We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katherine Collins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katherine below.
Alright, Katherine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
Creativity has always been a part of me. It’s a gift, I believe, passed down through generations. My mom, Memaw, and Grandpa are all wonderfully talented artists, and growing up surrounded by their work nurtured a deep desire within me to find my own creative outlet. College felt like the perfect place to explore this, and I initially thought advertising design was the answer. It seemed sensible, a way to blend creativity with a stable career. But the world of advertising, while interesting, didn’t quite resonate with me. During my first internship, I learned a valuable lesson, you can be good at something without truly loving it. I could craft effective ads, I could meet deadlines, but the joy, the spark of pure passion, was missing. The day my internship ended, I impulsively went and bought a camera. I decided to go all in and buy the nice camera and gear right away. It was a bit of a splurge seeing as I had never even touched a camera before, but I’m so grateful that I did. From then on I could hardly put the camera down. I spent all of my free time teaching myself the in’s and out’s of my camera. I spent countless nights binge watching YouTube videos on all the best tips and tricks within photography! For the rest of that summer I said yes to every opportunity that came my way. I quickly realized that photography wasn’t just about the pictures for me, it was about preserving the memories, telling a story, and connecting with people on a deeper level. I realized I wasn’t just a photographer; I was a storyteller, memory persever. I felt so much passion and drive to document peoples stories, specifically their love stories. I found that there is something so beautiful within the falling in love process. Each stage is unique and filled with so much raw emotion. I am so thankful that this initial spark has only magnified. I’ve photographed some of the most monumental moments within people’s lives. From tying the knot to welcoming the birth of a child, it is such a privilege to get to document these irreplaceable life moments.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Katherine Collins, I am a wedding and lifestyle photographer. My passion is capturing the raw, unscripted moments that tell the true story of life. My work takes me across Florida, Minnesota, and beyond, a passion that blends my love for exploring new places and meeting new people. Like many creatives my path wasn’t always clear. While the artistic spirit has always been a part of me nurtured by the creative influences in my family, I didn’t immediately gravitate to photography. I knew from a young age that I was going to do something creative. I just didn’t know what. When I went off to college I had tried to pursue advertising design because I thought that would be a good way to mix my creativity with the stability of a corporate career. After an internship within the field I quickly realized that this profession alone couldn’t satisfy my need for creativity. That’s when I decided to go all in. For a while I had the fear of failing, I would run through the worst case scenarios. But on the last day of my internship I decided that it’s better to fail trying than to never try in the first place, and that is when I bought my camera. From there I fell so in love with photography that I wasn’t afraid of failing. I knew that this is something I am extremely passionate about and I am a firm believer that you create your own success. I believe if you are truly passionate about something and feel as though you were created for it, then you will succeed. My goal is to touch the lives of those around me through my art. I want to share with them images that withstand the test of time, photos that will tell a story for generations to come. My approach to photography is all about capturing authentic emotion. I want my clients to feel something when they look at their images. I blend cinematic posing with candid moments and artfully staged shots, creating a gallery that’s both beautiful and deeply personal. I’m not just capturing what things look like; I’m capturing the essence of who people are, their connections, their joy, their love. Whether it’s the quiet tenderness between a couple, the laughter of children, or the tears of happiness at a wedding, I want to freeze those fleeting moments in time, preserving them as cherished memories. I believe what sets me apart in such a competitive industry is my love and passion for people. My clients aren’t just clients; they become friends. I love getting to meet so many wonderful humans and hear their stories on how they got to where they are today, and what inspires them. This is where I draw my inspiration from. I want to tell a story through photography, but I don’t want to be the narrator, I want to get to know my clients so that I can capture them in a way that is true to who they are.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a photographer lies in the profound intimacy of the experience. It’s not just about snapping a pretty picture; it’s about witnessing and preserving the stages of a lifelong love story. I become a silent observer, documenting people on some of the most monumental days in their life. I get to see the raw, unfiltered emotions, the teary-eyed father giving his daughter away, the groom’s breath catching as he sees his bride for the first time, the quiet moments shared between the couple as they prepare to say yes to forever. These aren’t staged moments; they’re genuine, authentic glimpses into the heart of their relationship. And to be able to capture those fleeting, precious instances, to freeze them in time so that the couple can relive the magic of their special day again and again, that’s an incredible privilege. But it goes deeper than that. It’s about understanding their unique story, their individual personalities, and translating that into images that reflect who they are as a couple. It’s about creating art that captures the essence of their love – the laughter, the tenderness, the unspoken connection. That’s where the real artistry lies, in capturing the intangible and making it tangible. And knowing that these images will become cherished heirlooms, passed down through generations, telling the story of their love for years to come – that’s the most deeply rewarding aspect of what I do. It’s about more than just photography; it’s about preserving the legacies of love.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My creative journey is deeply intertwined with my faith. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s the very foundation upon which I build my art. I believe that love, in its purest form, is a divine gift, a reflection of God’s grace. And it’s that profound understanding of love that fuels my passion for capturing the intimate moments between couples and families. My faith isn’t just a personal belief; it’s the lens through which I view love, and that lens informs every aspect of my creative process. I approach each session with a sense of reverence, recognizing the privilege I have to witness and preserve these precious moments. My faith encourages me to seek out the light, both literally and figuratively, in every situation. It inspires me to find the beauty in the ordinary, the grace in the mundane. And it gives me the strength to persevere, to push beyond the surface, to capture the deeper meaning behind the smiles, the tears, and the whispered promises. Ultimately, I hope that my work not only celebrates love but also reflects the divine love that inspires it. It’s about using my God-given talent to create something beautiful and meaningful, something that touches the hearts of others and points to the greater love that surrounds us all. That’s the guiding principle, the unwavering compass, of my creative journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katherinecollinsphoto.com
- Instagram: katherinecollinsphoto
Image Credits
Images by Katherine Collins Photography