Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Frank.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kathleen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
A few years back, I was living in Florida, teaching middle school, and working as a professional photographer with a growing business when my life took a bit of a turn. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, and within a few years, I had to leave both teaching and my photography business behind.
We made our way out of Florida and spent some time focusing on my health. Even though I couldn’t continue my photography business, photography, especially film photography, was still a big part of my life. I would shoot as much as possible. Eventually, this led me to start Shoot It With Film, an online community for film photographers. I wanted to create a place where film photographers could be inspired and learn from each other, and it gave me a way to stay involved and give back to the film community while managing my chronic illness.
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?
I started Shoot It With Film in 2017, and our journey has had so many ups and downs. We built an amazing community with an incredible team of writers, all of us sharing a love for keeping film alive and strong. But it looks quite different from where we started. We’ve had to adjust and change directions when things weren’t working, but each bit of growth is so incredibly rewarding.
Owning a business about film photography turned out to be about so much more than film photography. Each day comes with new challenges in marketing, social media, website design, and countless other skills. I’m sure other business owners can relate! But all of the challenges make the wins even better. Being a business owner with a chronic illness can also be complicated. It comes with a unique set of challenges where I have to make business decisions based on my health constraints. At times, the growth of my business has to take a backseat, and I’m not able to take on new tasks or accomplish as much as I’d like.
This has definitely helped me learn so many lessons about balance, and I’m thankful for the flexibility that comes with creating my own business. It’s okay to go at your own pace. Try to celebrate each step forward, and soon, even if there are struggles along the way, you will be amazed at how far you’ve come.
We’d love to hear more about Shoot It With Film.
Shoot It With Film was born out of a love for film photography and a desire to create a place where film photographers could learn, share, and grow. It’s the place I wish I had when I started shooting film. We have a thriving Instagram community where we share inspiring film images every day, and we also share tutorials on our website weekly to help people learn more about the film. We strive to be a supportive community where film photographers of all different skill levels can share their passion and learn more about their craft.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
I believe being part of a community is so important for any woman starting her career. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others who are on a similar journey. It can be such an amazing place to find support, encouragement, and guidance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shootitwithfilm.com/
- Email: info@shootitwithfilm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootitwithfilm/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/shootitwithfilm
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/shootitwithfilm/
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