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Let’s get uncomfortable and vulnerable. It’s okay, it’s where the magic lives.

I have been giving some thought to the journey I’ve been on in the last eight years. I’ve been behind a camera since I was a teenager 40 years ago. Still, I turned professional eight years ago, and the journey has been thrilling, fulfilling, scary, and moments where I didn’t think that we would survive the lean years as I learned and did everything for free. What I discovered was that deep down, I am a storyteller. If you have ever sat down with me for a visit, you’ll know this (and I apologize for talking ears off.) In photography, storytelling through a lens is called narrative photographer, and it’s important to me that shoots, I do reflect a story. My most recent project is about a topic that is unfortunately close to me, but it made me who I am today, and that’s domestic violence. I live in Alabama, but I didn’t always. I moved here on Christmas Day 2018 after needing to separate from the abuse I had sustained most of that year. I had to take some time to breathe and collect myself, but eventually, I wanted to figure out how to use photography to help myself and other survivors heal. I spoke to 12 other survivors and asked them if they could give me an image of what life AFTER domestic violence looked like, what would that image be. I didn’t want just something stereotypical like words written on someone’s body, I wanted to be challenged, and these women brought it for sure. Once we locked in on their looks, I spoke with my team, the established one from Arizona, and the new team from Alabama. I did zoom consultations with colleagues and costume designers who are experts in their field. We have been sketching and on Pinterest and problem-solving issues and answering questions like, “Is that even possible?” “how do we do that??” It’s been quite a ride on this shoot and the end result, well let me tell you truthfully, spectacular is an understatement. How do I know this? I have done it before and been recognized as having one of the top high-end photos in the state of Arizona. I know, because I am a perfectionist who will work until I drop to get the story out. I also know because I am bringing the best team in Arizona to Alabama to add to the best team in Alabama to work with the most remarkable women I know and that right there, well, it’s magical. We are shooting at an undisclosed location in early November, and I am shooting from dawn to dark over the entire day. I will go into post-production 72 hours later. That is a hard and fast rule with me and those I teach that I do NOT look at any photos for three days. I believe if you do, you are going to be still too connected to the shoot and unable to be objective. Once that is over, they will be going into a gallery on my website. This paid gallery will show you how to completely transform someone into something extraordinary. We will have behind the scenes, photos, and interviews. You will see how I shoot the final shot, which will be a triptych based on wishes. (a triptych is three separate photos that create one image.) You will hear the jokes, see the tears, hear the stories, and understand why these women are my tribe. After the gallery closes, I will have the photos available for sale on almost any medium that interests you. After the final sales are made, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds to several worthy organizations in Alabama, including The Surles Domestic Violence Foundation, which was started by the family following the murder of LaKresha Sommerville in 2019 by her estranged husband as well as SafePlace. In Arizona, where I called home for nearly 17 years, I will be donating to the SEEDs program, and National Advocacy and Training Network, and The Fix the Hurt Organization. The message I am trying to portray is that it is NEVER the victim’s fault. I would also like to show the importance of identifying red flags and empower you to remove the mask that has been so carefully in place all the years you have walked on eggshells. There is a beautiful life waiting for those in harm, and you will always find support at Kate Doster Media. We are fundraising for this exceptional event, so I can pay the experts who are coming in to assist and get the props needed to finish this. If you are compelled, I encourage you to donate what you can and share this among your friends. Remember, portions of the proceeds of this event are going to some fantastic organizations.

 

Gofundme Link: gf.me/u/yy79jm

Find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under Kate Doster Media

Our Beneficiaries:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/571745816842359

http://www.nwalsafeplace.org/

https://www.facebook.com/nomoreviolence

Saying goodbye is never easy

I have restarted this blog several times because the words feel hollow, probably because that is what I feel. Two days ago, April 9, 2020, I got a late night call that my mentor and one of my closest friends had died. Even now, it doesn’t feel real. I had just talked to Jim Sunday and we had a wedding to shoot in two weeks except the Covid 19 virus fixed that for us. I met Jim 8 years ago when there was a model/photographer call at a local studio. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was curious so I packed my gear and off I went. I’m pretty sure I put the remote trigger on my camera backwards and felt completely out of my element, but I made connections that night and I made friends. We just sort of fell into this relationship of mentor/mentoree. He taught and I took notes, he pulled out his whiteboard and I took pictures. We watched videos, read books and talked every possible topic about photography. We worked with professionally trained runway models, we worked with amateurs who wanted to become models, we worked with amazing hair and makeup artists and we set theme after theme after theme for years. Jim was an original member of the Doster Roster which was a term fondly given by our production assistant for the teams I would take on location. We’ve gone a lot of places together, including Hollywood but the happiest was when we met in the studio enjoying our tacos and listening to music. We edited together, we laughed together, and we learned from each other. His death has hit me hard but I wanted to share something he told me. He told me once when I was struggling to retain information about the technical side of photography and he said that I had a gift that couldn’t be learned on YouTube. He said that anything technical could be learned but that no-one could direct a set like I could. He said “I can’t even do that as long as I have been shooting”. I’ve never forgotten that. Jim was never one to offer a harsh criticism, even when it was perhaps warranted. He would just say to learn from your mistakes and move on. I started a program about mentorship in honor of Jim two years ago called Send the Elevator Back for Me. I wanted to pay it forward somehow. To the love of his life who he never tired talking about, Donna, his children and grandchildren…thank you for sharing Jim with all of us for these years. We grieve with you and are grateful for the precious time we had. Rip Jim Johnson, I will never forget you.