Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Ortiz
Hi Kim, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey started in April 30, 1975 when I came to the United States as a refugee at the age of 8 from Vietnam. I landed in Dallas, Texas with my family. I was very focused on doing well in school and was the first in my family to graduate from high school and only one to graduate from college. With a degree in Accounting, an MBA in Leadership and a CPA, my career started in Corporate America. I worked for 20+ years in a variety of positions in Accounting, HR, Tax, and in 2012, I got laid off from my management position in HR at Baylor Healthcare in Dallas. That was the turning point in my career and I realized that life is too short to not follow my passion and do what I love. Ever since I framed the quote “Do What You LOVE, LOVE what you do”, I wanted my next career to be doing something that fills my heart and my passion. So I decided to become a full-time professional photographer. I had a part-time photography business for about 4 years at this point and I always wanted to open a photography studio but fear kept me from following my dreams. When I got laid off, I realized that this was the opportunity I have been looking for to take that leap of faith. It was a leap of faith because most photographers don’t have a studio because it’s a huge financial investment. So for me to make the decision to build a brand new photography studio was scary and exciting at the same time. I built my first portrait studio at a high end shopping center called Castle Hills Village Shops in Lewisville, Texas and opened the doors April 1, 2014. Back then I specialized in high school seniors, dogs and families. I had the most amazing high school senior clients and a thriving Senior Model Program. I had the studio for 5 years until I moved to Austin, Texas in June of 2019 and relaunched my studio in the new city focusing on offering wall art of dogs and families. I had no clients when I moved to Austin and my new studio brand Kim Ortiz Portrait Art had no brand recognition in the new city. I rented an office space for my studio’s sales office and photographed most families and dogs on location. Then six months later, in January 2020, I opened my next studio at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave, Texas which is about 15 miles from downtown Austin. In February 2023, I relocated my studio to a 2500 sf space at the Hill Country Galleria and in January 2025, I will be celebrating 5 years at this location and 11 years in business. It’s amazing what a journey I have been on. I look forward to many more years of creating beautiful wall art for families and their dogs.
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?
I feel I am a natural born entrepreneur. With my Accounting background and drive to succeed, I hustled and worked very hard to find the right clients who would appreciate the quality of work I was offering at a price that I needed to make a profit. Most photographers go into photography because they love to photograph, but they don’t understand how to run a business, how to price for profit, market, or do sales. Yes, I love what I do. This is what I was meant to do. However, I know that I have to create a photography studio that is profitable so that I can pay my monthly rent, overhead, and support my family. The hardest part of a photography studio is getting the clients who value photography and so in order to get my name out there into the community, I have to constantly hustle, network, and build relationships. People do business with people they know, like and trust. I work hard to build relationships by being authentic and honest. What I love most is using my photography studio to give back to the animal rescue community. I donate my photography services to local rescue groups to photograph dogs so they can get adopted. I also do fundraisers to raise money and donate to local rescue groups. I did a pet calendar fundraiser project for 10 years that raised over $30,000 for animal rescue groups. Since moving to Austin, I have published two coffee table books that raised thousands for Austin Humane Society and AY Chihuahuas Rescue. I believe that it’s important for a business to give back to the community. I believe part of my WHY as a photographer is helping animals. Getting out into the community is so important to connect and share that you are a business that believes in giving back. I serve on the Board of the Bee Cave Chamber of Commerce and Magnolia Musical Theatre. Owning a small business is not meant for the faint at heart because there are ups and downs and staying focused on the mission, and vision to continue to push toward achieving my goals has kept me inspired to be successful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My studio is Kim Ortiz Portrait Art, a boutique portrait studio located at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave, Texas near Austin. My studio specializes in portraits of dogs, families, high school seniors, maternity and business headshots. I am known for beautiful wall art because I believe that portraits are meant to be hung on the walls and not locked up on the computer or on an iPhone. My signature wall art is a mixed media painted portrait. It is a beautiful painted portrait that is framed and consist of a multi step process that starts with the photography and then painted with a software then printed on canvas and hand painted with brush strokes of acrylic and oil paint. When you look at the painted portrait, you can see the raised acrylic and oil brush strokes. It is an art piece that resembles a masterpiece painting found in museums. I am known for family portraits with dogs. People come to my studio because they know that I am a dog person. I have 5 rescued dogs of my own and I love including dogs in family portraits because they are part of the family and they are only with us for a limited time. I love photographing dogs because dogs are so unique and every dog is beautiful in their own way that they deserve their own wall portrait. This is another reason I love doing individual dog portraits. What sets me apart from others is that most photographers don’t have a studio so having a retail studio storefront sets me apart. When people walk into my gallery style portrait studio, they see many beautiful large pieces of wall art and painted portraits displayed on the walls. Plus with a studio, I can photograph year round without worrying about the weather condition. With dogs, it’s much safer for them to be in the studio because there are no distractions of people or dogs walking by like at a park. I also have a two acre private property on Lake Travis near my studio I call Aloha Hacienda that I also photograph on. I am also unique in that I specialize in offering bespoke products that are made in Italy and my painted portraits are custom commissioned. People don’t come to me for digital files but for heirloom wall art of their family and dogs to display on their walls. I believe the most important art on your walls are that of your family and dogs.
What makes you happy?
Dogs, lake, beaches, sunsets, Hawaiian music, great Vietnamese food makes me happy. I am fortunate to live near Lake Travis on a two acre property with a beautiful lake view and gorgeous sunsets each evening. I love walking my dogs at Mansfield Dam park on Lake Travis near my home. I find peace and happiness when I surround myself with dogs, people who love dogs, the lake, and water. Living a simple life surrounded by things I love and my dogs brings me the most happiness.
Pricing:
- Print Collection starts at $1050
- Wall Art starts at $1000
- Painted Wall Art starts at $3500
- Studio session $300
- Location session $500
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.KimOrtiz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimortizportraitart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimortizportraitart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kimortizportraitart
Image Credits
Kim Ortiz Portrait Art
