Hello
I’m Kathryn
But my friends call me Katie.
Let’s celebrate & capture your love story!
The people in my life who know & love me would say that I’m a deeply empathetic & compassionate person. Everything I’ve been drawn to pursue, whether a personal interest, hobby, or career path, I’ve felt an inner longing to connect with others on a deeper level, bringing people together through creating something meaningful.
My family and I have lived in Nevada City, CA for the past 13 years but I often travel to my hometown of Sonoma (and the surrounding Bay Area) for weddings & such. Aside from photography, I’m passionate about practicing yoga, spiritual growth, philosophy, and metaphysics. I’m also an outdoor enthusiast and enjoy swimming in the Yuba River, paddleboarding, hiking, and snowboarding. I love traveling, dancing, singing, and experiencing live music with friends as often as possible! I’m on a mission to fill my life with adventures and abundances of love.
MY STORY
I wasn’t always a photographer, but I always knew I wanted to connect with people through art.
Empathy & love have always been my driving force. As a child, I’d lose myself in stories about different people in places near and far, wanting to understand their experiences, what motivated them to overcome difficult circumstances, and strive for greatness. In elementary school, I’d write stories or “news articles” at home and post them on my refrigerator to share with my family about people or events that I found fascinating.
In third grade, I had an amazing teacher who introduced theater into my life, and for the next 10+ years, I immersed myself in that world… completely diving into the development of each character I played. Musical theater was my favorite (I sang and danced as soon as I could talk & walk) and felt like my spirit came fully alive being able to express myself through the art. Performing & connecting with people on & off stage made my heart so happy. When I began high school, I took up photography as a fun hobby, but at the time, I never imagined it would be my professional career.
I met the love of my life, Gabe, when we were only 15 & 16 years old. Although we dated for a short time in high school, I knew we were soulmates the moment I saw him- I realize it sounds crazy, but it was as if the universe stopped for a moment and this otherworldly knowing came over me. After graduation, he joined the Marine Corps. and soon after, he had orders to be deployed to Iraq. While on his pre-deployment leave, Gabe stopped by my house to say goodbye, but I wasn’t home… instead, he chatted with my mom who told him, “You better come home because Katie says she’s going to marry you someday!” and gave him my senior portrait. Although I was mortified she had said that at the time, I’m glad she did, because when he returned safely home, Gabe confessed that he’d had my portrait in his pocket the entire deployment & what she said had helped him get through those months he was away. Needless to say, our love story blossomed, and after another deployment and a few years of long-distance dating, he proposed. We were married in true young military couple fashion; I was only 20 and wore a Cinderella-type wedding gown, he in his Prince Charming Dress Blues.
Within a year, we had our son, Jared, and soon after, our daughter, Faith. For one Christmas in those early years, Gabe gifted me my first DSLR camera so I could document our growing family, and it practically became my third child… I had it with me all of the time, capturing the people I loved in moments I wanted to remember forever. I’d share the images with friends & family on social media, and it wasn’t long before I was asked to document other people’s lives. It was then I realized that being a photographer would be the perfect profession to pursue.
After going back to school to study photography & business, I wound up shadowing a photographer I greatly admired. She was incredibly talented, and her values and passions aligned with mine. That photographer was none other than the magnetically beautiful soul, Megan Clouse, and she graciously shared her craft & her wisdom with me. Megan nurtured and guided me into a professional photographer who aims to connect each image with the intention and feeling behind each moment.
From one serendipitous event to the next, I’ve landed here. I’m exactly where and who I’m meant to be. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with different people who have blessed me with their love and kindness. I’ve learned so much & have grown through every circumstance. I’ve overcome hardships & celebrated joys. I’ve created my own business & always strive for greatness within my chosen field.
Photography is not just my career, it’s part of who I am. Photography is an expression of my heart & soul. I love that my camera allows me to capture the joy, the love, and the tender moments we want to relive or retell to future generations to come.
Connecting with my clients and capturing their unique & beautiful stories comes from an authentic drive to hold empathy & love at the forefront of my devotion to the art form.
40
bookings in 2023
300+
clients
13+
years of experience
100%
five star reviews
Let’s play