Meet Denise Karis of Denise Karis Photography in Gilbert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Karis.

Denise, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was eleven, we moved from Southern California to Mesa, Arizona. The goal was to temporarily downsize to an apartment in Mesa until we found a house. Most of our belongings went into a storage unit, but that storage unit was burglarized. It was then that photographs became incredibly important to me. You see, my childhood photos, along with my parents’ wedding albums were in that storage unit. Despite my mother’s efforts of offering a substantial reward for their safe return, we never saw those photos again.

Since then, I started carrying a camera with me wherever I went but I didn’t truly want to be a photographer until my son was born. Like all mothers, I was a changed woman. I was infatuated with my baby and had a new found appreciation for family. What a beautiful gift; falling in love, being a family, and having your heart fall asleep in your arms.

Is this getting too real for the first question? Well, if it is, I’m convinced at least a handful of people reading are nodding along with me.

So I started a shoebox savings. Literally, in my closet, a shoebox where I would slip in a twenty dollar bill as often as I possibly could until I was able to buy my first camera at a Black Friday sale during Thanksgiving of 2007. It wasn’t until 2009 that I started putting myself out there for family portrait sessions. Two years after that, in 2011, I shot my first wedding. Even then, I didn’t know how to “take off” as a professional creative. I was scrappy and had next to no budget for business growth.

So many times I’ve heard creative tell their stories. It’s often an exciting beginning of going all in and quickly ends with a “and the whole thing just grew like crazy!” Mine isn’t one of those stories. My business had very slow growth and was built from the belief that the only way to truly fail is to stop trying.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, no. I was a single mom and also supported my own mother. I worked in an office and all that left me with very little time to grow my business. I also had so much resting on my shoulders that the thought of quitting my secure job with health insurance to pursue my dream seemed impossible and irresponsible. So I stayed put.

There were years I was convinced I was doing the right thing; letting my dreams stay on the back burner to continue to care for my family. Then there were other years where I felt like maybe if I just took the leap, risked everything to pursue wedding photography in a market that was most often described as oversaturated, maybe I could do it. But in the end, fear always got me. There have been so many struggles, but looking back, even though I moved at a snail’s pace, I was moving. Slowly but surely.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Denise Karis Photography – what should we know?
I’m a wedding photographer! Most often, the feedback I get from my couples is that they never felt uncomfortable in front of my camera. That is entirely intentional on my part. I learned very early on that having a camera in your face is intimidating! It’s even harder when the photographer behind the camera shouts vague commands like, “OK, BE CUTE!” at you. Instead, I like to give prompts so that a couple has room to be themselves. I might be telling them to walk hand in hand, but the way they look at each other, the way he pulls her in close while they walk, that’s all them. All this gives my photos a natural and relaxed look that I’m known for.

I’m most proud that I work hard to stay away from photography trends that I don’t think will stand the test of time. It’s important to me that my couples have wedding photos that will still look classic and beautiful in 100 years. It’s my dream that in 50 years, their wedding portrait might be displayed at their Granddaughter’s wedding. Early on in learning photography, I would study old Kennedy photos from Time Magazine. I felt like they were timeless and would still be beautiful regardless of trends that come and go.

I feel like two very key elements set me apart. This question might have been impossible for me to answer five years ago because I was stuck on “Whatever I can do, someone else can surely do too.” Since then, however, I feel like I do have a lot that sets me apart. My love language is gift giving. So naturally, my couples get a gift when we meet for the first time, after their engagement session, at their first holiday season together, and at their one year anniversary. I love letting my couples know I appreciate them and I want them to know that they are valued. I’ve also always been someone with very low boundaries. You actually might have picked up on that just from reading this article. I’m an open book and feel like if we’re going to be friends, it won’t be fair-weather friends. I’m HERE for you and I’m not afraid of the messy, the nitty-gritty, or the real. Because of that, brides will often text me photos of flowers they picked out or excitedly Snaphat me a picture of their dress that they just chose to share the moment. I’ve been invited to bridal showers, seated with guests at receptions, and invited to eat cake with them at their wedding. I love that about my business. I love that I can create a comfortable relationship with my couples where they feel like I’m a friend by the time their wedding comes around. It’s magical!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Ohhh this question is exciting! I feel like this is the closest I’ll ever get to an Oscar speech! My darling friends Liz and Sarah have both been there for years, cheering me on since day one. When I wasn’t that good during the first two years that I had my camera, Sarah was always calling me a genius who “Should be charging $10,000.”

My mentor, Taryn Pollock of Serendipity Cinematography, has always made me feel like there was nothing I couldn’t do.

My mom, Margaret, gave me a creative childhood and filled it with imagination, theater, and romance. I feel like she gave me a heart that loves love and that part of me shows through my work. She still lives with me, and while everyone tells me I’ll get tired of it one day, she’s my favorite person.

My boyfriend, Raffi, who is new in my life, has built new roads in my business that I never thought possible.

My son, Kayden, opened my heart and rocked my entire world the day he was born. He makes me want to fix the whole world for him. While my mother gave me a childhood of love and wonder, I hope I can give Kayden the same, along with a mother who followed her dreams.

Pricing:

• Full day Wedding Collections range from $2,500-$4,900

Contact Info:

• Website: denisekaris.com
• Email: denise@denisekaris.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisekaris/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisekaris

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