Katrina Jackson | Featured Showiteer

May 13, 2014

Business Growth

By:

Callie Beale

Location: Rochester, Indiana

Years in Business: Four years

Specialty: High School Senior Girls

What fires you up? For 3 years I shot everything I needed to shoot. I loved all of it, but over the years my senior business started to mold into my brand- it became my PASSION. It is the reason why I shoot. I absolutely love showing our young girls they are beautiful. They are so delicate and the media shows them an unattainable reality of what beautiful is. I love that the whole process makes them feel special. I love that I am providing them with confidence to rule the world. I put my heart and soul into every senior shoot.

What advice would you give new photographers? Learning your skill and craft are very important but the business side is the side that is often forgotten and put on the back burner. While it is the hardest area to grow, I have seen the benefits from dedicating time and focus to that area with each passing year. Also- save your money and don't buy many actions. While they can be time savors I found that I did not need to spend hundreds of dollars on them. Out of the hundreds that I own I have one action I use consistently. It makes me cringe to think of all the money I have spent over the years just because I thought I needed to have it to make me a better photographer.

What do you consider assets to your business?

There are two things that I consider huge assets to my business. Showit was a big asset to my business- in 2012 I joined Showit and my world lit up. I had no clue that there were so many amazing photographers until I became a Showit member. Once I joined the Showiteer Facebook page I dived in head first and adsorbed the information that was given so freely. Its so rare to find that in the photography community. It was so refreshing to see so many amazing photographers giving back. I attended United last year and that was such an amazing experience. I got to meet so many photographers that I had chatted with online. The information provided at United could not have come at a better time. After leaving United I decided I wanted to focus primary on high school seniors! I signed up and got the golden ticket to Amanda Holloway Kitchen Sink Workshop. I call it the “golden ticket” because that workshop sold out in less than an hour. Amanda Holloway & her workshop changed the way I ran my business. I have since changed my name, re-branded with Meg Long– a Showit designer and my sales have increased. I now have been given the tools to run my business and I am so much more confident in believing what I have to offer is worth it.

What is a dream you'd love to make happen? For three years I have been chasing my photography dreams. This year my focus is making my daughter's dreams come true-I want to take her to Disney World by the end of the year. We have talked about it for several years and this is the year we are making it happen. I have never been and I can't wait to see her eyes light up when we tell her we are going. Most of my dreams right now consist of things for my daughter, or family.

Follow Katrina!

Website | Facebook | Instagram