540: Katie Donnelly – How to partner with influencers to grow your photography business

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area. Katie Donnelly of www.katiedonnellyphotography.com is a Paris-based family portrait photographer with a different approach to marketing and lead generation to most photographers… she partners with Instagram influencers to get the word out about her beautiful photography services around the iconic locations of Paris. When I introduce most guests for the podcast, I usually pickle together a bunch of tidbits I learn about them online. While doing that for today's guest, I read a pinned post on her Instagram feed that I felt was THE perfect introduction. Here's what she says – I'm picking out the parts I think you should hear… Ten years ago, I moved to France from New York. I moved for love and adventure. I married that same French guy who I came over for. Life is normal but in 2020, everything was so clearly put into perspective when simultaneously the world shut down. I was told I had stage 4 cancer, and my dad was also diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The world came through, I lived, my dad died. What got me through? Well, modern medicine and luck. But also my family. I now know what is most important in life: time and memories with the ones you love. Our work, making family portraits, has a real meaning now. It’s important to have portraits and art with your loved ones. I know it deeply. In 2021, after chemo ended, I gave myself two options: 1. Quit. Close down shop. Or 2. Build a team – because I couldn’t do it alone. I started building. It’s been, so much work. Building on your own is easy, building something for others to grow with is so much more complex. And always, always, with the client being the centre of it all. That post was by Katie Donnelly of Katie Donnelly Photography, who has been Voted the best Paris Portrait Photographer! And in this interview, Katie shares details of how she's built the incredible business she has. Here's some more of what we covered in the interview: What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews. I always tell my clients, “Have you been to the Louvre before? Have you been to any museum? How many portraits are up there?” “What are you talking about?” “France has a history of beautiful portraits on the wall, family portraits. There's these hundreds and hundreds of years of these incredible oil paintings. How can you possibly say that we don't do this. Yes, you do. You started it.” – Katie Donnelly You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.