Visual Storytelling Series | Kate Cullen

I discovered Kate by chance online while passing through her home in Gloucestershire in the English countryside. I was immediately drawn to her work and her sensitivity to beauty. As a fellow flower lover, her floral photography transports you to another place and makes you realize the importance of slowing down to notice the beauty of the little things. Her work is grounded in nature and comes from the heart and soul. Kate is also a creative business coach for photographers and creative entrepreneurs. With 12 + years of experience under her (garden) belt, she provides invaluable insight into styling, branding, photography, and entrepreneurship. You can learn more about her work, her podcast, and offerings here…

Enjoy!

Alanna

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What does visual storytelling mean to you?

I think it means many different things depending on how I’m feeling and what I’m creating. I strive to not just ‘take pictures’ but provide something that prompts an emotional reaction. The ‘story’ might be different for everyone that looks at an image I took - and I love that people will tell their own stories in their mind, which might be quite different to mine, or conversely feel like we are of one mind. The diversity of reactions is always fascinating to me. Of course, if I’m creating for a client, then it’s their story I want to tell, but then it’s a collaboration between us - a shared narrative in a way?

When did you start to develop your own style?

From the first time I picked up a pencil as a child, probably! I’ve always solved many different art forms; I drew and painted a lot when I was younger, then took various routes in styling and making, and then back to photography. I don’t think my style will ever be ‘finished’; it’s always evolving, and that’s part of what I love about it.

Do you feel like the style of your work is a “product of your environment/home?”

It’s almost certainly influenced by what I do and see each day, and of course, my childhood too - my work has always had a strong sense of nostalgia about it, I think - but then, as a former archaeologist that longing for insight into the past has always been a core interest of mine, so it’s unsurprising it has worked its way into my photography style too.

Your work has a quiet, reflective beauty about it– was that always there from the beginning or did it slowly evolve with you?

That’s very kind of you to say, as it’s certainly a side of my work I strive for - again, I think it’s probably just part of who I am, but also, photography has forced me to slow down and take my time (particularly so if I’m shooting on film), to really look and see something - the details. So it’s probably still a huge part of my style evolving as I go.

When crafting a visual story of a place, recipe, or for a client, where do you begin your creative process?

I’m quite instinctual when I work just for me, usually starting with one small detail and then building around it from there in layers. For clients, I like to research more, to be able to truly reflect their own style and infuse it with my own. This might include asking them to pull together a Pinterest board (although I do try and ask them to initially start with just images they love unrelated to their business - going for colour, texture, and emotion rather than ‘things’). I never want to be recreating someone else’s photography vision, but rather create something new and nuanced that is unique.

Storytelling is so subjective; everyone has a unique eye and creative voice. How would you suggest new photographers to define theirs without being swayed by new styles or trends?

Shoot shoot shoot! I try and pick up the camera almost daily and practice - over time, you learn what you love, the lenses you adore, the moments you like to capture, the environment that speaks to you. Try not to spend too much time on Instagram comparing yourself to your heroes - it can be the death of your confidence as well as developing your own style.

Does sensitivity play a role in your creative process?

I think sensitive souls so tend to gravitate towards creative pursuits - it’s a way to unpick all that angst and express it in a way that feels positive. I am very sensitive underneath - especially so when it comes to my work - I used to take criticism (however well meant) extremely hard. As I have got older, I try to rationalise it more, but I think it will always be a part of me and makes me want to be the best I can be - so it’s not necessarily something I seek to eradicate, but perhaps temper a little so I avoid feeling overwhelmed!

In the creative planning process, do you map out every detail or leave room for spontaneity and play?

I’ll have a few specific images formed in mind that I know I want to capture at the outset, but then I like to leave plenty of room for spontaneity - planning everything out too much (unless it’s a certain kind of product shoot) often leads to quite flat imagery without soul - part of the magic is simply being in the moment and noticing the way the light hits something in a beautiful way, or the shapes formed by your subjects against the scene. Play in photography is absolutely vital to me.

What is your favorite type of light to shoot in? (I think I can guess!) And does that carry a specific emotion for you in general?

Like many photographers I love golden hours - the soft light and the beautiful play of light and shadow - again I think it’s that slight edge of nostalgia about long summer days as a child. But I also love just an overcast day where you can really accentuate the details without worrying about huge contrast.

Is writing an equally important part of your creative process?

Writing is something I’m quite shy about! I have started little micro stories alongside some of my images - the ones that speak the most to me, or when I was pressing the shutter, a narrative was playing in my head. It’s something I would love to explore more in the future, and plan on taking some courses in when I have some quieter months. Because this style of writing is so different to my teaching blog posts, I need to practice a lot more to get my tone and voice consistent. In the meantime, I do it when the muse strikes, and enjoy writing my weekly newsletter to all my subscribers (which occasionally contains these more tangential explorations)!

So much can be said in the composition of photograph; how do you let the scene “live” naturally without it feeling overly styled or contrived?

This probably comes back to some of your previous questions - working on instinct a lot of the time, but also trying different things out there and then on a shoot - with my digital cameras, obviously it’s easier to look at the screen and see if it feels pleasing to the eye. With my analogue cameras, it’s much more a leap of faith! I also try with clients to have them doing things they would normally do - I rarely ‘set up’ a shot - I might tweak their body placement or angle them to make the most of the light, but by allowing them to do what they normally do it usually avoids that contrived feel. Little prompts can also help, but generally, I like to just talk to the people I’m shooting - establishing a rapport is my favourite way to shots that don’t feel contrived. With still life imagery, this can be trickier, but again I try to let a scene unfold as it would in real life first, then tweak for better composition and lighting afterward.

Lastly, what or who inspires you right now? What are you working on or looking forward to?

This time of year I find endlessly inspiring - wildflowers, golden fields of wheat, beautiful evening sunshine, and my garden - I’m growing a lot of edible flowers as well as vegetables this year and wander each evening marveling at what’s grown or fruited or flowered have really reconnected me with what I find beautiful and interesting to photograph. Also, my creative friends are so hugely inspiring - I adore watching them work and have to stop myself from shoving a camera in their face all the time - or rather at their hands - working hands have always fascinated me, and I shoot them often - it’s a series I want to create for myself (again when I have the time)! I have some amazing shoots lined up with some fellow creatives who adore nature and old things as much as I do - so there will be flowers and old houses, delicious food and sunshine and laughter - what more could I ask for?