We were lucky to catch up with Kate Styles recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, appreciate you joining us today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

As a boss, who works extremely closely with the team, I need to personally understand the strengths and weaknesses of each of my associate photographers. What are their strengths and how can we utilize them in the business to grow everyone as a whole? I also make it very important to learn love languages, what they respond well to, and how I can help encourage them even more to step into the role they desire. There is incredible time and dedication that comes with this, a lot of time scheduled to have 1:1 open discussions with them. As a whole, we work together, and each gear does need its own time, attention, and detail. This is something as a boss I work very heard to create and shape into something so important for my studio. I also teach and encourage other photographers/entreprenuers how to grow a team that makes sense for them.

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

My name is Kate Styles, and I fell in love with creating magazine powerful, creative portraits for powerful people. I fell in love with creating a space for women (specifically) to hang up the every day hat, and truly let go, and be themselves. Maybe theyre on a journey to see themselves, find themselves behind a different lens. I sit down with each client individually to learn about their story, who they are, and what they want to represent so we can create a uniquely tailored photoshoot to their essence.

I also love to share, coach, and mentor entrepreneurs who are afraid of failure. Because, same. However, when we do nothing, we accomplish nothing. So the worst that will ever happen is nothing….so let’s step out! I love to help business owners create a solid system plan, that helps them see their vision and make it seem manageable, and achievable. Masterminds are amazing, understanding money and the relationship with money, and know what you want, and building a road map to get there.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

People won’t/dont have money.

I laugh when I type that out now. When you grow up a large family, and going to McDonalds is a treat, you really think all other families are the same way. You have to finance every penny and pray something is left over. By no means did we grow up poor, but we lived very heavily pay check to pay check. There was no extra, and my parents had to schedule everything down to the dime.

When I began my business, I realized that this was my own thought pattern, that I needed to unlearn what I was taught. Wow, there is actually money circulating? When my first client spend $1,000 with me, I really thought I hit a new high. What was this life!? There was a client out there willing to invest this?! This was also in 2018. I tell myself, and my other entrepreneur friends all the time, there is ALWAYS money, there is SO much money, we just have to be ready to ask for it! Ask for it ALL the time, open arms. Check in with yourself, is money evil? Does it belong to the church? OR, are you asking for the equal exchange of value to service, and receiving it with a THANK YOU.

Long story short, there is SO much money, and I have worked very hard to change and shape my mindset about money. Don’t think the way you grew up and were taught about money is the only way. Read, ask, explore.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

This has happened a few times…but this is the one I like to share the most.

October of 2021. I didn’t even think I would make rent. No payroll, there was nothing. I was on zoom with my business coach, SOBBING. I mean truly just bawling. I kept saying I dont think im going to make it, this is it…I didn’t think this was it.

Sometimes, it can feel like those moments are the only event to ever exist and it feels like a MOUNTAIN.

She was such a gem, sat down with me, and just reminded me this wasn’t the end. And brain stormed multiple different ways for us to grow, reach out, and find those missed opportunities. If you ever feel stuck, find a coach who’s going to help you do mind exercises to get out of this moments. To you, in that time, it feels like a giant mountain you will never overcome. However, I promise, it’s just a moment. And it’s those moments on this journey that make you an incredible business owner and help you grow even larger into the next space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://katestylesphotography.com
• Instagram: @katestylesphotographer
• Facebook: Kate Styles Photography

Image Credits

All Images were taken by Kate Styles at Kate Styles Photography