Meet Katye Wasson

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

Katye , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I’ve learned resilience the hard way — through deep, personal loss. I know what it feels like to want to give up. But I also know that when you keep going, when you choose not to quit, something miraculous can come from the pain. That mindset has shaped everything I do.

Photography and videography became more than a passion — they became a purpose. Because I am resilient, I’ve been able to turn fleeting moments into forever memories. I get to give that gift to others: capturing the emotions, the love, the stories that deserve to live on, even as time moves on without us. That’s the heart behind everything I do.

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’m the owner and creative behind Katye Michele Photography & Video (KMPV), a photography and videography business based in East Texas. What began as a creative outlet has grown into a full-time passion and purpose—one that allows me to tell love stories, celebrate milestones, and preserve fleeting moments for families and couples.

I specialize in weddings, family portraits, newborns, and milestone sessions like smash cakes and seniors. What makes my work special is the intentional emotion behind it—my focus is always on capturing real, raw moments in a way that allows you to feel them again every time you look back. I don’t just want to take pretty pictures; I want to tell your story, exactly how it felt.

One of the most exciting recent updates is that we’ve opened a brand new in-home studio, perfect for newborn and mini sessions. It’s a cozy, welcoming space that lets me work with families in a calm, styled environment. I’ve also introduced a digital “Save the Date” design in all photography wedding packages—a little extra gift for my couples to celebrate and share their excitement.

Professionally, I’m focused on continuing to grow KMPV while keeping every client experience personal and intentional. Being named a runner-up for Best of East Texas Photographer was a huge honor and a reminder that this work matters. Whether it’s a wedding day or a baby’s first birthday, I’m honored to be trusted with moments that are once-in-a-lifetime.

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

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, empathy, and storytelling.

Resilience has been the foundation of everything I’ve built. I lost so much in one year—a marriage, a sibling, and the sense of stability I once knew. That kind of grief cracks you wide open. But it also pushed me to create something new, not just for myself, but for my son. After everything fell apart, I wanted him to see that moving forward is always an option—even when life feels unbearable. I worked hard through the pain to build a life that showed him strength, hope, and purpose. If I could survive that storm, I knew I could create something meaningful. To anyone starting out: the hard seasons don’t define you, but they will shape you if you let them.

Empathy has allowed me to connect beyond the lens. My clients trust me with the most emotional, fleeting moments of their lives—weddings, births, milestones—and I don’t take that lightly. I walk into every session with my heart open, ready to see people, not just photograph them. That depth of connection makes all the difference in the images I create. For those starting their journey: slow down, listen deeply, and care more. It’ll show in your work.

Storytelling is what makes it all come to life. Not only do I love creating a visual narrative for each client or couple, I want them to have memories to hold on to—because I know what it’s like not to have that. After losing my sibling, I realized we didn’t document enough. We didn’t take enough photos or videos. And now, I can’t go back. If I can give someone else the gift of being able to relive those moments—their love, their laughter, their milestones—then that’s something worth doing with my whole heart. It’s more than photography to me—it’s preservation, healing, and legacy.

These three traits—resilience, empathy, and storytelling—are at the core of KMPV. They’ve helped shape not only my work, but the life I’m building for myself and my son and my now husband and other son, one filled with intention, beauty, and the reminder that even in loss, there’s something worth capturing.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The number one challenge I’m currently facing is imposter syndrome—that nagging voice that makes you question if you’re truly good enough, even when the work, the growth, and the client feedback all say otherwise. As a creative and business owner, it’s easy to fall into comparison or feel like you’re not measuring up, especially in such a saturated industry.

For me, it’s not just about overcoming imposter syndrome—it’s about learning to believe in myself and trust the process. I remind myself that I’ve built KMPV through real experiences, real loss, and real heart. Every booking, every returning client, every moment I get to capture is proof that I belong here.

To work through this, I intentionally celebrate the small wins, reflect on how far I’ve come, and lean on the kind words from my clients who remind me that my work matters. I also make space to grow—whether that’s through education, mentorship, or simply allowing myself to try new creative things without fear of failure.

It’s a daily process, but I’m learning that self-trust is one of the most valuable tools any business owner can develop. And I’m proud to be walking through that journey—flaws, fear, and all.

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