We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kari Sikorski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kari, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I have had a camera in my hands since I was 7 years old. I took a photography class in 4-H and entered pictures at our local fair. I loved taking photos of fun things I did with family and friends. My Dad taught me how to shoot manually on the 35mm that he carried with him in the Navy. He has a great eye for photography, and his images from that time in his life were an inspiration to me. As my interest grew in photography as a career, I started taking photography classes. I sought out classes and workshops in person and online.
The one thing that sped up my learning process the most was practice. Lots of practice. Getting out daily and figuring out the manual settings for different lighting situations and subjects was very important in my growth as a photographer. You can read about it or watch videos explaining it, but nothing will teach you faster than practice.
The most essential skills? Patience and enthusiasm.
I don’t feel like there are obstacles in the way of learning more about photography. You don’t have to own the newest equipment or the latest software to learn and grow. This year, I started teaching my son on an inexpensive, plastic Holga film camera and it is so fun to see his excitement when his film is developed and he sees what he created.

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 am a professional family portrait photographer based out of Salt Lake City, Utah.

I started my photography business in 2009. I had been photographing my three little boys, and friends took notice of my images and started hiring me to photograph their families. Photographing my children gave me a new appreciation for what a photograph can mean to someone. I love to capture those milestones, relationships, and special moments for my clients.

99% of my photo sessions are done outdoors, and I love finding amazing locations for my client’s sessions. Utah is a gorgeous backdrop in every season!

I am so honored that my clients come back year after year. It is really fun to see their families grow!

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

It is exciting to have inspiration come to you and find ways to bring it to life through photography. Dreaming of locations, scenes, colors, and light and putting them together, whether for a client or for a personal project… it is very rewarding! I also love that I can put two things I enjoy so much together: photography and being outdoors. It is the ultimate workspace for me.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

In the early years of growing my business, referrals from family and friends got me started. Volunteering my services with a few organizations in the community really helped to get my name out there, and introduced me to many new clients and friends. Overall, I would say that word of mouth has been the most effective source of new clientele. Happy clients spread the word, and I am so grateful for everyone that has passed my name on to their family and friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.karisikorskiphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/karisikorskiphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KariSikorskiPhotography