Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Henderson.
Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2019, I was a recent graduate of Texas State University looking for any way to combine my love of music, performance, and my natural skill of detail and composition. I had been a casual photographer until I moved to Austin in Fall 2019 where I met so many wonderful music artists. I sort of fell into this job overnight. Suddenly I was photographing shows. Suddenly I was being commissioned to design show posters. Suddenly I was directing music videos. I just kept showing up. I took on all these projects with other artists I respected and it turned into a lovely little community.
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?
Nothing is smooth in your 20’s. Among my peers, I’m considered late to the game. Many of my peers are acting across the world, working on professional movie/tv sets, even touring. Even I’m personally new to the music scene. It’s hard finding your audience and creating a name for yourself when you are your own mentor. I taught myself all the Adobe editing softwares. I started taking notes on design and composition. I was googling masterclasses. No one in my family works in a creative field. I try not to worry about that the feeling of starting “late”, because every day I get better at what I do. And my relationships with local creatives get stronger with every opportunity I take. I’m thankful to be surrounded by other 20-something’s who are winging it as much as I am. They get it and they support me wholeheartedly. I’m also thankful for those who have more experience who help me value my work accurately and give me business advice. You have to push past the feeling of being embarrassed for asking questions because it’s not embarrassing!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a photographer, videographer, and editor who specializes in the music industry. My ability to see the big picture, the full fleshed out product, sets me apart from the others. I can’t just do photography, videography, editing. My mind won’t let it be. I make posters, merchandise, design. I direct and edit music videos. I see other artists as a multidimensional experience and my work reflects that. I want artists to see my work and think “yeah, I see myself in this. This is me. This is us.” I want them to see me as an invaluable tool in their creative process.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
The grass is greener when you water it! People love to credit Austin as the “Live Music Capitol” but our artists are struggling. Don’t just buy tickets to touring artists. Go to the hole the walls, walk downtown, pop into local bars. Toss money to buskers. If you see someone playing, share them on your social media. Those acts are the ones that keep the live music magic going. Show up! Go to those markets, festivals, walk SXSW even if you don’t have a ticket. Buy their merch! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a place and come out with a new favorite band. The energy is unlike anything else and with so many new people moving here, I feel like it’s getting forgotten. And to the other artists: book each other. We all know someone who does photography, video, paints, makes music, writes, coordinates, builds. Issa Rae said it best “Who’s next to you? Who’s struggling? Who’s in the trenches with you? Who’s just as hungry as you are? And those are the people that you need to build with.”
Contact Info:
- Email: katiejordanhendo@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/katie.jordan.hendo
