Turn Your Story into a Blueprint for Business Success

n this still very young age of the Internet, social media and AI, it is easy to get sidetracked and confused when it comes to making business decisions and how we show up in our marketing.

How do we stand out? What sets us apart? It’s not our technical skills or tools, nor is it really what we’re selling - it's our stories, the unique threads of experience and values that only we can weave.

As an artist, mother and photographer, an introvert and sensitive, being a solopreneur has been challenging. Even though I was well educated, had a distinct and unique visual style, had skills and talent - I had a hard time finding my voice, putting words to my offers that made sense and showing up in my marketing in a way that felt authentic.

Years went by where I tried it all, from changing my niche, learning more skills and expanding my offers to stepping outside my comfort zone by speaking on camera and going to networking events. But what I thought was just me stepping outside my comfort zone was actually me bulldozing over my values hoping things would get better.

I was close to giving up several times. But giving up what I’ve invested decades, money and effort in was just too hard a pill to swallow. I couldn’t do it. I had to keep going.

I didn’t think there was anything out there I hadn’t heard of or tried.

You know how sometimes you just need the right messenger to hear the message? This was one of those scenarios. I’ve heard plenty about how values, mission and vision was the fundament of any endeavor. But this was different.

The Turning Point: Finding Clarity Through Collaboration

A friend and writer who had just come back from Italy where he started a youtube channel monetizing his dream - renovating a ruin in his ancestors village - encouraged me to dive into my story.

At first, I resisted. My initial thought was: "What else is there to know? I already know my story." But something about his encouragement struck a chord. This wasn’t about just knowing my story—it was about uncovering its depth, seeing the hidden patterns, and finding meaning in the twists and turns I had overlooked.

So I began. With my friend as my sparring partner, we traced the path that had led me here—not just as a business owner but as a woman, mother, artist, and introvert. We looked at my work, my values, and the moments that shaped who I was. What emerged wasn’t just a story—it was a blueprint.

I began to see that my struggles weren’t failures; they were reflections of me stepping away from the very values that made my work meaningful. The connection was undeniable: when I worked in alignment with my story, my creativity flowed, and my work resonated deeply with others. When I bulldozed over my values, chasing trends or mimicking what worked for others, I felt disconnected, drained, and invisible.

This realization became the turning point. It wasn’t just about clarity in my business; it was about understanding who I was and letting that identity anchor every decision I made—from my offers to how I communicated. My story wasn’t just a marketing tool; it was my compass.

The deeper I went, the more everything started to shift. Suddenly, showing up in my marketing felt less like a performance and more like a conversation. I wasn’t just creating content; I was creating connection. And people noticed. Clients who resonated with my work on a deeper level began to find me—women who were also navigating the challenges of business, creativity, and identity.

What’s most remarkable is how this process transformed not just my business but my life. I learned how to set boundaries with ease because I finally knew what aligned with my values and what didn’t. I stopped overexplaining myself because I no longer felt the need to justify decisions that were rooted in my truth. My confidence grew—not the loud, boisterous kind, but a quiet, steady confidence that came from knowing myself.

In entrepreneurship knowing our values and having an authentic framework is paramount.

Identity in the Age of AI: Why Depth Matters More Than Ever

In a world increasingly dominated by AI, automation, and endless streams of content, identity has become our most valuable currency. AI can generate words, mimic styles, and even create art—but it can’t replicate the human experience behind those creations. It can’t tell your story.

This is why your identity—rooted in your values, experiences, and story—is more important than ever. Without it, your work risks becoming just another drop in the digital ocean. But with it? You create something irreplaceable.

The good news is that uncovering your story isn’t about reinventing yourself; it’s about rediscovering what’s already there. It’s about seeing the connections between the chapters of your life and weaving them into a narrative that not only guides your business but brings meaning to your work.

Finding Your Story

If you’re a solopreneur or creative feeling stuck—if you’re struggling to find your voice or wondering how to stand out—start with your story. Here’s how:

1. Reflect on Your Journey: Look at the pivotal moments in your life, the struggles, and the triumphs. What values have consistently guided you?

2. Identify Patterns: What themes or threads run through your experiences? What have you learned, and how does that shape the way you show up today?

3. Embrace Your Unique Voice: Your story isn’t about perfection; it’s about authenticity. Don’t shy away from the messy parts—that’s where connection lives.

By connecting with your story, you create a foundation for everything else. Your marketing becomes more authentic, your decisions more aligned, and your business more sustainable. And the best part? You’ll find a renewed sense of purpose, depth, and joy in your work.

I know this because I’ve been there. Finding my story gave me clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction I didn’t know I was missing. And if it can do that for me, it can do the same for you.

Embracing Your Story

Your story isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s your superpower. It’s what sets you apart in a noisy world and it’s what draws the right people to you. When you build your business on the foundation of your identity and values, it becomes more than a source of income—it becomes a source of meaning and joy.

If you’re ready to dive into your story and align your business with your true self, let’s connect. Whether you need guidance, a sounding board, or just someone who’s been there, I’d love to help you uncover the power of your story.

Transforming Your Business with Story-Driven Branding

Every entrepreneur’s journey is different, but one thing remains constant: the search for genuine connection. When I first stepped into the world of photography, I was armed with a camera, a passion for beauty, and a drive to make sense of the world. Over time, I realized my work wasn’t simply about capturing beautiful images. It was about building a bridge—a way to connect my art with the people it could serve.

In those early years, I was proud of my portfolio, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I could see the beauty in my work, but I struggled to help others feel why it mattered. Then a storyteller friend nudged me to dig deeper, and that’s when it clicked: my story. It wasn’t just what I did—it was the why behind it. The values, experiences, and struggles that had shaped me weren’t separate from my work; they were the very reason it resonated.

Uncovering my story changed everything, not only in how I connected with clients but in how I saw myself. For the first time, I could see the value in my struggles, understanding how each challenge, each phase of my journey, had shaped my skills and values. That clarity became a powerful anchor—a way to see my work as an extension of who I was and what I believed.

And here’s the beauty of storytelling in business: no two stories are alike. Our experiences, perspectives, and reasons for creating are uniquely ours. When we fully embrace that, the concept of “competition” dissolves. No one can be us. And when we lead with our story, the connection we create is built on authenticity, not just skill or service. It becomes a partnership based on shared values and trust, where clients see not just what we do, but why we’re the right fit for them.

Today, I help fellow solopreneurs uncover their own stories, knowing firsthand how transformative it is. This shift goes beyond branding—it changes our whole being, helping us see purpose in our journey and power in our story. When we share that, we don’t just stand out; we create a legacy that speaks to those who are meant to work with us.

The biggest misconception of what makes a portrait beautiful (and what it takes for you to love your image)

(Norsk tekst under)

Most people I meet in my every day life, even those that come to me to for a portrait, hold the same misconceptions of what it takes to look good in a photograph.

They think the issue is that they just aren’t photogenic and so they feel uncomfortable when a camera is pointed at them. And I get it. I'm very familiar with the feeling of suddenly having someones focus full-on on me and having a hyper awareness about my flaws arise.

Unfortunately most people will stop there, having made up their minds that they're just not photogenic. Here I'll debunk the misconception of ‘being photogenic' once and for all. 

What it takes to create a portrait that you love

Looking good in a picture is about four things: Preparation, Pose, Poise and Position.

Preparation. Naturally what you wear impacts about 1/3 of image and what you want to convey and makeup and hair/grooming will impact your confidence and expression as well.

Pose - posing emphasises aspects of you that you love or minimises sides that aren’t your favourite. The best thing about the power of a good pose is that it will also impact how you feel.

Poise - how you carry yourself and how you feel and think about yourself will impact everything else. A good photographer will create an environment that will support 

Position - Position is mostly the responsibility of the photographer and involves light - arguably the most important tool in photography - as well as everything else besides the main subject such as background, props, colours and composition.

All four P’s are components that influence each other at all times and that are essential for creating a portrait in which you not only recognise yourself but also love how you look.

Want to go deeper into each of the four P’s? Subscribe to my newsletter and get more detailed tips on portraiture and other inspirational content.

Looking for a Christmas gift? Help a loved one create a (family) portrait they love. Purchase a gift certificate here.

Den største misoppfatningen om hva som gjør et portrett vakkert (og hva som kreves for at du skal elske bildet ditt)

De fleste jeg møter i hverdagen min, selv de som kommer til meg for et portrett, har de samme misoppfatningene om hva som skal til for å se bra ut på et fotografi.

De tror problemet er at de bare ikke er fotogene, og derfor føler de seg ukomfortable når et kamera peker mot dem. Og jeg forstår det. Jeg er veldig kjent med følelsen av plutselig å ha noen sin fulle oppmerksomhet rettet mot meg og være hyperbevisst på mine feil.

Dessverre vil de fleste stoppe der, etter å ha bestemt seg for at de bare ikke er fotogene.

Her vil jeg avkrefte misoppfatningen om 'å være fotogen' en gang for alle.

Hva som skal til for å skape et portrett du elsker

Å se bra ut på et bilde handler om fire ting: Forberedelse, Posering, Holdning og Plassering.

Preparation - Forberedelse. Naturligvis påvirker det du har på deg omtrent en tredjedel av bildet og hva du ønsker å formidle, og sminke og hår/stell vil påvirke selvtilliten din og uttrykket ditt også.

Pose - posering understreker sider ved deg selv som du elsker eller minimerer sider som ikke er favorittene dine. Det beste med kraften til en god posering er at den også vil påvirke hvordan du føler deg.

Poise - Holdning. hvordan du bærer deg selv og hvordan du føler og tenker om deg selv, vil påvirke alt annet. En god fotograf vil skape et miljø som støtter det.

Position - Plassering er hovedsakelig fotografens ansvar og innebærer lys - uten tvil en av det viktigste verktøyet innen fotografering - samt alt annet bortsett fra hovedmotivet, som bakgrunn, rekvisitter, farger og komposisjon.

Alle fire P-ene er komponenter som påvirker hverandre til enhver tid og som er essensielle for å skape et portrett der du ikke bare gjenkjenner deg selv, men også elsker hvordan du ser ut.

Vil du gå dypere inn i hver av de fire P-ene? Abonner på nyhetsbrevet mitt og få mer detaljerte tips om portrett og annet inspirerende innhold.

Leter du etter en julegave? Hjelp en du er glad i å lage et (familie) portrett de elsker. Kjøp gavekort her.