We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katherine Cundiff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katherine below.
Hi Katherine, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
This is something I have battled for a very long time while becoming comfortable with myself as an artist. I never used to value my art, thinking I wasn’t worthy, or that everyone else’s art was much more valid than mine. Over the last few years, I’ve really started to gain my confidence because I’m just as capable as anyone else to create art that invokes feelings and emotion. I am worthy too and it really boils down to making sure you believe that about yourself. You belong wherever you put your soul and passion. The moment you start to step out with confidence, the rest just starts to follow. I still don’t know what I’m doing, but I know I belong here and that’s a step in the right direction.
Overcoming the challenges of all things creative is just remembering that all comes in due time and the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to stay in your own lane. It will benefit you more than anything when you stop comparing yourself to your peers.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a self taugh photographer and artist residing in Northern Indiana. I have 4 kids, an amazing husband, and a slew of pets. I love nature, documenting through my lens, true crime, and creating jewelry or other art. I am a published photographer and model and have been cover girl on my first magazine last Fall.
Mostly I want my followers to know that I set out to be a multifaceted artist to ensure they are getting a piece of art and not just a snapshot of that moment. I don’t just take your photos, I put them together with several different forms of media to tell a stylized story. If we don’t have a prop we need, I can usually craft and customize things to fit our style or theme.
I have photographed clients at their weddings, and their children growing up and make them keepsake jewelry. Being able to preserve all those moments in between really sets me apart from other artists as it gives me a chance to bond and get to know my clients on many levels. It’s a great feeling to bring so many forms of art for my clients to cherish for many moons to come.
I’m very proud of my versatility and ability to adapt to different styles and genres of art. I’m also really proud of myself for making it this far being only a self-taught, small-town artist. I don’t have a ton of networking connections yet but have slowly started gaining a local and more branched-out following. It’s really exciting to start to see my images and interviews getting out there.
I recently released my Dudeoir 2024 calendar. Marvel at all its silly, satire goodness.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Always remember slow n steady wins the race. Remember it doesn’t all happen all at once. You don’t get your first camera and become capable of capturing the same things people who have been using their eye to create works of art have for 20 years.
Practice all you can, in all types of lighting and subjects. Get down on the ground, climb up high, shoot in the rain, and highlight. The best advice I heard was “There’s never a bad day to take photographs.” While overcast days are usually your friend, you can learn to use your light to create different looks for your brand. Shoot in M mode as often as you can, that way, you are controlling your settings instead of your camera controlling you. That was one of THE most important things I did for myself.
Dare to be different and stand out. Be prepared for people to laugh or think you are crazy, but to get certain shots you will find yourself willing to do just that. I often have people question my work while in the process (and sometimes after) and I always just tell them “you will see.”
I suppose my advice isn’t nearly as eloquent as I would have hoped, but they are honestly a few pointers to what helped me get myself going.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am very active on my facebook, Instagram, and email, anyone interested in working with me can feel free to message me any time. I would adore to find some other creatives to collab with be it other photographers, videographers, seamstresses, make-up artists, mask makers or hatters, and other designers would be that of dreams. I would also love to work with some models and those wanting to bring their dreams to reality. While we have a fairly large art district, I still haven’t found a ton of people wanting to work with my style and genre, but have recently started to put myself out there. I would adore to work with more surreal, whimsy, and or dark artists and models. I’m pretty open-minded, I just want to create some amazing, jaw-dropping art. I dream of one day having a team of people pulling their best together to tell an unforgettable story.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheYigosflower.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyigosflower/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheYigosflower
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb4DXL0m0DHT0h6MBVTWFdw
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/MindOverMatterMOMllc
www.MindOverMatter.mom
Image Credits
The Yigosflower Katherine Cundiff Mind Over Matter, LLC
