We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristine Boel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kristine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

The biggest challenge in making the photography industry a profitable business lies in the shifting perceptions of value and the impact of social media. People often underestimate the creative work, time, and resources that go into professional photography. Additionally, there’s a prevailing misconception that exposure alone is sufficient compensation, thanks to the influencer culture that utilizes young photographers for free.

My experience highlights how the landscape has changed over the years. While working with influencers was beneficial in the past, the return on investment has decreased significantly in 2023. The expectation to work for exposure or minimal compensation remains frustrating for photographers, including, despite the diminishing returns. I truly feel this calls for a reevaluation of industry standards and educating clients and the public about the true worth of professional photography. But it takes a collective voice against saying yes to free labor as a creative or/and accepting fee labor.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Kristine, originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, settling in Los Angeles since 2020, before then in New York from 2012. As a devoted mother to her two daughters, Luna and Olivia, her photography passion and motherhood intertwine, forming a perfect circle of life, where both gentle support each other as strong pillars in a foundation.
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Her Scandinavian heritage and fascination with light influence her work. From Denmark’s fleeting sunlight to its long winters, she adores uses dramatic lighting schemes to infuse her photos with emotion, always seeking light and shadows.
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Kristine’s style is effortless, ethereal, and inspired by her unwavering focus. Whether capturing playful children, camera-conscious families, or expectant mothers, she assumes the role of observer, infusing authenticity into her work.
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Beyond photography, Kristine crafts earthy toned canvas backdrops in her kitchen, igniting inspiration for fellow photographers. She also offers mentoring classes for passionate creators at any level of experience..

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I kickstarted my Instagram journey by sharing my favorite photos unrelated to my child or dog. As I began sharing the stories behind these frozen moments, I found it enjoyable. The growth was organic from there.

Things really took off when I collaborated with an influencer who was known with. The young families of New York. This significantly boosted my follower count, and I saw the potential. Consequently, I shifted my focus to Instagram as my primary marketing channel. I set a consistent rule: one post and ten stories daily, without (almost) fail. I maintained this routine for nearly six years until I became pregnant and needed to ease up and slow down in work and everything else.

My advice is to anyone stating out.
Begin with genuine passion, not a sense of obligation. Authenticity is key; forced content rarely yields anything worthwhile.

Share posts that resonate with your heart and excite you. Maintain consistency by posting at least once a day and multiple stories daily to sustain momentum. Engage actively with your audience: respond to DMs, initiate conversations, and participate in comments. These actions will boost your algorithm.

Don’t let follower counts or likes discourage you. Platforms like Instagram have already established their momentum.

Make it enjoyable; use it as an experimental platform to gauge positive reactions. This can also help you understand your clients better by sensing their preferences.

Fun wayd to kickstart a new account is:

ASK ME box (followers can ask you anything)

GIVE AWAY (make a competition to gain followers)

Self portrait Post (make a sweet introduction about yourself)

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

beeimg a mother significantly bolstered my reputation as a photographer among young families. Furthermore growing, word-of-mouth referrals and possibly my Danish background contributed to earning trust and garnering favor with my clients

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Kristineboel.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristine
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100028020686426
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-boel-46568018