Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Forbis
Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been interested in and excited by the arts. As a kid I loved to draw, and in high school I was introduced to a variety of different art forms. It wasn’t until college that I took photography as an elective, and I loved it so much that I decided to major in it. When I graduated in 2007 I truly didn’t know what to do with my degree, and I spent a few years working in the photography section of a crime lab. I was used to photography as an art form, and this was definitely a more technical approach but it was here that I learned the ins and outs of digital photography and programs like Photoshop. I started photographing families and weddings in my free time, and in 2011 I quit my job and took my business full-time.
In addition to photography, I’ve always had a passion for home design and antiques. In early 2024 I decided to expand on this and open an antique booth as a side business. I absolutely love sourcing unique objects and artwork, and I sell some of my own artwork in my booth – mostly paintings. It’s been a really fulfilling addition to my photography business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With regard to photography, I think the most challenging part is finding your voice and your style. This is something that takes time, patience, and experimentation. It took me almost a decade of trial and error with tons of different techniques to finally fall into a consistent style that really felt like “me.” That being said, this process is also what makes photography so exciting. Although I do have a specific style and I’ve been doing this a long time, it’s still very important for me to keep learning, seeking new perspectives and techniques, and growing as an artist.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m probably best known for my wedding photography, but I also photograph couples and families. My speciality is small + intimate weddings and my goal is always to provide my clients with a blend of portraiture and documentary-style images. The in-between moments are always my favorite. I take pride in my ability to anticipate when these moments may occur. It’s a great joy to record even the smallest interactions that may seem mundane on the surface, but actually make for very impactful imagery. As far as what sets me apart – my philosophy is that each photographer’s eye is almost like a fingerprint or DNA. It can be expanded on and fine-tuned, but it’s underlying in every photograph. There are so many extremely talented photographers in our city, and each photographer’s eye is what sets us apart from each other. I think it’s safe to say that the general goal as a wedding and portrait photographer is to work with clients that emotionally connect with our own unique ways of seeing the world.
My other artistic and business ventures are relatively new, but I’ve found a little niche in creating tiny paintings that I sell along with the antiques and vintage items I find. I began painting in 2020 during the pandemic as a hobby, and I was pretty terrible at it at first but slowly got better with a lot of practice. I stumbled upon a batch of really small frames while sourcing things for my antique booth and thought it would be fun to make some miniature paintings for them. I now use a combination of found frames and handmade ones. In the past 8 months I’ve sold about 60 mini paintings, so they seem to be a hit and that makes me really happy. My antique booth is located at The Hill Antique Market which has been my absolute favorite antique place since it first opened. I’m so grateful to have a space there.
What are your plans for the future?
No huge changes currently in the works. I’m continuing to take on around 10-15 weddings per year, as well as lots of portrait sessions. This year I have some weddings that require travel – Southern California, Vermont, and Ireland – and I’m really looking forward to that. I’m also excited to continue painting and finding great items for my antique booth!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.veinandvessel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veinandvessel
- Other: https://instagram.com/vv_collected_interiors
