Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katharine Deveise. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Katharine , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
Some view a credible risk as going skydiving, swimming with sharks, or spelunking. Risk is related to fear. If you don’t have a fear of rejection, public speaking, or fear of “putting yourself out there”, the risk involved in doing that is minimal. However, I was the kid who hid behind my mom’s leg on the first day of kindergarten. I was the kid in Highschool terrified the teacher would call on me. I was the UT student who probably spent longer than everyone else combined to prepare for my genetics presentation only to receive a failing grade because I simply couldn’t do more than look shell-shocked in front of the class. I’m the woman who was interviewed by KXAN after there was a bomb threat in my neighborhood and was more scared of the news interview, than the actual bomb threat.
Hopefully, I painted a clear picture of just how ridiculous my introverted nature is. Now, let’s thank the stars this is a written interview and not a recorded one.
All of this to say, I constantly have to pull myself out of my comfort zone in this profession. Networking has been one of the most important aspects of building my photography business. I would venture to say 80% of my business comes from previous clients or networking.
I noticed a Facebook post several years back about a group in Austin called DrinkandClick. It piqued my interest, but for an entire year, I would see the events come and go. I just couldn’t muster the courage to go. Then one day, I mentioned it to a friend of mine and we both agreed to meet there. It was a horribly rainy night so my friend ended up canceling but I was determined to make it this time around. It was the most lovely welcoming creative group. It expanded my network and knowledge 10 fold. I constantly battle my introverted nature but honestly, there is only an upside every single time I take the “risk” and go do the thing!
Katharine , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My business name is KatLee D. Photography. It is a Photography Business that serves The Greater Austin area and specializes in portrait photography. High school senior portrait sessions are my absolute favorite sessions. I adore spending time and creating a photoshoot that fully captures an individual. I also specialize in producing editorials for magazines and I am a select photographer for KidFash Magazine. If you or your child’s dream is to be published let me know and we can make it happen!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Growing a client base in this business is not for the faint of heart. There are as many photographers in Austin as there are Labradoodles maybe even more! Just kidding, but seriously, Figuring out how to set myself apart from the herd was a challenge. When I started out in photography, I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself into one niche. I thought if I could capture any and all types of shoots, it would benefit my business. This naive philosophy worked against me. In order to create my brand, I needed to become very specific as to what I was offering my client. Marketing becomes very unfocused when you don’t know who or what you are marketing to. Once I started to focus on my specialty, my brand took form. When people see the images I produce, my goal is for them to recognize it was taken by KatLee D. Photography. Similar to a line of designer purses. When you see a purse from Coach, Louis Vuitton, or Chanel, you can quickly assess its designer. In this sense the more unique a brand is, the more recognizable it becomes. This does sometimes hinder my creativity. Sometimes, I want to jump out of my box and go swimming in the waves but ultimately it is paramount to present a strong consistent visual representation to your clients so they essentially know what they are going to get.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Reputation is so very important to build and maintain. Years of quality work can come crashing down because of one difficult customer or one photoshoot that went sideways. We see it all the time as a society. We love watching people succeed and we also weirdly are attracted to the same people falling down. A small percentage of people do not grant mercy and can do a ton of damage. Maybe they are unhappy, maybe they are angry about prices, maybe they have not been taught how to respect, or maybe they don’t know what it takes to build up a business ( or maybe they do). Regardless of the field, it is a matter of time before this Domesday client makes their guest appearance. The clients who have you questioning your entire career choice! Just as clients are vetting you for your business, it is equally important to vet your customers. If you notice a customer is rude and something seems a bit off from the get-go, it is important to listen to the warning bells and let them know you are probably not the best fit. I put 110% into every photoshoot. I treat my clients as I would want to be treated. I’m a photographer first and a salesperson last. This isn’t advisable but this is how I prefer to operate and I believe my clients appreciate my authenticity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katleed.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/katleedphoto