the girl behind the camera
My name is Katie
Hey there! I'm the owner and operator of KM4Photography, and I'm so excited you're here. Read on to discover my story and get to know me!
The Beginning
I picked up my first legit camera in college, when I studied abroad for a few weeks and knew my iPhone camera just wasn't going to do justice. I wanted to remember every single detail of this amazing trip and I wasn't going to accept anything less (turned out most of my photos ended up being of food, but hey, priorities). The camera ended up sticking around and the moment I captured my first family on camera, I was smitten.
The Why
I grew up in the sweet little town of Saxonburg in Western PA, just outside of Pittsburgh. My family are the most important people in my life, and for awhile I lived quite a distance away from them - and this was really hard. Living away from them showed me just how important it is to be connected with my family and to document the precious details of our time together. When I was younger, I took this for granted, and I deeply regret that. Which is why I am dedicated to not letting that happen to other people.
The Now
So here I am now, living my best life and helping families capture the details of life that someday will be memories. When I'm not romping around with a camera in my hand, you can find me scoping out dogs at the local parks, enjoying a good read, humming to some obscure Broadway show or dreaming of my next travel adventure.
Katie' Greatest Hits
You know those few things that really just define you as a person? You know, like your greatest hits? Mine are below. And while I wish I could say I was the kind of girl whose greatest hits include the trendiest new clothes, an immaculate self-care routine, and vegetables, that's just not me. You win some, you lose some, you know?
Greatest Hits
Irish breakfast tea
During my first trip abroad, I discovered that not only did I like tea, but that I was an absolute tea snob. There is no better treat than a steaming cup of Irish breakfast tea with breakfast to drink away the morning woes, I am convinced.
Golden Retrievers
Anyone who knows me I'm sure is rolling their eyes at this one. At this point, I know it's absolutely absurd and most likely annoying to all my friends and family that I literally weep anytime I see a golden floof in public. I have no explanation than this other than they are the purest beings to walk the Earth. That's all.
That new book smell
Need I say more? Barnes & Noble is my happy place. I could spend days in that godforsaken store.
A crisp and well approximated /r/
On the days I'm not behind my camera, I'm a licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist. Give me a first-then board, some Uno cards, a strawberry-flavored tongue depressor and an oversized replica of the mouth, and I'm a whole new person.
Lin Manuel Miranda
The Shakespeare of Broadway, I'm just saying (am I a little obsessed? Maybe). As a girl who sang before she spoke, you better believe that there's always a litany of disorganized showtunes galloping through my head, with Hamilton or In the Heights first and foremost.
The story behind the name: KM4
Fun fact: my full name is Katharine Mary, and I happen to be the fourth woman in my family to carry that name. Before me came my aunt, my grandmother, and before her, my great-great aunt. I love the tradition and heritage that my name has brought to my family, being passed down from generation to generation - a little shared secret that belongs to us. My name defies the passing of time and keeps alive the memories of my family's past.
This is one of the reasons I love photography so much. Just like the legacy of my name, the photos I capture tell a story that will be passed down through the years - to children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, and loved ones. They transcend time to keep alive the memories of each special moment that passes in front of my camera - every tickle and tear, each sweet kiss, every moment of unbridled joy. These moments, just like my name, will remain timeless, passed on to future generations - a reminder of the journey that was taken to get you where you are now. And in my personal opinion, what could be more beautiful than that?
