If you’ve ever hit a ceiling in your photography business and thought, “This still doesn’t feel right,” Kate’s story is the reset you need. After years of selling digitals and running a hybrid in-person sales model, Kate felt like something was missing. Her clients weren’t valuing the printed artwork she loved—and deep down, she knew she wasn’t truly serving them. So she took a leap, ditched the digital crutch, and everything changed.
So if you want a photography business that’s both meaningful and wildly profitable, hit play and enjoy the episode!
Why Digitals Weren’t Enough
Kate Walton, a former special education teacher turned full-time photographer, was doing everything “right”—studio space, strong sales averages, and a solid workflow. But her $950 sales weren’t translating into impact. Why? Because her clients were only focused on how many digitals they could get. Her beautiful wall art and albums felt like an afterthought.
- Clients saw the print credit as a bonus, not the main event.
- IPS appointments dragged on for hours with little emotional engagement.
- She was burning out editing 60+ images for galleries that got picked apart.
Sound familiar?
The Boutique Breakthrough Shift
Kate joined Boutique Breakthrough hoping to reset—and she found the exact system she didn’t know she was missing.
What changed:
- She learned how to reverse engineer product sales by creating sessions around specific wall art groupings.
- The presentation strategy gave her a faster, more confident sales process.
- Mockups + product storytelling helped clients fall in love with tangible artwork.
“It wasn’t about throwing out everything I knew. It was tweaking what I already had—those small hinges swung big doors.”
Kate’s First $6,821 Julie
She nervously presented the new model to a senior client who had already expected digitals… and they were all in.
- A large wall art trio
- A custom album
- A quick, 45-minute ordering appointment
- And digitals? “Oh, do we get those too?” (They almost forgot to ask.)
This wasn’t just a big sale. It was her moment of clarity.
“My clients weren’t trying to negotiate anymore. They were excited. They hugged me. They planned to come back.”
The Big Takeaways
- Sales doesn’t have to be hard or pushy. When your system is built to serve, clients feel seen and supported.
- Digitals aren’t what people truly want. Printed artwork has lasting emotional value.
- Boutique isn’t just more profitable—it’s more joyful. Less editing. Shorter sales appointments. More hugs.
Final Thoughts
Kate went from nearly walking away from portraits to building a six-figure business with only 20 clients a year. She’s still a present mom, a coach’s wife, and now, a photographer who feels proud of the impact she makes.
So if you’re tired of chasing digital orders and want a business that’s aligned with your values, know this: it’s possible. The clients are out there. And the system is waiting.
RESOURCES
- Go from Hidden to Hidden to Hired this Season: Get the Formula
- Photography Business Tools to Get Started
- Join Our Facebook Group: We Are Portrait Photographers
- Learn About Boutique Breakthrough
- Subscribe & Review the Podcast
