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

Kari, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I have always been interested in animals. I grew up on a ranch in Montana so animals are a way of life for my family. When I joined the Army I didn’t have that connection anymore so, once I was settled at my first duty station, I started looking for ways to bring animals back into my life. During my research I discovered a canine rescue that was looking for foster homes for the dogs that they were saving from shelters with high euthanasia rates. I applied to foster and began my journey volunteering for the organization. Several years later, the rescue decided to look into producing calendars as a fundraiser. I had just started my photography journey not long before and offered to head the calendar project. We successfully produced two calendars featuring rescue dogs and all the proceeds went to the rescue to save so many more canine lives.

Kari, 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?

About three years ago, I was preparing for the end of my Army career, looking for a hobby and possible future career path. I decided to pick up a camera and take a small class in photography. I absolutely loved it and started offering small photoshoots to my friends and family. Now, I’m a natural light photographer specializing in outdoor pet and portrait photography, though I do branch out if my client wants something different and I think I can do it for them. I am grateful to be in a position to offer low cost professional photography services for those who can’t afford the higher pricing.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Ultimately, the biggest driving factor for me is giving my clients a product that they are happy with and can look back on for years to come with fond memories. Photographs are little visual representations of times in our life that we choose to freeze and keep with us. My goal is to keep my prices low so that anyone can experience a professional photoshoot of their choice and have the professional level photos of those frozen moments that result in our combined visions.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think one of the biggest struggles with understanding photography for creatives and non-creatives alike is the misconception that expensive equipment will automatically produce professional level photographs. In reality, high quality professional photos require a blend of technical knowledge, aesthetics, creative vision and, very likely, some level of editing. Not only does the photographer have to understand the physical mechanics of the equipment, they also have to interpret the original creative vision and bring the two together to create an image that is aesthetically pleasing to a wide audience. On top of that, the image created during that process may not even be the final product. Most photographers spend countless hours after the actual photoshoot choosing the best photos and then editing them so that the final product is the best representation of the original creative vision as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://karidalephotography.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: @kari_dale_photography
• Facebook: @karidalephoto