Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Iredale-Howard.
Katherine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always loved taking photos of nature and have always been so fascinated with how beautiful this world is. Friends and family would always tell me I should become a photographer and I had no idea what they even meant by that so I would always say my thanks and brush it off. A friend of my moms thought I had “an eye” and gifted me with my first ever Nikon d200 DSLR camera and a 35 mm lens. I had ZERO ideas on how to use it, and it collected dust for quite a while…
Until one day my friend asked me to take some photos for her. I had never taken photos of people unless they were candid and usually of the backs of people… So I said no. After much persistence on her end and resistance on mine, I finally agreed. We shot some photos, I edited them on my iPhone app and texted them over to her. We thought they came out GREAT (LOL – you should see them… They’re not great..) Anyway, she ended up posting them on her Instagram, and her followers loved them!
All of a sudden, I began getting inquiries from a ton of her friends and clients! And so it began… That was only one year ago. I had no idea what I was doing and decided just to keep taking the next indicated step. About six months ago, it just clicked for me, and I’ve been all in, moving forward with passion and tenacity ever since. I love this gig, I really do. I have never really been good at anything, always decent… Until now. I cannot wait to see where this journey takes me.
Has it been a smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road…? Hmmm. That’s a tough one. I want to say so far, yes, it has been pretty wonderful. I have experienced a blessing of great success in the second half of this year. I do get confused sometimes, and working from home can honestly be a little bit lonely. I think the biggest struggle I have is conquering my fear as well and the imposter syndrome that I think many people experience when selling their art and personality.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is currently called Katherine by the Sea HOWEVER I am about to go through the process of rebranding. I am essentially a professional third wheeler. I specialize in documenting couples who are adventurous and totally in love. My ideal “job” is booking an intimate wedding or elopement somewhere outside in nature.
I love working with couples who are in love and down to get goofy with me. I am not the typical “stand and look at me” photographer. I am NOT into stiff family photos, or awkward smiling photos either. I am ALL ABOUT those candid, raw, warm, emotional, raw images that capture the realness of those that I am photographing.
I suppose I am most proud of my success this early on. This business really took off for me, and I have continuously taken the next indicated step and walked through any and all fear that has presented itself.
What sets me apart from others is… Me. I’m a Virgo, a lover, a bit of a perfectionist, a friendly fellow, an honest woman, a goof, an empath, and ultimately my business and my brand is all that encompasses me. I connect with my clients, I love them, I communicate with them as much as they feel is needed, and I have a 24-hour turn around on all of my session galleries.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
North County has treated me super well. Ultimately, I want to be a destination photographer and travel to places like Iceland and Bali and have sessions and weddings all over, but San Diego has done me just fine so far. I think it’s a perfectly lovely place to start out. All you need is a camera, some good light, a subject, and boom. You can make a photo.
Pricing:
- Sessions begin at $300.00, you will receive 50+ fully edited, high-resolution images in a beautiful online gallery within 24 hours of your session.
- Elopements begin at $800.00 for 4 hours of coverage, travel fees not included.
- Weddings begin at $2,000.00 for 7 hours of coverage, travel fees not included.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katherinebythesea.com
- Phone: 760-783-3819
- Email: katherinebythesea@gmail.com
- Instagram: @katherinebythesea
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
