At my event, Go Boutique Live, we honor photographers who have reached $100,000 in portrait sales from January through December with the $100K YAY award.
This year’s award winners are sharing how they reached $100K in their portrait photography business to show you that it’s possible.
Alison Gallagher of Alison Anne Studios
What has gotten me where I am today are the books I read, the podcasts I listen to and who I surround myself with.
I love to read books that push me out of my comfort zone and I enjoy learning about inspiring people who have persevered through incredible things.
I choose to surround myself with positive and hardworking people who have a growth mindset.
I hold on to these things so I can push through any challenges that come up in my business.
Another piece of advice I have for reaching $100K is to get clear about your why.
Figure out why you're doing what you're doing because will be days that you want to quit.
I keep pictures of my daughter and my husband all around my desk because they are my "why."
On the days I don't want to get out of bed in the morning, I think of them.
We are all here for a reason.
We are creators.
My clients need me because I am changing their lives.
If I stopped doing what I'm doing, I would cut them off from my gift.
Keep going.
You are worthy much more than $100,000.
Jean Lechat of Jean Lachat Photography
In March of 2020, Sarah told me that the lockdown would be what I make of it.
I realized that I had control over my response to the pandemic, so I worked on my business.
I worked on reaching our and creating partnerships with local businesses that I wouldn't have normally.
I love these people and they love me back, I feel a lot of support in my community.
This support has grown my business and revenue immensely.
To make over $100k, you have to keep moving in your business.
When you feel like crawling into a corner and crying, get out and make connections in order to create the future you want.
Chianne Coffman of Chy Creative
I remember sitting down with my accountant at the end of 2018 and seeing that I only grossed $589.
I was a young mom of two little kids, who was paying a nanny to watch them while I sat down the hall editing photos for hours on end.
I knew I had to make a big change.
I joined Boutique Breakthrough and over the next 30 days, my life and business did a complete 180.
I saw my dream on the horizon.
The roadmap to success was in front of me, I just needed to trust the process, put one foot in front of the other, and follow the path that the course laid out.
I got to work, but it was hard.
When I got my boutique price list back, my husband said,
“No one will pay $7,000 for artwork.”
Doubt crept in, but I knew I had to persevere.
My first Julie proved him wrong and placed a $7,669 order.
I started gaining confidence in myself and what I was doing.
My business continued to grow and I hired my first employee this year.
Things are changing in the best ways possible.
Boutique Breakthrough made me rise to my potential because I had somebody who believed in me more than I believed in myself.
I believe in you.
You can reach $100k in your boutique photography business.
Diane Dultmeier of Dultmeier Photography
The thing that helped me make $100K was the support of boutique photographers across the country.
The support groups within Peak Performers have been extremely helpful.
Being able to post in the group and bounce around ideas has contributed the most to my success.
I am also successful because I don’t give up.
I took notes from every failure and learned things about myself and my business.
I kept trying, and never gave up because the Peak Performers encouraged me to keep moving.
That is how I reached $100k in my photography business.
Sarah Petty
One of the most powerful things to see is ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
These photographers are just like you: juggling life, family, and bills, while wanting time, freedom, and flexibility to put their family first.
They did it and you can too.
I hope this series showed you that it's possible to reach $100K no matter what obstacles have been put in front of you.
I hope to be giving you a $100K Yay award next year at Go Boutique Live!
