Meet Kaitlin Smith | Owner of My Viewpoint Creations

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

Hi Kaitlin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
“Do not got where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This might be an overused quote by Emerson, but the moment I saw it in 5th grade it made all the risks I’d ever take in my life make much more sense. As for taking risks in my life and my career, I feel like my entire photography career has been one big risk after another. When I got my first point and shoot camera in high school I asked the head football coach if I could be on the field taking pictures and he agreed. Next thing you know there’s a photo in the local paper that looks just like one I had taken. Risk number 1, check. I can get the same shots making it into the newspapers. Risk number 2 came with the acceptance to Purdue University and the Photography program there. I wasn’t confident I would even get into Purdue, let alone graduate. Smaller risks came into play during my four years of college, like contacting local photographers, galleries and even zoos in the hopes to intern with them. Now that I am thinking about it, I know my first true BIG risk was an internship in Missouri at the World Bird Sanctuary. I was their photo blog intern for the summer. Living away from family, in the middle of nowhere, working with birds of prey…yeah I’d say there are some pretty significant risk factors. Ended up paying off in big ways. I made friends for life that are scattered across the country now and the experience got me my first real job. Fast forward, I’ve graduated from Purdue, the car is packed with the bare minimum and I am moving across the country 20 hours from home to live in Colorado with no job prospects. Biggest. Risk. Yet. I won’t sugar coat it. It was not easy. I would even venture to say it downright sucked for a while, but I wouldn’t take it back for anything. Pretty much everything I did from the time I moved to Colorado was a risk and it took a good long amount of time to get myself out of survival mode. By the time I did, all those risks I took made it easy to start the photography company I had always wanted. You might call them risks but looking back now I call them steps in the right direction. They might not have been big steps but they got me where I am.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have a tendency to see the things that no one else does. Which is why there is usually a camera in front of my face so I can grab the moment forever but that also applies to painting, drawing and sewing too. As for painting and drawing, my more recent example is creating one of a kind pieces for a local therapy office. We had collaborated on what they wanted to see in the office and it grew into these huge pieces representing affirmation words and even a rainbow/sun. They are really interesting pieces and they have even started using them in the therapy sessions! I think what sets me apart is my need to make you say either, “That was such a fun photo session!” or “OK you need to explain to me what is in that photo/painting! What is that?!” Thats the reason my company is called My Viewpoint Creations. You and I can be looking at the exact same thing and we/perceive it in entirely different ways. I find that fascinating and I strive to photograph both sides as well as make you think when you look at my work. That’s my constant motivation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man! This is a list I just keep adding to! Because my husband and I are from the midwest we have lots of visitors so I absolutely have a list to share! 1. Red Rocks – you have to see it no matter what but if you can also see a show there – even better!
2. Illegal Petes – we love their food! We take everyone there!
3. Hapa Sushi – I love sushi so if you are willing to try it this is where I would take you! Plus their menu is super cheeky and fun!
4. Colorado Springs
– Broadmoor Hotel – have an appetizer and some wine at the restaurant and then take a walk around the grounds.
– Seven Falls at the Broadmoor Hotel – really great paved hike but be prepared for stairs.
– Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (best zoo I’ve ever been to)
– Manitou Falls – great small town shopping
5. St. Mary’s Glacier – fantastic hike that’s not too difficult. But be careful what time of year you go! I accidentally took my parents in March! Big Mistake!
6. Wings over the Rockies Museum – This is a new one I just added! Phenomenal museum for anyone, even mildly, interested in aviation – head to the beer garden next door for some lunch and grab ice cream after.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has always been my number one support system including my husband Cody. He and I are very supportive of our hobby’s. He is in the band Then I Fly and I am starting a business!

Website: https://www.myviewpointcreations.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myviewpointcreations/

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

Image Credits
My Viewpoint Creations