{Meet the Artist} Meet Katelyn James

Katelyn James is  a Virginia and Destination Wedding Photographer based in Richmond, VA and we are so excited to have her featured on the blog today! Get to know a bit about her below!

Where is home?

Richmond, VA!

A website/blog you frequently visit

I LOVE to decorate!! And so I visit House of Turquoise (http://www.houseofturquoise.com/) on a regular basis! It’s so refreshing to follow something other than photography blogs sometimes! I also love some of my friend’s blogs where I can catch up on their lives and see their kiddos. I have a friend who recently launched a new personal blog and I’m in love with it! It’s called The Good Trees and Kelly is an entertaining writer! Check it out! : http://thegoodtrees.com/

If you could have lunch with one person who would be.

Hmm… this is a GREAT question! Gosh, I don’t know! I’m thinking my grandma on my dad’s side. I never met her but from what I’ve seen in pictures and from what my family has told me, we would have been best buds. :) She was creative and artsy! I would have loved to have had the chance to know her!

What are five words friends would use to describe you.

Extrovert, energetic, hard working, too busy, sensitive :)

 

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Well, as weird as it is for me to say this, I hope to be a mom within 5 years. Motherhood has always been so intimidating to me but I know that Michael and I do desire a family one day! So in five years I’d love to have a baby or two, have some more speaking under my belt, be shooting 15-18 weddings a year and loving life.

If you had to choose one lens, which one would it be?

My 50mm 1.2! It’s so versatile and I know that lens like the back of my hand! I could shoot a whole wedding with that lens if I had to! :)

What’s in your camera bag?

Well, that varies depending on what I’m shooting. If I’m shooting an engagement session, I take my 50mm, 85mm, 100mm macro and 35mm. I shoot the beginning of a wedding day with those lenses as well.

How long have you been doing photography?

6 years this coming August!

What type of photography do you focus on?

Weddings!

 

Did you go to photography school?

No, I have a degree in Communications.

What advice would you give to your 15 year old self?

I would tell myself “Katelyn, get a hold of yourself and stop crying over Michael leaving for college…. this time is going to allow you to figure out who you are. Embrace it!” I would also tell myself to keep dreaming and take bigger risks. I started developing my “business” brain in high school through a small craft business I had started and I could have done so much more with it!

How does your relationship with God affect the way you do business?

It affects everything…absolutely everything. He’s the reason I do this. He gave me the gift and He’s also the one that has allowed us to grow and expand exponentially throughout the last 6 years. At the end of the day, I want Him to be pleased with what we have done with our business… and so that means we go to Him with all of our many business decisions. We pray before we work and we lift our clients up in prayer quite often. It’s the best way to run a business if you ask me! :)

Favorite verse?

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

How would you describe your style?

Classic, crisp, colorful, genuine

Who or what is the greatest love of your life.

My savior and my husband. Michael is my best friend. I have actually never known life without him and I don’t want to. So thankful for his love and patience and support of me and my crazy dreams.

 Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My parents. Hands down. They live a life that I want to live. They are respected by our whole community and they live with integrity. I’m so thankful for them.

If you could shoot with another photographer, who would it be?

Ohh wow… hmmm… I would love to see Jose Villa work. I’m not even a film photographer but I would love to watch him style things! :)

Where do you find your inspiration?

Decorating, traveling, designing with my own images

If you could choose one person to photograph, who would it be?

This is another great question! I’m guessing I would want to photograph a celebrity just to be able to say that I did! I really LOVE Jennifer Aniston, Carrie Underwood, Amy Adams…. there are so many! Oh! George Clooney… he has great eyes! Or Patrick Dempsey. So many options!

 

Places you can find Katelyn:

website: http://www.katelynjames.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katelynjamesphotography

twitter: https://www.facebook.com/katelynjamesphotography