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Susan Renee of www.kingshillstudios.co.uk in Scotland first reached out with a concern I hear more often than you'd think: Are giveaways hurting my brand?

She’d been told by another coach to stop running Facebook competitions — that it made her look “cheap” and would attract the wrong kind of clients.

Thing is, Susan had the numbers.

The bookings were coming in.

Clients were returning.

The system was working… she just wasn’t sure if she should trust it anymore.

So, I connected her with last week's guest and photography business coach, Kim Hamblin, who helped her dig into the data and reverse-engineer a smarter way to run ads that work — and, most importantly, to back herself and her business.

This interview isn’t just about giveaways or Facebook ads (though we cover plenty of that). It’s about what happens when doubt creeps in, especially after a tough year personally. It’s about the power of mindset, knowing your numbers, and staying consistent with what’s working — even if it looks different from what the “experts” say you should be doing.

Susan’s story is real, relatable, and packed with lessons for any photographer second-guessing their path.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• Why “free” doesn’t have to mean “cheap” — and how Susan uses giveaways to build a premium brand that attracts the right clients
• How she went from second-guessing herself to fully booked — with the help of some smart, strategic Facebook ads
• The hidden goldmine in nurture sequences — and how they turn cold leads into loyal, paying clients
• What it was like to grieve and grow a business at the same time — and how it shaped where Susan’s headed now
• The big lessons from 10 years in business — including why she stopped listening to every coach and started trusting herself
• Why knowing your numbers matters more than following the latest trends or “expert” advice
• The Facebook ads trick Susan swears by — and how reverse engineering her goals changed everything
• Want return clients? It starts with delivering an incredible first experience — even if it came from a giveaway
• How she’s making newborn photography profitable and protecting her weekends
• What makes a giveaway actually lead to sales — and the key piece most photographers miss
• How a mindset shift became her most powerful marketing move
• Still asking if giveaways work? The better question: Are you guiding your leads to become clients?
• Why you don’t need a total overhaul to grow — just double down on what’s already working
• Ditch the guilt: The moment Susan stopped chasing other people’s paths and leaned into her own
• From Facebook leads to a calendar full of bookings — why staying consistent is where the real magic is
• Burnout red flags Susan’s watching for now — and how blocking weekends changed her business for the better
• Marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all — and Susan’s story proves what’s possible when you make it your own

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, special member-only interviews.

I think what I really enjoyed about working with Kim, and when I say working with Kim, we just had the one talk, the one long chat, was that she really understood the photography business. She understood what I was speaking about when I said that I didn't want to work on a Saturday. I do work on a Saturday usually, and actually, I'm all working all day…But she absolutely understood my business model, which was fantastic. – Susan Renée

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

I have over 205 star Google reviews, and most of those are from people who have won a complimentary session that have come in and spent hundreds of pounds and that was all working fine. It was a change of direction I was looking for in the genre aspect. – Susan Renée

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Susan shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.

I'm very, very grateful that Kim Marie took me right back to basics… she didn't just reassure me. She made sure she looked at the numbers because it's not good enough just to think you're doing okay. You have to look at the facts. But when she took me through those and showed me how to, I did learn as well, you know, about how to reverse engineer for the Facebook ads, even more succinctly going forward. – Susan Renée

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Susan, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

Leave your creativity behind when you go into the studio. Just do what works and be creative in your own time. – Susan Renée

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Susan Renée Website

Susan Renée at Kingshill Studios on Facebook

Susan Renée on Instagram

Susan Renée on LinkedIn

Kingshill Studios on LinkedIn

Episode 436: Nik Buttigieg – Change your mindset for photography sales success

Episode 420: Kim Hamblin – How to build a photography business to sell

Episode 625: Kim Hamblin – Photography Sales Confidence and the Business Metrics That Matter

Kim Hamblin $10k Challenge Waitlist

I've got a very strong nurture program around my giveaways. So when people come in, they're coming in as clients. They're not coming in thinking that they're getting a free shoot. They're fully aware of pricing. They're looking to buy. They know what they're going to buy. They tell me, before I've even lifted the camera, what they're going to be taking. – Susan Renée

Thank you!

Big thanks to Susan for sharing so openly in this episode. After a tough year and a wave of doubt, it was working with Kim Hamblin of Kim Marie Coaching that helped her see the truth — her numbers were solid, her strategy was working, and she just needed to back herself. It’s always good to hear from someone who’s not chasing shiny tactics but building a business that works for them. If you’ve been second-guessing your marketing, wondering if giveaways are still worth it, or just need a reminder to trust what’s working — this one’s for you. Can’t wait to hear what stands out.

I had spoken to another coach, and he had said, be very careful of running constant giveaways, because it will cheapen the brand…will make people think that you're a cheap photographer. And I really had a crisis of confidence, because I've run Facebook ads and Facebook giveaways for many years and they've worked very, very successfully. – Susan Renée

That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

The post 626: Susan Renée – Are Giveaways Hurting Your Brand or Building It? appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.