The story behind the lens: Every journey starts somewhere, and mine began with stacks of photo albums, meaningful snapshots, and a childhood filled with moments that mattered. Hi, I’m Kaitlin! Today, I’m opening my heart and sharing how photography found me. I hope you love this little peek into my world. 💖

The Beginning: A Life Captured in Snapshots 📷

I grew up in a family that documented everything. And I mean everything—first days of school ✏️, cheerleading 📣, Christmas mornings 🎄, birthdays 🎂, family vacations ✈️, and even those tiny, quiet moments that might have otherwise been forgotten. Like the time I was little and fed my dad a cookie—and somehow, someone caught it on camera. It was precious!

Were all the pictures in focus? Nope. Was the composition flawless? Absolutely not. But that’s what made them real. They weren’t about perfection; they were about preserving life as it was happening. And that’s what I fell in love with—the magic of freezing a moment in time, knowing I could look back years later and feel it all over again.

My childhood wasn’t perfect, but when I flip through those albums, all I see is joy. I see love. I see home. And that is what photography has always meant to me!

Discovering My Passion: The Lightbulb Moment 💡

Fast forward to my high school years—I had this deep, undeniable feeling that I was meant to own a business one day. My dad built his own business from the ground up, and his determination and hard work inspired me. I wanted that for myself—but what would my passion be?? This completely stumped me for years..

College came, and let’s just say… commitment issues were real. 😅 I changed my major five or six times because the thought of choosing a career that I might regret 50 years down the road? Terrifying!!

Then, one day, I found myself sitting with my Papaw—who was obsessed with cameras—and something in me sparked. I started asking him all about his love for photography, and with every word, my heart whispered, What if this is it??

That moment stuck with me. I told my mom that same day I felt called to give photography a try, and even though I had no idea what my niche would be, something inside me knew—this was the thing I had been searching for.

The Turning Point: From Hobby to Calling ✨

When I was attending Texas Tech University, I finally made one last major switch (yes, for the sixth time, LOL! 😆)—Electronic Media and Communications with a minor in Fine Arts Photography. That’s where I learned the technical side of photography—lighting, equipment, film. 🎞️ But what I didn’t learn was how to make it my own.

So, I went all in.

I spent hours upon hours watching YouTube tutorials 🎥, reading articles 📖, and investing in education beyond the classroom. I studied photographers I admired, soaking up everything I absolutely could.

But photography wasn’t something you could learn by the book. Every photographer had their own style, their own preferences, their own way of doing things. And for someone who loves things to be straight to the point (just tell me what to do and I’ll do it! 🙋‍♀️), that was frustrating at first..

But I wasn’t about to give up.

I bought my first big-girl camera and lens and started photographing everything—friends, family, strangers who would let me, LOL! 😂 I just needed to create, learn, and grow.

Falling in Love with Weddings 💍

About three years into my photography journey, I had the chance to photograph a few weddings and second-shoot for other photographers. And that’s when everything changed.

The emotions. The love stories. The once-in-a-lifetime moments.

I realized that wedding photography wasn’t just about pretty pictures—it was about preserving the feeling of a day that would never happen again. The way a father looks at his daughter before he gives her away. The way newlyweds sneak glances at each other like they’re the only two people in the room. The way a grandma wipes a tear as she watches her grandbaby say “I do.” 🥹

That was it. That was home.

I completely shifted my business, reached out to every photographer I could for second-shooting opportunities, and hit the ground running. And I haven’t looked back since.

Where I Am Now: Grateful Beyond Words 💕

Photography has given me more than I ever dreamed of. It has allowed me to document love in its purest form, to preserve memories that will be cherished for generations, and to build a business that feels so much bigger than just me.

And to think—it all started with a little girl, flipping through photo albums, falling in love with the power of a picture.

So here’s to the journey. To the moments. To the love stories I get to tell.

And here’s a little peek at where I started and how far I’ve come! ⬇️

The First Clicks 📸

Where I Am Today ✨

Finding My Personal Style

Photography has been woven into my life for as long as I can remember. And while I didn’t have my big “A-HA!” moment until college, I am beyond grateful that I found what truly sets my soul on fire.

If I could go back and give my younger self just one piece of advice, it would be this: Have patience. Oh, and stop comparing your journey to everyone else’s! I wanted so badly to create stunning images—the kind that made people stop in their tracks and immediately want to book with me. (I mean, don’t we all? LOL! 😂) But I also wanted it to happen overnight. I looked up to so many incredible photographers, and instead of letting their work inspire me, I let it frustrate me. If my photos didn’t match their level of expertise, I felt like I was failing..

Looking back at my early work (yep, those photos above 😅), I can see how lost I was. I chased trends, hoping to “fit in,” but ended up with an editing style that felt completely disconnected from me. It was all over the place. And if I could go back, I’d tell myself to stop worrying about what’s popular and focus on creating something that felt authentic—something that reflected my voice, my artistry, my vision.

That said, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every mistake, every misstep, and every frustrating moment made me work for where I am today. And honestly? That makes me appreciate my journey even more. Because I didn’t just find my style—I built it. And I’m still building it, still growing, still pouring my heart into every single frame. And that’s something I’ll always be proud of. ❤️

The Journey Continues 💖

I love being a photographer so much more now than I did when I first started. In the early days, I was so focused on trying to make my journey—and my social media/website—look like the photographers I admired, that I didn’t take the time to really enjoy the process or celebrate the little wins along the way.

Now, I can finally look back and appreciate how far I’ve come. I’ve put in a lot of hard work to get to where I am today, and I’m so proud of the growth I’ve experienced! I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead!!

Here’s to continuing to chase dreams and crush new goals—let’s make this year one to remember! ✨

It doesn’t have to end here…check out more of this Dallas Wedding Photographer’s work by clicking over to our portfolio, or visit our Instagram page here. You’ve seen it all and want to reach out to contact us for your own portrait session, wedding or event? You can do that by contacting us through our contact form!