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Meet Kate Payne of Kate Payne Portraits in South Central

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Payne.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Kate. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in foster homes in Los Angeles first entering the institution in the early 60’s. When I was in junior high, it was 1969 and one of the art teachers incorporated photography into the class. I was fascinated by the dark room. It was a place I could learn and hide from the fact nobody wanted to be the “foster kids” friend. When I was in high school I was living with my artist grandmother she gave me her camera probably to keep me out of trouble. I took photos of anything that didn’t move and developed the film in the basement. I joined the Army hoping I could get to college and study art but ended up getting married and having a family. We used a Minolta 35mm from the late 70’s until I bought a digital camera in the 90’s. We still have that old film camera!

I spent the bulk of 20 years raising kids and focusing on a corporate career and when I had an empty nest and my husband and I moved to Arizona in 2007, I started joining group shootouts and posting calls on model mayhem. This was before Facebook and Instagram provided support for businesses and various groups that help bring people together. I finished college and have been focused on using my time developing my style and shooting as often as I can for the last 10 years.

I found a fulfillment like nothing else I’ve experienced in my life except for my children when I decided to blend my fascination with people, art and my love of photography.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest struggle was not having the support and money to be able to pursue my art for most of my life. I’ve been able to dig in and find a way and by using the internet and my relationships been able to expand my social life and really dig into finding new ways of learning and developing my craft. I still struggle with funding to pay for what I need in order to do what I want to do. I’m a disabled vet and work part time outside of my art, it’s an ever ending battle with the economic situations that have occurred the last 10 years.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kate Payne Portraits – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a Phoenix Arizona based photographer specializing in portraits with a passion and focus photographing women and everyone that surrounds them with love. I tend to gravitate more towards feminine, quiet, thoughtful expressions than huge smiles in my portraits.

For me, being a photographer is about art. I want to create art and I enjoy giving the gift of a legacy portrait.

For me, photography is about the shadows, contours, the hidden emotion, the overall beauty of each individual. I’ve never been good at drawing or painting and photography has given me a canvas to create what my mind sees. Working with people and taking their individual beauty and creating a work of art is something special and intimate between photographer and subject. Sometimes I watch my subject sway to the music and I’m drawn to the inner part of their spirit, and that’s what I attempt to capture in each image. The individual human spirit is always there just waiting for me to capture.

My favorite part about being a photographer is highlighting the human condition. By expressing emotions in a photograph you will see that some of my images are dark or moody, some are happy and vibrant, many are romantic or sexy. They are artful, intuitive and thought-provoking and always try to give you something to think about.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have contributed portraits printed on sheet metal for Planned Parenthood Nasty Woman exhibits the last 2 years. I often do model portfolio shoots through a collaboration of artistic sessions. I have about half a dozen sessions over the next 6 weeks that I’ve been able to create concepts for with a designer and clients that I think are going to be very fulfilling and enhance my style of work and my portfolio.

Pricing:

  • I offer digital collections that start at $350. Gallery images are hand-selected by me and all images presented in the online gallery are yours to download.
  • I believe in print photos and their lasting legacy and provide you with the option to have professional prints and wall art that are high quality craftsmanship with archival quality paper and ink.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Amanda, Clara, Erica, Gina, Sydne

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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