Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Prall.
Katie, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am the mother of two little ones, three and six years old. They are what inspired me to focus my photography on newborns, children and families. I have been a hobbyist shooter for over ten years but I got serious about my photography education about three years ago, just before my daughter was born. I was tired of shooting in auto and I wanted to learn how to shoot in manual mode and control how I wanted my photos to look. My kids will only be little once and capturing their tiny personalities and their little joys in an artful and meaningful way is extremely important to me. I dove in head first trying to learn every detail I could about photography. I had a decent understanding about composition so I wanted to focus very heavily on the technical side of things.
I have spent years attending workshops, both online and in person. I have spent hours upon hours in photography related Facebook groups learning from others. I have taken newborn safety courses, assisted other photographers during their sessions. I have enrolled in academies for documentary style family photography, I have spent years with mentors, invested thousands into new equipment and props and I recently just opened my first studio in North Reading, MA, just twenty minutes north of Boston, it is a very exciting time for me and I look forward to what the next three years will bring!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a photographer who specializes in newborn photography, both posed style in studio and documentary style in client’s homes (otherwise known as lifestyle photography). I also specialize in lifestyle family photography. I like to give my clients an option of the style that speaks to them most. Sometimes when you’ve just had a new baby all you want to do is stay home and not have to think about outfits and doing your hair etc. It can be an exhausting time and having someone come to you to photograph how your family connects together in a raw and organic way, may be just the right thing for you. Other times, the idea of anyone at all seeing your home after having a baby can be horrifying lol. I know for me, cleaning was the last thing on my list. I was severely sleep deprived, baby stuff was everywhere, it was just a chaotic time in my life so having the option to escape the madness to a tranquil and warm studio space where I could hand my baby over for three hours and surf the web sounded heavenly. Overall, I want people to see that I see their babies the same way that they do. I know how it feels to look at your newborn and want to remember the tiny fingers and the whispy little hairs and I feel that angst when you realize your newborn is already growing so fast. I want them to know that I see their toddler filled with a belly laugh and I see it the way I would see my own child. I know hearing that laugh is making mom’s heart melt because I can feel her joy. I know how gutwrenchinly beautiful it is when your child wraps his little arms around your neck when he’s snuggling you. When you are interacting with your family, I can feel my family and my heart and I know how important these little joys are. I can feel your connections and I want you to be able to see them and how beautiful they look. I want you to walk down your hallway and remember that joy every time you look at your artwork on your walls. Your connections. Your family. Your love.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
With cell phone technology advancing as quickly as it is, so many people are content with just using their phones now to take photos of their babies and their families. Most people don’t realize that so much more goes into it than just pointing and shooting. Photography is a skill. Professional photographers are artists who devote their time, money, talent and energy (often times away from their own families) to make sure that we are coming to you with our absolute best in order to ensure you receive high quality images of your family. It is what we live for. Before cell phone cameras, you had to go to a professional (or a skilled hobbyist) to have a family photo. It’s at everyone’s fingertips now though and a lot of people are fine with a cute cell phone photo. The clients who book with me do so knowing that they are going to get so much more than that and it brings me a massive sense of pride to be able to provide it to them.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can my most recent work on my social media sites
http://facebook.com/katieprallphotography
http://instagram.com/katieprallphotography
My portfolio can be viewed at my website:
http://www.katiepralphotography.com
People can support my work by booking a session with me :). If you are an existing client I always appreciate (and reward with a $25 print credit) a positive review either on Facebook or Google.
Contact Info:
- Address: 246 Main Street
North Reading, MA 01864 - Website: www.katieprallphotography.com
- Email: katieprallphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/katieprallphotography
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/katieprallphotography
Image Credit:
These are all my own images.
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