A bit of a change from the business-ey posts that have been coming to the feed, I wanted to get a little more personal and real with you all. If you know me, you also know that if there’s one thing I take extra seriously – it’s my work. It’s hard not to let the slow seasons and imposter syndrome take hold of your focus when you’re starting from the ground-up and (obviously) instant gratification is something that comes few and far-between.
So – get comfy, grab a blanket and your favorite coffee or tea, and let’s dive into the ebbs and flow that has come with building what is now Ruhe Liebe Photography.
The New Gal in the Room
Whether you’re on the side of “the market is over-saturated” or, “there’s always room for more” – everyone has to start somewhere. I’ll be the first one to admit, coming in as the new gal was super intimidating (still is sometimes). I have experience in the Cosmetology world and I know how protective people can be over their creative spaces, especially in a time when everyone is just trying to keep their heads above water. Trust me – I totally get it. That palpable aura of protection coupled with being surrounded by hundreds of people 10x more experienced and established than you are is a quite humbling feeling. Of course, it’s also incredibly motivating as well.
The thing is, almost 2 years into my journey into photography, I still feel this way sometimes. Social media is so full of everyone’s best work, and for some reason – no one really feels comfortable sharing all of the ups and downs that come with finding your place in an ever-expanding and challenging avenue like Photography. Because of that, it can be really easy to feel like you’re on you’re own (even when you’re not). If there’s one piece of advice I can give to anyone joining any creative space; it would be to find your people and forget the rest. Don’t give into the clique mentality – just truly work to build relationships within your industry that are meaningful.
“If you make where you are going more important than where you are, there may be no point in going.” — Alan Watts
The Harsh (but freeing) Truth
I’m so lucky to finally feel as though I am starting to form my own little community on social media and within the industry of Photography. I really believe in quality over quantity, but there are more than “just a few” people who keep me grounded, motivated, and feeling incredibly supported. I used to think I would have to wait until I was fully established with a set vibe, six-figure income, and cult-following to have the sense of community that I’m fortunate enough to have now. I’m so glad to admit how wrong I was about that.
The truth is, finding your place in any area where things are always changing means “your place” will likely change time and time again as the years go by. You may go viral one month and then deliver a gallery your client isn’t happy with the next. You may feel super confident in your editing style one day, and then wake up the next morning needing a change. Or, you may go from wanting to “fit-in” with the light airy crowd and then randomly decide the opposite is where you truly belong like I did (at least for now LOL). My point is, what feels right today may not tomorrow – which is super daunting if you think about it for too long. Yet, the freeing part about it all is that not only will it absolutely feel right again someday but you also get to decide the first step in whatever direction that is. Every time.
“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.” – Mary Pickford
As I was Saying…
Accepting these things I’ve mentioned has been so helpful in reminding me to trust in myself and the process. After all, I know that as long as I act with intention, transparency, and willingness to grow that there’s really nothing that can hold me back but myself. To wrap this article up, I wanted to share with you some of my goals for 2026 (+ some of the ones I’ve accomplished already!)…
- Buy a ticket to a styled shoot/networking event specifically for Photographers/Event Vendors (DONE!)
- Get hired as a second-shooter for a wedding or larger event (DONE!)
- Book an event or branding shoot out-of-state
- Host a styled shoot/networking event with another Vendor or Photography
- Get more comfortable posting more clips/reels of me talking to the camera. Less swiping content.
- Go out of the house more to edit and do office work. Less excuses to stay home and/or in pajamas.
If you made it to the end of this article – you’re welcome for sparing you an hour-long read this time. I hope you enjoyed the shift toward a more personal/inspirational read for this week. Next week, I’ll be reeling it back in for a moment to discuss my approach to collaborations with models and other brands.
Talk soon!
Katelynn | Ruhe Liebe Photography
