Meet Katrina Murphy

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katrina Murphy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Katrina, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

Without a doubt, my dad subconsciously instilled his work ethic into my blood and mindset. And no it is not the typical “work hard play hard” mentality, but working with a pure heart. My dad loved life, he loved people, and he loved what he did (a chiropractor). His zest for life drove him into this work ethic that was contagious, that made everyone around him want to get off the couch, follow their heart, and contribute in their unique way to society. This generosity and passion was a truly inspiring mix to grow up with and I hope to continue to fuel this work ethic to myself, and my children.

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 Katrina and I’m the motherhood and lifestyle photographer behind Katrina Marie Photography. While playing on and adult soccer league at the YMCA, a girl mentioned she was a “destination wedding photographer” and was telling me all about her dreamy travels and the success she has had with photographer as a profession. I literally took her out to coffee the following day drilling her with questions, bought my first digital camera, and never looked back. I was currently working at the Museum of Photographic Arts in historic Balboa Park, which was the most amazing experience (minus the commute from downtown San Diego to North County). I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin with a focus on film photography and graphic design. Film photography and the dark room spark so much magic, I could never get enough of it – however, I never saw it as a career option until the notion of digital photography and photographing families and events came into play. I am so happy with how everything unfolded and can honestly say I am living a career I am passionate about.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Receiving my Bachelor of Fine Arts, being creative and the artistic side of photography was always in my blood. Picking up a “digital camera” was purely just another tool, and learning how to “paint with light” instead of paint and mixed media. However, what really pushed me into the success I have had is my ability to dive in, take the risks, and learn as I go. I shot my first wedding before ever “second shooting” under another photographer. I was one of three women who created a birth photography company we did until the unpredictability of the schedules and being on-call was no longer conducive to me once my husband and I started a family of our own. I wanted to tap into event photography, and rented a huge zoom lens, got together with talented colleagues and photographed a huge music convention and concerts up in Los Angelos. Everything had my heart pounding, and adrenaline rushing, but I learned so much and continue to do so by taking risks and putting myself into the work that pushes me to continue to grow as a creative and photographer.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Running a business and being a mother to 4 small children definitely has me wearing a lot of different hats. Exercise and getting outdoors fuels me and lets my mind reset. I started going for runs around my neighborhood, and will time it so I can listen to an entire podcast episode and I feel so refreshed when I am done. Also, while I still utilize every single one of my children’s “nap times” to catch up on emails and editing, I have learned when I am feeling overwhelmed that something has to give. This is a great time to reflect on the work at hand, prioritize what is most important or income generating, and set a schedule that is realistic. I am often very over ambitious with my to-do lists and am definitely a creative who constantly has big ideas and dreams, but grounding myself to look at the full picture and also carving out time to take care of myself has been a game changer. Oh, and reading too! I joined a book club and also have a personal goal of reading one fictional and one non-fiction book a month.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katrinamariephoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrinamariephoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrinamariephoto