We were lucky to catch up with Katie Bullerman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I started by taking photos of my kids on my iPhone. After my youngest was born, I became more interested in photography and I started taking my own kids out to take pictures. I started having friends ask if I’d be willing to take their photos and at the time I would have loved that but I was not about to start taking other peoples photos on my iPhone. I ended up convincing my husband that it was a good idea to spend a good chunk of money on a DSLR camera and lens so that I could have a creative side business.

I got my first camera in January 2020 and in March, I was laid off from my full time Insurance job. due to COVID. There was no severance package to help us get by, just the state unemployment which was not much. With three kids at home at the time due to school’s being remote it was truly the best thing that could have happened at the time.
I was able to be home with my kids through Spring and Summer. I was able to help the kids finish school for the year at home. We could go to the waterpark during the day and I’d do sessions at night. It was fantastic!
Somehow things took off pretty quickly because I was sometimes working 6 nights a week shooting sessions that Summer.

I ended up finding another Insurance job that Fall and went back to work. I wasn’t busy enough yet to do photography full time but by May of 2021 it was time to leave that position. Even through Winter (slow season for photographers), I was cramming in 2-3 sessions per weekend. I’d work my Insurance gig Mon-Fri and then have sessions Saturday and Sunday. I was exhausted.

My last day at that job I had a mentorship scheduled with another local photographer. Driving home after that, I cried happy tears. I had never had a job that I loved or that gave me such a high and here I was, now self-employed, doing this job that I had only dreamed of a few years prior.

I’ve now been running my own business full time for nearly 2 years. Last year was my most successful year yet. I honestly still can’t believe that I get to do this for a living. The goal for 2023 is to work less and make more. I’ve cut down on weekend availability dramatically and have decided to work 3 days a week. I am frequently asked if I offer Education for other photographers. Right now the answer is no but I’m starting to think it could be in the plans for 2024.

I still don’t feel like I ‘know what I’m doing’ but I kind of think that’s how most small business owners operate. No one knows how to run a business until you do it. There’s trial and error and obviously some months are going to be better than others. I just couldn’t imagine continuing the rest of my life doing a job that I didn’t enjoy and that mentally drained me every day. I feel like now I’m actually living. I’m working more than I ever did but I’m fulfilled and happy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Katie, of Katie B Photography. I’m 35 years old, a mom to 3 kids and I started my business in 2020. I am a lifestyle/documentary style family photographer. My specialty is Maternity, Motherhood, Family and Baby’s. I tend to be very bold and colorful in my photos. I enjoy capturing emotion in my photos and capturing the little mundane moments that you probably don’t think about when scheduling a session for your family. I love details like the toddler holding dad’s hand or the dimple on their chin, their little fingers while picking flowers. I love movement and colorful styling.

I like to keep the annual family photo session as easy as possible for my clients. I know that trying to find outfits sucks so I offer a Client Closet. I know that most people do not know what looks best on camera, so I offer styling. I currently style about 98% of my clients. This means they’ll send me sizing for everyone in my family and I’ll look through my massive closet full of Women’s, Kids and Mens options and start putting together unique looks that will fit them, flatter their bodies and that will also look amazing on camera. I love being able to offer this service to my clients and it’s probably the biggest takeaway they have after their session. Everyone LOVES the Client Closet and Styling services. It’s been a huge investment into my business but it ensures that 1) My photos are consistent and on brand for the work I want to offer. 2) It’s not very likely that I have a client show up in matching teal and pink polos and jeans that do absolutely nothing for my style of shooting. 3) It’s a major benefit of booking a session with me. It ends up saving clients hundreds of dollars by not having to purchase clothing for the whole family for a session that they’d never wear again.

I’m located in the midwest. Iowa to be exact. As you can imagine, a lot of photographers in this area have a more posed shooting style. While I do try to get one ‘Christmas Card’ photo of everyone looking at the camera, that’s about it. I prefer very lifestyle, candid photos. I want to see everyone interacting with each other, not staring at me. I want to see your kids real smiles, not the fake ones they show to the stranger. I want them to play and run and snuggle with Mom and Dad and not worry about standing still and being ‘perfect’. Perfectly imperfect moments and beautiful chaos are my jam. This essentially means I don’t care if your hair is blowing in your face, it looks beautiful. Go snuggle on your kids with that hair in your face and just let the wind do its thing because that’s how those magical photographs are formed.

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

Honestly, word of mouth from past clients is how I’ve kept as busy as I am today. I have always been very consistent with social media though as well. I make sure that I’m posting regularly to stay top of mind and be seen. I know for a fact this played a major role in getting my name out there because I can’t tell you how many people have told me that ‘they see my work all over Facebook’ or ‘You are SO BUSY! You are always shooting sessions aren’t you?!’

In 2022, I won Best of the Best Photographer in the Cedar Valley. Crazy! Katie B Photography, who just went full time the year prior, who isn’t even really that established in the area, won the Best of the Best.
I definitely wouldn’t say that I know a lot of people but it really is all who you know. I’ve had some amazing success with photographing people who are well connected and who continue to refer me to their friends and family.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

To stay in touch with clients, I use a lot of social media. My Instagram page is the most ‘me’ place for clients to go and get a feel for what my work is like but also who I am as a person. By showing up in my stories, telling people what’s going on in my life, a funny thing that my kid did or a struggle I’m going through, people develop a relationship with me. I am the exact same person on social media that the client will meet when they show up to their session.
I have SO many clients make a comment about this after their session and while it’s super nice to hear, it’s odd to me that someone would put on a fake persona or not let people see their true selves. I don’t know another way to be, so I’ll keep being my somewhat loud, sarcastic, opinionated self and hopefully that will attract clients to me that have similar mindsets that appreciate that.

As I’ve grown my business over the years, my pricing structure has changed dramatically. I am fully aware that Photography is a luxury service that not everyone can afford. I used to want to appeal to the masses and get as much business as possible but as I’ve grown, I’ve determined that’s a terrible mindset to have.
I have learned so much just in the last three years in business. My work quality has grown tremendously. The experience I’m providing to clients is worth so much more than the bargain price tag that was once being charged. My time is valuable and I did not decide to be self-employed so that I could work every night and weekend. That was never the goal.
I know that most of my clients value my work and time and see the value in the price. I have a very small group of loyal customers that have been with me since the beginning who I provide a discount to.
These are families that allowed me to photograph their baby when I had no experiecne and have stuck with me through many seasons. I love these families and would be so sad to see them go elsewhere due to price so I have a grandfathered rate for them. I know these clients have recommended me to friends, these clients follow my styling advice and trust my vision completely. They do not ever ask for their photos quicker, they are easy going and go with my shooting style and I’m happy to be able to keep them as loyal clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.katiebphotography.net
• Instagram: @katiebphotography.ia
• Facebook: @KatieBPhotographyia

Image Credits
Images by Me :)