Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlin Iness.
Hi Kaitlin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up, I was surrounded by family members constantly taking pictures. I have multiple photo albums full of baby pictures, and you should see the number of prints I have of me growing up – it’s crazy! Nothing went undocumented – first day of school, cheerleading, Christmas’, opening presents, birthdays, family, vacations, sporting events. Even the smallest of moments like me feeding a cookie to my dad when I was little. Pictures upon pictures upon pictures! I love how much I can look back on my childhood and know exactly what life was like. I had a wonderful childhood that I can relive through these images. To me, that’s all that matters!
Fast forward through life a few years right around High School. I began to feel it in my heart that I was going to own a business someday. I was always told that I had a very entrepreneurial spirit. Being inspired by my father, who built his own business from the ground up, I was determined to be a business owner…but what was I going to do? What was I going to dedicate my life to?
It took me seven years to finish college. Why? Because I was afraid to commit to something I wasn’t sure I would be happy with. The idea of devoting my life to one “major” or “career” always terrified me. The thought of choosing a career that I might regret 50 years down the road terrified me. During my college career, I changed my major probably 5 or 6 times!
One day, I was visiting my Papaw, who was EXTREMELY into cameras, and it piqued my interest. I started asking him questions about his photography journey. What were things he liked to photograph that brought him joy? I remember having a conversation with my mom shortly after this visit with my Papaw and I felt it on my heart to give photography a try. I felt like photography was something I could be great at.
Travel further down the line and I’m attending college at Texas Tech University. I decide to change my major (for the 6th time!) to Electronic Media and Communications (an “artsy” business degree) and I added a minor in Fine Arts Photography. I learned SO much about photography from my time in college. However, I wasn’t given much direction. College taught me the technicality of my photography – my equipment, lighting, and film. While that was very valuable information, I was missing the guidance of someone helping me figure out how I could use photography to fit my personal desires. I had no one to help me figure out what part of photography I wanted to pursue. I had to figure that out for myself.
By this time, I was soaking up all things “photography”. I BINGE watched YouTube video after YouTube video. Hours upon hours were spent scouring YouTube, reading articles, and paying for educational courses outside of college. Most of my skill set has been learned through other photographers’ guidance and teaching. This was extremely hard, though. I’m a “straight to the point” type of person. Show me what to do and how to do it and I’m good! I quickly learned that photography was not this way!!! Photographers have their own preferences on their equipment and what they use their equipment for. There wasn’t a specific “by the book” way to photography. So, in essence, photography didn’t come naturally. I just knew I loved it too much to give up on it.
If I’m being honest, I love being a photographer so much more now than I did when I first started. As previously mentioned, I was so lost when I started my journey that I didn’t really take the time to enjoy it. I was so focused on trying to make my journey and my Instagram page look like the photographers I idealized that I forgot to celebrate the little milestones I experienced along the way.
I’m definitely in more of a secure and confident place in my journey now that I’m able to celebrate these little/big milestones. I have worked so hard to get to where I’m at, and I’m so proud of my journey. I’m so proud of the growth I’ve experienced! I can’t wait to see where the Lord takes me from here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Unfortunately, my photography journey has been anything but smooth. I struggled early on with finding my style and who I was within photography. About 3 years into my photography journey, I just started binge-watching YouTube video after YouTube video. Hours upon hours were spent scouring YouTube, reading articles, and paying for educational courses outside of college. Through YouTube, I found Katelyn James, an amazing and talented wedding photographer, and her channel literally changed my life.
Most of my skill set has been learned through other photographers’ guidance and teaching. This was extremely hard, though. I’m a “straight to the point” type of person. Show me what to do and how to do it and I’m good! I quickly learned that photography was not this way. Photographers have their own preferences on their equipment and what they use their equipment for. There wasn’t a specific “by the book” way to photography. So, in essence, photography didn’t come naturally. I just knew I loved it too much to give up on it.
Like I mentioned previously, photography has always been part of my life growing up, and while I didn’t have my “A-HA!” moment until college, I’m so grateful I found what I love and what I’m passionate about. If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self starting out, it would be to have patience. I would also tell her to stop comparing your journey to other photographers. All I wanted was to have beautiful photos that people would look at and automatically want to book with me. I mean, don’t we all? LOL! But I wanted fantastic pictures right away. I wanted so badly to be as good and experienced as the photographers I idealized, and I would become so frustrated with myself if I didn’t perform to someone else’s standard that I tried to make my own.
I was lost when I first started. I tried to “get with the trends” and I fell into a photography style I wasn’t crazy about. My editing style was ALL over the place. Looking back, I wish I would’ve tuned out the “trends” and focused on creating a style that I was truly proud of and that represented me and my personal style. It would’ve saved me A LOT of time, but I have ZERO regrets. I’m actually thankful for my photography journey. It made me value my journey and hard work even more as I had to really work for it, and I’m still working for it!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fox belle Weddings?
Fox belle Weddings is a Dallas-Fort Worth wedding photographer specializing in wedding and engagement photography. My style of imagery is both personal and professional with a “light and airy” feel. I do love the occasional B&W, too! I strive to craft a unique experience for each one of my clients while producing beautiful, authentic, and timeless photos that will be enjoyed for generations to come. If you are dreaming of the most perfect, beautiful wedding, and are striving for an even better marriage, I’m your girl!!
I know this might sound cliché, but I love LOVE! Nothing makes me happier than working personally with my couples and capturing the beautiful season they are in. They say that life is measured in moments, and I believe that your most treasured moments should be remembered forever through classic, timeless imagery.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@foxbelleweddings.com
- Website: https://foxbelleweddings.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foxbelleweddings/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foxbelleweddings/?ref=page_internal
Image Credits
@foxbelleweddings
