We were lucky to catch up with Mary Katlin Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mary Katlin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

My most meaningful project was my exhibit “Scars”. It was a project featuring fifteen pieces of black-and-white photography of subjects that suffered from mental, emotional, and physical scars. I documented their stories and shared them with the community. It was a healing experience for the subjects and onlookers. We had 250 attend! This project was important to me because it healed my trauma from when my husband suffered third-degree burns from an onsite work explosion. Below is my artist statement from the exhibit;

I am a storyteller, but not by conventional means. Stories are typically told with eloquent words typed on paper and bound neatly within a book. But the stories I tell are visual.
I am a portrait photographer. My camera is the pen that documents brief chapters of an individual’s life. My exhibition, “Scars Tell Stories” is a narrative piece about how a single image of a visible or non-visible scar can speak volumes without saying a word. It is a collection of stories about people who have suffered hardship but did not allow it to break them. The scars that remain from their suffering, does not define them, but it is a symbol of survival, a testament of hope. A transformation in character that finds resolution after the climax.
I have always been drawn to the human figure. It is partially why I fell in love with portrait photography. I study how light falls upon the body, creating shadows that sculpt the form or eliminate insecurities. I accept the challenges that come with making the subjects feel at ease so that I can capture emotive imagery with body language. I guide them on how to transition into each pose to enhance their overall look. Trusting me that what I see through the lens, is a perspective that elevates who they are.
My style as a portrait photographer is simplistic, yet impactful. In my exhibition “Scars Tell Stories”, I utilize clean solid backgrounds to create negative space around my subjects, so that they are the first thing the viewer sees. The tight framing that leads the eye like a map to the subject’s scars, aids in the visual story. I wanted to make sure I had control over my light source, so I decided to produce the images at my home-based portrait studio. My light set-up needed to be effortless so that my focus could remain on my subjects. I ended up using one key light and one fill light, to illuminate the scars that were visible on my subjects. For me to enhance the overall narrative, I decided to photograph the portraits in black and white. The monochromatic effect helps eliminate distractions by desaturating color and bringing the center of attention to the emotion of the images.
In the beginning stages of “Scars Tell Stories”, I created solely for myself. I was inspired by the scars left on my husband’s body that were the result of a worksite explosion. I used photography as a tool for me to express my feelings and manifest the ideas I possessed inside my mind. However, what started as a simple idea, ended up as a therapeutic one. Not only for me but also for the subjects in front of my camera. “Scars Tell Stories” was no longer about expressing my creative desires, but more about revealing my subject’s adversities through visual representation. Giving them a platform to inspire and empower others, who have gone through similar hardships. I hope that because of my exhibition, people will experience healing from their traumas. All scars represent healing, and all scars tell a story.

Mary Katlin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I wish I could say that I always wanted to be a photographer, but that is far from the truth. I didn’t pick up a camera until I was a junior in college. It was then that photography fell in love with me and our love affair took off! I started my photography business in 2011 and then in 2013 I opened my home-base studio where I photograph portraits. I never felt truly like a professional until I took the national certification exam for professional photographers. I had to take a proctored exam and demonstrate my knowledge and ability by showcasing a portfolio to a panel of judges. If I did not meet their requirements and standards I would have had to start all over again. Luckily, I passed and I was officially a certified professional photographer. I started competing in international and national print competitions to further enhance my craft. Eventually, I began winning for my black-and-white photographic works and portraits. I went on to win Best in State two times, one national award, and over ten international awards including publications, a platinum medal, and two silver medals. When Covid hit, my business struggled just like anyone else. I decided to take advantage of online education and go back to school to obtain my master of fine arts degree in photography and independent filmmaking. A professor of mine encouraged me to go for my teaching credentials as well since I seemed to enjoy helping other students. For nine more months, I ended up graduating not only with my master’s degree but also with a license to teach Pre-K – 12th-grade fine art, 6-12 grade English and Grammar, and 6-12 grade Reading intervention. I guess you could say I am a jack of all trades because I have finished writing and directing my first short film, which won the “Best First Time Director’s Award” at the Chicago Horror Film Festival. That was something I was very proud of and my whole town and clientele were ecstatic for my win. I have released five songs, one of which is currently being reviewed for publication. My clients love listening to my songs and get excited when the music videos are released.
But with all this experience and knowledge I wanted to teach others that they too could achieve what I did no matter where they came from. I taught at the University of Illinois for a while, teaching photography and filmmaking. Now, I teach 6th grade ELA! Integrating screenwriting into the curriculum so that students have a way to express themselves and prepare them for essay skill building. And, yes I still run my photography business on the side. Clients and friends ask me how I do it, and I just tell them the laundry never gets done.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, it is getting to network and meet other creatives to collaborate with. I love learning from others and the magic that happens when we come together as a team to build something worthwhile.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I think NFTs had good intentions to try and make digital art’s value go up. However, just like anything digital it can be lost, broken, or hacked into. I think printing your work and having a certificate of validation or accreditation from the artist is better in the long run. But, that doesn’t mean that in the future we won’t have better platforms or ways to get more digital work seen and heard to help collectors show off their proud collections.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marykatlinphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marykatlinphotography/