How To Maximize Your Minis With Katie Lamb

Striking a Perfect Session/Life Balance

Meet Katie Lamb: Pro Photographer, Educator, and Supermom. She juggles a million things and still makes it look effortless. Why? Because she's pretty much perfected the art of balancing work and life, and she's here to share her secrets!

When did it all begin for Katie? Her photography journey, her business evolution, her balancing act…

Katie ran her photography business for eight years before kids entered the scene, and when they did, everything changed. To sustain her thriving business and be a present mom, she had to rethink her entire approach. First step:

Evolving with the Times

Katie now focuses more on education (if you haven’t explored her photography courses, you’re missing out), but it took some serious soul-searching and workflow refinement to get here.

What shifted in Katie’s world?

1. Price Adjustments: Time is money, especially with kids in the mix. Katie revamped her pricing to ensure it made cents (and gave her a bit more financial breathing room).
2. Streamlining & Automation: With newborn twin boys, Katie turned to automation to keep her business running smoothly. She started with email automation, and as her needs evolved, so did her tools. Now, everything from bookings and contracts to scheduling, post-shoot emails, and marketing is fully automated. It’s a game-changer!
3. Efficient Time Management: Katie dedicates three intense days a month to setting up her workflows and then focuses on what truly needs her: shooting and editing.

Katie’s Secrets to a Thriving Photography Business

Wondering how to attract the right clients and manage mini-sessions like a pro? Katie’s got the inside scoop:

Finding the Right Clients

Katie knows that a well-defined brand is key. She leverages word-of-mouth and social media to attract clients who are a perfect fit. “Birds of a feather flock together”—a happy client will often bring more like them.

To attract ideal clients, your brand needs to shine. Your work, client experience, and professionalism must stand out.

Hint: Let SESSION handle the admin so you can shine in what you do best!

The Importance of a Unique Style

Katie emphasizes that carving out a niche is essential for thriving in the luxury market. Brands that try to be all things to all people often end up at the lower end of the spectrum—think Walmart and Target. There’s nothing wrong with that, the moral here is to choose your path intentionally. When you’re clear about your unique identity, your clients will be too. Consistency in your style and messaging is key to building trust and loyalty.

Nailing the Mini Session

Katie’s mini sessions are a brisk 10 minutes, packed with fun. No time for small talk. For the outgoing photog, channel that energy into getting your subjects to shine in front of the camera. Katie personally follows a structured flow to make the most of the short time. Her style is play-focused with planned key poses and movements.

Side note: If 10 minutes feels too rushed or overwhelming, adjust to what works for you — but remember, keep it engaging and dynamic!

Katie’s 3, 2, 1, 180 Method

This method is Katie's secret for creating a diverse gallery from just one pose, reducing stress and maximizing variety.

Here’s how it works:

• 3-Shot: Start with a wide-angle shot to capture the full scene.
• 2-Shot: Move in for a mid-shot, focusing from the waist up.
• 1-Shot: Zoom in for detailed close-ups.
• 180-Degree Circle: Finish by circling around the subject to capture different angles and perspectives.

This approach ensures a rich, varied gallery from a single pose—guaranteed to impress!

How Session Makes a Difference

Katie swears by Session for managing her photography flow. “Session is incredible. The customer service is top-notch (ararity in this industry). You’re talking to real people who really do care and understand our industry. Their reputation is really strong — if you’re doing minis, you go to Session. They make everything seamless and easy.”

With Session, Katie can schedule breaks between mini-sessions and handle any delays smoothly. The platform’s ease of use, especially its gallery delivery system with upsell features, helps Katie maximize her income by encouraging clients to purchase the full gallery of images.

Pro Tip: Leverage Session's upsell feature

Leverage Session’s upsell feature to offer clients the option to add the full gallery of images. Minis generally include a limited number of images, Session makes it easy for clients to add on the full gallery in a low-pressure way, ensuring you never leave money on the table.

What’s Next for Katie Lamb Photography?

Katie is shifting her focus to education, with her sights set on helping fellow photographers succeed in both their craft and business. While her heart will always be in shooting, her mission now focuses on sharing her expertise and mentoring others in the photography world. Though she still dedicates 25% of her work time to capturing images, she views each shoot as an opportunity to practice what she preaches and gather more insights to be put towards the empowerment of the photography community.

“There’s a lot of us, but there’s also a lot of people who need photographers. Stand out by figuring out what makes you unique. It’s never too late to carve your niche and thrive!”

To work with or learn from Katie Lamb, visit: Katie Lamb Photography