We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristin Cofer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristin below.
Kristin, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I discovered my purpose in photography at a young age, first influenced by my grandparents, who always had a camera around. They let me take photos, developing the film without question. As I grew, my passion for photography deepened, leading me in high school to assist a local photographer. She taught me posing techniques and how to work with film and lighting.
In college, even while majoring in music and later graphic design, I found ways to incorporate photography. I was the marching band historian, took band photos, worked on personal projects, and received support from a professor who encouraged me to be both an artist and a designer.
Photography became more than a hobby; it was my passion. Throughout my 20s, I balanced graphic design jobs with personal photography projects. I shot my first wedding for friends on a beach at 24 and got completely absorbed in it.
For me, photography is more than just a job. It’s about the connections you make with whomever is in front of your lens. My goal is to create images that help people feel good about themselves. The process is an energy exchange, and I want them to see themselves how I see them.
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?
Currently, I’m focused on both my photography business and artistic projects. My work spans various genres, including music, portraits, commercial, family, and events. What excites me the most about photography is the connections I build with people and the hope that I can create an image that will be remembered for years to come.
One of the most special aspects of my work is the personal connection I build with my subjects. For example, my friendship with the amazing musician Chelsea Wolfe began in 2005, and we’ve been taking photos together ever since. It’s been incredible to be a small part of her journey. One of my dreams is to compile a book of our work, although sorting through the many photos from over the years is a bit overwhelming. Nonetheless, I’m slowly making progress on this project.
For anyone interested in my work or looking to collaborate, I invite you to visit my website or follow my newsletter for updates and inspiration: www.kristincofer.com.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I feel like I’m still on my journey. Do we ever stop being on a journey until the day we take our last breath? My advice for people at the beginning of their journey is to not be afraid to ask questions. I occasionally receive emails from people asking how I achieved a certain effect in a photo, and I’m happy to share! I’ve always looked up to others and asked for help (I still do), so it feels right to reciprocate.
I also tell people not to be afraid to reach out to anyone they want to work with. You will either: a) hear back or b) not hear back—there’s really nothing to lose! That’s how I’ve worked with some of the musicians I’ve had the opportunity to photograph; I just directly asked them.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
“You Are a Circle: A Visual Meditation for the Creative Mind” by Guillaume Wolf
I first came across this book at the home of a musician I didn’t know but had reached out to. They flew me out to LA to photograph them, and this book was there. It moved me so much that I still buy it for people. You can flip to any page and find a little gem of information.
“CHROMA: A Photographer’s Guide to Lighting with Color” by Nick Fancher
Nick’s books have been incredibly influential. I’m lucky to know Nick in real life—we met in 2014 through our mutual admiration for photographing the same musician, Chelsea Wolfe. Nick is an amazing photographer who generously shares his techniques, which is something I also believe in. We hit it off from the start, and I’ve had the pleasure of hanging out with and assisting Nick when he’s on the West Coast. This book is well-worn and full of post-it notes and highlights; it’s a must for anyone looking to bring more creativity into their studio lighting.
“Many Moons Lunar Planner” by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener
This is the third year I’ve bought this planner. I started working with the moon phases and find it really helpful for reflecting on my life and work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kristincofer.com
Image Credits
Image of woman leaning on branch is musician Shana Cleveland, black and white portrait is Bailey Kobelin, Man on stool is musician Patrick Shiroishi, red misty photo with person holding rose is Cash Askew, black and white film Polaroid is my long time collaborator musician Chelsea Wolfe, person with braids and pink hue potrait is fashion designer Dexter Simmons, reflective woman image is from a commercial photo shoot with SF salon diPietro Todd, blue double exposure portrait is musician Shannon Shaw and double exposure keyboard portrait are sisters and musicians Sepher and Sepand Mashiahof
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