We were lucky to catch up with Katie Vela recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us 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 began my film photography career quite recently- in October of 2022. As a Master’s student at The Ohio State University studying public history, I felt as though all I did was work or school, and I needed a creative hobby. I was drawn to film photography as it combined my passions for history, fashion, and photography. However, prior to this decision I had never purchased or utilized a film camera, I had only used my Canon Rebel T7 to recreationally take photographs. I had no idea how expensive or difficult film would be to learn how to use. Unlike with digital photography, in order to shoot with film you must buy the roll of film (which only has 36 images apiece), pay for the roll of film to be developed (or develop it yourself utilizing expensive chemicals), and be exceedingly conscious of the lighting exposure and the ISO of the film while shooting. As a result, shooting with film is both expensive and difficult to master. For the first couple months learning how to utilize film, and occasionally still today if I am shooting in new conditions, each photoshoot was a gamble. That is to say, I was never sure if the film would be able to be developed, if the photos were good quality, or if the film was loaded correctly. I learned how to use film primarily through trial and error, the guidance of my friends such as Ellie Grills (@ellie.grills) and Kyler (@Kylerjeanphotography), YouTube, and TikTok. Although I am sure there are more technical ways I could have learned how to shoot on film that would have sped up my learning process, I think learning through experience and guidance from friends was the best method as it kept the learning process enjoyable and at my own pace. However, as I get further into my photography career I have begun to do more research into the technical methods of utilizing my film cameras.
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?
My name is Katie Vela, and I am both a Master’s student at the Ohio State University studying public history, and a film photographer/owner of the business FilmbyKtVela LLC. I began my film photography in October of 2022 in an attempt to exercise my creativity in a non-academic manner. I utilize film photography to capture fashion, editorial, and unique photoshoots. I think what sets me apart from other film photographers is the unique nature of the photoshoots I capture. I am most proud of my ability to be both a film photographer and Master’s student at the mere age of twenty. The main things I want my potential clients to know about my brand and my work is that I love unique photoshoot ideas and I will go above and beyond to ensure your vision comes to life!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
In order to begin my photography business while simultaneously afford my rent, school, and groceries I had to work three jobs/internships and find my photography equipment on websites such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace. I had to remind myself that just because my equipment might not be of the same quality as other photographers, it did not mean my photographs couldn’t be equally as good. Today, I still use second-hand equipment and cameras and I have found it very rewarding. Not only do I save money, I have found a sense of pride in producing high-quality work despite not having the newest equipment.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What helped me to build my reputation within my market was the connections I made at local fashion shows such as the Outloud Ragdoll Runway Fashion Show and the Unity Collective Runway Fashion Show. At these events I met models, designers, and photographers who I would work with in the future and develop personal friendships with. A lot of the opportunities I have had as a photographer have been the result of individuals such as Arianna Wyant, Ky Keefer, and others who have worked with me introducing me to different individuals in the fashion and photography world, and advocating for the quality of my work and my reputation as an individual.
Contact Info:
- Website: filmbyktvela.org
- Instagram: filmbyktvela
- VSCO: https://vsco.co/filmbyktvela
Image Credits
Personal Photograph was taken by Kyler Jean (Instagram: @Kylerjeanphotography) Additional Photographs were taken by Katie Vela (Instagram: @Filmbyktvela)