Meet Kate Ivy | Wedding photographer

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

Hi Kate, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As someone that takes pride in what they do and also loves to work as a photographer- finding that work/life balance can be challenging. Our country is obsessed with hustle culture- working 40 plus hour weeks and I definitely feel the pressure. When you own your own business there is ALWAYS something to do or work on. Blogging, SEO, social media, planning a creative shoot…and of course editing and emailing clients. I love that I get to create my own schedule because – my mornings are mostly focused on having coffee, tending to the garden and playing with our puppy. Around 10am is when I am able to really dive into to emails, phone calls and be in work mode. I have noticed – for me, it helps if I set a timer even for 30 minute increments. Work for 30 minutes, then take the dog for a walk or have a snack. I love to break up my day with a yoga class or work from a coffee shop with a friend.

In the beginning of my business, I would never have thought about outsourcing anything! I didn’t feel like my business was financially in the place to do that. But now, I think outsourcing is huge when figuring out balance. Some people love to blog or edit. And other people just want to focus on their relationship on the client – creating the best experience for them. If you are able to find the parts of your business that you really enjoy and are really good at, then I am all about outsourcing the rest. It always feels like a catch 22 – you need to make money to outsource, but outsourcing could allow you to make more money if you’re spending less time on things like editing or social media.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the lessons I have learned over time is to stay true to my values. As I have gotten older, my worldview has shifted a bit – and I have realized how important it is for me to stand up for what I believe in, especially in my business. It took me years to figure out what kind of business owner I wanted to be. I think knowing my core values (for myself, my family, and my business) was a great start. And then, of course, make sure my clients know what those values are. I definitely lost business, but in the end, I get to be proud of what I stood up for. And that, to me, is success. Inclusivity and speaking out about LGBTQ+ rights and representation are a big part of my brand. My job is to capture love stories, and as a queer person myself – it’s important that I represent all types of love stories. I want people to know that getting to this place in my personal life and my business was a journey and had its challenges. But I don’t regret any of it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Itinerary for things to do in Denver!

Obviously, we would need to see a show at Red Rocks. Seeing a concert at that venue is a must!

The next day we would sleep in and grab some brunch at Bacon Social House before heading to hike Lake Isabelle (a 5 hour hike). On the way back, we would stop in Boulder at Japango for some sushi and people-watching on Pearl Street.

One day we could spend walking around Rino – to see all the street art and stop into Crema for coffee. Lunch at Park Burger. Head to the Contemporary Art Museum and South Broadway to stop in some vintage stores.. And then hit up some bars on Colfax like P.S. Lounge or X bar – ending with some late night grub at Cosmos or Pete’s Kitchen.

The next day we would do Meow Wolf and Casa Bonita (tickets need to bought in advance of course).

Followed by the last day – Jazz at the park at City Park and eating at a food truck. That night, we would grab a late-night cocktail at a speakeasy, like Williams and Graham or Boys and Girls Club.

The perfect Summer Denver experience, in my opinion!

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?
Something that I love about this industry is the community. Everyone is super quick to help each other out. It doesn’t feel like a scarcity mentality.

So…I definitely wouldn’t be where I’m at without my photographer friends. Whether it’s a question about using a flash or needing a second shooter, or needing someone to dog sit during a wedding – we all can relate and want each other to succeed!

Website: hi@kateivyphotography.com

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

Image Credits
Kalen Jesse Photography