Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Knost.
Hi Angie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My interest in photography began when I was a kid, I won an instant camera as a prize, and I started photographing people and interesting things I saw on vacations. Growing up, I was always the kid with the camera snapping pictures of my friends and documenting birthday parties. I was, at the time, taller than a lot of my peers. “You should try modeling”, was something that was suggested to me fairly often, because of my height. In my teens and early twenties, I got involved with the fashion scene in St Louis, doing modeling and make-up artistry. I found that I was picking up some photography knowledge being on the other side of the camera, and that was an interest I wanted to pursue more. I was particular interested in studio lighting . The study of both the physics and the artistry of light is something that I think can be studied endlessly – you never know it all. There’s always a new approach to be had. I took classes and read as many books as I could on photography techniques. In my mid-twenties, I worked at a modeling agency, training new models, and advising on portfolio photo selections. I learned a ton about what makes a good – or bad – headshot. I started taking headshot photos for my friends that were modeling and acting, and just growing my skills at every opportunity. In 2004, I took the jump and opened a headshot studio. Since that time, I have expanded my skillset, offering in-studio fashion photography, portraits, food photos and business branding photos, in addition to commercial headshots. In 2012, I was approached by Google to take part in a new program which was Street View for inside of businesses. I was trained by Google to make 360-degree virtual tour photos that were an immersive experience for the viewer, and I became one of the first Google Trusted Photographers in the area. I still make virtual tours, and I also offer a range of photographic services to business and commercial clients, as well as dabbling in classic portraiture when my schedule allows. So it has definitely been an evolution, learning new things, adapting to what is in demand, and growing my business to cover other types of photography.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the realities of running a business is that there a lot of “hats” to wear, and if you neglect any of them, business can slow to a crawl later on. It’s can sometimes get exhausting, but when you love doing something, you just make it work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think the work I am best known for, and what I have done the longest, is headshots. In one little rectangle of view, I get to construct something that summarizes who you are and what you are about, for you to put out there in the world to represent yourself. It’s not something I take lightly – it is really important to a career to have a good, relatable headshot. I have studied the art of facial analysis, letting the subject’s facial features, skin type and the type of character or image they are looking to portray inform my approach to lighting and color. I do my own retouch work on photos, and “better, but realistic” is my approach on that – I never want to go so heavy handed with image edits that it becomes obvious.
For a period of about a decade, I worked as a concert photographer and created images for the music industry. For personal reasons, my involvement with that line of work is more minimal right now. I have photographed hundreds of artists, from many genres, from local dives to major label artists – live shows, back stage, tour busses, private interviews, festivals -all of it was wild and it was just a life “on the go” all the time. I learned so much about photography – about working quickly and learning to be reactionary with my approach…mastering using my camera in nearly complete darkness at times in dark venues. About people – working with creatives who were really driven, different personality types, About business – public relations and the ‘behind the scenes’ people that rock as much as the rock stars. Looking back, that all was just a whirl of challenges and fun. There might be a book someday. I have stories. Ha ha!
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy? Oh, wow. That’s a really broad question. Haha!
Being with my family makes me happy. My husband and my son are two of the most unique and fun beings on the planet, and they make me smile and laugh every day. I am beyond blessed to have them!
I am happy being creative. Art makes me happy. Coming up with new ideas and implementing them is fun for me. Craft projects. Coloring books. All of it, anything artsy, really.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://angieknost.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angieknostphotography/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/st-louis-photographer-angie-knost/
