on an older generation Mac Book Pro. My office went everywhere! Then I started this crazy business and I invested in an imac…. best decision ever. I can’t imagine culling, storing, editing, blogging, etc. on my laptop….even my new one! My imac was one of my smartest business decisions. However, once I got my first imac in college, that meant I had to have a desk…. and that’s when the “Office Evolution” started. My business and my dorm room were the same thing for almost 2 years. Once I upgraded my imac…. I had to find even more space! Talk about a cramped lifestyle! Thankfully I had a room to myself and I cannot thank my roommates enough for that!
If I had to share a room with someone else AND try to keep a business running while graduating college… I probably wouldn’t have made it. I was so thankful for my little room in the Middle House. It was my first “Official Office” and I loved it. It was the best option for me at the time. My files were stored in a little teal Martha Stewart Living file organizer and whenever Christmas or summer rolled around, I would pack up everything into my little VW bug and the office moved home with me. It was CRAZINESS. After graduating and moving home before the wedding, once again, I had to create an office. I had a summer ahead of me that was FULL of weddings and I needed somewhere to work!! So my office evolved into THIS. I like to call this my “Ten minute office” because I literally set it up in 10 minutes. From that little office space in the landing area of my Parent’s house, I edited 17 weddings, re-designed my website and totally re-branded my whole business. It worked for one summer…. but oh how I dreamed of the day when I would have a REAL office! My desk at the time was made of metal and was on wheels…. a $49.99 Target special. I longed for a REAL desk!! A desk that actually had DRAWERS and would hold FILES! I just wanted a real space to be able to say “Here…. come into my office”.
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Michael and I were so SO thankful that God has perfect timing and we were able to find a house in the middle of June last summer. It wasn’t just adorable on the outside, it was exactly what I had hoped for on the inside. I wanted an office upstairs with slanted rooflines and since we bought a Cape Cod… my dream came true! I now have an office that looks like a little cottage and I’m obsessed with it! Ahhh!!! It’s SO me and so my brand! I really believe that when you work in a space that doesn’t inspire you, you can very easily lose your desire to be creative (that was a constant issue in my Ten Minute Office). Now that I’m working in a space that I LOVE…. I feel more creative AND productive! And guess what…… I have a REAL DESK…and it’s huge….. and I LOVE it! I’m beyond thankful for my space to work and grow this business. It has a few little areas that need some tweaking but that’s just because I’m picky about decorating:). Enjoy these before and afters!!!
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BEFORE…Gross.
AFTER!! AH!
Thank you Wendy for advising that I look for “Settee”…. I now know a new furniture “term”.
Notice some of this stuff?! Definitely re-used wedding decor! Hey, if your brand is based off of “YOU”…. everything is just naturally branded by YOU!
My little babies have a home now!
How cool are these?! Pier One! 50% off!
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
MORE RECENT POSTS
This week, Michael is sitting down with me at the microphone to join me on the podcast! When we started our Acton Academy journey, we had big dreams and very little idea of the practical challenges that lay ahead. Today, in year three of running our own Acton Academy, Michael and I are thrilled to reflect on the incredible transformation we’ve seen in our learners, our community, and even our own perspectives on education.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Erica and Jon, two incredibly talented photographers and educators who have redefined their business and life by embracing change. From leaving a corporate career to transforming their wedding photography business into a thriving brand photography venture, their story is full of inspiration for anyone looking to take bold steps and live life on their own terms.
I run a Facebook group with over 20,000 photographers, and something I see constantly are people sharing their editing struggles, asking for critiques, or seeking advice on how to fix issues in Lightroom.
This is going to go down as the wedding day were we got lucky over and over again. Blair and Ashley heard that there was a chance of rain on their wedding day but we all wrote it off as nothing and kept moving on with all of our original plans.
In the fast-paced world we live in, finding purpose and intention in everyday life can feel like a distant goal. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a parent, a creative, or simply someone searching for more meaning, this probably resonates with you! If you’ve been a longtime follower of the Katelyn James podcast, you know it’s always been about authenticity, growth, and family. So, we wanted the podcast to represent just that. Welcome to Doing Life Differently!
If you’re looking to build a personal brand that genuinely connects with people, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or just someone looking for more purpose in life, I think these insights will resonate with you.
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