Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Spitz.
Hi Kate, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share!
In 2010, I started writing freelance for a blogging platform. One of my favorite aspects of the work was photographing content for brands in addition to writing about it. I quickly realized that the photography aspect was as big of a draw as the writing portion. As my blogging platform grew, I started to get requests from folks about family photos.
There was absolutely no hesitation when it came to starting working with people. My background is in social work, and I craved connecting with people on more of a personal level. I jumped in immediately and found every challenge rewarding to unravel. From the get-go, I realized that photographing people had so much more to do with how comfortable and confident they felt. If they felt heard, seen, validated and cared for within the warm environment we created at their session, the end result were photos that felt like, “them”.
To me, this made perfect sense. But to my clients, particularly those members who identified as parents and women, this type of energy at their session, was new. This became a pattern with almost every session. In the past, they hadn’t been comfortable being themselves while being photographed. They were concerned that laughing or moving or snuggling their loved ones wouldn’t photograph well. Or, they were so worried about how their family members might behave, that they couldn’t enjoy the session as it unfolded.
They also hadn’t ever had solo photos taken for an updated headshot or social media profile photo. They couldn’t remember the last time they had photos with only them and their partner in it. It never occurred to them that they were just as important as their children or partner in those photos.
I heard this over and over and over again…and I realized…
So many women hadn’t been photographed in an environment where they were encouraged to be not only themselves, but more than the titles they held: mom, wife, partner, nurse, teacher, pilot, business owner, caregiver, etc. But once we pushed the boundaries of what they thought family photos were “supposed” to look like, once they had permission to break all of the imaginary rules, that’s when the walls came tumbling down. That was when they were free to fully express their personalities and embrace all of the pieces that made them, them.
After a year of full-time family photography work, I wondered how I could take this concept and apply it to other bodies of my work. I loved being able to support that feeling of true self, and started crafting sessions where women could sink their entire experience into that feeling. Boudoir photography was beginning to pick up speed at the time, but, something was still missing there for me. There had to be another component to boudoir that wasn’t traditional boudoir…because not everyone wanted to lay on a bed. There had to be a way to mix beautiful portraits with some traditional boudoir posing and some not-so-traditional boudoir posing and concepts.
So, I made it happen. I formed a new concept for my clients, Women’s Portraiture. These sessions encouraged women to unapologetically take up space however they saw fit, while peeling back the layers of who they are. The result? Strong, powerful, emotion-driven images that showcase the many sides of what makes a woman whole being. It didn’t need to be seductive or a gift for a partner. It just had to be what my client wanted. It only needed to be for them.
And that was it.
Over a decade and working in two countries later, my primary focus is now working with women to develop these portraits. It is my mission to make sure that every woman I work with, knows exactly how incredible they are. I am so proud to play that role as a photographer and fellow human.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
What’s a journey without a few bumps in the road?
Explaining the concept of women’s portraiture or boudoir, isn’t always easy. In the beginning, especially, people would ask me what, “those kinds of photos” were. Most of these types of questions aren’t from inquiries, but from acquaintances.
With time (and a well-practiced pitch) I’ve been able to quickly educate an inquires on the style of my work. More often than not, people are usually surprised at the end result. I love seeing that light bulb moment when they realize how many different styles of portraiture/boudoir there are. My favorite part is explaining that women’s portraiture can be whatever the client wants it to be. There are no real rules of what it should look like.
It is so freeing to offer those parameters…or lack there of, to anyone who asks. It is also usually what will inspire someone who maybe didn’t know they wanted to book a session, to schedule one with me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In grad school, I had a professor who said empowerment is not something that can be given to anyone. That implies it can be taken away.
That stuck with me.
As a photographer, I don’t empower the people that I work with simply because of the photos. I make that really clear from our first consultation on. Together, we create a vision, and I create the environment for them to thrive during their session. That confidence, the feeling of empowerment, that raw realness, doesn’t magically happen because we had a photoshoot that put you out of your comfort zone.
Nope.
That feeling of empowerment grows because the people that I work with, are given sessions that are solely curated for them. They support who they are and their decisions about the feel of their photos. We craft the details together that support their vision. I encourage them to advocate for what they want out of the session, not what they think their partner, spouse, or anyone else who sees the photos, may want.
When we get to that part of the consultation, I can visibly see it click.
They see that this session, these photos, is for THEM, and absolutely no one else. They get to call all the shots.
When it comes to the session, we always leave space and time to process the really big emotions that can come up while we’re photographing. It isn’t uncommon to shed a few tears during the process. It is VERY common to hear variations of, “I’m letting go of everything that was weighing me down, and that’s why I’m crying right now.” Or, “I haven’t had this much fun in so long!” It is also super common to hear BOTH of those things during our session.
That is some really big stuff, you know? And I don’t take that lightly.
It can feel really vulnerable to have the attention centered on you. To put yourself and your emotions first. To do something that is JUST for you. It can also feel joyous. Wonderful. Freeing. Downright thrilling. That is the beautiful thing about being a person; we can feel all of those things (and so much more) in the span of a few hours.
That’s what I’m here for.
The expectation is that you come to see me for beautiful photos, that’s a given. But. My job isn’t to solely take pretty photos. It is to walk that journey, whatever it looks like, with my clients, in a safe and supportive space. A space they can be open to how they feel. There is so. much. power in letting your emotions be a part of this experience. Being able to roll with them, whatever they are, is where the empowerment piece begins to flourish. That is something no one can take away.
That translates in camera to photos that feel like who they are…because it IS who they are.
This is what I’m known for, and truly, what I am most proud of about my work.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
1. Ask yourself what should you do before asking anyone else 2. Nurture hobbies outside of work that have absolutely nothing to do with work
1. Instead of asking other people what you should do when it comes to business ownership, ask yourself first. If you have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, listen to it. Don’t ask someone else what you should do before you ask yourself what you think you should do. More often than not, we have the answers we’re looking for. But, sometimes, we turn to others for validation.
External validation won’t keep you going. It’ll keep you comfortable. Learning how to develop your own sense of business ethics and what works for you, is what will.
2. Burnout for small business owners is REAL. It happens in part because we eat, sleep, and breath our professions. Don’t forget that you are very worthy of spending your time doing other things in life that fuel who you are, aside from the business owner.
You are your own person above anything else. If you don’t fuel yourself with rest and other activities you love, you will not be able to find fulfillment in your work. It may take time, but I promise, starving yourself of other creative outlets, will create resentment for the job you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: katespitzphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katespitzphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katespitzphotography
Image Credits
Kate Spitz Photography
