Meet Katherine Evans

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katherine Evans . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katherine below.

Hi Katherine , so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
As a wife, mother and CEO of my business, self-care has never been in the forefront of my to-do list. It wasn’t seen as a priority, rather a luxury, I didn’t deserve, or take up. For the longest time, I thought spending time on myself was being selfish, and taking time away from my husband or my child. Little did I remember, or realize, how important rest and renewal is within my faith, and how quickly I forgot what an impact it can make on my life, both personally, religiously, and in business.

They always say you cannot thrive off an empty cup. Despite the truth in that statement, I would try and climb that mountain, and navigate my way around the boulders, completely parched. This left me powerless and reaching for nourishment. Sometimes you don’t realize what you need, until you reach that dry space.

We cannot run, if we don’t rest.

The world fills us with this hustle mindset. Pushing for more, onto the next thing, ya know Nikes slogan, “Just do it”. Coffee giving us that extra push, and then wine to drink the exhausting day away.

It wasn’t until hitting my low, and communicating my needs, that I truly started to welcome rest and self-care into my routine. As a mom, constantly on the go, I had to learn, and am still, how to re-invent what self-care looks like for me. That looked like putting on a movie for her, while I could take a bath, or read, and not leaning into “mom guilt”. That looked like hopping in the car, putting on a podcast, for me, and driving to the coffee drive through, for a treat. Other times it has been telling my husband I have a massage appointment, and not feeling like I’m asking him to watch our child, again, and just putting words into his mouth, or assuming he feels a certain type of way. Why am I sharing this? I don’t believe people talk about this part of entrepreneurship. The feeling like we are constantly draining the people around us, and the feeling of drowning ourselves.

Do you remember when you were a child, had an excellent night sleep, and were just waking up with such an energy and light that matched the sun, ready to take on the day you were excited to live? That is a feeling most easily forgotten as we navigate all the things life throws at us. What we don’t realize, is the moment we outsource, or the moment we choose to let that email go till tomorrow, or decide to take a nap, we’re becoming the most effective in our business that we’ve ever been.

We cannot run, if we don’t rest.

Resting, leaning into self-care, is literally what fuels an effective business, and an efficient workflow, and consistent growth. Nourishing and exercising your body is self-care. Setting boundaries with relationships, and business, is self-care. Making time for your religion is self-care. Communicating what you need and following through, is self-care. You are your business, and if you are run down, it will rub off, and you won’t be able to serve with all the goodness that you have to give, and your clients will feel it.

Rest is essential to a successful business. Don’t wait to realize this until I did. Accept that life is busy, defy the lie that you need to hustle and take everything on. Communicate and establish boundaries and find what gives you peace, and fuels your fire, that burns deep within you.

You have so much to give. Don’t let it be stripped away by the desire to be better, do more, and make more money. You are only one person, that deserves as much love as you give to your clients. You deserve to put yourself on the priority list.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hi, I’m Katherine, a wedding and family photographer, capturing the tree rings of your life, one year at a time! I reside in Point Loma but I go as far north and surrounding LA if it’s a fit!

It has been my heart and passion since I was 16, 20 years ago! I am thankful I get to call it my career! I work within sunny SoCal as my studio! My clients book me based on the emotion, genuine connections, and candid captures that speak to them, as well as my use of color, and a more timeless edit!

I am full time, and always make room for new clientele, so don’t hesitate to inquire with me about your event or session! I love this relationship based business, and aim to serve my clients for the years to come!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities, skills and areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey was humility, servanthood, and persistence.

Humility: You don’t know everything, and have a lot to learn from those in your dream profession. You have a lot to offer, but you also have a lot to learn, so ask all the questions, respect the answers, and you’ll be rewarded!

Servanthood: So much good and growth comes in business from doing the hard work, and the less attractive tasks. This doesn’t mean being taken advantage of, or giving yourself into the ground, but a healthy balance of offering a helping hand. As a business owner there are so many things that happen, that are mundane and unpleasant tasks. Realize it’s not all a walk in the park. Offer to help, even trade time for experience, and learn, and so many blessings will come from this.

Persistence: My dear friends. Don’t give up. Persist. You are so capable, and so worth it, if it’s what you want, seek it out, lean into the hard days, celebrate the good, and keep going. You have this, and I’m cheering you on.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
This is something so relevant in our industry right now. With Tick-Tock, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, Websites and alllll the other apps and programs related to our industry, we are completely and utterly overwhelmed. We are seeing relevance in a world of noise and non-stop comparison.

When you feel like falling on your bed, face in the pillow to scream from confusion, please choose to put it down. Shut it off. Turn it off. Delete the app. Take a Sabbath. Take a “business retreat”. Being a business owner doesn’t mean we don’t get vacation time, days off, sick days, parent days……we aren’t immune.

You need to clear the voices. You need to force yourself to be still. No radio, no podcast, no music, no consuming. Take a walk. Have coffee with a friend. Back up, and take time to be with yourself, and refresh your mind with things that you want to do, and a life you want to live.

Have a brain dump. Write all the things you want to do on a board, and put it aside. Take a nap. Go on a date with your person where you can laugh. Go to church. Go to a coffee shop and just write. Read a fiction book, and allow yourself to drift off. Do yoga by yourself, or with your kids. Go watch the sunset.

All of these things will serve you well, and you won’t miss a beat with your business, but your mind will be renewed.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Headshot of me is Tracy Zavadil

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