Meet Kara Hendricks

We were lucky to catch up with Kara Hendricks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kara, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
As a professional photographer, creativity is a huge part of a successful business. I specialize in high school and college senior photography and this generation doesn’t want “traditional smiling at the camera” photos, they want edgy, out of the box images that are different. Sometimes my clients bring their own ideas using poses that they like or have seen somewhere else, but I usually prepare for the photo session in advance, with ideas that will flatter and bring out the personality of my seniors. To get that inspiration, I look at Pinterest and fashion magazines for different poses and even the latest fashion for outfits.

I also belong to a couple of private Facebook groups just for senior photographers, which have groups of talented photogs that share their photos and we help each other with a variety of questions we may have. Collaborating with others at conferences where I get to meet photographers from all over the United States helps bring new approaches and ideas too!

Sometimes I get into a creative “rut”…..the struggle is real! I am the type of photographer that needs change, I’m not one to do the same things over and over again, so I am constantly seeking new ideas, so I will do “model shoots” to help stimulate my imagination and creativity. When I hire a model, they get styled by me in a trendy outfit, I try a new location to compliment that outfit, and then we try some new poses.

Equally important as a creative, is to step away from a problem which will give my brain the space and time to come up with a new ideas or solution. I make sure that I balance my days with other things outside of my business so I feel fulfilled and this helps keep the creativity alive.

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?
Since the age of 12, with my instamatic camera, I have always been drawn to photography and videography. I attended Loyola Marymount University to become a film editor in the movie industry. I loved editing, but not having connections made it difficult to continue, so I went back to school and became a 6th grade teacher. After 20 years of teaching, I retired early and decided to pursue my lifelong passion of photography. It was a natural transition with my love for children and my interest and degree in editing. I started photographing families, sports and any type of job that came my way. Eventually, I decided to only photograph high school and college seniors because I was drawn to uniqueness of each session with the different hobbies and interests that each senior has.

I focus on bringing out the personality and how each senior is special, in my photography. We work together to create an unforgettable session that includes their interests whether it’s sports, music, art, reading, cars or just about anything!

I am also super excited and honored to have been featured in Senior Year Magazine, an internationally published magazine of the top seniors photographers in the world, for 2 years in a row!

Every year, I give back to the community by volunteering with AzDS (Arizona Disabled Sports) to provide them with action shots of their athletes. I love supporting and giving back to these heroes who are amazing athletes.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Occasionally, I get asked by other photographers just starting out, how should they start up their business. I always start out with the mindset advice that all of us photogs started out somewhere and developed our skills over time. It can be overwhelming to see other photographers that have been in the business for many years and want to have their skill level right away which can lead to “Imposter Syndrome” but I recommend shifting the perspective to looking at those photographers as mentors and learning from them. Knowing that it takes time to advance and develop a business that is client centered will take time. I have hired many coaches along the way to help develop my business. I have also joined Facebook groups that have experienced photographers so I can ask questions and there are always people who have been in the same boat!

Hiring a coach in the specific photography that they are passionate about will help narrow down the basics that they will need to have in order to run a successful business without the overwhelm! It is equally as important to be positive and give yourself praise for achievements along the way.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Many people that are not in the business of photography think that we just pick up our cameras, show up at the session and snap some pictures, which cannot be further from the truth. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes including the financial overhead. Equipment used to photograph and the software programs used to run a full time business can be overwhelming at times. These things definitely give me anxiety. I am constantly discovering new ways to improve my business and on top of all of the things I do daily, this new part of the adventure can be daunting, so I have a schedule with goals that help me designate my time so I am not as anxious. I have a monthly calendar with daily goals as well as weekly goals to work on those new tasks. I make sure that those time slots for the new tasks are quiet (with my phone turned off) and timed for a few hours with breaks throughout. I feel calmer and more focused and as a result accomplish more that way.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All images: @karahendricksphotography

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