Conversations with Kara Hunter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Hunter.

Hi Kara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Let’s just say last year was a year of major life changes. I ended up coming out as queer, transitioning from landscape to portrait photography, and quitting the corporate marketing job that I had been working toward for the last ten years.

What a freaking whirlwind. From a photography perspective, my grandfather inspired me to get started years ago with a focus on landscapes and nature. We would spend days together at the botanical gardens capturing flowers or driving through the mountains in search of the perfect waterfall. I found photography to be the perfect outlet and reason to spend my weekends hiking and camping.

It wasn’t until last year that I fell in love with portrait photography after capturing my best friend’s proposal. While looking through those photos, I suddenly felt more alive and energized than I’ve ever felt. I loved the feeling of being able to freeze emotion for people to relive over and over… particularly when these moments are captured in beautiful landscape settings.

I was working in marketing at the time for a large corporation, and I had been working up the ladder in this industry for about ten years. I quickly saw my interest wane and all my thoughts shift to how I could build a career in photography. I quit this job and leaped to go full-time last year, one of the scariest things I’ve ever done.

In tandem with my photography journey, I also came out to my friends and family at the beginning of last year. As I grew in my new identity and allowed myself to accept who I am, I quickly realized how underrepresented the queer community is particularly in photography. I now focus on telling the stories of my community through photos in hopes of educating the world on just how beautiful queer love is.

I’m still growing and learning every day, just hoping to provide a place for my community to feel represented, understood, and like themselves.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been easy.

Starting your own business isn’t a walk in the park. It comes with self-doubt, especially when working within the creative industry. I’m constantly questioning myself. Can I do this? How will I pay my bills? Am I even good at this?

Am I qualified? I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked, and I’m just hoping my business will continue to grow.

When combining that with putting my sexual orientation on display, causes even more self-doubt. I try to be open about being part of the LGBTQ+ community to help provide representation within the industry, but it’s difficult. Since I came out so recently, I know there are people in my life learning about my sexual orientation via my social media and that feels incredibly vulnerable and scary.

But I know that it takes people putting themselves out there and starting the conversation to see change, and I’m proud to be part of that.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a wedding and elopement photographer specializing in non-traditional couples. I’m known for my work with the queer community and my emotive photography style.

My goal is to provide a space where the queer community feels celebrated and represented, especially on their wedding day. My approach is focused on making sure my couples feel comfortable and at ease, as that’s when their true emotions are on display for me to capture. I’m also encouraging other wedding vendors to question how gendered the wedding industry can be and provide a more inclusive experience for their clients.

I’m most proud of how much I’ve grown and my willingness to stand up for what I believe in. I’m still new in the wedding industry so it would be easy for me to go along with how it’s always been done, but I want to continually push for a more inclusive experience across the board. All love deserves to be not only accepted but also celebrated, especially on your wedding day.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you have something that you love that’s nagging at you, take that leap. It’s scary, but you’ll never know how happy it can make you until you try.

Pricing:

Contact Info:

• Website: www.karahunterphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/karahunter_photography