We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karen Norian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Karen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Growing up in New York, I always figured that my life would follow the trajectory of going to college, graduating, and then working in New York City. I had plans of becoming an editor at a magazine, and in college, I received an internship to a big name editorial magazine and thought everything was falling into place – until it didn’t. I absolutely hated the toxic work environment, the mean-girl atmosphere, and the overall day-to-day work. It crushed me, because the future I thought I’d have was evaporating right in front of my eyes. However, the one outlet I had was photography. I began shooting in college, and it turned into a side hustle ever since I began taking it more seriously. I had a business partner, and we decided to become an LLC all while I was juggling my internship and education. I graduated, and did end up working in the city as an editor, but steered clear from magazines and jumped around from startup to startup while still managing a successful side photography business with my partner. But I never felt quite fulfilled at my “real job.”
My days were hectic. I spent two hours every morning and two hours every evening commuting into the city, coming home to spend the small amount of time before bed in my studio, editing. Weekends were for shooting weddings, engagement sessions and lifestyle sessions. I was burning the wick at both ends, and I could feel myself drowning in a life that was consumed by so many things that didn’t bring me joy. The only time where I felt truly excited about my life was when I was in my studio editing, or taking photos of couples in love – that was my outlet.
After about a decade of living life this way, I knew I needed to make a drastic change. My husband, who was my fiancé at the time, was open to the idea of moving away from New York, and so he put his resumé out to companies based elsewhere on the east coast. When he received a job offer for a company in Savannah, I immediately knew that I wanted to take the leap of faith and move there – without ever even visiting. A few months after we got married, we packed our life up and officially moved down south. It was so thrilling to be switching my life up, and the move allowed me to take a step back and figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my career.
I became a freelance writer while trying to establish myself as a photographer in Savannah, and spent a lot of time figuring out what would make me feel the most fulfilled, and I knew that my happiest moments were with couples on their wedding day. I decided to market myself less as a traditional wedding photographer and more as an elopement and intimate wedding photographer, and instantly found that it was a niche I thrived in. I went all in on my photography career in Savannah and, with a lot of hard work, trial and error, and investments in education, my business flourished. There is nothing I love more than capturing couples in their most authentic form, celebrating the joy in the love they’ve found. It brings me such a sense of purpose that I don’t think I can find anywhere else. This job has brought me to dozens of states and several different countries, and no matter where I am, documenting weddings is something that has never gotten old. I have so much gratitude for finding what I’m meant to do in life, and proud of the big leaps that brought me to where I am today. I call my job a labor of love, because even though it can be incredibly challenging, I want nothing more than to do what I do each day: wake up with a sense of knowing that the images I deliver bring so much meaning to the people I capture.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an elopement and wedding photographer, focusing on cinematic storytelling and candid moments. Every wedding day is so unique, and no two couples are the same, which keeps me feeling so inspired and creative. In 2025, my focus will still be weddings and elopements, but will be expanding into photography education to help other photographers better understand the technical process, post-production editing, and creative posing.
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?
The biggest quality that impacted my journey was easily my ambition and drive. Working in an oversaturated field can feel like you’re climbing a mountain that you can’t ever reach the top of – but the goal isn’t to reach the top. It’s to build your skills and learn something new with each step you take. There were so many days where I felt like quitting or giving up, but I knew that I just had to keep moving forward, no matter how much I wanted to throw in the towel.
The second quality is compassion. To work in a field where you’re developing such a close relationship with couples, it’s so important to nurture that relationship with empathy and understanding. So many couples tell me that they feel so at ease with me that something as uncomfortable as taking a photo doesn’t feel the way they thought it would feel. To be able to create a space where couples can feel vulnerable will take your work to a different level – you’re no longer just working with what’s on the surface.
The last quality is an insatiable hunger to learn. What I love about photography is that there will never be a point where I feel as though I’ve learned everything. It’s wanting to have the knowledge to ensure I deliver the best possible images both technically and creatively, and never feeling like you’re finished with educating yourself in your field.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client would be couples who are not afraid to get creative! I love when couples put their trust in me and just let me do my thing. Couples who aren’t afraid to be silly, romantic, and adventurous are totally my vibe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karennorian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karennorianphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karennorian
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