We were lucky to catch up with Kaitlyn Tran recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kaitlyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Running a small business has not always been the easiest, but I have had tremendous character growth growing as an entrepreneur. Specifically, being a freelance photographer has evolved me as an individual in many ways. It has shaped me to be a better communicator, planner, visual creator, and business partner to many. With what I have stated, photography will continue to be a massive part of my life. Although careers are constantly changing and evolving in our modern society, I am determined to make photography part of my lifestyle so that I can continue to find a good purpose for whether I pursue it fully or part-time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Hi, my name is Kaitlyn Tran, and I am a 20-year-old college student and a Dallas and Houston photographer. I am a portrait photographer specializing in editorial and couple shoots. My goal for each and every photoshoot is to express my clients’ and I’s vision and advocate their beauty through photos. I strive to make my work an all-inclusive brand that empowers others to advocate their authentic image to inspire others. The kind words others have told me is that my work is curated in a “timeless and unique” way that draws the eyes of many.

Photography has been a massive part of my identity and lifestyle over the past seven years. I picked up this underlying skill at 12 when I bought my first camera, the EOS Rebel T5. I took pictures of every little corner I saw and created it to be eye-appealing.

At the end of this hobby that has spontaneously turned into a growing business, my endgame is to produce art and showcase my vision that will be left unnoticed by the general public.

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

It’s so rewarding when you get your client’s text about their reaction to the photo gallery I just sent over. Their excitement and pure contentment with the results make the whole shoot process worthwhile. These exciting opportunities that have been given me over the past years have led me to many lasting friendships and connections. I love meeting and connecting with other individuals through the creative community with different and unique backgrounds and upbringings. These strong connections it has led me to some amazing opportunities.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The beginning of 2020 was a chaotic time for me. As a high school senior juggling eight clubs, two jobs, and serving my time at my church ministry, it was hard to manage my time with photography bookings as well. Then covid hit, and we all had to isolate ourselves for months. This period was probably one of my lowest lows, but I soon realized, looking back, that it was a great cleanse from life and all of the craziness from our daily schedules. This time helped me return to my photography roots and started doing fun, creative photoshoots for myself in my free time. I forgot how fun photography used to be when I was not stressing about all the business and logistic aspects. During this time, it even helped reshape my branding in general. I started doing more creative editorial shoots, which I enjoyed more than the generic old-school portraits we were used to taking and seeing on social media. It helped me realize always to remember to do what you’re passionate about, and the rest will follow if you continue to believe in your work and grind at it. And I was right. However, my business began to prosper even more than ever before, in a different light such that I was even more beyond excited to create new work and connections with a fresh perspective. With this pivot, people in the greater Houston and Dallas area know me not just as a portrait photographer but as a creative director because of my recent work from mid-2020 to now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kaitlyntranphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlyntranphotography/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/kaitlyntranphotography

Image Credits
Image Credits to Tony Nguyen regarding personal photo