Meet Karen Butts: Professional Photographers of America Master Photographer, Craftsman and Certified Professional Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Butts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was born with the desire to play with colors and lines. The creative urge has always been there from my first box of crayons. Beautiful images make my heart sing! However, in the beginning of my adult life, my creative urges took a backseat. I listened to my father who urged me to become a teacher or a nurse and attended college to become a teacher. I then married and focused on raising three wonderful children. Once my third child left the nest, I felt that I could leave the security of my day job and follow my heart once again. I now breathe to create art. It is constantly on my mind, the wheels are forever spinning. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a child, I would create images using paint, pencils and pastels. Through life I have dabbled in all things creative such as pottery and quilting. Once I discovered photography, my creativity became more focused. I became a Certified Professional Photographer through PPA which gave me the basics for creating a professional photograph. I then started studying under photographic artists who helped me take my images to the next level by painting them. The most influential artists in my life have been Kimberly Smith from Oklahoma, Helen Yancy from Michigan, Jim Cunningham from Arkansas and Marilyn Sholin from North Carolina. Learning from these talented artists has helped me to set my work apart from other photographers. This journey has been pleasureful because it has allowed me to do what I love, create priceless images for clients that will be cherished for generations. The hard part is finding clients who want more than just a snapshot of a smile. My goal is to capture and create a work of art. I specialize in photography babies and children. Having raised three of my own, I know how quickly they change. Those moments are lost forever ,unless someone captures those fleeting moments.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to the Museum of Fines Arts in Houston, Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts in Spring, The Houston Zoo, antiquing in Old Town Spring, Tomball and Brenham for more antiquing and some Blue Bell ice cream. We would have to eat at Pappadeaux’s in the Willowbrook area of Cypress, Rudy’s BBQ on 249, the Whistle Stop Cafe in Tomball and the Bake Shoppe in Cypress.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
They say it takes a village to raise a child, well I say it takes a village to develop a photographer. My photographic family started with PPGH (Professional Photographers Guild of Houston) and grew with TPPA (Texas Professional Photographers of America) and finally the PPA (Professional Photographers of America. Through these organizations, I have been exposed to invaluable educational opportunities and mentors who have helped me grow as an artist. I am eternally grateful to Darton Drake, my first instructor at Texas School of Photographer who lit my fire to become a photographer. Tom Hathcock, a past executive director of PPGH, encouraged me to give back to our photographic community by teaching others. In so doing, I earned my Craftsman Degree through PPA. Entering in international photographic competitions through PPA has allowed me to earn my Master of Photography Degree. This wonderful community has helped “raised me up” to who I am today.

Website: www.naturalimagesbykaren.com
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