Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Auda, Michael Auda.
Kate and Michael, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Michael and I met while we were both studying photography at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara. We began dating, and would help each other with assignments, both for school and for clients. We found that we complimented each other really well.
In 2006, we moved to San Diego and founded two photography companies: one that focused primarily on architectural photography (Michael’s passion), and one that focused on portraiture (my passion). We casually began photographing weddings as well, but it wasn’t until we married in 2010 that we realized we really wanted to pursue weddings more seriously.
Since then, our two businesses have grown into what it they are today. We have a young daughter now, and another baby on the way, and we couldn’t be more excited about our future.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We first moved to San Diego during the recession, which made for a very tough transition into our careers. We didn’t have any previous relationships in the city, and we were basically starting from scratch. So yes, we struggled. At the time, people weren’t hiring photographers, especially ones they didn’t know. We both worked other jobs to make ends meet, while slowly growing our business.
We each had a strong education in photography, but not necessarily in how to run a business. We were grateful for organizations like APA (American Photographic Artists) and ASMP (American Society Media Professionals) that really teach photographers and artists key concepts in running a business, as well as providing the tools we needed.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Michael & Kate Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We photograph family portraits and weddings, as well as commercial projects with a niche in architecture. We keep the two businesses separate (with two different branding identities), but we work together for both businesses.
Our portrait and wedding photography is fairly editorial and contemporary. We do our best to capture who our subjects are and their relationships with one another. I love photographing people and portraying their story through our images. It’s the best feeling in the world when a client tells us that we captured their child as they see them, or when a bride tells us they relive the same emotions of their wedding day while looking at their photos. It’s a wonderful thing to document a person’s life and all the milestones we all experience along the way.
We look at our architecture photography work in somewhat of a similar way. We are often hired to photograph beautiful buildings, and we want the viewer to feel like they can step into the image when looking at the photograph. In many senses, we’re telling the story of the building: the way it feels and what the space is used for. We often use artificial lighting and compositing techniques to bring out the life of the space.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are constantly growing and trying new things. Photography is changing constantly – either through technology, or through a changing market. I’m really excited about our future in this field and to see how our businesses evolve. I often look at work we photographed last year or years prior, and I’m always looking to see how we can advance and move our work forward. I want to feel like we are constantly getting better, trying new things, and challenging ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.michaelandkatephotography.com
- Phone: 619-415-5957
- Email: info@michaelandkatephotography.com
- Instagram: @michaelandkatephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelandkatephotography
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AudaPhotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/michael-and-kate-photography-san-diego
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