We recently connected with Claudine Kosier and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Claudine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I earn a full-time living as a portrait photographer, but it definitely wasn’t like that from day one.

In the beginning, I ran my portrait business the way many creatives do, saying yes to everything, underpricing my work, and focusing more on being busy than being profitable. Skill wasn’t the issue. Direction was. For a long time, it felt like pure trial and error.

One of the biggest game-changers was intentionally surrounding myself with other high-level creatives and entrepreneurs who shared the same passion, drive, and standards. Being in rooms with people who think bigger, push you forward, and genuinely support your growth raises your expectations of what’s possible.

The most pivotal turning point was hiring a business coach. That decision completely transformed my portrait business. Since then, I’ve worked with several coaches over the years, and each stage of growth required a different kind of guidance. If I were starting over, hiring a business coach would be the very first thing I’d do. It accelerated my learning curve, helped me avoid expensive mistakes, and gave me clarity and confidence much earlier than I would have found on my own.

Milestones didn’t show up as overnight success. They came through a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and there were many days I honestly wanted to give up. What kept me going were the quieter wins, consistent income, elevated offerings, stronger boundaries, and a portrait experience built around connection and intention, not just images. Learning how to guide clients through an experience instead of simply delivering photos changed everything.

Could I have sped up the process? Absolutely. Trusting myself sooner, charging appropriately earlier, and investing in the right support from the beginning would have shortened the timeline. But the slower build also shaped the portrait business I have today, one that continues to evolve, grow, and support the life I want.

Today, I don’t just earn a living from my creative work. I run a sustainable, intentional boutique portrait studio that I’m incredibly proud of.

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

I’m a portrait photographer and owner of a boutique portrait studio based in Central Ohio. I specialize in senior portraits, modern headshots and personal branding, and custom dog portraits.

My photography journey started in Las Vegas as a dog photographer, completely on a whim. I had no business plan and no roadmap, just a deep love for dogs and photography. When my own dog was diagnosed with cancer and given only weeks to live, I took him to an incredible photographer to capture our final days together. Watching her work, I realized she was living the life I dreamed of, and that moment changed everything.

I began learning digital photography, flew to Dallas for my first dog photography workshop, and officially launched my business. After relocating to Columbus in 2012, my work naturally evolved into high school senior portraits, and I’ve never looked back. Today, I’m fortunate to specialize in what I love most, dogs, seniors, and personal branding.

My studio is intentionally boutique. I work one-on-one with a limited number of clients and guide them through every step so they never feel overwhelmed. Each genre I photograph holds equal meaning for me. Dog portraits honor a once-in-a-lifetime bond and preserve a story that deserves to be remembered. Senior portraits celebrate a fleeting, defining season filled with confidence, growth, and possibility. Branding and headshot sessions help professionals show up as the best version of themselves, often during moments of change or growth in their careers. What ties all of my work together is connection, creating portraits that feel natural, elevated, and deeply personal.

What sets my work apart is the experience and the level of care. Most of my clients come in feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or worried they won’t like how they look or how the process will feel. I solve that by guiding them through every detail, from planning and styling to posing and artwork, so they can relax and enjoy the experience. My approach is calm, personal, and highly intentional, and it allows people to feel confident, seen, and taken care of.

What I’m most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. Many return year after year, refer their friends, and invite me back for different seasons of their lives. That kind of loyalty means everything to me and reflects the heart of my brand, quality over quantity, connection over trends, and creating portraits that truly matter.

At the core, my brand is about creating a thoughtful, guided portrait experience that leaves people feeling seen, celebrated, and genuinely cared for.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots I’ve made was learning to realign my business with what actually makes my heart happy. As my portrait business grew, I was encouraged to take on additional genres and projects that looked good on paper but didn’t truly light me up. Over time, I found myself falling out of love with my work because I was saying yes to things that didn’t feel personal or meaningful. It started to feel like “just a business,” and that was never my intention.

I realized I had drifted from why I started in the first place. My work is deeply personal, and I needed to get clear on my direction again. That meant making a conscious pivot back to photographing what I love most, dogs, seniors, and personal branding, and having the confidence to say no. A lot. Turning down work was uncomfortable at first, but it was necessary.

That clarity also allowed me to lean more intentionally into giving back through my dog photography. I work closely with several rescue groups, photographing dogs who need homes and helping them get noticed by families who may have passed them by initially. Those images often stop people mid-scroll, spark connection, and ultimately help dogs find their way into loving homes. Being able to use my work in a way that creates real impact has become one of the most meaningful parts of my business.

That pivot brought my business back to a place of happiness and fulfillment. By focusing on the genres that matter most to me, I’ve built a portrait business that feels aligned, sustainable, and creatively rewarding. It reminded me that growth doesn’t always mean adding more. Sometimes it means choosing less, more intentionally.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I believe photography is about more than how something looks. It’s about preserving connection, emotion, and moments that pass far too quickly. For dog parents, it’s about honoring a once-in-a-lifetime bond and holding onto the love, personality, and story they share with their dog. For high school seniors, it’s about helping them feel confident and amazing during a milestone that marks both who they are now and who they’re becoming, while giving parents a meaningful way to hold onto a season that moves faster than anyone expects. For business professionals, it’s about showing up with confidence, clarity, and intention during important moments of growth and transition in their careers.

An equally important part of my mission is offering something tangible and beautiful to hold onto. I never wanted to simply deliver digital images. I wanted to design custom artwork and albums that feel intentional and personal, pieces my clients can live with, display, and revisit for years. These aren’t just photographs, they’re reminders of love, pride, confidence, and connection. I wanted clients to have something so special that they would enjoy for a lifetime.

I want my clients to feel seen, supported, and cared for throughout the entire experience, not rushed or overwhelmed. If my work can help someone preserve what matters most, celebrate a meaningful chapter, or see themselves with a little more confidence and pride, then I’ve done exactly what I set out to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudinekosierphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudinekosierphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudine-kosier-photography/

Image Credits

My headshot credits go to:

Photography: Sarah Henderson with Desired Focus Photography
HMUA: Natalie Wilcox with La Prima Beauty