Today we’d like to introduce you to April Krampotich.
Hi, April. Thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi there! I was born and raised in Northern Minnesota. I remember my upbringing with a whole heart. I spent my days playing outside, hanging with my close-knit family, camping, and writing. I had an amazing, single mother and a vibrant musician father. Creativity is, and has always been, a big part of my being. You can teach someone to refine skills, but I believe most individuals who are in creative arts are born with an attribute, and then work on cultivating their skill. I have always had a creative outlet; it was writing and poetry when I was younger. Then, in my 20s, life was so busy, and my mind wasn’t always open for thought or writing. This is when I found the magic of imagery. Behind my lens, I found peace, solitude, and freedom from the everyday hustle and bustle. I would frequent botanical gardens and the beautiful landscapes of South-Central Minnesota. I embraced the way nature and the world itself looked through a lens. It was my new creative draw.
In 2004, My dad and I built my first studio in AppleValley, where I was living. This is where my passion for baby and family photography began. It was a 1 room studio in the basement of my carriage home. It was small and exciting but still only a hobby. In 2008, I moved back to my hometown in Northern Minnesota. I couldn’t live without my hobby, so I again partitioned off an area of my home, this time in my garage, for my studio, and continued moonlighting as a photo bug. In 2011, an opportunity arose to purchase a building in Nashwauk. I decided to follow my love and passion, throw those eggs in a basket, and follow my dreams. With the help of my mom and step dad, I bought and remodeled that old building, and in 2012, I rebranded and reopened my business as AppleTree Photography, Inc.
My love for photography resonates deeply, and after 20 years of carrying my cameras and serving 100’s of families, I still get excited about my next adventure. Today, photography, to me, is so much more. It isn’t just about the rule of thirds or the correct lighting; it is about all the wonderful people, their stories and conversations, and their experiences. It is about holding someone’s brand-new baby, or heading out into a Senior Session when I know how emotional their mom is. It is about making someone feel at home in my presence, or to share something personal. My work is my oxygen, well that, and being the best momma I can be! They are the two treasures of my life; they define me and make me the person I am today.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t believe that anything in life is smooth. Life is a journey. You can take the easy road, or the one with grit and resistance. The one that makes you work for it, is always the one that will fill your heart with all the good stuff. Life isn’t meant to be easy; it is meant to challenge you. This is how you learn. This is how you find out what you are made of. It is also how you start fulfilling your dreams. There have been hard times, but most were about learning and finding the joy in it all.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an enthusiastic mother of one who loves the title Photographer. I own a studio in downtown Nashwauk. I specialize in Newborn, Family, and Senior Sessions. I’m not sure what sets me apart from others. What I do know is that I understand that every person I meet, and every baby I hold, is significant. I love each session with a new heart and aim to deliver a beautiful keepsake and an experience to remember. It could be as simple as my care that sets me apart, and my true love for what I do and deliver.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe to be a successful Photographer, there are many things you have to be – Many hats you must wear. You must be emotionally available to people beyond the artistic vision and technical aspects. It is a business where you enter parts of someone’s life that can be exciting, emotional, and sometimes even fragile. It takes more than knowledge and creativity to succeed; it takes heart, love, a good set of listening ears, and of course a smile!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.appletreephotography.biz
- Instagram: @photographybyaprilkrampotich
- Facebook: @AppleTree Photography
