Trina Cress | Grow life.: Meet Katie Lloyd

I'm diving into my fourth week of my photo-a-day monthly resolution, and introducing you to another awesome photographer! I fell in love with Katie's photos when I stumbled into her Etsy store and got her permission to share some of them in this post. She has a knack for capturing and beautifully editing the simple pleasures in life, and even capturing the pretty sides of Kansas I know and love. Keep reading to learn more from Katie.

Tell us about yourself... (what do you do, where is home, what do you love?)

My job, first and foremost, is being a stay at home mom to our 6 and 4 year olds. I also have two Etsy shops: KatieLloydPhoto which is a fine art photography shop, and AnthologyOnMain where I sell handmade wedding, party and home décor upcycled from used books. I was born and raised in Iowa, moved to Kansas to marry my husband and start a family, and more recently we moved to Texas. I love…LOVE…clean, organized, and colorful spaces! I’m talking Martha-style here. I also love mint chocolate chip ice cream and kittens. ;)

{oh hello}

{candy sticks}

How long have you been a photographer?

If you were to ask my mom this question, she’d say since 1983. I was two. That’s technically when I took my very first photograph. But, honestly, I would say I became a photographer in 2008 when I started selling my photographs.

{colored pencils}

What do you primarily photograph?

I mostly photograph nature and inanimate objects. Florals are always a favorite of mine!

{field of wildflowers}

Describe your beginner experiences with photography.

My first experience with serious photography was in college. I was an art student at the time and as an elective decided to give the black and white film photography class a go! It was wonderful! I even learned to process and develop my own film and prints in the darkroom.

{farmhouse chandelier}

Which photo are you proudest of?

I'm proudest of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - it was taken on my in-laws farm in Kansas. It took a lot of editing to get it to look this way. I’ll let you in on a secret with this photo…that rainbow isn’t real! I made it in Photoshop. {shhhh!}

{over the rainbow}

What type of camera(s) do you shoot with most?

I shoot with a Nikon D7000 digital slr camera. And my favorite lens is my 50mm. It gives me such luscious backgrounds and does really well in low light.

{morning pears}

What is your favorite photo editing accessory/software?

The only photo editing software I own is Photoshop Elements. It’s perfect for what I need and I know it can do even more!

{birds of a feather}

What inspires you?

Nature. As cliché as that sounds, it’s true. God made a whole lot of beautiful things in a whole lot of amazing colors and I don’t know how one could not be inspired by that!

{tulips}

What Web site, blog, or book do you reference most often?

I reference Digital-Photography-School.com more than any other site. It is chalk-full of helpful tips and tricks for beginners to experts.

{typewriter keys}

Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph?

I would love to have free reign and access to a large antique shop. I love photos of vintage things!

{zinnia garden}

How do you preserve/enjoy your personal photos?

Oh boy, can we skip this question?! I honestly fail miserably in this area. I have a few photos around our home, but most of them are jumbled in a massive digital-pile on my computer. It’s on my to-do list.

{hot air balloon}

What advice do you have for a beginner like me wanting to improve personal everyday photos?

Practice. Take lots of photos and take them every day. And read your camera’s manual. Once you’ve done these things you’ll be amazed at your own improvements and what your camera – even a small point and shoot – can do! When my son was 2 I joined one of those 365 Projects and saw a huge improvement in my photographic abilities over the course of a year, so I joined in again the next year. This is what really propelled my path as a photographer.

{palm frond}

One thing you're still learning, or feel like you're a "beginner" in...

Parenthood. Just when I feel like I’ve got this mom thing figured out, my kids throw me a curve ball!

{mom's shoes}

If somebody said, "How can I be the next Katie Lloyd," what would you say?

Trial and error. Be sure to get in lots and lots of error, as well as a heaping helping of undeserved grace from above. Also, go with your intuition and don't necessarily take a path because others want you to take it.