Meet Ronni Knepp | Photographer & Photography Instructor

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

Hi Ronni, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“If you’re going to fail, do it epically.” I started saying it in undergrad and grad school and now teach it to my students as well as my friends who are starting their own businesses. To me, it takes away that “fear of failure” that everyone goes through, or at least it minimizes it. It reminds us that there is opportunity for growth in our failures, and if we hit the bottom then there is only one way you can go, and that’s up. Also, it makes people smile and laugh a bit.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My focus is in fine art photography (i.e. galleries, exhibitions, home decor, etc). My niche is in black and white post-modern photography as well as experimental and historical processes. How did I get into this field? Well that’s a slightly longer story. I was always in love with taking pictures and often would “steal” my mom’s polaroid camera, or would get my hands on a disposable 35mm camera and take pictures of everything. However, it wasn’t until 2010, while I was in the military, that I decided to pursue photography on a professional level. I enrolled into an online photography program (at Academy of Art University) for my Associates in photography. Up until that point, I’d majored in a lot of other types of fields but kept getting bored. After completing my Associates, I went on for my Bachelors in Fine Arts. During that degree, I realized I had a real passion for mentoring my classmates and decided I wanted to teach at the college level. In 2019 I graduated with my terminal degree in photography (Masters of Fine Arts, we don’t have a doctorates in our field) and, with the help of my thesis advisor, was able to start teaching undergrad photography with a college in North Dakota. None of my process was “easy.” But is anything in life really THAT easy? I worked really hard and just kept pushing on, despite the long list of rejection letters I’ve received over the years for teaching positions. But I love what I do and the college I work at has an amazing program with incredible instructors. As for my own brand, I’ve mentioned I work on a lot of sensitive topics with my fine art. Commercially, I also shoot weddings and some portraits. Despite a lot of the difficult things I’ve had to overcome, I’m still a hopeless romantic and weddings are my absolute favorite to do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly, we moved here in 2020, during the height of COVID-19, so I am still learning a lot about the town and surrounding area. We would absolutely have to take them to Manitou Springs for some shopping, and possibly up to Pikes Peak. Garden of the Gods is obviously a must, and the zoo is fun too. Likely, I’d want to try out new restaurants with them, but I do love the “adult milkshakes” at Crave Burger and the breakfast menu at Urban Egg is to die for (not to mention who can turn down a mimosa?!).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I suppose everyone who has played a roll in my life should receive a bit of credit in who I am now. However, if I have to narrow it down, I’d say my thesis advisor and my graduate classmates made a large impact on what I actually do. They really gave me a ton of support and encouragement to push through my initial hesitations. My fine art photography discusses really heavy topics, like sexual trauma, mental health, and women’s rights. Of course I definitely have to give a shoutout to my therapists too!

Website: https://www.rmkp.llc

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronniknepp/

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