We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Voda a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kate, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I’ve been a photographer since 2014 but it wasn’t until my son was born in 2021 that I was able to truly find the why behind my passion for the medium.
During the second trimester of my pregnancy, we found out that my son had Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect that would require open heart surgery within the first year of his life. I immediately knew that my motherhood journey was no longer going to follow the “typical” path, and I began to look for other mothers who were traveling a different road in life.
The more I looked around, the more I realized that mothers who have had a difficult road to motherhood – be it fertility struggles, a diagnosis that has altered the way they envisioned their lives would go, a road to adoption, or a NICU stay just to name a few – needed a safe space to be able to celebrate and share their own unique story. Sometimes, sharing your story with someone who has also faced struggles helps you feel supported and less alone.
I had been a newborn and family photographer for years, but I was only skimming the surface of the families’ stories. I instantly shifted my focus to providing a photography experience that celebrates each woman’s story while giving her a space to share that story with me if she wanted to.
I keep a set number of sessions available each month for families who need a last-minute booking, be it because they do not yet feel comfortable taking maternity photos after experiencing loss, because their child has had a NICU stay, or a diagnosis that required hospitalization, or any other reason that would prevent them from being able to do photos at the typical time.
Mothers are quick to put themselves last so my goal in every session is to take the stress off of the mother’s plate and to celebrate the bond between her and her child, as well as her strength and fierce love for her family.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Kate and I have been a photographer since 2014. I am a lifestyle photographer who loves to showcase the simple beauty of the bond between mother and child. I photograph both on film and digital cameras during sessions as a way to slow down and enjoy the artistic process.
Having traveled my own winding road to motherhood, I know that every family’s journey is both unique and wonderful. I strive to provide my clients with a stress-free photography experience, ending in beautiful and timeless images that tell their family’s story.
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?
Determination, passion, and compassion.
Having gone to school for nursing and not photography, I had to teach myself everything I know from the ground up. Being determined to constantly improve my skills and my art has allowed me to be doing what I’m doing today.
Passion for the medium has also greatly helped because it was a slow process that is still on-going. Having something to learn about and work on that I truly loved made it enjoyable and helped me to keep going.
Compassion is so important in this field. You never know what someone has gone through and being open to hear their story, or simply allowing them to be as they are with no judgment helps them to trust you. When your clients trust you, they relax and you can both support them and capture images that truly represent who they are.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I am a big believer in community over competition. The photography community is a beautiful place full of supportive and encouraging people. I would not be where I am without some incredible photographer friends who have taught me, inspired me, and helped me during challenging situations. I try my best to provide the same support to them as well as newer photographers who are looking to learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katevodaphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katevodaphotography/
