The Importance of Photography Mentorship

I’ve been a lifestyle photographer serving Williston, North Dakota and beyond for the last seven years. During that time, I’ve learned a thing or two about running a business. Despite investing in a photography course before I really began my business, I still had a lot left to learn and roadblocks to navigate within my business once I got started. Enter mentorships! I invested in my first photography mentorship around 2 years ago and the guidance that I received during that time and after has been invaluable to me.

Why I Invested in Mentorship

I first invested in mentorship with Sabrina Gebhardt roughly two years ago, and I’ve continued it because it works.  What started as a virtual mentorship has spawned into me participating in Root to Rise, a mentorship with an in-person retreat, with Sabrina and other photographers.  I had goals in mind for my business and the combination of guidance from my mentor and the community I built with other photographers helped me reach those goals.  I knew I wanted to offer travel photography & I dreamed of an in-home studio.  Through mentorship, I not only achieved those goals, I gained community & learned more about the ins & outs of a photography business than I ever could’ve hoped.

The Value of Mentorship

As a photographer, continuing education is so important!  There’s never going to be a time when I know everything there is to know about the craft or the business aspect. But I’m especially fond of mentorship because it’s essentially continuing education on steroids!  Instead of fumbling through YouTube tutorials or putting my goals and studying on the back burner, someone is ensuring I’m prioritizing my evolving business. In my case, Sabrina is someone who’s already experienced the things I wanted to work on & she helped me through the process with real time guidance. Since beginning mentorship, the goals I set for myself have become my reality.

My Photography Mentorship Experience

Having Sabrina as a sounding board and voice of reason was a game-changer for my studio goal.  Initially, I thought a studio at home would be the way to go. At one point, I planned to build one on our property.  Sabrina quickly brought me back to reality with the input that 1) building a studio would be a huge financial investment and 2) I may not even like having a studio.  Instead, I found a space downtown that I remodeled. And my favorite thing about it? It’s not at my house.  

Travel photography was next up on my bucket list. It’s been an offered service within Kellie Rochelle Photography for two years!  I knew I wanted to travel & photograph my clients all over the country, but there were several factors I hadn’t considered. From setting myself up for financial success to the shoots I’d be missing back home, my mentor helped me consider it all so I didn’t jump in haphazardly.  Did I mention I’ve had a travel session every month this year?

Business & Personal Growth from Mentoring

My mentor was able to help me take lofty goals and put together a step-by-step, realistic plan for making them a reality.  She approached everything from a logical, been-there-done-that angle and answered any questions or concerns that I had.  This investment paid off tenfold because it helped me diversify my business. It created sustainability and longevity in a field that’s fairly well known for burn-out. The coolest part is that my growth hasn’t just been in my business– I’ve grown as an individual as well.

My life has been enriched through the friendships I’ve formed in my mentorship groups. The books we’ve shared have transformed my mind, and I became introduced to outsourcing.  This has freed up so much time for me to enjoy time with my family and the craft I love.  I now have a bookkeeper, a social media marketer, a coach, and a virtual assistant who handles newsletters, blogs & Pinterest.  My housekeeper helps keep me sane & my trainer helps keep me healthy.  Self-care is scheduled (literally on my schedule) monthly. My entire life has been transformed thanks to taking the chance on a mentorship.

Mentor With Me

My next endeavor is part of a 6-month in-depth masterclass designed to add an education component to my business. Mentorship has benefited me in both my business and my personal life. Now, I can’t help but recommend it to everyone with any pain point in their business! Because I’ve gained so much knowledge over the last few years, I’m now the go-to for my photography friends.  Because of that, I’m thrilled to announce that mentorship will be added to the list of services I offer!  I am so excited to be the support person for other photographers that Sabrina has been to me! 

Photography Educator & Mentor

Hi, I’m Kellie– a North Dakota-based lifestyle photographer, educator & mentor. I’m passionate about my craft & supporting other photographers pursuing the businesses of their dreams. Have you been searching for a sounding board or the guidance of someone who’s been where you are now? Let’s talk about how I can be that mentor for you. And don’t forget to check out the free resource guide I have available! In the meantime, you can check out some of my other blog posts, follow along on Pinterest, or join in on the fun on IG!

If you liked this blog, be sure to check out these posts:

Root to Rise Retreat

How I Got Started in Destination Photography

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