Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn Jack.
Kaitlyn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello, I’m Katie Jack! I am a photographer and business owner. I am most well-known for portraits that are genuine and authentic. I absolutely love working with clients, especially couples and families.
I am 27 years old, born and raised in Lehi, Utah. My photography business is currently based out of Utah County. I’ve been doing photography since 2012 and it all started with a yearbook class in High School. I love traveling with my family and camera to capture my memories of exploring the world with the people I love. Some of my other hobbies include scuba diving, playing and watching baseball and softball, teaching children swimming lessons, and spending time with my family.
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Art of Design in 2019 from Utah Valley University. I find so much joy in my work creating art as a photographer and continue to help my clients create images that will last forever. I also enjoy pushing the bounds of creativity and trying new things within the medium of both digital and film photography.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Feels like a loaded question here. Like most others, it has definitely not been a smooth road in my personal or business life. However, I feel like the struggles and challenges that I’ve faced have molded me into a stronger more confident person.
When I really pushed my photography business out there after graduating in 2019, I was working 3 jobs and was the sole provider for my family in a brand-new marriage. I worked my butt off. If I wasn’t shooting, I was working at a print shop or at the city recreation center teaching or coaching swimming. I’ve always been a hard worker-that I get from my parents. And I’ve always loved being an entrepreneur making my own business’ starting at age 12 actually. So, the hustle mindset has always been a part of me.
In 2020 my husband and I moved to Arizona and I picked up my business with me and took it there. It was hard to find new clients in a new state and during a pandemic no less. But I adapted and was able to work with more small shops than I ever had before pivoting to product photography during this time since meeting new people in person was not as frequent for anyone in the world.
2021 was a rough year for me in my personal life with many moves, postponed moves, and shattered future plans. I experienced an amicable but heartbreaking divorce and plans to move to Washington D.C. were postponed for months and then just given up all together. I took a step back from a lot of things in life to allow myself to get the support and help I needed. Luckily, I had found myself in the place where it all started and loyal clients were still there to keep my passion for photography alive.
2022-I’m still in the process of “bouncing back” I guess you could say but the confidence I gained this year has inspired me to create more meaningful art just for me and sharing that has opened more doors for me to use this talent in the way I want to moving forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a photographer, I specialize in mostly people so families, headshots, and couples. I also do product photography and then personally I shoot film. Film photography is still fairly new to me, I’ve only been shooting film for 2 years now but it has helped me be more intentional and I’m working on a few personal projects that are completely shot on film.
Because I’ve studied photography and editing in college, I am skilled at photoshop and am really efficient in that creative manipulation as well. Many photographers come to me for help with editing and I feel like that skill has set me apart.
I’m most proud of the feedback I get from clients who genuinely love the images they get back from our sessions saying how they 1. felt like themselves, comfortable in front of the camera, and 2. feel like I captured images of their families in a flattering and realistic way. That is definitely my goal to capture people being authentic in a creative and flattering way.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’m generally not a risk-taker. I think this is why I have never gone full in 100% on my business to rely on it for my total income. I just haven’t been in a position where I’ve felt able to take that specific risk. I do like to push myself creatively and in that comes some risk that it might not work out, and half the time it doesn’t. But the other half of the time has led me to create some of the work I am most proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: katiejackphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiejackphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieJackPhoto/
