Meet Katie Holm | Family & Lifestyle Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Holm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Thanks for having me! For me, starting my own business just made sense. I started my photography business while my husband was active duty military. As a military family, you move around a lot, your spouse is gone a lot for trainings and deployments, etc. It was hard to look for a new job with every new place we moved and I wanted something I could make my own and bring with me wherever we went! I remember a distinct time when I had been applying to jobs and not getting anywhere, and I felt burned out. I stepped back and asked myself, “What am I good at? What do I like to do?” I always liked taking photos! I already had a professional Nikon DSLR camera that I used as a hobby, so I decided to take a leap. I asked friends and other military families if I could take photos of them to see how I liked taking photos for others – and to see if they liked my photos! I was so glad and proud of myself for taking this risk. Still, I only did this part-time for the first few years. It wasn’t until two deployments later, and after I had my first daughter, that I decided to go full-time! I haven’t looked back since.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a photographer based in Dexter, serving the greater Ann Arbor area! I mostly specialize in family photography, but I do a little bit of everything lifestyle. I photograph newborns, maternity, engagements, proposals, headshots and branding images for professionals, elopements, high school seniors, and so much more! I love to describe my work as “lifestyle” because what I am most drawn to in every session I have, is bringing out genuine and authentic connection and personality from my clients. I focus on prompts more than poses, and then watch the moment play out naturally.

When I first started photographing others, I had no idea what I was doing! There were a lot of awkward pauses as I was trying to think of different poses and ideas. Luckily I had some really awesome friends who supported me and let me practice with them. As I got more experience under my belt, I was able to really figure out my flow through trial and error. I also spent a lot of my spare time trying to learn as much as I could! I did many online classes learning about mastering manual mode on my camera for all different types of situations, how to give direction to your clients, how to use the sun (or clouds) to your advantage, etc. I also spent time with local mentors, shadowing them at their photo shoots so that I could learn.

My journey with my photography business first started over in the Pacific Northwest, where my husband was stationed at the time. Once his time in active duty ended, it was definitely a challenge moving my entire life and my business to Michigan. I had to build my clientele back up from scratch, and make myself known in the community. While I am from Michigan originally, it has been a lot of fun to rediscover the local parks through my lens and find new spots for photo sessions.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is that I’m not going to be the photographer for everyone, and that’s ok! It’s ok to say no to inquiries that don’t feel like they are going to be a good fit with my brand. It’s ok if potential clients choose another photographer who fits their style best. As long as I feel like I am being true to myself, that confidence will attract the right clients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take them to the best restaurants and parks! Now that I have kids, a lot of that also revolves around keeping the kids entertained and happy! So any kid-friendly museums or parks with good scenery playgrounds are always my go-tos. If we had babysitters, I would definitely look into a good comedy show or a night on the town grabbing a few drinks and tapas.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, Brad. He has been there with me through every step of starting my business. He’s the fresh set of eyes on a photo gallery before I send it out to my clients, the one I bounce my ideas off of, the one helping me with tax stuff, the one whose shoulder I lean on when I’m doubting myself or am having a tough time mentally. I truly owe so much to him for always believing in me, supporting me, and going along with my silly ideas! I also want to dedicate this to my two daughters, who inspire me every day to keep going.

Website: https://www.katherineluisaphotography.com

Instagram: @kluisaphotography

Facebook: Katherine Luisa Photography

Image Credits
Katherine Luisa Photography