Life and Work with Katie Puc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Puc.

Katie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up with a mother that is a photographer. From a young age, I was surrounded by cameras, costumes, photography sets, and the clicking of the camera button. It was magical, I would spend time at my mom’s photographer studio, creating my own photography sets, and dressing in costumes playing make-believe.

For birthday parties, holidays, anything- my friends knew that somehow pictures would be involved. Photo booth? Check! Photo scavenger hunt? Check! Friendship Photoshoots? Check! I wanted to document every moment. My High School binders littered with photos, my room walls covered in memories and tape (to my father’s dismay).

I was always the documentarian. From college parties (who has a camera?? KATIE DOES!) to the more mundane. I had my digital camera tied around my wrist- like another limb. By that time in college though- iPhones were starting to become more advanced and more appealing to the every-day photographer. I got my first iPhone and the days of carrying a phone and a camera were gone. Now, they were one. I was taking photos at every opportunity. I discovered apps (Instagram, anyone?!) and editing software. I felt like a mini-version of my mom.

But iPhone photos weren’t good enough. They didn’t work how I wanted them too. So, I asked my mom to borrow some money and purchased my first “real” Canon camera during a Black Friday sale.

That was the first moment I felt creativity truly pulse through me. I wanted to practice on everyone and anything- and so I began my “mini-photography business” taking creative photos of my family and friends

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I feel very fortunate that I have been given the tools and the outlet to be creative and take photographs. At the moment, photography is my side-hustle. I do not rely on it for my main source of income. That allows me to be creative and play around without the struggle of living off of what I make. I have a mother that runs an incredibly successful photography business in Colorado, who mentors me and lets me borrow equipment and props.

But I do know that the business of photography, in general, is one of struggle. I’ve seen it first hand- watching my mom’s business. With the advancements in technology (like iPhone cameras) and phone editing software, everyone can be a photographer. While that is great (anyone should be allowed to pursue their passions, and have fun!) it makes it difficult for established photographers who own businesses because now more people are turning to their family and friends to take photos that normally would have been taken by a professional who went to school for photography, or who owns a business.

And I am a product of that generation as well- what I charge for a photo session could be seen as undercutting the competition because for me- this is a side-hustle, not a main source of income- but that can hurt businesses, like my mom’s. Which is why I tend to stick with taking photos of my close friends, or working in conjunction with established businesses like my moms- to be their back up photographer. That way, I get to be creative, but I also get to help businesses who need these clients to provide their income.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m learning, and growing and changing as a human, and I think that reflects in my work and my style as a photographer. I feel like that is something that I am proud of and I think it helps to set me apart from others.

The style and work that I did three years ago, is not the same that I do today. Because I am willing (and fortunate enough) to make mistakes, I try new things and am always looking for fun or interesting ideas. From the weird (I have dressed someone up as a witch and took photos in the woods) to the beautiful (wedding photos during the golden hour in a garden)- I am willing to get down and dirty. Lay in the grass, on the dirt- stand in the river, get messy and dirty just to get that perfect shot.

I’ve also come to realize that photography is a medium that everyone can appreciate- and because everyone can appreciate it- I want to photograph everyone. I want to take pictures of people of all sizes, colors, religions, orientations. Anything. I want to spread and share my joy with others. I want to capture their memories, I want to make them feel just as beautiful as I see them. I want people to feel comfortable, and end up with a fun memory that makes them feel vulnerable, alive and seen.

So, I think that my willingness to try new things and to focus on the simple beauty of photography and how it makes people feel is what I am most proud of.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
I have three pieces of advice to give.

1. HAVE FUN- that is the most important thing when it comes to a career or a passion, a side-hustle. If you’re not having fun, why do it? You only get one life to live- spend it doing something you care about. For me, that’s stopping time for a moment and capturing human beauty and vulnerability through the eyes of a lens.

2. Learn your craft- if you want to be a photographer, take the time to learn how to be a photographer. Learn how to pose, learn lighting and what an F-stop is. Watch YouTube videos, scroll through Instagram and follow photographers you like- see what styles they do that you like. Emulate them. So many wonderful photographers offer classes and workshops where you can learn from the best and see what they do that you like, and what they do that you do like.

3. Try new things and fail! I love coming up with crazy hair-brained photoshoot ideas. A photoshoot in a bathtub filled with glitter. YES! A 60s themed photoshoot in the woods. YES! Not all of my ideas are winners though. But that’s what makes it fun, that’s how I learn, and that’s why it’s so important. Trying new things can be scary (like when I first took pictures of my friend and her horse…a somewhat unpredictable animal), and sometimes they just won’t work (that one time I tried to take photos in the middle of a fast-moving river). If I hadn’t done those things, I wouldn’t have had learned to readjust my thinking, and quickly pivot to a new idea so that no one could figure out something was wrong and so that the show could go on. So, get dirty, and messy, and try ideas that you think are weird, and goofy- because it only takes one click to capture that perfectly beautiful moment in time… (and also, like, thank goodness for Photoshop. ;))

Contact Info:

• Email: katiepuc@gmail.com
• Instagram: KatiePuc

                                                                                                    Image Credit:
All Photographs are mine- however, models for these photos are: Jake Elvig, Sarah Vaughn, Kayla Jefferson, Valerie Igoe, Alexandra Lamoreaux, Eleanor Nash, Jessica Roberts, Brianna Pritchett

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