Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Mata.
Hi Karen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Thinking back on how I started photography almost feels as if I’ve always somehow took photos one way or another. Growing up, my dad had those Polaroid cameras and I would be so excited when I got a chance to take the photo! Then at school, I would be the girl with the disposable camera taking photos of or with her friends! I started by taking photos of an ex and his bandmates then eventually of my friends. I’d set up a time and location for the shoot and take portraits of them with my Nikon cool pix camera. In 2018, I bought my first DSLR camera a Canon 5D MarkII, it was then when I started to take photography more serious and started to think of it as something I could do for a living. Photography has opened up so many amazing doors and opportunities of travel, experience, meeting more creatives and working with them. I’ve gotten the chance to travel to and photograph at Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park, Lake Tahoe! At the moment I am a freelance photographer specializing in portrait photography, family/couple photography, editiorial photography, and wedding photography. I love to capturing moments for people and knowing they’ll forever have that to look back at and I also love that you can boost someone’s confidence after taking their photo. The smiles I get back after seeing their photos are priceless and that is how I feel I am doing what I intended to do, and I am so happy to be able to share my passion for photography!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It most definitely hasn’t been easy, this is a part of me that has been most challenging. To put your art out there can be very frightening especially if you have had some downfalls and negative experiences it can feel intimidating. But in the end of the day, I push through those thoughts, continue to grow, take classes, practice, put my work out there! At the moment I still have so much to learn about growing my business and skill but I’m happy to go through the process despite the setbacks I may encounter.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m known on Instagram as Moongoddessvisuals, I photograph everything from weddings to candid photography. Throughout the years I’ve had the opportunity to work with wonderful clients and capture some of their most special moments, like graduation, engagement, maternity and newborn moments. I love capturing real emotions that are in the moment and show genuine smiles through my photos. I’m grateful that though my art I am able to boost people’s confidence and show them how beautiful they are, I’ve gotten reactions from my photography that warms my heart and ensures me I am in the right profession! I’m very proud of myself for pushing through self-doubt and sticking with what I love to do, I always go above and beyond to make sure the location is perfect, the colors will be appealing with the environment and the clients feel comfortable and excited to be getting their photos taken!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I feel photography for me has been a risky career decision to make, for a long time I was lost trying to “find” the perfect job of career for me. I went to college a couple of years back to be an elementary school teacher, although I love working with children and enjoy teaching (learned that from my previous driving instructor job) something still didn’t feel right. Then once I got my first DSLR camera and taking photography more serious it came to me, I’m here to share my art through photos and teach my knowledge on photography. Now I am currently enrolled in community college in pursuit of becoming a photography teacher! I only say it’s a risky career because it is something I’m starting from scratch from my own experiences and skills and I know some days will be tougher than others when I’m not getting booked. Those days I use them to schedule shoots with my family or friends to keep practicing and creating.
Pricing:
- Family sessions starting $250
- Portrait sessions starting $150
- Maternity/Newborn session starting $200
- Engagement session starting $300
- Weddings starting $200hr
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Personal photo taken by Craig Warner.
