We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Bowman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.

Katie, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have done so many different types of photography sessions. You know, the typical weddings, senior photos, engagement sessions, maternity photos, and newborns. However, sometimes I want to step out of that typical and do something different. I like to express myself in all kinds of ways; photography being one of the biggest forms of expression.

However, recently, I did a session to promote body positivity. I think it is BEYOND important for someone to love themselves. That means inside and outside. Sometimes that can be VERY difficult. Who hasn’t looked in a mirror and tried to “improve” their appearance in some way? Whether it is hair color, hair style, make up, etc. Who hasn’t had their photo taken and not sat there for hours nit picking at themselves? We all have done it.

Of course, there are still the typical magazines and photos you see out there of the “ideal” body type. However, more and more I see sites advertising their clothes with more realistic body shapes and sizes. I know I have been to the point where I buy some item of clothing because I like how it looked on the model; then it comes in and when you go to try it on, it just isn’t what you were hoping for. It is too tight, fits oddly, or just doesn’t flatter your body shape. However, I love that many online clothing sites tell you the model’s height and weight. It is easier to do shopping for yourself and be more confident when you see someone similar to you in something you like.

So, I decided it was time to do a body positivity shoot. It was time to bring some women together and photograph them being nothing but themselves and loving the skin they are in. I wanted to get these women together, hype them up, make them KNOW how gorgeous they are! These women were AMAZING! The love and support they all showed each other, was nothing less than happily overwhelming. These women started to open up and show more confidence. It was, hands down, the happiest group session I have done.

When I advertised for this session, I decided that I wanted all the women to be wearing the EXACT same kind of outfit. I requested that they wear a black shirt or body suit and jeans. I wanted them all to see how amazing we all look wearing the same outfit.

When I sent out the gallery to these women; I loved all the feedback and responses. Every woman told me how amazing they felt and how good they looked. I saw a lot of social media profile pictures change to one from this shoot. It was the best feeling to see these women truly loving themselves and sharing that confident energy online.

I do fully intend on doing more of these every year. We all deserve to love ourselves. Don’t you agree?

Katie, 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?

Hello! My name is Katie and I am a professional photographer. My photography business is called Jackson Light Photography! I am a wife and a mother of two WONDERFUL little human beings. I am 31 years young (saying that makes me feel old) and I am finally getting into a better grove of life when it comes to my dreams of becoming a full-time photographer.

I have been in love with photography since I was about 10 years old. I am sure I went through too many throw away cameras to count. Then I finally was gifted a little silver digital camera for my birthday. When I tell you that camera went with me everywhere, I mean it went with me EVERYWHERE. I just never knew when a photo opportunity would come up! Even to this day; out driving with my husband, kids, or even friends, I will point out different places or locations that would be a beautiful photo. Granted, I can’t carry my DSLR camera around with me all the time, but if I could, I would!

When I first started taking photos, it was mainly outdoor shots; nature shots. I would photograph trees, weather changes, insects, and flowers. It was calming, relaxing, and always beautiful. I never really anticipated taking photos of people. I always thought I wasn’t good enough for that kind of thing. But then an old friend reached out and asked if I would take her engagement photos. I told her that I had never done any session like that and she said she trusted me to do a great job anyways.

After doing their session, I fell in love. I loved conversing with them, watching natural smiles and genuine laughs come out; made their photos perfect! (Though looking back on those now… lets just say I have come a long way since then.) After their session, I created a business page on Facebook and then by social media and word of mouth, more people came. As the years have gone by, more and more people reach out and I create more than a client/photographer relationship. I watch them grow, fall in love, get married, have babies, watch the babies grow… it has been not only one of the most beautiful things I have got witness, but one of the best.

Sometimes, even now a days, I tell myself that if I were to tell myself ten years ago that I would actually be doing this, making a living doing something I loved, I wouldn’t believe it. I look back on photos I did in the beginning and ones I do now; I am nothing less than proud of myself. I know that I am still learning and improving with every session. Being in the photography field; trends are always changing. So the learning NEVER stops.

When it comes to my clients; I am always putting them first. I want them to feel comfortable, I want them to feel heard, and I want to make sure by the end of their session that I captured EVERYTHING they were wanting. I am the type to not be done until my client is more than satisfied with everything we did. I always tell each client I am open to any and all ideas.

I also work with all of my clients when it comes to session costs. Times can be tough and we are all going through it. So I make sure my clients know that I am willing to work with them to make our sessions stress free!

If you are in need of any type of session, even something just for yourself; please reach out! I would really love to meet some new faces and watch those lives change!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

This is probably super cliche, but it is also very true. What drives me to improve myself, do this full-time, and just grow as a photographer is my children. I want them to see that any dream they have is not always far-fetched. I want them to always push themselves to better themselves and to reach for anything they dream of.

I push myself not only to support my children and make a better life for them, but to be a role model for them. I remember a few people back in the beginning who always told me that being a photographer isn’t really a trust worthy future. That I need to go to school for something bigger and more reliable. Which I did; I went and received my business degree. No matter what career path I took, no matter what job I tried, nothing made me as happy as photography does. I want my children to always be happy and love what they do! I hope that them watching their mom constantly pushing to build her photography business, pushes them to do whatever they love as well.

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

What is the most rewarding part of being a photographer? There are so many things. There are the memories I create with the clients, there are the memories that the clients make with themselves, and as silly as it sounds, I absolutely love seeing the photos I took hanging in their homes, sitting on their desks at work, or even as the wallpaper on their cellphones.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jacksonlightphotography.com
• Instagram: @jacksonlightphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/katiebowmanphotography

Image Credits
Jackson Light Photography