The weekly student profile series is dedicated to featuring our favorite element of creativeLIVE — our community members, who are bravely learning and making real things every day.
When it comes to a photography business, most of us would rather spend the whole day shooting than thinking about marketing strategies, pricing presentations and branding. Kathy Campbell is an exception. Based in Oregon, Kathy has built a business around helping photographers grow their businesses and keep a sold work-life balance. Here’s our interview with this long-time creativeLIVE fan:
Kathy, can you give us a quick introduction?
Sure, I am a photographer based out of the beautiful Pacific Northwest, a helper for photographers all over the world and a dreamer when it comes to life. Life happens to everyone but our family pushes forward through strokes, working from home, dishes and discovering how to cook; I wouldn’t have it any other way. Blessings are found everywhere and anyone can follow their dreams, if they are ready to work at it!
What is your day job?
I run a business titled thephotogshelper.com, which is dedicated to helping and supporting photographers all over the world with the goal of making sure that they have a business that they love and can make income and be happy instead of stressed. I also have the joy to be a photographer myself, photographing all sorts of things with a concentration of making women feel beautiful.
What is your dream job?
The one I have! Seriously.
What is your biggest business/professional challenge?
Being my own boss. She can be kind of a hard ass and relentless at times but overall, it’s wonderful to be able to manage my own time, talents and jobs. I get to do what I want to do when I want to do it.
Where do you go / what do you do when you need to be inspired and where do you go for business advice?
I love visiting business blogs for inspiration, especially ones that are NOT in my industry. Some of my favorites are: Kristen Kalp (http://www.brandcampblog.com), Amanda Genther (http://amandagenther.com) and Marie Forleo (http://www.marieforleo.com).
If you could live in any other decade, what would it be?
I love the time period we are in right now, especially because of the medical developments that helped my husband overcome illness. However, if I could choose who I am in addition to the decade, I’d love to be a part of the 17th or 18th century, in the upper class. Power behind the throne type person!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would travel to the UK, especially London and Lincolnshire. I was named after Katherine de Roet, John of Gaunt’s mistress turned wife and dream of being able to visit the places of her life and the joy of the Brits.
Who is your favorite cL instructor or workshop and why?
I really loved the Laura Vanderkam workshop but Sue Bryce has made the biggest difference in so many pieces of my work and life. Tamara Lackey’s Work Life Balance has also been amazing.
If you could teach anything on creativeLIVE, what would it be?
It would be so much fun to do a class on finding the joy in the little things – the silver lining. Being happy with your “lot” in life, even if it means finding a new normal. When my husband had a stroke, I knew that it was going to change our world, but I am so blessed and so happy with my life.
What topic would you like to see covered on cL?
I’ve really loved all the lifestyle ones! Maybe some more business lifestyle ones?
What was your first-ever introduction to creativeLIVE?
To be honest, I’ve watched so many it’s hard to remember! I think I first signed up with cL in March of 2011 for Bambi Cantrell’s class.
If you attend a cL class with any instructor in the world, who would it be?
Elizabeth Messina in a Heartbeat! Or any of the above business pros I listed: Kristen Kalp, Amanda Genther or Marie Forleo.
How can our readers find out more about you?
Blog: thephotogshelper.com/blog
Website: thephotogshelper.com
Twitter: @thephotoghelper
Facebook: fb.com/thephotogshelper
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104063971373779012054/posts
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mrssoup
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mrssoup
