Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Ferguson.
Hi Katelyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi! I’m Katelyn. My interest in photography sparked my senior year of High School, after taking a photography class. I won a film camera, traded it in for my first dslr camera, and fell deeply in love with capturing authentic expression. I got my degree in Art Education with the intention of becoming an elementary school art teacher… but quickly realized I wouldn’t be using my degree the way I had planned. It wasn’t my intention to start a business, but it just kind of unfolded! I’ve been incredibly lucky to have photographed so many newborns, couples, families and seniors, since my business, Hello Dolly Photography, began in 2012. In 2020, my partner Tucker and I purchased our first home in Taylors Falls, Minnesota. We fell in love with the historic charm, quirky Stars Hollow vibes, and the little cottage nestled on our property (which we’ve now made into The Doll House Studio). Since beginning my business, I always dreamed of having my very own studio. I just didn’t think it would be in the cards for me. When we first found our home on Zillow, I thought it was too good to be true! Now it feels like fate.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Certainly not! I think any small business owner would tell you that it is not smooth sailing. Being a small business owner means wearing many different hats. Ones you may be confident in, and ones you may struggle your way fitting into. I’ve made many mistakes in my career, but those mistakes have helped me strengthen my business in the best ways possible. One of my biggest struggles is being a people pleaser and setting boundaries. I’ve gotten myself into some pickles for saying “yes” as a means to maintain happy clients.. Its not something that is easy to overcome, but more-so something that I continue to practice maintaining. I try to remind myself that taking care of myself is also taking care of my business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
2021 is my exit from the wedding world. Though I have loved the opportunities it has given me and the relationships I have formed, I am so eager to enter 2022 with new goals! The new year will bring a focus on my truest passion – family photos and milestones for little ones. I adore kids! They give you an array of emotion and don’t hold back – you just don’t get that in the same way in other areas of portrait photography. I am perhaps the most proud of the way I am able to make people feel comfortable. I like to approach photography in the friendliest way possible! I want the people I photograph to see me as a friend that they can share their genuine emotions with.
In addition, I am leaning into being the studio owner of The Doll House Studio. This new business venture has allowed me to connect with other small business owners in a way that I haven’t experienced before.
Visually, I believe what sets me apart from others is my intense love of color. I just can’t stay away from creating vivid imagery! A lot of photographers follow a very muted or light editing style. It’s actually something I very much enjoy! I just find myself drawn in a different direction.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Oh boy! This one is so hard. I’m an enneagram 4.. And if you know anything about that, you’ll know that nostalgia and reminiscing are huge. When I tell you I think about my childhood every single day, I mean it. Its hard to pick just one.
Here’s a comical one – I come from a family of 6 and am the baby of the family. There was one family vacation when I was maybe 5 or so where we traveled by train to a family reunion at a State Park in West Virginia. My mom always got us kids packed, but this time she asked my Dad to take care of it. Well, my Dad had a little bit too much faith in his children and left the packing up to us. We filled our suitcases to the brim with a Summers worth of library books, rollerblades, and a variety of other completely unnecessary toys and clothes. Our final stop was at the nearest train station to the family reunion, but still a 30 minutes drive. Well, unfortunately for us this particular train station was inactive and in the middle of nowhere.. only one lonely payphone in sight. My parents frantically searching bags for coins, but came up empty handed. Little tiny me stepped up to the plate when I proudly ripped open my shiny purple velcro wallet and handed them my hard earned piggy bank coins, thus saving the day!
Pricing:
- The Doll House Studio: M-F 1 Hour $85 + $35 per additional 30 minutes
- The Doll House Studio: Sat & Sun 1 Hour $115 + $50 per additional 30 minutes
- Photo Sessions starting at $395
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hellodollyphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellodollyphotography/ | https://www.instagram.com/dollhousestudiomn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellodollyphoto | https://www.facebook.com/thedollhousestudiomn
Image Credits
Hello Dolly Photography
Bonnie Drake Photography: https://www.
