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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
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I think what I really enjoyed about working with Kim,
