Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Flanagan.
Catherine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story starts in Jolly old England, I studied Child Development and at the adventurous age of 19, I moved to the land of dreams with the possibility of a better life. Washington DC seemed like a fairy tale, I was a Nanny for the World Bank for seven years and met my husband, moved to the wonderful beaches of North Carolina while he deployed in the Marines, and moved to Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Nannies were not needed as much in Grand Junction so I approached a Real estate Agent, and with my charming English smile convinced her to hire me to take pictures. That was the real start of my photography business. I was lucky enough to become a Mum three times over and spent every night from 10 pm till 3 am learning everything I could about photography. The University of YouTube is the best way for a struggling artist to learn her craft.
When I started shooting portraits 11 years ago, it was as if I found what I needed. Not to make someone smile, but to create them, too, To establish that small relationship in a small time to actually draw out happiness. It became my biggest challenge: “How can you relate to someone in seconds that they relax enough to look in your camera and be themselves?”. I love that part of my “job.”
When I later became a single mother I realized I had to either give up the camera and take that office job OR throw myself into believing in myself, I knew that connection I so challenged myself to make would take me to where I needed to be. I moved back to the Big City of Denver three years ago and haven’t looked back, I now work for three companies and have two of my own, I generally work every day of the week, which has its challenges. And I have my children most of the time, but I couldn’t do anything else, I create smiles, comfort and help people see how beautiful they are through my eyes, is there any better job than that?
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would say my biggest challenge has been in the believing in myself, We all have that nagging voice that says we are not good enough, My dyslexia stopped me from thinking I could go back to school, so I had to make many mistakes before things became easy.
I have to learn balance, something I will always struggle with, Mum is always 1st, but I tend to lose myself in my work.
When I moved from Grand junction to Denver, where I had a huge client base after ten years, to no clients was very daunting and something I still have trouble with.
I am of the belief now that if I put my mind to it, I can and will succeed. And if I make mistakes? Well, those are bloody well artistically meant, certainly not mistakes 😉
Please tell us about Knightsbridge Photography.
I would class myself as the Mary Poppins of photography, I’m quite sure if you searched my “camera” bag you will find all sorts of adventures inside. Hands down, children of all ages are my preferred subjects. I’m quite sure I never really grew up and they tend to really get my English sarcasm.
I have been asked over the years to do fitness, boudoir, headshots, really anything and everything and I find it exciting to push myself with ideas and walk away knowing I did it, I got that picture that says I saw who they really were. The vulnerable wanting to believe in themselves.
I am proud to say I moved to this country to find my dream, and I have, I take such pride in the happiness of others in my work. The sessions I remember the most are when my clients walk away saying, “I actually enjoyed that!”, with an air of surprise that having a picture taken doesn’t have to be painful!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I have to be honest I’m not sure I would do anything different, I really think that it all happened in the right order, every step lead me to where I am, every mistake, every doubt and every smile.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.knightsbridgephotography.com – www.kbrealestatephotography.com
- Phone: 9709852752
- Email: Knightsbridgephotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knightsbridgephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Knightsbridge-Photography-216407911706230/
- Other: www.knightsbridgephotography.smugmug.com
Image Credit:
Knightsbridge Photography
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