Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Foshee.
Katie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a primarily visual household in Dallas, TX. My parents are Deaf, American Sign Language was my first language, and I am accustomed to taking in the world in a very visual, hands-on way. My parents are wonderfully creative and attentive, noticing the beauty in things that many people pass over. I’d like to think this propensity for visual art has been passed down to me.
Photography seemed like the natural outpouring of this skill. At the age of 13, with my Dad’s old camera, I began capturing the world as I saw it. I fell in love with the art of telling a story without words. For years, photography was something I kept very private. I enjoyed taking photos because it was a personal and creative expression. It was something I did for me. Thankfully, that hasn’t changed.
Though, as I got older and more skilled (with the help of a photography mentor), people began to notice. I started getting requests–to second shoot for weddings, to photograph Christmas cards, to take senior portraits. It was then that I discovered a new aspect of photography that I fell in love with: photographing people.
I photographed my first solo wedding at the age of 18. From Weddings to engagement photos to senior portraits, it’s exhilarating and such an honor to capture some of the most special moments in a person’s life. I am passionate about authentic storytelling. In recent years, I have expanded my genera to documentary photography. I have photographed the life of my great grandmother, the solar eclipse phenomenon, a hot air balloon pilot, and I’m currently working on a project on Shanghai Kate, the “Grandmother of Tattooing”.
I have studied psychology extensively and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at UT Austin. My desire to walk alongside people, empower them, and truly understand presents itself through my social work endeavors as well as my photography. Psychology and photography go hand-in-hand. In order to authentically tell their story, I have to be able to listen and understand.
My humble ambition is to prioritize my client and their story. Perhaps this is controversial in my field, but I am a friend and human being first and a photographer second. I recognize that being in front of my camera requires trust. Art is a powerful tool. I don’t take their stories lightly and each picture is such an honor to capture.
My relational philosophy resonates with people, I believe. My business has grown exponentially since I picked up my dad’s camera at 13 years old. Photography will always be a passion of mine and a skill that could take me anywhere. The combination of my visual propensity, my relational nature, and my creative skills make photography a perfect fit for me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Money. I did not grow up in a wealthy family. Photography is an unfortunately expensive hobby. A good camera and lens can cost thousands of dollars. My dad’s old camera was not going to land me any clients and I outgrew it pretty quickly. I saved money for months working at a snow cone shop and I requested my friends and family to give me money instead of gifts for my birthday and Christmas one year. Eventually, I was able to purchase a used Nikon D5000 and 50mm lens.
This camera is far from the industry standard, but I was overjoyed. I built my business with this camera. After a few years, I was able to save the money from photoshoots to purchase a full-frame camera and a better quality lens. This took a lot of patience and hard work.
My photography business has funded my life and education. Without the help of photography and scholarships, I would not be able to afford college.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I shoot primarily weddings, senior portraits, and engagement photos. I also have experience and a passion for documentary photography. I love being a fly on the wall and conveying compelling narratives.
I am proud of many things: my humble beginnings, my relationship-first philosophy, my ability to make people feel seen and beautiful, and my skills in documentary work.
I am particularly proud of my current work in progress: a documentary project on Shanghai Kate. She was one of the first female tattoo artists. She’s in her 70s and lives in Austin. She has had to fight against the stigma of being a female tattoo artist. She has excelled in her field in spite of the numerous obstacles. She is still tattooing today and has quite the story to tell.
What sets me apart? I want to be more than a photographer the day of. I want to get to know you, ask questions, and work together to capture your vision.
How do you think about luck?
To attribute my success to luck would be a disservice to my efforts and the love shown by people around me. I had to work hard to get where I am and I humbly recognize I could not have done it alone. I had a loving family that understood and encouraged my creative pursuits. I know what it’s like to live without and I wanted to do my part in providing for myself and my family. My friends graciously modeled for me as I began to grow my portfolio. In my early years, I had clients who took a chance on me and believed in me.
Contact Info:
- Email: kt.foshee@gmail.com
- Website: katieaphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie.a.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photographykatiea
Image Credits:
Katie Foshee, Katie A. Photography
