I love working with families to capture their life as they know it. Sessions are lighthearted and fun — I encourage families to just be their authentic selves while I snap away. I know parenting is hard and childhood is chaotic and messy. My job is to make them pause, clear the clutter, be in the moment, and capture that. The result is honest, beautiful, and invaluable — we’re all told all too often that these early days are fleeting.
I’ve not just been in your shoes, I AM in your shoes. I’m a mother, a daughter, a spouse. I know how hard it is to get photographs of your own family, much less be in them yourself. I also know that it’s sometimes hard to see the beauty in our everyday. Yes, some moments in parenting are really, really hard, but I want to create images for you that make you feel the joy of the beautiful moments.
I want to give you photographs that are authentic and beautiful, that you want to frame and see everyday. I want to give you a visual narrative to this time in your life — I can’t keep up my own daily journaling goal, but I make up for it with photographs of my children. I want other families to have photographs to smile, laugh, and maybe even cry at. To cherish and remember that chapter in their lives with.
On Instagram, I add narrative to the images — something I feel strongly about, since selective use of photographs in social media today can paint a different picture than reality. I want to add that honest perspective on parenthood, my thoughts as I release the camera shutter, or insights as I reflect back on photos while editing.
If you’re curious, or just killing time online while you wait for your kids to fall asleep… here’s the bio part:
My favorite subjects in elementary school were always art and reading. I never understood how — or if — that would play out in the ‘real world,’ until I started this venture.
I’ve been drawn to the camera since my parents let me toy with their Nikon SLR as a child, and I vividly remember the birthday when they gifted me my very own Nikon. There was just something about having the camera in my hands… I explored other media as well, including studying ceramics for years — in fact, I first used a dark room when I explored photographic printing on clay. Random, right?? I took photography and sculpture classes in college at Wake Forest University, and studied art history alongside with English.
I was adamant that I choose a school and a major that would enable me to study abroad to Florence my junior year to study art and art history. There I I carried so many rolls of film home from that semester, and 20+ years later, I still have the albums I carefully curated in my office. That’s the power of a photograph — holding it in your hands, you can be taken right back to that moment and the sounds, scents, feelings, and emotions in that instant.
When I joined the corporate world after college, I continued to take ceramics and photography classes on the side. And I incorporated my love of art and art history into my career — after a brief stint at the Freer & Sackler Galleries, I worked at The Art League, an art school and gallery in Alexandria, VA. There I took classes on the side, while also obtaining my Master’s in Arts Management.
Photography was consistently something I loved and did, taking classes and shooting while I pursued my career, started my family, and figured out what I sought most in life. Which was: Being with my family and behind the camera. I wanted to capture my family’s story, and document that for other families. I relinquished my office job and now I’m fully dedicated to my two passions.
I continue to push myself to learn new techniques and grow artistically. I further my photography education at Click Photo School, and in 2020 I applied and was accepted into the prestigious Click Pro Master association.
[/wc_row]And my family? Our son has a beautiful imagination, is wicked smart, and always runs, never walks. Our daughter is the most empathetic child, only wants to wear dresses, and certainly has some spiciness to her sweet demeanor. And our third, well she leaves a trail of glitter and rainbows wherever she goes. My husband is so supportive of my work and holds down the fort for my early morning or late evening sessions (and like our kids, has piercing blue eyes that are so photo-worthy). My Nikon D750 is always at my side.
Curious about what a session is like with me? Check out some FAQs about that here.
Are you ready to dive into photography? I’m always happy to share more about my journey!
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© Kate hollings photography