Meet Katie Dobies

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie Dobies a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie , thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

The natural world is changing day by day, year by year. I like to think that I am documenting a few of those precious moments in time, creating a legacy not for myself, but a remembrance of the beauty of this glorious world as seen through the lens.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a New York State native residing in Bar Harbor, Maine. I studied Business Marketing at Florida Southern College. Disillusioned with life in a cubicle, I sought an aviation career and traveled as a flight attendant for almost a decade and my love of photography and passion for capturing moments of beauty through the lens soared to new heights. I was inspired to begin my professional photography career in 2014, shooting popular stock imagery for Istock by Getty Images, and was a regular contributor at Saratoga Living Magazine. Utilizing my marketing background, I create unique stock photos that grace thousands of publications from book covers to news articles to website art and beyond. My photos have caught the attention of Buzzfeed, USA Today, Stratton Magazine, MSN, Men’s Health, Travel and Leisure, Yahoo, Kiplinger, BBC and more. In addition, my fine art is visible in public and private collections throughout the United States and in printed and digital media for thousands of clients internationally.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Photography goes beyond words and leaves a lasting impression. Whether I am shooting landscapes or people, my driving mission is to show the subject’s ‘light from within’. This could also be called the spirit or essence of the individual or the environment. Essence is something that is difficult to put into words, but is communicated through a photo when the light from within emanates a feeling or an understanding to the viewer.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Good old fashioned word of mouth is the best marketing. Clients tend to be loyal to their photographer, just like with other professions like hairstylist or accountant. If clients have had a good experience working together and are happy with the photos, they will likely give a referral.