Meet Katie Dawn | Elopement photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Dawn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’d always been artistically inclined, but was constantly told I’d never make any money, and that my only job prospects were being an art teacher or I’d starve. I’d picked up photography as a hobby/passion in high school, never imagining that would be my full-time job in the future- mostly because I was really bad at it when I started. Well, I kept pursuing photography as a hobby, using amateur models for photoshoots and posting to my growing following on Instagram, and eventually, people on instagram asked me to take photos of them for money. It was random shoots at first- girls who wanted professional photos of themselves, senior photos, family photos, etc., but then my friends started getting engaged and married and I started photographing them. I’d never thought I’d be a wedding photographer but found I really liked it, and decided I’d try to turn that into my job. I was in college at the time, and even in art school, my prospects seemed really bleak. Basically, my options were to become a graphic designer/social media manager at a company and get paid $13/hour, become a teacher, or try to make it on my own with photography. After having been through art school, I realized that while I loved making all kind of art, my work just would never be profitable and if I wanted to make a living off of more traditional forms of art. I’d be burnt out and wouldn’t even enjoy myself. Photography was the only way I could pursue a creative career and be paid fairly for my work. I didn’t really know what I was doing business-wise, so it took a long time to take off, but I loved it, so I stuck with it until it became a viable means of income.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I specialize in photographing elopements- adventure elopements, specifically, which is a really cool job. I feel like everyone and their mom is a photographer these days, and in Colorado everyone shoots (or at least wants to shoot) elopements, so it’s a pretty competitive industry. Getting the opportunity to go outside and photograph couples in these epic locations is a dream job, which is why so many people want to do it, but honestly, most people aren’t qualified for it, and it can be an extremely dangerous job. I cringe anytime I see photographers recommending a spring elopement in the mountains when everything’s muddy and closed, or an afternoon hike when thunderstorms hit. Unlike many of the photographers tripping over themselves to shoot elopements in the mountains, I’m *actually* qualified for the job. I grew up in Colorado (yes, we exist), and I’m extremely familiar with the state, the weather, the seasons, hiking trails, etc. I’ve been hiking and camping my whole life, Jeeped on all the trails in the state, worked as an outdoor education guide, and still spend the summers living in my Astro van in the mountains. I not only have over a decade of experience in photography and a degree in art, but I’m also familiar with the landscape I’m photographing. I know everyone in towns like Telluride and Crested Butte, I know all the other vendors I work with, I know where to find secret hot springs, I know how to prepare my couples for weather above 10,000 feet, and everywhere I photograph my couples I’ve visited 100 times already.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d tell my friend to skip Denver and the front range entirely. Colorado is good for one thing, and that’s the mountains. There isn’t a good food scene, no good shopping, no culture, the only thing I really think is worth doing is finding great views. My advice would be to check out southwest Colorado and avoid the crowds. My itinerary for 7 nights would be to fly into Montrose, and stay in Telluride for 2 nights. Check out Telluride, see Bridal Veil falls and Cornet Creeks falls, take the free gondola up the mountain to see the views of town from the top, and drive up to Alta Lakes. After 2 nights, drive over to Ouray for 2 nights, and stay at The Western. Rent a Jeep and check out one or more of the off-roading trails near town- Yankee Boy is a popular one, and Silver Basin is my favorite, then have some drinks or food at the Western when the day is done. Drive the Million Dollar Highway over to Silverton and stay the night at the Wyman. Have some drinks at the Wyman, soak in some secret hot springs near town and visit Velocity Basin. For the last 2 nights, drive up to Crested Butte. Stay in town at Public House Lofts, rent a townie bike for riding in town, and eat at one of the many delicious restaurants in town, like Bones, Breadery, Ryce, The Slogar, or Sunflower. Wake up and get coffee at Camp 4 Coffee, then drive the off roading trails on Gothic Road or even rent a Jeep and drive up to Crystal Mill. End the day with some drinks at the Dogwood before leaving the following day to fly out of Montrose again.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would have never figured out what I was doing without other woman photographers out there. I felt like I was surrounded in an industry full of men who didn’t understand me and talked down to me, and I really appreciate all the women out there who built me up and showed me the very basics of how they do everything. There’s a lot more resources out there for people to start their own photo business these days, but when I was starting it was literally just some women in a Facebook group and people I met doing photoshoots. I owe everything I learned to them.

Website: https://www.katiedawnphoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie.dawn.photo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiedawnphotography

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KatieDawnPhoto