We were lucky to catch up with Caitlin Reinhart recently and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have wanted to pursue a creative path professionally since childhood. I filled several notebooks with cartoonish characters throughout my school years, and took as many art classes as I could. I enjoyed them all, but was not passionate about any in particular. I wrote off pursuing a creative career in my early twenties, opting for a business degree instead.

It was around this time that I started taking photos with my cell phone on hikes in an attempt to capture the constantly changing beauty around me. I have always had an affinity for nature, but it wasn’t until I started documenting it with photography that I became totally enamored with it. I started to slow down and pay attention to small details, finding magic in dew drops and sun beams.

I soon realized photography was something I did not want to stop doing, and invested in my first “real” camera. After spending countless hours studying photography and taking photos, I began feeling comfortable with my camera, and started thinking of ways that I could use it to earn an income.

Caitlin, 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?

The idea for my business came to me on the road. I drove past several beautiful homesteads and private properties and thought about how cool it would be to photograph their land, and not be limited to taking photos of only public areas. “Property Portraits” popped in my head, and I realized there might be a market for intimate and artistic photos of people’s yards and houses.

We all have fond memories of our home throughout the seasons and years. It is not unusual to visit someone and find aerial shots of their home displayed on their walls, those same people might like their home captured from a more creative, personal, perspective. I developed a plan and started photographing the properties of people I knew, in town and in the country.

A Property Portrait session typically begins with a phone call. I schedule a time with the owner to come out and shoot and ask a few questions about their place. I arrive around the morning or evening golden hour and stay for an hour or longer. They’re welcome to give me a tour if they want, and then I just wander around- I’m always careful and respectful of the property. I shoot with a variety of lenses so I can capture their place from various perspectives. In about a week, the owners receive their photos in an online gallery. From there, they can order prints and other products.

I absolutely love being a “backyard explorer”, private properties are so diverse, reflecting the love, hard work, and personality of the owner. It’s a great feeling using my experience and creativity to showcase the wonder that exists in the yards of every community. I want my work to remind people that they don’t have to travel far to see beautiful sights, sometimes a few steps outside their door is all they need to take.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I believe the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is people appreciating your work. Taking photos is something I could do in private, for myself, and still derive pleasure from, but sharing it with others feels more special to me. There’s nothing better than creating something with love that others love.

I think artists sometimes struggle with feeling like their work is worthy of recognition or praise, it’s easy to compare ourselves to more successful people in our field and feel inadequate. It’s important to remember we all have something unique to contribute, and we have our whole lives to learn and grow. Most audiences won’t see the same flaws in your work that you do anyway.

Being a vendor at local art shows has been a very encouraging experience. I’m so grateful for the feedback I’ve received from my community. I feel so fulfilled and honored when someone purchases my work because they connect with it personally. Knowing that my photography is displayed in people’s homes is a bit surreal.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The best thing we can do to support artists is to buy their art. Too many homes are filled with décor that was purchased from Hobby Lobby, Walmart, or Amazon. These items are mass produced, poorly made, and lack the value associated with skilled labor. Sometimes they’re more affordable, but oftentimes they’re similarly priced to what a local artist would have for sale. Make an effort to attend art shows in your area, even if you don’t end up buying anything, your presence and kind words are deeply appreciated.

If you do end up making a purchase, it’s neat getting to interact with the artist that created it- something you can’t do at a big-box store, and you can feel good knowing that your money is invested in the community. If you struggle to find artists in your area producing art that you’re interested in, look online! Supporting artists from around the country or world is better than not supporting any at all.

Another thing someone can do is to get involved themselves! I believe we all have a creative side to express, and I encourage people to find and develop an art form they enjoy. As artists, we can learn a lot from each other, and offer support through feedback and advice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.omanobservations.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oohh.man/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmanObservations/

Image Credits
Caitlin Reinhart