We were lucky to catch up with Suzann Kaltbaum recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Suzann, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Travel photography started as a passion project, so just like when you do anything you love you continue getting better and better at it (hopefully!). My natural curiosity coupled with taking photography classes jumpstarted my career before I realized I actually wanted to pursue it professionally. As a mother and avid traveler (and thanks to evolving technology) I always had a camera with me.

Capturing life’s precious moments became a part of who I was. A digital storyteller. As time went on and my kids grew up, I had more time to delve into digital art. As I learned and studied new mediums I began to develop my craft and hone my skills. Pretty soon after experimenting with different digital methods, I found this blended technique that resonated with me and my clients. Combining innate creativity with this technique has helped me create art that I’m really proud of. To the casual observer, it looks like the work is created with paint and brushes instead of a digital camera and Photoshop. Printing on mixed metals helps highlight the picture to elevate the design and customers’ points of view. Starting locally, joining clubs like the Orlando Camera Club, also gave me a platform to meet others creating in this space and opportunities to network and grow my business.

I don’t think there is one thing I could do to speed up the learning process, experience comes with time and practice. The most essential skills were instilled in me with thoughtful, ongoing practice. Evolving technology also changes the game consistently. That part is out of my control and I stay proactive to always lean into new trends. Patience and will are the most essential skills. Not everything is positive and learning can have its frustrations or limitations as well. Having the tenacity to say “when there is a will there is a way” holds true. Trying to actualize a client’s dream or create an original piece just as I see it in my mind all comes with putting in lots of time testing and practicing until it’s right. With a positive mindset, learning my craft has been a catalyst to a more impactful and meaningful life.

Suzann, 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 passion for photography grew alongside my children. As I continued to capture special moments in our lives from behind the lens I realized that the art and inspiration were my children and as they began their next step into the world, so did I. I started my business when I became an empty nester. Finding myself with free time, I began traveling more often, always with my camera by my side. It naturally evolved into this catalog of work. As word spread the work began to speak for itself and I continued to work on my craft and find ways to exhibit my art. Whatever the inspiration, seize the opportunity to jump into your passion and explore all possibilities. In a few short years, I have now won awards and have had my work featured in Ronald Mcdonald House and other venues and magazines.

I started creating art for friends and family after the family portrait gained a lot of buzz. I had a friend that worked for a law firm that was expanding her practice. She encouraged me to build a website to showcase my art and she would present it to her firm for the new locations to showcase. Well, this was the push I needed.

I built my site suzannk.com and started adding in new art on a regular basis. In the beginning, I advertised on Facebook and Instagram as well as word of mouth. During the pandemic I used LinkedIn as a way to network with various art dealers and my business grew over the course of the last 2 years.

All my pieces have a story to tell. Whether it’s a special commission for a client or from traveling and trying to capture a special moment, I want each piece to bring emotion to the viewer. I love sharing with people the story of my art. As I learned new mediums I began to develop my craft and hone my skills. Pretty soon after experimenting with different digital methods, I found this blended technique that resonated with me and my clients. Combining innate creativity with this technique has helped me create art that I’m really proud of. To the casual observer, it looks like the work is created with paint and brushes instead of a digital camera and Photoshop. Printing on mixed metals helps highlight the picture to elevate the design and customers’ points of view.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I think we can all agree the pandemic came as a shock to all of us. Especially those first few weeks everyone was home and figuring out what comes next. For my career, it took a backseat for a while but I didn’t let it stop me completely. I had to pivot and find new ways to network. Everyone was home so how could I get anyone’s attention? The internet was the best networking platform because everyone’s work schedule changed. I was able to leverage LinkedIn and Instagram to find my target audience and it ended up helping me make a lot of connections. Sometimes a pivot was actually the detour we needed all along.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My first project was a family one, before I even realized I wanted to pursue this professionally. I was creating a family holiday card where our dogs were the focal point and the picture on the wall behind them was our family. One of the biggest additions to the photo is that the background curtain is just that: a blank curtain. I added the picture frame, shadow around the frame, and made our photograph look like a painting. The most difficult part was inserting the frame behind my dog Winston and making it look authentic!

Also, editing doggy fur is not easy. I added smoke and a few other enhancements that took longer than expected to perfect. I had to photoshop the heads of the dogs so they were both looking at the camera. My dogs are not that well trained to sit in one place and the details make all the difference. I even had to erase the leashes so what’s not in the picture is just as important as what IS in the final edit of the combination of photographs.

Creating this I realized how much I love photography. I love photo manipulation and watching the evolution of digital tools propels different mediums to execute which continues to elevate my craft. The ability to change an everyday photograph to what I see in my mind and share it with the world amazes me. Having completed the first project, I knew I could take on anything!

Contact Info:

• Website: suzannk.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannkfineart/?hl=en