We were lucky to catch up with Kara Wilson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kara , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I first became interested in photography when I was a preteen and it quickly became my niche. It was fun for me and there was always something new to learn, which is the reason why I still love it today. I kept practicing, took classes in high school, and would constantly ask my friends to model for me. This was such a fun time for me because I could create without any judgment and consistently see myself grow as a photographer and artist. Like most teenagers, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with my life yet, but could definitely see it growing in this direction. After high school, I decided to go to college for photography. I attended Savannah College of Art and Design during my freshman year, then transferred to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. I was so ready to expand my creative knowledge and learn more about my craft. The photography floor of UARTS quickly became my second home and family. I loved the experience of being able to learn so many different approaches to photography and being around peers and professors who all shared the same passion and expressed it in so many unique ways. College was equally as challenging as it was inspiring, I certainly would not be the artist I am today if I had not gone.

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 Kara Elisabeth Wilson and I’m a photographer from Philadelphia, PA. Right now I’m not sure if I can “brand” myself any further. I’m not strictly a nature, fashion, fine art, portrait, travel, etc. photographer. Although I’ve been shooting for about 10 years I still don’t know what my favorite is, and I don’t want to hold myself back by putting a label on my work. I’m currently working for Snipes which involves a lot of fashion and product-based work. Outside of work, I like to shoot while traveling, candid portraits of my close friends, and go on photo walks just to keep myself shooting. I’m taking things day by day while I try to figure out what I want in the future and my next goal.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ve wanted to quit photography so many times. It’s a very saturated industry and easy to compare your work to others. Not every project is going to be your best, but every project is a learning experience. I wanted to give up when I had horrible projects and critiques in college, when covid hit and my first internship got canceled before it started, dealing with unequal pay as a woman, and plenty more times. It’s also easy to be your own biggest obstacle and critic. I put a lot of pressure on myself to see constant improvement and making each project better than my last. Even today I struggle with perfectionism, but I’m learning that the best way to learn your craft is to let yourself fail a few times and to be okay with it. I don’t see myself just quitting photography one day, but I also see the possibility of growing out of it and pursuing a different form of creative expression. If that day comes, I know I will still be influenced by what I’ve learned while practicing photography.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Plenty! I love reading memoirs and books written by inspiring women, some of my favorites that have shaped me into the artist I am today are Hold Still by Sally Mann, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, On Being Human by Jennifer Pastiloff, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://karaelisabethwilson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaelisabethwilson/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/karaelisabethwilson

Image Credits
Kara Elisabeth Wilson