Katelyn James, a self-made millionaire, runs Katelyn James Photography, a wedding photography and education business that she started as a side hustle from her college dorm room in 2008. Today, she and her husband Michael, who joined the company as Chief Financial Officer in 2013, have helped more than 100,000 people learn about photography. In 2022, the company brought in about $240,000 a month in revenue, with $230,000 being passive income from online courses and training materials.
From $750 to $160,000 In One Day
In the early days of Katelyn’s photography business, she charged $750 for six hours of shooting and editing. As her skills improved, she raised her rates and by 2013, she was earning six figures. Katelyn had a great mentor in Jasmine Star, who photographed her own wedding, and she also took online courses, workshops and took on projects for free to build her portfolio. When she realized there wasn’t a lot of affordable photography training available, she started sharing tips on her blog. Eventually, she grew an email list of 7,600 photographers who wanted to learn from her.
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In November 2015, Katelyn and Michael launched their first online training program to teach photographers how to edit and streamline their workflow. The course cost $397 and their goal was $15,000 in total sales, but on the first day, they made over $160,000 because of the trust they had built with their customers.
Bridging The Photography Knowledge Gap
The success of their first course showed Katelyn and Michael that making photography education accessible was more valuable than just shooting weddings and continuously increasing prices. Since then, they’ve created over a dozen courses, e-books, and templates on various photography skills, all inspired by questions from their online community of over 70,000 people. They also have a membership product, KJ All Access, which gives photographers access to new monthly videos and a library of past videos for $29 per month.
Their goal is to change people’s lives, not just through photography education, but also through their other passions and projects. This year, they co-founded a school for entrepreneurial families, Acton Academy West End, which focuses on equipping children with the tools to find their passions through hands-on activities. Whether through photography, podcasting, or sharing their everyday life on social media, Katelyn and Michael strive to positively impact the lives of those around them.
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Conclusion
Katelyn James is a true testament to the power of hard work and determination. From a side hustle in her dorm room to a multi-million dollar wedding photography and education business, Katelyn has proven that anything is possible with the right mindset and the drive to succeed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Katelyn James Photography?
Katelyn James Photography is a wedding photography and education business that helps more than 100,000 people learn about photography.
2. Who is Katelyn James?
Katelyn James is the founder and owner of Katelyn James Photography. She started the business as a side hustle in 2008 and today she is a self-made millionaire.
3. How did Katelyn James start her photography business?
Katelyn James started her photography business as a side hustle while she was a full-time college student. She grew her business through hard work, taking online courses, attending workshops, and sharing tips on her blog.
4. Does Katelyn James offer photography workshops?
It is not specified whether Katelyn James offers photography workshops or not.