Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Ferguson.
Katie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
All throughout grade school, I was rarely without a camera: starting with a disposable film camera and eventually making my way up to a simple point-and-shoot digital. At the time, it was never my intention to create art or refine a craft, it was simply to capture moments with friends and family so that they could be looked back upon regularly and vividly. At the time I didn’t know it would become such a passion. In fact, at the time, my dream was to continue studying music.
So for my eighteenth birthday, when I asked for a violin, I wasn’t disappointed when my parents bought me my first DSLR instead.
My photography really evolved when I began shooting author events for a non-profit that I volunteer with “Bridge to Books”. Then I started receiving requests to shoot non-related events such as headshots, birthdays, weddings. At this point, I began to take it more serious and started to really study. I read everything I could find online, I picked up books from the library, and I mentored under my fiance who has a BA in Fine Arts.
I like to challenge myself, I’ll find a project or inspiration and try to replicate it. I learn through imitation, then I try to make it my own. In many ways, it’s become my therapy.
Has it been a smooth road?
The hardest part about studying anything in the arts for me has always been the self-doubt. I think that’s something that many artists can relate to. I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which can be crippling. and I have missed opportunities because of it. Anything that’s too “in the spotlight” is hard for me, which is why I love photography so much: it’s safety net for me in social situations. I can both literally and figuratively hide behind the lens.
Tell us about your childhood, what were you like growing up?
I was very timid as a child, I had a small social circle at school, but didn’t interact with them much outside of school- in fact, I was more comfortable interacting with adults. Though I had childish interests like playing on the monkey bars or with dolls, I found conversation easier with adults than other kids.
At home, I spent most of my time reading. My parents had a lot of old National Geographics magazines and psychology books, so I grew up reading those as well as my own children’s fiction like “Charlotte’s Web”.
As a teenager, partly due to my introversion, I developed some pretty deep insecurities. My interest in the arts, at that time, was a way to help me express the beauty that I saw in the world for lack of feeling it myself. I found a great group of friends with similar insecurities and interests in the arts and we really helped inspire each other to develop our creativity.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories was shortly after my parent’s divorced. Things were mostly settled and emotions, though still a little tense at times, were mostly good between everyone. My mom and her girlfriend (now wife), had bought my dad a video game for the Playstation: Metal Gear Solid.
We all sat down together to play it the night they bought it; we took turns, and we became so intrigued that my moms went out to buy the strategy guide and we sat down and played that game almost every night for what felt like months (probably only ). All tension was diffused because we were all so united against beating that game.
What are your plans for the future?
Well, in three weeks I’m getting married at the Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim. Our honeymoon won’t be until next winter when we’ll be visiting New Zealand. I’m excited for the photo opportunities that’ll bring.
My fiance’s up for a promotion and in two years I’ll be eligible for one as well, so we’re hoping to save enough money to have my dad’s house renovated and quite possibly turn the bottom apartment into a studio whenever the current tenant moves out.
Pricing:
- Family Portraits start at $150
- Headshots start at $100
- Events such parties, media events, etc start at $250; additional fees vary depending on hours needed, locations, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: Katie-Ferguson.com
- Email: pocketofgreen@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pocketofgreen/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/katiefergusonphoto
- Other: www.flickr.com/photos/katie-ferguson
