Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kacie Q. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kacie, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

We often label success as someone who accomplishes their aim, purpose, goals, and dreams, etc. I think what sets those apart who attain their aspirations from those that don’t is how well they aim. If you’re not clear with yourself on where you’re going and what you want, how can you clearly define your goals to get there?

I remember in graduate school talking with an Olympic Gold Medalist. He was a pole vaulter and for four years leading up to the Athens games, he even went so far as to make his computer password his goal – “WinGoldInAthens.”

And guess what… He did just that.

What stood out to me during that conversation was the importance of his goal always being at the forefront of his mind. That wasn’t something he casually wanted. He fully dedicated 100% of himself to his goal, even going as far as making it his computer password.

Once you’re clear on your aim, then you can start working backward on every step it will take to get there. Before you know it, you’ve got yourself a plan! Now comes the dedication to stick to it, and knowing when to be flexible.

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?

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a photographer, or end up in the wedding industry, or the music industry photographing country music artists! In fact, my Mom always thought I would grow up to either be an actress or a teacher. It’s so funny the paths that life can weave together.

I actually received my B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics. But after doing four years and a victory lap… (5th-year graduate here), I was so burnt out on science. What was also disheartening is the dietetics industry was mostly treatment based… Not so much preventative-based, which I didn’t agree with, or wanted to dedicate any more time to.

It was in my victory lap year that I took a class that changed so much for me. I took a Sports and Performance Psychology class. And I LOVED IT. It was like positive psychology, and I knew I wanted more of it.

I applied to graduate programs across the country and got in at the University of Tennessee. Volunteer for life! It was there I would meet some of the most amazing professors, athletes, and stories dedicated to this realm of mental health. It was also there I had another event that changed everything for me.

One day one of the assistant women’s basketball coaches came in to talk to one of my classes. He worked under Pat Summitt, one of the all-time winningest coaches in history. A legend and a powerhouse of a coach. A trailblazer for women and women’s basketball. As the assistant coach was chatting about his life and career, he was absolutely beaming. This man LOVED what he did. And someone raised their hand and asked a really great question – “How do you get to that point in life? Loving what you do. How do you know?”

And what he said next I will always remember.

He said, “Find your gift. Develop your gift. And spend the rest of your life sharing your gift with other people.”

At that moment, my answer to that statement was photography. You see, I had taken photography courses in high school, but when I got to college, I decided I didn’t want my “hobby” to be my career…. HA!

Fast forward past graduation of my master’s degree, after which I moved back to Montana and started my photography career. That was over a decade ago, and it has since led me to create a luxury wedding photography business, and branch out into commercial work within the music industry.

I have been twice named a top senior portrait photographer, I’ve had images published by People Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Rocky Mountain Bride, and Style Me Pretty, and have seen my commercial work across Spotify and iTunes, while working with most of the record labels in Nashville!

My wedding work is influenced by a classic/film approach. I tell clients I want their images to look as current on their 50th anniversary as it was the day we took the images. I shoot mostly digital but sprinkle film in. Who knows, maybe that will change soon!

As for my commercial work, I am influenced by fashion, emotion, and the client before me!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Right after I moved to Nashville, I had my photography gear stolen. While it was thankfully recovered and in fine condition, my confidence was rattled. My drive drastically slowed, and I had really talk myself through keeping my dream alive of photographing country music artists. I even began to question if I was resilient enough to keep going.

Despite that setback and confidence rattler, I have gone on to work with nearly half of the top ten record labels in Nashville, assist on many shoots, and even shoot for fashion designers.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is those I have met along the way. The clients who put their trust in me, and have ultimately become great friends, to meeting other creatives with similar goals and dreams. I often think back to what my life would be like had I not chosen to start my own photography business, and the first thing I always think of is every single person who wouldn’t be in my life.

So many people have helped me grow and shape me over the last decade. To be an entrepreneur, photographer, and businesswoman, you need a strong group of people around you. And while that group has changed over the years, it’s been so fun to watch others achieve their own goals and dreams, along with meeting new creatives to keep me challenged and growing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kacieqphotography.com & www.kacieq.com
• Instagram: @kacieqphoto & @kacieque
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kacieqphotography