How Katie Emanuelson went from ER Scrubs to Six-Figure Photographer (and How Session Saved Her from Burnout)
Becky Tahel
Let’s talk about Katie Emanuelson, a total powerhouse who swapped out her life-saving ER scrubs for a camera—and she’s never looked back. After 14 years as an ER nurse, Katie’s world took a turn when she became a mom. Suddenly, she realized all those precious family moments didn’t belong stuck in her iPhone. So, what did she do? She picked up a used camera and taught herself photography. Fast forward, and Katie’s now running a six-figure business, packed with back-to-back mini sessions. And guess who’s making it all run like clockwork? Yep—Session.
Burnout? Nope, Not Today.
Katie runs hundreds of mini sessions a year (yes, you read that right—hundreds). She’s got the process down to a science. But let’s be real—burnout is real. Enter: Session.
Katie found us, and she knew right away she hit the jackpot. “Session is all about automations,” she says. Prewritten emails? Check. Clients booking themselves without her even lifting a finger? Double check. “There’s nothing better than sitting back, sipping my coffee, and watching my screen blow up as slots fill themselves,” she jokes. This isn’t just running a business—it’s running an empire on autopilot, and we’re here for it.
From CPR to Back-to-Back Minis
That ER nurse adrenaline? Katie hasn’t lost it. She’s just funneled it into her back-to-back mini sessions. “It’s not life or death—but I got this!” she laughs.
And with three kids of her own, she doesn’t have time to be shooting seven days a week. So instead, she stacks six mini sessions into those two golden hours right before sunset. Each session? A quick 20 minutes (or 10 minutes for Santa Minis). Clients leave with 30-50 photos every time, and Katie does it all with a posing workflow that guarantees the real-deal smiles, even from the squirmiest kiddos.
And spoiler alert: She’s working on a guide to help other photogs get those fridge-worthy shots every time.
While you wait, Katie’s got a freebie — how to sell out your mini sessions and find your perfect clients. But fair warning: fall is peak season, so if you’re ready to dive in, get after it!
Click HERE for Katie’s 5-step plan to crush minis! You got this!
Session: The Automation MVP
Let’s be real, Katie couldn’t keep up this hustle without automation—our automation. “Booking and client communication? That’s where automation saves the day,” Katie says. “I’m not here for that clunky back-and-forth.”
Katie’s prewritten emails handle client questions before they even ask. “In just a few minutes, I can email 30 people. Boom. Done,” she says. Her biz is running smoothly behind the scenes, thanks to the seamless automations we offer.
Pro Tip from Katie: Talk to the Moms
Katie’s got this on lock: know your audience. “Moms are the ones booking the shoots, not the dads,” she points out. And she knows exactly how to speak their language. “Tell them what they need to hear—‘Capture your kids now, before they grow up,’ not ‘when you lose 10 pounds’ or ‘when you have more time.’” Katie taps into that urgency because, let’s face it, moms know the clock is ticking.
The Moment She Found Us: Goodbye, Squarespace Struggles
Let’s rewind to three years ago. Katie was using Squarespace to handle bookings, and let’s just say… it was a disaster. Double bookings, hours wasted making pages—it was a nightmare. When she found Session, everything changed. “Seeing people’s bookings in real-time? Game-changer.” And of course, there’s the best part: “The automations, my goodness. I love it.”
And then there’s her legendary Booking Nights. “I make it a thing,” Katie grins. “It’s a booking frenzy, and it’s SO fun. Booking night is my favorite part of Session—watching those slots get snatched up.”
What to Do During the Lulls? Stay Sharp.
Katie doesn’t just sit around during quiet seasons—she uses that time wisely. Updating her website, pre-writing email templates, and even handwriting thank-you notes to her repeat clients. “Running your own business can easily turn into a Netflix binge,” she jokes, “but when you have a plan, it’s so much more rewarding.”
Know Your Worth—And Then Charge for It
Katie’s piece of advice? Know your worth—and add tax. “When I first started, I had a major case of imposter syndrome,” she admits. “Who am I to charge for this? I’m just a mom with a camera.” But one day, she raised her prices, put on her big girl pants, and guess what? People paid.
“When I valued myself, my clients did too,” she says.
Katie’s journey from ER nurse to a six-figure photography business is all about confidence, knowing your worth, and—of course—automation. Session is here to help photographers like Katie run their businesses like a well-oiled machine, so they can do what they love without the burnout. Ready to take your photo biz to the next level? Katie says, “Get Session, know your worth, and let’s create some picture-perfect memories.”
For more on Katie, visit her SITE or SOCIAL!
Minis in Mini-ts. Learn how Session can help you set up and book your mini sessions in record time!
Becky Tahel is a writer, producer, and performer who’s teamed up with top creators like Jake Paul, Eric Andre, Jay Shetty, and Gabby Bernstein. She’s produced content for global brands and influencers, racking up over 50 million views across social. As the director/producer/host of the award-winning documentary "American Birthright" and co-founder of Mannafest Media, she helps people and brands find their voice and make a lasting impact through strategy, story, and creative content. A global speaker on content creation and self-actualization, she has two little kids, and is grossly underslept.