Hi everyone, welcome to my site! My name is Kristen. I thought I would introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me and my journey as a photographer.
It has been an interesting journey to get to where I am today. I don’t regret any of side roads I've been down. Every experience adds to the totality of who we are and influences our creative output. I try to express my own unique perspective through every photo I take.
In high school I was very interested in drawing and animation so I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in animation. I did take a photography class during my last semester, but only because one of my animation classes was cancelled. I actually got to work in the darkroom and learn how to develop film and photos. I really enjoyed the class quite a bit but at this point I didn't pursue it further. When I applied to college I was accepted into Humber College for their 3D Multimedia Animation program.
The program was a two year college diploma followed by a third year where you chose to focus on movies or video games. As I started my second year of college I felt that I was no longer enjoying what I was doing. I really had to sit down and consider whether I was on the correct career path and if this is really something that I could do in the long run.
I spoke with my program coordinator and he helped me try and find a path that was more suitable for me. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at this point and just knew I did in fact enjoy drawing and working in Photoshop. I also enjoyed taking photos but it was only something that I was beginning to get into.
I spoke with my program coordinator and he helped me try and find a path that was more suitable for me. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at this point and just knew I did in fact enjoy drawing and working in Photoshop. I also enjoyed taking photos but it was only something that I was beginning to get into.
With my coordinators help, I decided that graphic design was the way to go as it kind of tied my strengths together. At this point I didn’t know a whole lot about graphic design but trusted that my coordinator knew my skills and would lead me on a path that I would succeed in. I did finish my program at Humber and received a 3D Multimedia Animation Diploma. During my second semester I applied to colleges for Graphic Design, and was accepted into Durham College for a three year program.
During this program I finally felt like I had found my place and I excelled in the program. After completion I received a diploma in Graphic Design and since then I have been working full time as a Graphic Designer.
Since graduation I have been taking photos as a hobby. I started out on my own, learning as I went. I had one class in high school and one class in my graphic design program on photography to give me a foundation, and I built on that through practice. Over time I upgraded my equipment and wanted to take my photography skills to the next level. By now I had completely fallen in love with photography and wanted it to be more than a hobby.
I felt I had learned as much as I could on my own and needed a professional to guide me and get my work to the standard I wanted to be at. I decided to enrol in The Photography Institute, which is an online diploma course. It allowed me to work at my own pace, which was important as I was working full time and scheduling could be a problem! The great thing about this is you are assigned a personal tutor who is available to answer any questions you have and offer great advice. The tutors are professional photographers from around the world. I had the privilege of being assigned to George Spears, the founder of the Institute. He was a fantastic tutor and provided me with a lot of guidance and information.
I finished the course in March 2022 and have received my diploma. The Photography Institute also has advanced courses available that are focused on specific topics. I ended up taking the newborn course and have a certificate in Newborn Photography as well.
I have come a long way and it has been quite a journey for me but I am so glad that I ended up taking the program. It boosted my confidence in my work and I finally felt I was ready to get out there and work with others. Currently my focus is on pet photography as I love animals and I love taking photos of them. They are so much fun to be around and to work with.
I myself have two crazy cats and love them so much and feel that everyone should have keepsake photos of their babies. They are not just pets, they are family! I grew up with a golden retriever in my family and now my sisters/parents all have goldens, there are currently five in the family! I would love to have a dog as well but my current living conditions don’t provide enough space.
I have also done maternity shoots and family portraits which I also really enjoy doing so if you are interested feel free to reach out to me!
This was much longer than I anticipated but that is how far I have come. I am ready to take on any task you bring to me. If there is something I haven't listed please feel free to reach out to me to see if it’s something I am interested in doing. I am always learning and trying to step out of my comfort zone.