Podcast Summary: "From 16K to One Million: Katinka Tromp’s Journey"

Podcast: The Difference Maker Revolution Podcast
Host: The Difference Maker Revolution (Steve Saporito, Ronan Ryle, Jonathan Ryle, Jeanine McLeod)
Guest: Katinka Tromp
Date: January 12, 2026

Overview

This episode welcomes the first-ever guest, Katinka Tromp, to share her incredible decade-long journey from earning just €16,000 in her first full year as a photography studio owner to breaking the €1 million annual revenue milestone in 2025. The discussion is rich with business lessons, mindset shifts, the power of community and mentoring, and the practical realities of building a premium brand and life-changing experiences for clients. It’s full of inspiring moments, honest reflections, and actionable advice for photographers and entrepreneurs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Katinka’s Background and Studio Growth

• Location: Dordrecht, Netherlands (UNESCO world site with windmills, studio 20 minutes from Rotterdam).
• Business Evolution: Started with a small 80m² studio, upgraded to a 350m² space, growing her team and refining her brand over 10 years (01:10–04:00, 06:30–09:00).
• Key Milestone: Achieved €1 million in revenue for 2025, an eight-year journey since her first full year earning €16,476 (02:08, 25:39–25:55).

Overcoming Business Challenges

• Marketing Struggles: Hired and fired three marketing companies that delivered “clicks, not leads.” None understood high-end yet heart-driven portrait experiences (06:00–07:30).
• Turning Point: Early 2025, Katinka hit a crisis, and after an emotional call with her mentor Steve Saporito, received hands-on help (copywriting, landing pages, mindset work) to produce ads that finally brought in quality leads (06:54–09:00).
  • “You tell me what to do, and I’ll do it… On Saturday evening, Joost said to me, ‘How deep do you want to go into debt to save your dream?’ … and then the leads started coming in!” — Katinka (07:30–08:30).

The Power of Clear Positioning and Mindset

• Avatar Clarity: Success hinged on refining her ideal client profile—serving women who wanted more than photos, who sought transformation and self-discovery (11:42–12:36).
• Mindset Shift: Transitioned from “getting through leads” to treasuring each as a potential life-changing client, driving huge conversion increases (12:58–13:28):
  • “Every one of these leads is a potential client. I need to find out what’s magical about them and make their day.”—Steve (13:15).

Premium Clients and Experience

• Debunking Myths: Addressed the misconception that Facebook/Instagram can’t deliver premium leads (14:53–15:25).
• Creating Value: The “premium” isn't about the client’s income; it’s about how you make them feel:
  • “What I do is allow them to buy what they think they are worth… I don’t care what car they show up in.”—Katinka (15:30–17:36).
• Memorable Story: Client arrives in a beaten-up car, leaves with €9,000 in wall art and an album; the real premium is creating value, not targeting a stereotype.

Confidence, Pricing, and Prepayment

• Innovation: Introduced a €295 session fee with pre-paid collections, common among luxury studios but resisted by many peers (19:28–20:09).
• Experience Starts Early: Katinka emphasizes the client experience begins on the first call, not just when they arrive (20:46–21:35):
  • “If you want a photo, please leave the call now. What you’ll experience is so much more…”—Katinka (21:35).

Life Beyond Business: Health, Relationships, and Abundance

• Work-Life Shift: After years of stress, hitting the €1 million milestone brought more security, free time (studio closure for holidays for the first time in a decade), and plans for travel and family celebrations (22:19–25:05).
• Personal Transformation: As business stress decreased, Katinka’s health and self-image improved (lost 18 kilos with Ozempic), positively affecting both her personal life and business (29:41–31:21):
  • “By being the person I want to be, I’m attracting more good things in my life…my clients are going through the same journey.” — Katinka.

The Importance of Support and Mentoring

• Mentor Insights: Katinka credits successive mentors for each leap in business—first to €100K, next to €1M (27:04–28:00).
• Partner Support: Her husband, Joost, became the “backbone” of the business. His involvement in studio management is vital, and their supportive dynamic is key to Katinka’s resilience (32:12–34:59):
  • “He is what I am not, and I am what he isn’t… He’s my anchor, my everything.” — Katinka.

Community and Future Events

• Workshops: Two workshops at Katinka’s studio in March 2026—‘Elevate Your Bookings’ and ‘Elevate Your Sales’—promising hands-on learning in an environment specifically designed for the Difference Maker approach (36:40–39:29).
• Continued Innovation: Highlights advances in AI-driven tools for marketing and client management, showcased for members at upcoming sessions (41:17).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mindset and Belief:
  • “Please believe in yourself and please just do it. Watch the workshops, listen online, be a member of the Difference Makers, and just go for it. You’re worth it.” — Katinka [00:00]
• On the Value of Experience:
  • “You don’t need premium clients. You need to be the premium experience… Make them feel they are worth it.” — Katinka [16:00–17:36]
• On Celebrating Success:
  • “When we hit one million, I bought myself a ring—one stone for every year. Grit, determination, faith, and mindset is absolutely everything.” — Katinka [10:00]
• On Growth:
  • “You didn’t just ‘magic’ a million euro studio. You developed the skills, the mindset, and you built over time.” — Jonathan [26:03]
• On Partnership:
  • “The value of a partner who completely believes in you is just amazing. Joost, you’re my rock.” — Katinka [34:59]
• On Impact:
  • “Every person you touch has a trickle effect on all the people they know. It really does make a difference.” — Steve [29:07]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:08] – Katinka announces hitting €1M revenue
• [06:54] – Describes the breakdown, the crisis point, and the call for help
• [08:30] – The marketing strategy that brought in real leads
• [11:40] – Importance of client avatar and rejecting “bad fit” marketing
• [13:28] – Mindset shift: treating every lead as a potential client
• [15:30] – Story about the “premium” client in a beat-up car
• [21:35] – Reframing the first call as the true start of customer experience
• [25:39] – The humble beginning: €16,476 first year revenue
• [29:41] – Personal health breakthrough and its business impact
• [32:12] – Deep dive on Joost’s transformative role in the business
• [36:40] – Upcoming Difference Maker workshops and their objectives
• [41:17] – Hints at new AI tools for photographers

Episode Takeaways

• Success in photography (or any service business) is fundamentally about mindset, resilience, continuous learning, and delivering an exceptional client experience.
• “Premium” is about the experience and transformation you offer, not the stereotypical wealth of your clients.
• Honest mentorship and a strong support network, both personal and professional, are invaluable for growth.
• Celebrate your milestones, however small—they fuel long-term motivation and help anchor your journey.
• The story proves that with focused effort, openness to help, and a resolve to continually level up, even the most modest beginnings can lead to seven-figure milestones and a fulfilling, balanced life.

Closing Note

Katinka’s electrifying journey is a masterclass in the power of belief, specialization, and genuine connection—with yourself, your clients, and your support network. Her vulnerability and gratitude shine through, making this not just a business episode, but a deeply human and actionable blueprint for ambitious creators in any field.