Katie Gast

Local photographer Katie Gast has been posting some pretty amazing photo’s on social media lately and that inspired us to meet up with her and find out more about her and her pictures.  Katie has worked as a photographer for the past 15 years, starting out in a mall store and winding up branching out on her own. Her primary subjects are children, seniors, families, and weddings.

She spent many years living in the Oregon District and like many of us was really affected by the tragedy this past summer.  To honor those affected she is donating prints of this photograph to Safe and Sound Schools.  If you’d like to purchase a print, click here.

We asked Katie to tell us more about her journey into photography and she was kind enough to share her thoughts with us:

• When I was in high school, around 1999, I chose photography as my 4-H project. At judging, I was asked what kind of film I used. I had no clue and I think I failed the project because I couldn’t answer that basic question (the correct answer was 35mm). Duh!
• The first time I was paid to take pictures was at a little store in the Mall at Fairfield Commons…you remember the place…the employees had to wear beanies. I loved that job. Medium format film.
• I bought my first digital camera in 2009 (Nikon D40) and haven’t looked back.

• Everything from facial expressions, how and where the light hits, colors, shadows, shapes, details, and the occasion. You’re only limited by your imagination.

• I’m a second guesser by nature so I’m never totally satisfied with the way things look, but when an image matches the vision in my head…that’s a pretty cool feeling. Sometimes I sit there for a few minutes and smile and nod at my computer like a crazy person.

• I photograph people 99% of the time so that’s always been my favorite. But lately I’ve been shooting architecture and nighttime scenes which are my current favorite.

• I don’t have a least favorite, but I have the least experience with newborns. I’ve tried doing model calls and complimentary shoots in the past but there hasn’t been quite enough interest to fully explore that facet.

 

Three things:

1. If we aren’t able to work together this time, please know that I will help you to the best of my ability to find the right person for the job.
2. Don’t feel obligated to hire me just because we know each other. I’d rather be hired because you like my work rather than because we are Facebook friends.
3. Even though I like volunteering, this is my job and I cannot afford to work for free all the time. Exposure is always appreciated, but so is gas in my car, food on my plate, and a roof over my head!