I've been working with to pay me more next time!)
I was driving home from a quick trip to NYC with my friend when this was posted. And the whole trip, I kept telling my friend how ultimately, something will have to change for me. I miss friendships. I miss family activities and parties and normal weekends. I've been doing weddings since I was 19 and I feel the shift coming. During Covid, I had "only" 15 weddings and the best summer of my adult life because I had a few weekends for camping etc (although we couldn't really go anywhere else or see anyone). I don't know what my pivot will be but I've been thinking about it for awhile.
How about newborn baby photography?
@@iKeto_gal I'm not super comfortable with newborns, but I think it is a great field because it can be done during the actual workday!
Thank You, thank you. That is all I have to say for allowing Him to help you Pivot because I love content. And I am a family photographer.
I've said in the past- "I'll never do weddings" 😅but I love your instruction style, and so excited for behind the scenes on family sessions!!!
Thanks for sharing all of this. Just a heads up - this pivot idea is a constant change in life. We did weddings for 25 years and then decided to do portraits totally. Then the changes of what type of portraits we do has changed. It's the great thing about being a photographer - so many options! Thanks for allowing us into your life - I love your spirit and that God's Spirit shines through you. Keep up the great work!
I love your vulnerability and genuineness! That's why people are drawn to you. God bless your family, career, and personal dreams!
Thank so much Jennifer!!
Ty subtlety calling out Katelyn about the RF lenses 😂
haha!!
Thank you for this, K. I am not a professional photographer. I just LOVE photography. I am a small business owner. My service business has provided for my family for 20+ years. My product-based business is an infant that I LOVE. Everything you said clicked with me big time. I've been thinking about scaling down my service business to dedicate more time to my product-based business. This was an amazing nudge. Also, having family portrait sessions in your All-access makes me a future student for SURE. Thank you
Thanks for watching Omayra!
My professional work is for a part time income. I got my start with weddings and shot a lot of them. However, my kids are older and it’s harder to schedule weekends so far ahead. Over the past year or so, I’ve pivoted to more senior portraits. They’re easier and more convenient to schedule and I honestly enjoy these shoots the most. I’d like to add branding at some point. I also haven’t ruled out training and classes for novices (I’m a teacher full time).
Katelyn, we love you so much! Thank you for being so honest with us…your friends. This was some real food for thought! ❤️
Just wanted to say that I think the whole idea of having to "specialize" as a photographer is "so yesterday". . . ha ha! You're totally right in doing what brings you joy! I've been following your journey pretty much since 2010 and through it all you've always been open and honest and just really easy to follow:) Thanks Katelyn!
Squeeeeel! There aren’t words for how happy this makes me! I’m really not a wedding photographer but I love family and senior photography! I’m so excited! Thank you, Katelyn!
Thanks for watching Cheryl!
I appreciate this openness so much! What a breath of fresh air! ♥
Thanks so much Aimee!!
KJ & friends.. thanks for making this video. This is exactly where i am .. making a pivot but for different reasons. Im 59 and had 2 mini strokes last year & shoulder damage & tears from falls & more. I love weddings! But i cant physically do it anymore. I love photography & cant let it go.. I’ve lost so much already (like independence). This is where i am at too but at a loss of where to start… all over again. Im thinking my focus (when i am ready) will be portraits. Sooo your video reaches many avenues of people .. like me. It gives me hope i can figure this out .. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Have fun with your pivot! Thanks again! Cheryle~
Thanks for sharing Cheryle!
This is AMAZING! There is no better feeling than walking into a friends home and seeing the family portrait you took. Serving moms and families is so important! Way to go KJ Team! So Stoked!
Love it, Thanks Jacquie!
I am feeling this episode in all its glory! Thank you for putting the idea out there that it's ok for Mom's to go after their dreams 💕
Absolutely!!
I love this!!! I did a pivot with things I offer in sports photography and it’s been amazing for me and my mental health!!
Thanks for sharing Kara!
Expanding your photography is a good thing, the more we all learn the better!!!! shooting is shooting!!
Truth Dave!
This seems like a very natural pivot! I did the same thing a few years ago when I started having kids. Family photography is so much fun!!! Congrats KJ!!
Thanks for watching!
Haha I have to say too that I resonate with never say never! :D I said, "I'll NEVER move from California!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and I moved to Arizona. "I'll NEVER marry someone that has been in military!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and brought my husband who served for 6.5 years in the army into my life. "I'll NEVER move to the west side--ESPECIALLY not to Glendale!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and moved us to Glendale, AZ. "I'll NEVER work the kids ministry at church!" Then God came knocking on my heart--tap, tap, tap--and we stepped up to leadership with the kids and we are LOVING it! I've stopped saying, "I'll never!" because God knows that those things are the very things I/we need. Haha, I'm tempted to saying, "God, I'll NEVER be a millionaire!" lol :D Thanks for this video! I love consuming your videos each time you post.
Thanks for sharing Alicia!
@@KatelynJames Thank you! :)
Amen, Katelyn! I'm in a time of "pivoting" right now and I couldn't be more thankful for your video (well, I'm thankful for a lot of your videos... how in the WORLD are you so timely?!?!)! Thank you for having the confidence to share this journey and your reasons. It really helps and encourages those of us who have to make similar evaluations of where they're at in the photography journey.
You are so welcome!
It takes SO much bravery to change and pivot. Way to go, girl.... Can't wait for a Nashville family photoshoot! haha aw yeah!!!!!!
Love this so much, friend- you constantly inspire with your willingness to take chances and share not just the results, but the process, too! You're a gift, Katelyn!
I love how real you and Michael are! Keep being you.
As the Line goes never say never since you will actually end up doing that. Its 100% true.
Thank you for this video. I do not put myself in a box of a type of photographer. I love just creating memories no matter what the photoshoot is. People keep telling me to just focus on one style but I love the freedom to shoot what makes me happy. I do have to say, I do not like to do infants.
Never say never! 😉 You’re doing great, friend!!
I’m so thrilled for you! My business is in the middle of a pivot and this gave me a lot of hope and perspective. I’m also hoping to grow education for my birth business and see those rewards also!
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been looking into resources from Rebecca Rice, but if you are offering more family content I will stay put ❤️❤️
Thanks for watching Diamond!!
As always - you hit the nail square on the head! Thank you so much KJ! I've found myself in a season of pivot recently & trying to navigate it mentally, emotionally - it's a bit overwhelming. I'm still trying to process what I want/need & what everything might look like in the weeks & months to come, but I am so encouraged by this! Thank you!
Love it Kara!! Doing the work!!
Thank you. You are amazing at pushing me and helping me realize my potential!
You got this!!
Thanks for sharing your great story and insights.
I love this! this is exactly how I changed my balance!
Thanks Lori!!
I think everyone moves through their seasons of photography. I started out as a newspaper photographer for ten years, then weddings, then children and now I prefer to do adults in studio. Also, as I got older, I just couldn't do those long wedding days or run around after kids. No, at 65 years old, I've pretty much did all 4 seasons of photography. (Maybe a season or two of burnout as well.). Just chalk it up to experience.
Yay! Family Photography makes my heart happy too. :)
Thanks for watching!!
Love this!!!I appreciate the pivot - been there!
Thanks Shayna!!
Love family photography
Apparently I do too!!
I love this, sometimes the shift is needed in order to realign with the purpose God has for you - and I am so excited for when you do kick this up a notch and start shooting for the public because I know then there's going to come a lot of business structuring for family photography pricing and what not!! :D :D :D
A huge Thank You.
I am pivoting in my business as well. I'm only photographing weddings now for clients and their families and friends so that I can focus more on family photography which is really my specialty. :) Just because the flow is one way at one point of my career doesn't mean it needs to be the same every time. :)
Love it!
"That which you need most will be where you least want to look." - Carl Jung
Love Jung!
Your videos are so good to watch and informative.
Which camera and lens you usually use to shoot UA-cam videos?
Which software you use to edit these UA-cam videos to upload?
You need to ask ty!
Yu didn't answer my question, instead just liked it ...
@@Libinkttm she did respond to your comment! We shoot with the Canon C70 and this episode was shot with the EF 24-70 f/2.8L. Editing in Premiere Pro 👍🏼
@@tylerherrinton2597 ohh sorry you are the one who is ty . I'm sorry 😞 🙂
Thanks for the reply 👍
Good job.
Thanks!
When doing family portraits, which rf lens are you using?
I think it's called getting Older.
hahaha no no no!!
So I rented the RF and I didn't know will only fit on mirrorless cameras. grr
But really, how do we get on the family session wait list??? 😅😉🙏
Do you get less request for weddings now or just take less?
How get the camera not kill your back while doing weddings? Every time I have done wedding it kills me
Acupuncture...saved my life!
Another one: I shoot primes only
haha!! Yes! Pivot!!
Who shot your wedding photos and as a photographer what did you take into consideration when choosing ? 😊 and… were you a hard critic? 😅
I sort of understand, but at the same time you are leaving weddings at a time when the wedding photo genre and wedding industry is hitting it's peak post-covid.