Wife, momma of five (one in heaven), photographer-turned-educator, business builder, podcaster, and an intentional living advocate.
Katelyn James
NICE TO MEET You, FRIENDS, I’M
Your story isn’t insignificant—it’s your greatest starting point.
I equip purpose-driven entrepreneurs and photographers to turn their story into connection—and their gifts into lasting impact.
HEY FRIENDS. I’m KATELYN
I equip
purpose-driven entrepreneurs and photographers to turn their story into connection—and their gifts into lasting impact.
Take the Quiz
You don’t need more guesswork. You need a clear next step. Take the quiz and let me guide you to the exact resource that fits your season of business!
FIND Your FIX
TAKE THE QUIZ
Because the world
doesn’t need more of the same. It needs more of your story.
Today, I’m a mom of four, leading thousands of photographers and entrepreneurs who are ready to do business and life differently. I care deeply about helping business owners uncover the power of their story and build brands that are not just profitable—but personal and purposeful.
Sixteen years ago, I was an ambitious 20-something photographer with a dream.
meet katelyn
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
+
16
YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS
+
100,000
weddings shot
+
300
students
+
50,000
7-FIGURE BUSINESS
MULTI
GET WHAT YOU Need
You don’t have to figure it out alone. Start with one of my most popular free resources:
Editing
KJ’s Keys to Lightroom
Composition
3 Mistakes That Keep You From Captivating Photos
Lighting
The Secret to Photos You're Proud Of
Posing
15 Poses in 5 Minutes
COMPOSITION COURSE
Learn More
The EDITING COURSE
Learn More
You don’t need more guesswork. You need a clear next step. Take the quiz and let me guide you to the exact resource that fits your season of business!
The KJ COURSES
WHAT WE’RE KNOWN FOR
Hit play to hear the latest episode while you browse
Top Episodes
This podcast is where I share the stories God’s writing in my life—the ones behind the camera, behind the scenes, and inside my heart. From family and faith to business and burnout, “Doing Life Differently” invites you into intentional conversations and real-life encouragement.
Listen to the Podcast
Browse all Episodes
What started as a scrappy, no-budget marketing plan turned into one of my biggest career wins. By sharing my life, casting vision, and intentionally connecting my clients to one another, I built a loyal tribe of over 300 KJ Brides whose enthusiasm helped grow my business into a multi-six-figure brand. Want to know how? Keep reading...
KJ Brides
I realized, I wasn’t just building a business, I was building a TRIBE of people who believed in my brand. Why did they believe in my brand? Because I gave them something to TRUST. I didn’t just share my work, I shared my story. Fast forward 4-5 years and I had built ANOTHER Tribe, just like the first… only these weren’t 300 brides, these were thousands of “KJ Students” and photographers from around the world!
KJ students
A few years later, we launched a school for our kids and others in our community—and quickly saw, yet another, new Tribe forming. United by a shared vision for education, connected to each other in community and to us as leaders, our Acton Academy community has doubled every year since 2022 with almost no marketing. Why? Because a personal brand carries incredible power. If you’ve never experienced what a personal brand can do for your business, you’ve found the right place to learn!
our acton family
15 POSES in 5 MINUTES
Download our top freebie
You can do SO MUCH MORE in the locations that you’re shooting in! The issue isn’t that you need more locations, it’s that you don’t know which pose to do next!
Download Now
Where PASSION MEETS PURPOSE
Our business journey opened our eyes to the gaps in traditional education—so we started a school. This is what it looks like when purpose overflows into every part of life.
See our School
See the Shop
Whether you're a photographer wanting to finally be able to master light and speed up your editing or you're dreaming of the day when you're finally comfortable creating a client experience, the KJ Shop has what you need to thrive!
