1 -on -1 immersive mentorship pROGRAM

Hello, legend. I’m Kara Marie, and I’m here to help…

… but not in a passive way.

My 1-on-1 mentorships have become increasingly in-depth and expansive over the years, providing an immersive, results-driven experience that nurtures evolution and prompts action. In other words, we shake shit up.

I help photographers structure a business in which every practice has a purpose, every client is a satisfied one, and you, the creator in charge, are being served by your business and your art, not the other way around.

I’ve been a professional photographer for nearly 18 years, spending the last 8 of them helping photographers achieve their business goals and find their creative sweet spots as artists. What started out as a side hustle of boudoir photography for my wedding clients very quickly escalated into a bustling full-time thriving photography studio in Austin TX, where I was personally serving 8-10 clients a week (because, hey, who can turn down business??!), and exhausting myself.

Fast forward through a raging case of burnout, I was smacked in the face with the realization that even work that I LOVED can be toxic when I’m not leaving time to take care of myself— my method has changed.

After coming out on the other side, I pivoted from accepting as much work as humanly possible to instead curating the exact business and life that I wanted. I ruthlessly audited my practices, purging the ones that weren’t serving me and keeping the ones that made my business successful in the first place: outstanding customer service, and a passion for helping women come into their power.

I’m now riding a beautiful balance of ENTHUSIASTIC CREATION and SUSTAINABLE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS operation, and I’m dedicated to helping you do the same. You deserve that…seriously.

IS IT FOR YOU?

While there is a simple application process in order to be considered for a mentorship program, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine whether or not a mentorship with me is a good fit for you:

“am i open to changing my systems?”

It would seem obvious that having coaching would result in some necessary changes to your practices and mindset…though not everyone is already ready to disrupt the way they’re doing things, which means there’s only so much I can do to help. If you are open to thinking about your art and your business in a way that you’ve never thought of it before, if you’re open to doing things differently than the masses, then we have a good foundation to work off of.

“AM I PASSIONATE ABOUT MY MISSION?”

Do you feel a deeper purpose than merely just being a booked and busy photographer? Even if you haven’t found your specific “WHY” yet, a mentorship with me is a good fit if you recognize that money alone will not lead to long-term “success” (but you still want to make more money…just in a happier way).

“AM I COMMITTED TO DOING THE WORK?”

It’s human nature to be enticed by a quick-fix, magic pill, and overnight success. I am here to tell you that investing in coaching from me will not be any of those things. I will be sharing with you a wealth of experience, I will be providing you with a fresh perspective on your practices and give you a suggested road map to achieve your dreams, I will be guiding you towards your creative potential. You will leave inspired and motivated. The make-or-break of it, though, is that you will then have to actually implement changes. That is not something that I nor anyone else can do for you. You’ll have to do the work. Lucky for you, you’ll have the tools and the sideline cheerleader-slash-coach(hi!) needed to do so.

if you answered “yes” to these questions, then we can chat…

WAYS TO LEVEL UP

  • 1-on-1 IMMERSIVE MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS

    My complete program is a multi-day intensive private coaching workshop with transformation as the main focus. The topics covered will be tailored to your specific needs but will follow my proven structure of four phases.

    Phase 1: Photoshoot experience for yourself so that you can feel what my clients do and understand the impact of being photographed in an experience-rich capacity

    Phase 2: This is the phase in which we sit down and talk BUSINESS. We’ll review + audit your business and customer service practices, and areas for improvement or adjustment. I will give you actionable steps to strengthen your business for the long-haul.

    Phase 3: Creative development phase. During this time, we’ll take a look at your work and its unspoken language. We’ll evaluate your artistic preferences, and build a development plan for giving your work more depth and soul, while keeping your creative fire fueled and finding your own unique style. I’ll give you a fresh take on your portfolio, and a blueprint for a living a life conducive to creativity.

    Phase 4: Guided photoshoot. I’ll coach you through as you direct a photoshoot with a muse or model, guiding you towards your style preferences while also giving real-time teaching on the execution of a proper photo shoot experience. This phase will be heavily customized to your specific needs. For the last portion of this shoot, I will step to the sidelines and let you fly on your own (while, of course, taking some really cool BTS for you along the way.)

    Of all of my education offerings, the 1-on-1 immersive mentorship is by far the best investment into yourself as an artist, your clients as your livelihood, and your business as a reliable source of income and job satisfaction.

    Learn More & Apply

  • GROUP WORKSHOPS

    Group workshops typically host between 10 and 20 photographers in a one-day event of one specific topic.

    During these workshops, I will typically start the day with discussion and a themed presentation, breaking for lunch, and spending the second portion of the day in a group photoshoot setting.

    Workshops are great for those who are inspired in group settings and those who are interested in more generalized learning.

    While I limit the group size in order to be able to provide more hands-on learning for each photographer, naturally group workshops don’t allow for highly individualized attention.

    Upcoming Workshops

  • ONLINE EDUCATION

    For those who thrive in self-paced from-the-comfort-of-their-own-homes kind of atmosphere, I have a library of thoughtful digital education products ranging from posing guides to customer service overhauls.

    Shop Kara Marie's Education Store

RECENT MENTEE EXPERIENCE…

“This has been the most transformative event in my whole artistic life!

I won't be able to describe how valuable this mentorship was, but I'll try. I had great expectations of my mentorship with Kara Marie. I've already bought so many of her courses and attended an in-person workshop. So, the expectations were high since I’ve already learned a lot from her. But she exceeded these expectations even beyond my wildest dreams! There was so much more to learn that I didn't even realize. Also, it was so much more tailored to me as a person, than I thought it would be.

As a photographer and artist, I was in an identity-crisis for a long time already. I booked this mentorship with her, hoping she could. learn me to be more of an artist, and learn how to see as she does. But it went way beyond this... I learned so much more then just photography or business. I learned so much about myself as a person and artist. I learned what my heart craved. She revealed to me my true self, which is mind-boggling since I've been trying to find this for a full year now. My vision of where I want to go has never been so clear and has never ever felt so aligned with who I am as a person beneath all those layers that society has thrown on me. I finally have a vision now. I finally know who I am as a photographer and where I stand for and I cannot wait to finally explore this side of me.

This aside, Kara Marie really helps you to put your business in a helicopter view so you can see where energy is leaking and where your business doesn't match your own vision and values. She also shows how you could possibly to rearrange everything so you can not only help your clients the best way possible, but also yourself and your business. She shows you how you can level up. And this is so valuable. It's hands-on information based on your business, not just general stuff.

So Kara Marie didn't only help me with my business & photography. She really helped me as a person, and that makes everything in my business so much clearer.

I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity to work with her in person. She is absolutely magnificent in EVERY way. As an artist, as a photographer, as an educator, and most definitely as a person.

Thank you, Kara. For everything. It seemed that you knew so much better what I needed, than I knew myself. You did so much more that what I could've wished for. <3

I'm forever grateful and you truly have a special place in my heart.”

-Ilke P., Brussels Belgium

FAQ’s

  • Kara Marie is based full-time in northern Italy and regularly hosts workshops in both Milan and Como, Italy.

    With frequent travel to the US, it is possible to schedule an in-person mentorship program around Kara Marie’s existing tour stops with substantial notice.

    Another option that is very impactful is hosting Kara Marie directly in your studio so she can have an up-close look at your business. An additional travel fee may be requested for this pending your location.

  • The questions on this page are a good indicator of whether or not you are a good candidate for mentorship. Beyond that pre-qualification, all mentorship applications are thoughtfully reviewed by Kara Marie to determine if it is a good fit for both parties.

    Given the intensity of these programs, only 3-4 of students are selected each year. Those who are approved after application will be considered based on logistics (i.e. mentee’s availability and location).

  • The 4-phase mentorship program that includes the photoshoot experience (highly encouraged), has a set rate of $8900 USD with payment plans available. For a 3-phase mentorship program that excludes a photoshoot experience, rates start at $6500 USD.

    For a detailed list of inclusions, visit the application page here.

  • While a 1-on-1 in person mentorship allows for the maximum return on investment while being the most transformative, for those whom the program is cost-prohibitive, Kara Marie’s online masterclass “Legendary Customer Service” is a good place to start, coupled with any group workshop experience you can join.

  • All mentorship programs follow a 3 or 4 phase structure, and are customized to the individual.

    Available business topics include: customer service structure, efficient workflow, repeat + referral business generation, pricing structures, photoshoot flow, business growth mindset, website + communication audit, curating a business that is nurturing to your clients and yourself.

    Creative topics can include: portfolio review, style audit, finding your artistic style, branding and marketing, and leading a life conducive to creativity.

    The shoot portion can include posing, lighting, directing, developing your artistic style.

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