Today we’d like to introduce you to Cat Palmer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born and raised in Orange County, California, I developed my insatiable romance with photography at 15 years old, against the backdrop of Los Angeles… a place teeming with racial divides, cultural diversity, and economic inequality. My world view further evolved as I immersed myself in the streets of Mexico, developing a new obsession that would plague my art, forever… human empowerment.
From 1995-1999, I made an academic go of my art and then, traversing the unexpected technological revolution, joined professional digital in 2005. (I have never forgotten where my heart lies, and fully intend to replace the “dark side” with the “dark room,” one day.) Regardless of the medium, I have exhibited all over Salt Lake valley and have won many awards. My “Go Home Trump” image went viral the day he came to visit Utah.
I have two sides to what I do… my rowdy photography and my portraitures of people. I like to bring a twist of art into my work. I am not your run-of-the-mill photographer.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I worked a regular job for five years while building up my clientele… was it easy? Definitely not. I have not worked for myself as a full-time photographer and artist for 13 years. At the start of the pandemic, there was so much unknown and everyone canceled. As an artist and single mom, that was scary and definitely hard. But, my community showed me that love exists and they pulled together and let me know I was not in this alone.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am not afraid to ruffle feathers at times, even if that makes me unpopular to some. I have found my voice and the right people find me. I like that I am not for everyone. My website is very queer. I want the LGBTQ community to feel safe when hiring me… and being a queer person myself, I do not really want bigoted folks hiring me.
I like that I have a good reputation and people know that I am a solid brand. I am a queer photographer and I like being known for that. I want people to feel comfortable in front of my camera and I have a talent for that.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Small Lake City and how we are all connected. I love that we have each other’s backs. I love the music and food scene here! I am not the hugest fan of most of our politicians and that they feel the need to babysit us. I wish more folks would get involved for change and vote some of these folks out of office.
Contact Info:
- Email: cat@catpalmer.com
- Website: www.catpalmer.com
- Instagram: @catpalmerphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catpalmerphotography
- Twitter: @catpalmer
Image Credits
Cat Palmer Photography
