Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Pietsch
Hi Katie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I received my first digital camera- the Kodak easyshare- for my 10th birthday. I had so much fun capturing my friends and flowers. I would do photo shoots with my friends in middle school and continued throughout high school and college. I always thought it’d be cool to be a photographer as a career, but didn’t think I could do it. I felt like you had to be super lucky to do it and not just anyone could pick up a camera and get themselves there.
After college though and continuing to educate myself in photography I decided to go for it. I did a bunch of sessions for free to build my portfolio and then started charging. It was scary and still is scary to add value to my photography- imposter syndrome is the worst, but I keep deciding to be brave and present my work as something valuable and desirable, increasing my prices with every year as I got more experience.
I couldn’t wait to finally get into weddings- I started as a second shooter for a friend and built my wedding portfolio from there. I responded to every Facebook post of someone needing a photographer, found my niche and grew from there.
It hasn’t been the easiest thing though, becoming a business owner and photographer. Like I said, imposter syndrome sets in, the competitive market is exhausting, people who have been at it for less time than you grow faster, etc. I decided to keep pushing on though because I love photography so much and it truly is my dream job! I love what I get to do!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, like I said in my previous answer- imposter syndrome, Comparison and competing in a saturated market can be exhausting. You have to keep reminding yourself of your value and zeroing in on your niche to stand out.
I also have recently been diagnosed with 2 chronic illnesses in the past couple of years. I majorly had to adapt to my new way of life because of them. I had to figure out how to do photography with them and at some points was unsure of how I could carry on with photography. I pushed through and found ways to adapt and manage. It’s not easy but it’s worth it to me to be able to keep having a job that I love so much.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a portrait and wedding photographer. I do all kinds of photography- families, weddings, events, newborns, seniors and I have corporate offerings as well. I specialize in weddings and newborn sessions.
I’m most proud of the effort I’ve put into putting myself out there in the photography world. It takes so much effort to be seen in the highly competitive market and I feel like I’ve finally found my niche/voice.
What sets me apart is the artful images I capture- leaning into the styles of documentary and editorial photography, as well as the experience I provide to my clients. I have worked hard at learning how to help people feel comfortable in front of my camera even though they are so nervous to be there. I use prompts instead of poses which helps people get out of their heads and actually enjoy the session. This results in authentic images that reflect the true nature of the person in the picture.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Ali Hormann creative really helped me get into wedding photography.
Slow Road Photo and especially Audrey Nicole helped me learn so much too.
I have a strong group of photographers around me as well . We have a group chat and we support each other as fellow creators trying to grow our businesses-
Freckled and framed photography
Chasing Joy
Whitney Renee
Claudia’s Images
Kristen Elizabeth Photography
These ladies are so encouraging and keep me going!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kp-imagery.com
- Instagram: @kpimagery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CrVDh1Vtv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
