Today we’d like to introduce you to Katharine Gann.
Katharine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a left-handed, newlywed, Alabama native with a love for creating, learning, and coffee! Growing up, my parents let me express my artistic side with tons of little “projects”, even if it meant a constant trail of messes. (Thanks, Mom!) Although I have loved art as long as I can remember, my love for photography started in high school. I had a place in my schedule open for an elective, and I decided it would be fun to help design the high school yearbook. There was an opening on the team and I had always loved the design, so why not?
When I walked into the yearbook room, I was handed a camera and told that the opening was for a photographer. I remember thinking, “This is NOT what I signed up for!” However, after the first few weeks of walking around the halls slinging a camera, I realized that I had fallen in love. Looking through a lens at my friends and classmates enjoying some of the best times of our lives made me realize just how awesome of a job it was to experience all of these moments with the people around me. It seemed to connect me with both friends and strangers in ways that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
For my senior photos, my parents gave me a budget and told me I could do whatever I wanted with the money, as long as I had a photo to use in the yearbook. I decided to put it with some of my savings and walked out of Best Buy in the fall of 2010 with my first DSLR camera. I spent my spare time reading the user’s manual and asking my yearbook advisor a million questions. That year, some friends asked me if I would snap some photos of them for their Christmas cards. From there, things kind of took off. The following spring, I sold my first season of mini-sessions for Easter.
When I graduated from high school, I went to the University of North Alabama. While I was in college, I realized quickly that this was turning into a business and got my first business license, booked several portraits and my first few events, and even shot my first several weddings. Thanks to some very awesome (and very patient) photographer friends and clients, photography books, and YouTube, I kept learning enough to upgrade my equipment and design my first website.
After college, I began teaching in Sheffield, AL. Although my day job was in a totally unrelated field, it worked perfectly with my schedule to be able to shoot during “golden hour” (the hour before sunset when the light is dreamy), or on weekends. During my first year of teaching, I met my future husband Sawyer, an Aggie who brought me to Texas when we married in the summer of 2016. We lived in College Station until his job brought us to Fort Worth, where I teach Kindergarten and continue to grow my business. I have been amazingly blessed with wonderful friends, loving family, and beautiful clients here! Although I love my life here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, half of my heart will always sing “Sweet Home Alabama” with Lynyrd Skynyrd (Roll Tide Roll)!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Ha! Is there such a thing as a smooth road when starting your own business at eighteen? I have absolutely had my share of, um, learning experiences, starting with trying to build a business as a freshman in college while working and pursuing a degree in two totally unrelated fields. (Who needs sleep, right?) Eight years, three cameras, four zip codes, and many, many, MANY hours later, while I still have to much to learn, I can also look back with thankfulness for how much I’ve grown.
I would say that one of my biggest struggles as not only a business owner but as a teacher and a female in general, is staying positive in difficult situations. Sharing your work as a beginner is terrifying, especially a world where we are constantly exposed to so much “perfection” on social media. I have had tons of conversations with other women about comparing ourselves to others, which opens the door for doubt and discouragement.
Just when I was feeling confident in my work and had a great set of clientele, I got married and moved 650 miles across the country, losing all my clients and starting from scratch in a new place with different business laws to learn and hardly any connections. In these kinds of situations, is so easy to become mentally lazy and let ourselves be blinded by the negative, rather than choosing to focus on the good. I would be lying if I said I didn’t shed a few tears of frustration and stress at times. However, looking back, the move brought me to rebrand, rebuild, and connect with so many amazing people who have welcomed me into their lives. They have supported me and helped me grow my work into so much more than I could have imagined.
I firmly believe in the power of positivity and positive self-talk. Henry Ford hit the nail on the head when he said, “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.” Having a healthy mentality means making a concentrated effort daily to seek out the beauty and joy in your life. Surround yourself with positive people, and don’t be afraid to kindly distance yourself from those who bring you down.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Katharine Gann Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
There are so many things I love about my work, it’s hard to choose just one favorite! I take photos and portraits of everything from newborns to seniors to celebrations, products, sports, and real estate. I love to collaborate with other local photographers in the wedding industry as well! Seniors and newborns are my specialties, and eventually, I would love to create a newborn-specific brand.
I am a little bit of a tech nerd, and I love learning and using the latest tools and features in the creative industry. I pay close attention to color, light, and detail to make sure that all of my images capture the beauty in front of my lens. However, apart from the products, the process is what makes my job what it is.
I think if I had to sum it all up in one word it would be “experiences”. I’ve learned that moments are much more valuable than things, and there is nothing like getting to feel and preserve milestones and celebrations with my clients. Whether it’s a major event such as a new life, a wedding, or an anniversary, or simply a time when a family can come together and create some fun lifestyle portraits, I love capturing the connections between individuals. I tell stories with my photos, and invest myself in each individual that I find in front of my lens. I feel the pride of a parent watching their graduate adjust the tassel on their cap, I get a little flutter in my stomach when I feel the warmth of a tiny newborn, and I may or may not tear up with family and friends as a bride walks down the aisle to marry the love of her life. My favorite photos vividly preserve heartfelt emotions from each moment of the session.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I think that we, as women, have an attention to detail that helps us perfect our art. Women tend to become emotionally invested in our clients and our roles, making the whole experience shaped with a caring and understanding of each and every person that we encounter. We lead with our hearts, as well as our minds, and have a unique skill of open communication. Women also have an increased ability to multi-task effectively, making us efficient at jobs that require several thought processes at once. Is it so important for us to focus on these opportunities, rather than getting lost in the negative press!
Pricing:
- Portrait Sessions Begin At $250.
- Event Coverage Begins At $350.
- Commercial Work Begins At $175
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katharinegann.com
- Phone: 256.394.2211
- Email: katharinegannphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: @katharinegannphoto
- Facebook: facebook.com/katharinegannphoto
Image Credit:
All images © Katharine Gann 2018
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
