Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Ritchie.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
How did I discover that I love photography? I traded wedding photos for a kitchen backsplash.
Sounds odd, I know. But it’s an interesting and fun story. I grew up in the home of a fine art photographer – my Dad’s lifelong passion is photography, primarily black and white. Ever heard of Ansel Adams? My Dad has a very similar style.
Our summer vacations always included a long stop at a picturesque location (Rocky Mountains, Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, University of Michigan’s Law School, Savannah cotton warehouses…) where we would haul out Dad’s huge Hasselblad case, his tripod and cooler of film. And my brother and I would play, hopefully patiently, while Dad calculated the perfect shot.
At home, the basement in my childhood home doubled as his studio. When my friends came for sleepovers, our dance parties had to navigate around studio strobes and background stands. And down the hall was his dark room, where I spent hours with him, finding my way around under the black lights and trying to pretend like the smell of developer wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
During middle school and high school, I dabbled with photography. And by that I mean, I was the unofficial historian in my social group. I had a small point-and-shoot (remember those?!…nearly obsolete today…they’ve been replaced by the camera in our smart phones) and I would take snapshots at sleepovers, basketball games, student council events, late night dinners at Steak N Shake. Then I’d make prints and hand them out to my friends. But while I was still living at home, I never took the opportunity to truly learn photography from my Dad.
But what does this have to do with a kitchen backsplash?…
Fast forward through college, moving to the suburbs, buying my first single family home and having my first baby…if you’re curious on the math, that puts me at the “I’m not 30 yet!” age of 28. The home was beautiful, but as a young couple just getting settled, it needed lots of extra touches. You know, maybe like a BACKSPLASH.
And then came the question…Uncle Howard’s step daughter was planning her wedding and they reached out and asked, “Can you borrow your Dad’s “nice” camera and take pictures at Melissa’s wedding?” Just like that. Like it was no big deal. Like using a complicated camera to take photos at a once in a lifetime event, was no big deal.
But I have a hard time saying no, to anything. And the cool thing about Uncle Howard was, he was awesome at tile work – he had all the right tools, and loads of experience. And I saw opportunity…” I’ll take photos at Melissa’s wedding if you’ll come and help me install a kitchen backsplash.” He laughed. It was a small, quiet laugh, but still, it was a laugh… “I’d help you with your backsplash even if you didn’t take the wedding photos.”
So, my Dad gave me a couple of intense lessons, of which I’m pretty sure I didn’t remember anything, and off I went, to shoot my first wedding! At the time, it seemed so small and trivial. But looking back, I have a much greater appreciation for the commitment I made. It was a crazy complicated piece of equipment, with lots of buttons that I had no clue about! And one unintentional slip could have meant disaster for this sweet girl who just wanted some decent photos of her wedding.
But… I absolutely LOVED the experience! I loved spending the day with the Bride and her entourage, experiencing the sentimental behind-the-scenes moments, the boisterous moves on the dance floor, and above all, capturing memories of the day in images.
I loved the experience, and I learned an incredible lesson… “Nice” cameras don’t take great photos any better than “nice” stoves cook wonderful dinners, or any better than “nice” hammers build beautiful homes. I bought my own DSLR shortly after their wedding and invested time and money to learn how to use it.
I’ve included a photo from Melissa & Roy’s wedding, because a visual example makes the story much more believable.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a natural light photographer. There is a time and place for flash, and I believe that a well-versed photographer knows how to use flash. But I love the glow that lights up a park at sunset, and I love using creative posing and positioning to capture that glow, while ensuring that my subjects look good.
And, I love to tell stories through photos. Weddings are perfect examples of this – capturing images of the flowers, the rings, the invitation suite, the dress and so forth. But I love to do this with everyday life. One of my favorite personal albums is one that I created from a vacation to San Diego and the San Diego Zoo. Of course there are photos of my family, but there are also photos of the tram that we rode on, the Panda munching on bamboo, the giraffe’s patterned skin. The images tell the story of our day, without any words, and I think this is incredible.
My hope for all of my clients is that they print their photos. Print your photos! Make photo albums! Hang prints on your walls. Digital photography makes it easy to have hundreds of photos saved on a hard drive. But nothing is more sentimental than an album that you can hold in your hand and can pass down to your children, and your children’s children.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Remember earlier when I told you about my Dad, the incredible fine art photographer and Ansel Adams enthusiast? The part I didn’t mention is that it wasn’t his love for fine art photography that paid the bills. It wasn’t his beautiful black and whites that put food on our table. Those were his “side hustle.” But during the week, he worked hard as a medical photographer at a local hospital. He leveraged his skills and equipment to provide for his family, but still found room to create art that he loved.
The same is true for me. I joined the photography community, mid-life “late” in life at the age of 38, and am now having to balance the job that I truly love vs the job that provides for my family. As I do that, there are some things that I remind myself on a daily basis…
- Stay true to yourself, stay true to your style. Art is so subjective and there will always be criticism. And when you’re using your craft to pay the bills, it’s easy to fall victim to “can you just change this one thing? can you edit it differently, can you paint with watercolor rather than acrylic.” But your art is YOURS. Stay true to your style and the art that you want to create. You will be happier and more successful if you’re doing what you’re naturally inclined to do.
- Network! Find others who are interested in your craft and become friends. Share knowledge, exchange ideas. You will learn and grow, and you will enjoy each other’s company. I have grown tremendously this year by sharing ideas with a group of local photographers. And it really didn’t cost me anything except the latte I ordered when we got together.
- Find balance. Find balance with jobs that allow you to pay the bills vs those that allow you to grow your art. Earlier this summer, I shot foursome photos at a golf outing. Five hours at the 10th hole, in 85 degree temps… it wasn’t the most glamorous or creative photo session, but it allowed me to network with the manager at the high-end golf club, so I considered it a win. My Dad didn’t always enjoy his days at the hospital, but he did enjoy being behind the camera…balance.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
As my work has improved, I’m often asked to contribute my photography skills to non-profit causes. Last winter, I volunteered as the photographer at the Daddy Daughter Dance at my kid’s elementary school (even though I have two boys, lol), I’m donating photo session gift certificates to the high school sports boosters, a local preschool, a fundraiser for a domestic violence shelter in Aurora, a bully awareness event and am going to be the event photographer at a children’s cancer gala dinner. I love giving to these events. I love that I have a unique skill and can contribute to causes that I’m passionate about.
I have a great client base, mainly local families in my social network, and am working to expand to engaged couples. I am looking for opportunities to assist or second shoot at weddings. I’d love to talk with any wedding photographers who are looking for second shooters.
I’m active on social media while my website is under construction.
Facebook – www.facebook.com/kimritchiephoto
Instagram – @kimritchiephoto
Galleries – Upon request, I am happy to share Galleries from recent sessions
Web Site – a work in progress
Contact Info:
- Address: Sugar Grove, IL
- Website: Coming Soon!
- Phone: 630-309-5040
- Email: kim@kimritchiephotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kimritchiephoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kimritchiephoto
Image Credit:
Liz Binder
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