Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Holliday Doering.
Hi Kirsten, 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?
Oh man, my career has been such a journey. Back in 2014 I had moved to Austin and was working for a hotel there. After hoping around to a few different hotels, I landed at Hotel Van Zandt. I was working in the sales office and they knew I had an interest in photography. I was offered the job of social media manager which I believe kicked it all off for me! Working for that hotel gave me a lot of opportunities. I not only dipped my foot in the food/hospitality world, but during SXSW they would host different showcases and I always got to shoot them! A few years later I quit the hotel, started my own business, and split my time between shooting hospitality and weddings!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road of a creative is never easy ha! Full of twists and turns, and having a thick skin is vital ( still working on that all the time). Unlike your typical 9-5 job, you are always hunting for business. You could have the best month of your life, and the next two is crickets. Rejection always hurts too. You could be on a project that you love, and then the company decides to go in a different direction, so thats difficult to try and not take personally.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Holliday Collectiv?
I started a bit in hospitality like I mentioned, working for Hotel Van Zandt and creating all their content. I now split my time between weddings and hospitality. I love how different each avenue of creativity these two things bring me. In my wedding world, I am known for being a bit documentary, letting everything kind of unfold in the moment. In my hospitality work I like to thinks its elevated editorial. There are so many things I’m proud of in my business. The connects I’ve made, the friendships this industry has brought me. A career highlight for sure was shooting SXSW, where I was inches away from the legend, Jamie Lee Curtis.
I’ve also shot with the Four Seasons Hotels, specifically the Nashville, Orlando, New Orleans and Jackson Hole Property. I’ve had the time of my life being able to bring ideas and imagery to this company and I will never take it for granted.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the creativity that Austin has. Thats why I moved there in the first place. Even though I started in hospitality, I knew deep down I always wanted to be a photographer and I moved there in 2014 to be around the creatives chasing the same dream. It’s inspiring.
The traffic is the worst part. Will forever hate it, ha!
Pricing:
- Weddings start at $5k
- Hospitality Starts at $5k
- Boudoir Sessions Start at $800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hollidaycollectiv.agency/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollidaycollectiv/
