We’re looking forward to introducing you to Katye Wasson . Check out our conversation below.
Hi Katye, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, without a doubt. Whether I’m in the classroom, behind the camera, or running my business, integrity guides everything I do. In teaching, it means showing up consistently for my students and being someone they can trust. In photography and videography, it means delivering on promises, treating each client with respect, and creating an experience that reflects honesty and care. Talent and energy are important, but without integrity, they don’t go far. My goal is to build relationships—whether in education or business—that are rooted in trust.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Katye Wasson—owner of Katye Michele Photography & Video (KMPV). I’m a full-time photographer, videographer, and teacher based in East Texas. I specialize in weddings, families, seniors, newborns, maternity, and more—capturing life’s most meaningful milestones with a genuine, storytelling approach.
What sets KMPV apart is a commitment to both professionalism and personal connection. As a teacher and creative, I know how much these moments matter—from wedding days to a newborn’s first week. Every session is treated with care, intention, and integrity.
When I’m not in the classroom or behind the camera, you’ll find me with my family—molding the lives of my two boys and living in faith alongside my husband. That foundation of love and purpose inspires everything I do, both personally and professionally.
Loss has shaped my life in quiet but powerful ways. The experiences I’ve walked through have deepened my empathy, grounded my perspective, and made me even more intentional in how I approach each day, each client, and each story I get to tell. I’ve learned that time is fragile and sacred—and that’s what drives me to preserve moments that matter for others, just as I hold tight to the ones that matter most to me.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the moments that truly shaped how I see the world was walking through the loss of my marriage and the death of my sibling—all in the same year. That kind of heartbreak changes you. It brought me to my knees, but it also taught me how to rise. Through it all, I held tightly to my faith and to my role as a mother.
I wanted to give my oldest son the perspective that even in the darkest moments, we can prevail—with perseverance, with strength, and with purpose. I wanted him to see that you don’t have to be defined by what breaks you—but you can be refined by it.
Pushing forward, I’ve committed to living with intention—leaving a mark through my work, my words, and the love I pour into my family and my clients. That season of loss didn’t just shape me—it gave me clarity, compassion, and the courage to build something meaningful from the pieces.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me things success never could. When I lost my marriage and my sibling in the same year, I was broken in ways I didn’t know possible. That pain showed me what real strength looks like—not the kind that comes from winning or achieving, but the kind that comes from getting back up when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
It also taught me to be more compassionate and patient, especially with myself. Success is wonderful, but it’s suffering that humbles you and opens your heart. Those hard seasons shaped how I love, how I teach, and how I capture the moments that matter most through my photography.
Without those experiences, I wouldn’t bring the same depth, empathy, or intention to my life and work. Suffering didn’t just teach me lessons—it changed me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Honestly, the public version of me is just a piece of who I really am. It’s the version I choose to share—the parts I feel proud of, the joy, the faith, and the work I love. But like everyone, I have struggles, doubts, and moments of pain that don’t always show up online or in public.
Sometimes I’m scared to share those parts because I want to protect my family and myself. But I’m learning that true connection happens when I’m real and honest, even about the messy stuff. So while the public me is genuine, the full me is deeper—shaped by loss, growth, faith, and the daily push to keep going. I’m still figuring out how to bring all of that into the light, little by little.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people remember me as someone who loved deeply and showed up fully—for her family, her friends, and the people she worked with. I want them to say I was someone who carried integrity in everything I did, who faced life’s hardest moments with strength and faith, and who never gave up on leaving a positive mark.
I hope they remember how I poured my heart into my boys, how I celebrated the little moments, and how I used my work—not just to capture beautiful images, but to tell real stories that mattered. More than anything, I want to be remembered as a woman who lived with purpose, kindness, and courage, even when the road was tough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katyemichelephotography.com/
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katyemichelephotographyvideo
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katyemichelephotographyandvideo
- Youtube: http://www.instagram.com/katyemichelephotographyvideo
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@katyemichelephotovideo
