Meet Kate Gulledge | Photographer & Creative

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

Hi Kate, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks has been something I have done since the day I decided that I wanted to pursue my photography career full-time. After having photography as a hobby or something I did on the weekend for three years, I decided that it was something I wanted to pursue full-heartedly and 100%. Taking this risk would affect my family’s life and would also be something that wouldn’t be guaranteed, but everyday it continues to be something that I would never change.

Every day when I wake up, I choose to continue the risk that I decided on and give it my total effort. Although people do not see photography as something risky, the life of a creative is only that. My work means so much to me, and every day is put on display for friends, family, and my amazing clients to decide if they want to be invested in my company. I am so thankful for them choosing me every time they do.

Where I decided to pursue photography in New Zealand while I was studying abroad, it was a photography trip and was full of adventures. We did not stay in the same place for more than two days and traveled across the island. One of our adventures was climbing up the famous Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings…in the winter…in a snow blizzard…with our camera gear…in freezing temperatures. The snow was up to my thighs, and the chill of everything around me seeped through all my clothes and the feeling of my fingers. That trip was full of risks; the more we continued the climb higher, the colder it got. We could only take photos at the bottom of the mountain because, by the time we got to the snowy parts, we would freeze if we stopped for too long. This is where my love for capturing the sweet, crazy, and memorable moments in our lives grew in my heart, and I am so thankful for it!

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.
My company could not be where it is today without the love & support of my family, friends, and amazing clients. Whenever I decided I wanted to pursue my photography career full-time, I had no idea what that would look like. I loved taking photos of beautiful people around me and wanted to follow it wholeheartedly. The art of a timeless image is genuinely something that will always be treasured and never forgotten. As a small business owner, I am everyone and do everything. Thankfully, I have amazing people in my community who support me in places I need to grow my knowledge, like finances or whatnot. Still, as I started my company, I never knew how it would be to manage almost everything along with doing the thing I loved most. Officially I launched my company in March of this year, and since then, I have had over 100 family sessions, 22 weddings booked, and endless photoshoots planned out till 2024. I am traveling to all different parts of the country, and only through my amazing clients am I getting to experience their adventures through the lens of my camera.

As I am capturing what is in front of me, I don’t breeze past the natural hand holds or the shed of a tear, but only lean into the real moments of your wedding day and newborn babies. I love to say that “Beauty is in Bloom.” Beauty is in bloom in every moment of our life, even when we do not realize it. The season you are walking through as a mom that you never feel like you can take a breath with your toddler next to you or the crazy wedding planning season has finally arrived on your wedding day. Whenever you take photos, it is an opportunity to slow down, pause, and let me do the work. For every client, I dream they would walk away from each shoot relaxed and full of love for their families/loved ones, etc. In this way, the timeless and genuine moments of beauty that bloom in everyone’s lives deserve an opportunity never to be forgotten. Whenever someone looks at my photos, I pray they would reminisce on the moments in life that mean the most and might pass them by if they don’t notice.

Being a little over half a year into my business, I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had and will continue to have every day. Though sometimes the mundane times come in everyday business work, I never lose sight and am always reminded of my clients and the way I wish to serve them throughout all their processes of working with me, even after. Keeping a mindset of serving my clients in every season allows me to continue to grow and be ever-blooming.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I grew up in Klein outside of Houston and currently reside in Conroe, Texas which is a little bit more north of Houston. Although I may be in the suburban area, I do love the city and usually end up finding myself there every week.

First I would stay either at Hotel Zaza or at the Post Oak. These hotels are both in amazing locations and have such fun things to do inside and who doesn’t love a good photo location right?

I love eating at Tiny Boxwoods and you MUST get chocolate chip cookies (or three!) along with mint lemonade. This place is amazing for any time of day and I highly recommend it! I also love Bloom & Bee which is a cute restaurant inside the Post Oak Hotel that anyone can go to. If you are looking for a place with your besties this is it!

For coffee, I think I have made a stop at almost every place in town. Catalina Coffee is my favorite, they make amazing housemade syrups that are perfect for each season of the year. Giant Leap Coffee is another amazing spot and in the middle of some good shopping.

If you love shopping as must as I do, you can take a walk around River Oaks or at the shops on Westheimer and get plenty of good items. I promise! And everyone is always in need of a spa day, so I recommend a relaxing day at Milk + Honey Spa in the River Oaks district. The service is amazing and you will walk away feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Whenever you make your trip down i45 to Conroe, make sure to visit downtown Conroe and get a little taste of the locals. We have amazing coffee shops, a food hall that maybe has a speakeasy attached to it (shh!) and of course beautiful views of the lake.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to dedicate this to my husband, Connor Gulledge. My family: Steve & Susan Lonon, Emily Clair, Alec Brunson & Family, Stephen & Caroline Lonon. Also to my friends that have supported and loved me!

Website: www.kategulledgecreative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kategulledgecreative/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kategulledgecreative