Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Kurta.
Hi Karen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
You know something? There’s a lot of not-so-great photography out there. I see it everywhere, in headshots, product photography, property photography… I started my own business because I knew I could do better. My career started in the corporate world as a marketer and graphic designer developing content for professional service industries, from special events to commercial real estate and construction firms. Throughout my career, I was lucky because I not only understood photography, I understood how photography was used in marketing. So when I was behind the camera, I could capture the images and angles I knew we would need for the collateral we would be creating. I can assure you; there’s a big difference between a photographer and a photographer with marketing expertise!
Today I use those marketing and graphic design fundamentals to craft images that help people grow their businesses. I love becoming a partner in the process who understands how the images will be used and can help businesses create more engaging marketing materials.
But did you know I earned a bachelor degree in photography, back in the days of film and after countless hours spent in a darkroom perfecting the art? My career has involved research, planning, learning, practicing, more learning and more practicing—all of which I invested years of my life in. I am so grateful for that “old school” training! It has served me well.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There’s nothing like taking the jump from the security of a corporate career to full-time entrepreneurship… and eight months later, a pandemic hits. When I first made the jump to being on my own full time, the business wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be, revenue-wise. But I did it anyway because I knew working a demanding job full-time and operating a photography business on the side was never going to get me to where I wanted to go. The only way to see if I could do it was to try.
So I did! Just when I was starting to get traction… lockdown. I mainly create photography for other businesses, so when restrictions started happening, much of my work stopped. Some of it even dried up completely!
But rather than dwell on that, I decided to dedicate my newly found “free time” to working on the business – reconfiguring my website, starting a blog, organizing my marketing efforts, etc. It enabled me to come out of the downtime a stronger entrepreneur with a better plan!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Many companies don’t know how to create marketing images that make an impact, so they’re missing opportunities to attract the right clients. Businesses and professionals hire me to create custom photography that builds rapport with potential clients much more quickly.
Have you ever gone to a website that uses plain old stock photos and thought it felt generic? Imagine having a site that uses images of your people in your facility showing clients what it’s like to work with specifically with you. Doesn’t that leave a better impression?
I use my 20+ years of corporate marketing experience to plan and create the images my clients need to stand out from their competitors. I provide brand photography, corporate portraits, headshots, property photography, and graphic design.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’m sure there have been some instances of being in the right place at the right time, but I believe you create your own luck. Having the right mindset can make you lucky or unlucky. It’s all about perspective. I look at downturns, mistakes, or “bad luck” as learning experiences and opportunities to do better next time.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@karenkphoto.com
- Website: www.karenkphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenKurtaPhoto
