We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Rose Lee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie Rose below.
Katie Rose, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
My interest in photography began around two years ago. I had just finished my first year of college and realized that I hated the major I was in and what I thought was my dream job wasn’t bringing me any joy or fulfillment. That summer, I played around with my dad’s camera taking the standard nature and flower pictures and the day I started I was hooked! I knew this was what I wanted to pursue.
After a lot of thought and prayer, I switched my major, created a photography Instagram account, and began shooting anything and everything I could! I quickly discovered that following every photographer that I could find on Instagram became an information overload, so instead I chose three photographers who I highly looked up to in their business approach, shooting style, and editing style and absorbed as much information from them as I could. I joined my school’s yearbook photography team, second shot weddings, and offered free shoots to gain experience.
The following year, I spent many hours (on top of school and work) building my business from the ground up. From making my first website to learning my shooting and editing style, I slowly but surely built a solid clientele. Starting my own business wasn’t easy and required a lot of time, energy, and countless hours of work figuring out all the small things that often get looked over, but I’m so thankful that I have the privilege to do what I’m passionate about every single day!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Katie Rose and I’m a wedding photographer based in Greenville, SC, with a life rooted in a devoted love and trust in Jesus. I’m currently a senior at college and am passionate about my business as well as helping others achieve their photography goals! I began taking pictures just as a hobby, but within a month I knew I wanted to make it my career.
I want to build genuine relationships with each one of my clients and after every interaction with me I want them to walk away feeling loved, valued, and understood. I don’t want them to feel as though my relationship with them is merely a transaction, but instead I want to truly be a friend and for the images I capture to authentically show their relationship! Especially when capturing a wedding day, my goal is for my couples to be able to look back on their pictures and to not only see what it looked like but to also feel the emotions in every photo.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I love seeing the joy on the faces of the couples I work with when their photos exceed their expectations! Usually, my clients are younger, fresh out of college, and have very little experience having their photos taken. A very common phrase I hear is, “trust me we’re not photogenic at all.” The best feeling in the world is when that phrase turns into “I didn’t know we could look that good!” Knowing I didn’t just shoot in the cookie-cutter way and instead put the time into getting to know the couple and figuring out ways that I can authentically portray them in my photos is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of clients has been through word-of-mouth! This has been the biggest cause of growth for my business and it continually motivates me to provide the absolute best client experience possible. Having word-of-mouth as my main source of both getting and retaining clients is proof that my clients are satisfied with the services I offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katierose.photography/
- Instagram: katie.rose_photography_