The moment I scheduled my coaching session with Katelyn, I started preparing for it like I discussed here…so when the date finally came I knew I was ready!..but I was still so nervous!! It’s one thing to hang out with Katelyn while she’s taking pictures of you and making you feel beautiful, like she did for our engagement session, our wedding, and the styled shoot she had asked Ryan and I to be a part of…but it was an ENTIRELY different feeling walking up to her house knowing that I had a lot of constructive criticism ahead of me…

BUT, as soon as she answered the door, my nervousness melted away  and turned into pure excitement as she hugged me and welcomed me into her cute little perfectly decorated home…we chatted and caught up for a bit, and then headed up to her teal, cozy office to get down to work (with her puppy, Bokeh, trailing close behind us!). We started going through my outline I had made, and she was so patient as I asked her question after question…Katelyn has such a wealth of knowledge, not just about photography and business, but about life in general, and she was so quick to offer me advice and encouragement. Have I mentioned I love this girl!?!?…Just over two years ago, when I was still in college and hired her as my wedding photographer, I had no idea that she would have such a big impact on my life…

Katelyn James was one of the very first people I told that I wanted to pursue photography! I’m so thankful for the time that she committed to helping me grow that afternoon and for the push she gave me to move forward! Some of my favorite advice she’s given me is that there is no particular formula where you can snap your fingers and be successful or create beautiful images…sometimes it’s frustrating, but you just have to practice a lot and slowly figure out what works for you and what doesn’t…Finding your style takes time!!

After hours of sitting in front of the computer and learning some steps I could take to grow, I was so excited to get outside and shoot!..Katelyn took lots of headshots of me, and then it was my turn to shoot her…I was SO nervous!!..I still have so much to learn and it was a little scary to have her watching me as I gave her posing directions and snapped away..but this was one of my favorite parts of the experience!..I’ve learned so much from Katelyn by being in front of her camera and by watching how she does things, but it was so valuable for me to have her giving me advice and being able to ask her questions as I took pictures…

Then, we headed to dinner and just talked about life! I didn’t want it to be over!! This experience was one of the best and most valuable that I’ve had in pursuing photography and in moving my business forward…Thank you Katelyn James for being humble, caring and giving, and for all that you do to help others!! If you are considering signing up for a coaching session in the future, you definitely should!

Here are a few images from Katelyn’s time in front of the camera! Katelyn, you are beautiful inside and out!!

I need to get one of these cute necklaces!

You’re so cute!!

Happy Monday!!