Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katie Wagner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.
Crazy may not be the right word to use here, but surreal would be. In June of 2022, a new local restaurant hired me to photograph their soft opening. While I was there, I got to meet Chef Chad, the restaurant’s executive pastry chef. Chad’s desserts were unlike anything I had ever seen before – so full of color and texture – but also so delicious! I took a handful of photos of his creations while I was there, and found him on social media afterwards to ensure he had them personally for marketing. Chef Chad asked me to come back a few months later and take photos of new desserts he created, and I happily accepted the job. I remember telling him that he really needed to have a social media account dedicated to showing off his desserts, and he told me he would make one eventually. Over the months, Chef Chad and I became genuine friends, and I was relentless in asking him to make the social media accounts. One day, I decided to just make an account for him, and since I had all the photos anyway, just start posting them!
A few weeks later, a message appeared in the inbox of the Instagram account I had made Chef Chad – it was a talent scout from the Food Network. She was inviting Chef Chad to interview to be a part of the Halloween Baking Championship to air in the Fall of 2023. I spoke with the talent scout, and was told that the executives at the Food Network had seen my photography on his account and said it was some of the best food photography they have seen, and that was what caught their eye on getting Chef Chad on the show.
Hearing that the Food Network loved MY photos was surreal in and of itself, but seeing my photography actually air on television with Chef Chad when he was competing in the show was also wild. The photos I took were on national television and being seen. My logo may not have been featured on the photos, but I knew, and honestly that was enough. The internal pride I had for my work was at a high at this point, and just fueled my passion and drive forward even more.
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?
I’m a passionate photographer with a heart set on capturing the timeless beauty and heartfelt moments of love that unfold in front of my camera. I specialize in weddings and boudoir, but document many other moments in life as well.
I focus on weddings because I believe in the power of storytelling through imagery. Each wedding has its own unique narrative, filled with laughter, tears, and joyous celebrations. My goal is to artfully weave together these moments, creating a visual tapestry that reflects the genuine essence of the couple and their special day. For me, weddings are more than just events; they’re the epitome of human connection and emotion. There’s something magical about witnessing two souls embark on their journey together, surrounded by the love and support of their closest friends and family. It’s a privilege to document these moments, preserving them in photographs that will be cherished for generations to come.
With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, I strive to capture not just the big moments, but also the small, fleeting gestures that often hold the most significance. From the tender exchange of vows to the exuberant dance floor celebrations, I aim to freeze the beauty and emotion of each moment, allowing my clients to relive their wedding day whenever they glance at their photographs.
Beyond simply taking pictures, I consider it a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of documenting such a significant milestone in my clients’ lives. My approach is rooted in authenticity, empathy, and a genuine love for what I do. I take the time to get to know each couple, understanding their vision, preferences, and unique story, so that I can properly capture their individual style and personality. This is also where my business came from: With Love Photography – because everything I do, I do with love.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
“Memories Matter” is my business’ tagline, and that is what fuels me. On a personal level, many of my own personal memories are gone from battles with my mental health, and the only way I know I have done certain things is because there are photos of them. I can see in the photos my expression and know how I felt in those moments to relive them. Photos help me preserve memories I’ve otherwise lost. Also, after the passing of my mother, photos of her became so much more valuable to me. I have seen photos I have taken of clients used as obituary photos, and that is the most tragic honor I could have – knowing I took the photo that they felt best represented their loved one and will be a lasting memory. Knowing I helped them create that photo and memory in time is a true honor, the circumstance is always just sad. I want to be sure that people always have quality photos to remember all moments in their lives and look back on and so future generations can look back on them too.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think the biggest thing is that while it is truly amazing having a career where we can be creative and do/make amazing things, it is still a job too and there is a lot of not-so-glamorous parts of it that we have to do. I think it’s safe to say that the “fun” part of the job is actually what we do the least of – at least that is how it is in my case. I may be at a wedding for 8 hours and people will see me getting gorgeous shots of the couple, laughing with the bridal party, capturing the details, and shimmying across the dance floor while taking photos, but the rest of the work surrounding those 8 hours is primarily me at home, dressed like a hobbit, working tirelessly behind my computer. Before booking that wedding, I’ve put in countless hours on my website, doing marketing and advertising, talking to the couple and preparing paperwork to get them booked, pre-wedding consultations and preparation, etc. Then after the wedding, I’m following up with the couple more, culling through photos, editing, posting on socials (if allowed), and putting in hours more work after. The 8 hours people see me work is the fun and “easy” part, but the 40+ hours I put in on this wedding outside of what people see is not nearly as glamorous. So many people view a photographer as simply “pushing a button” or thinks that photoshop can just perform miracles without us having to work at it, but so much more goes in. Not to mention, I like to stay on top of trends and gear that comes out so I am continuously improving and educating myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.withlovephotographyllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withlovephotographyllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/withlovephotographyllc
