

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kati Hewitt.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kati. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I discovered my passion for photography when I participated in the yearbook staff back in junior high. Even though I was young, I remember attending various school events and trying my best to capture the perfect shots at football games or pep rallies. When Christmas rolled around that year, my parents bought me my first “big girl” camera. I was always a go-getter as a child, so I was involved in a handful of activities like basketball and cheerleading and Student Council. However, when I started high school, the one organization I was eager to pursue was yearbook staff. There was something about photography that captured a hold on my heart, and the more I learned about it, the more I wanted to explore it!
When senior year of high school rolled around, I was excited to be the Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook staff and Historian of the drill team. As Historian, my job was to take photos of all of the events throughout the year, so I used that as an excuse to never put down my camera! I also saw a need for senior portraits, so I started taking senior photos for my close group of friends. I had always loved event photography, but offering senior portraits opened my eyes to the world of portrait photography. Heading into college, I knew photography was something I wanted to continue pursuing.
With nothing more than a small portfolio and a DIY website, I carried my passion for photography to Texas A&M University. When I was a sophomore, I started working part-time as an office manager and associate photographer for a local wedding photographer. I fell in love with everything about wedding photography, but what struck me the most was the unique chance to build relationships with couples who were walking through the most special season of life together. I realized a career as a wedding photographer would give me a chance to use my God-given talents to document once in a lifetime moments and be a constant encourager for my couples throughout their wedding journeys. With a background in event and portrait photography, I realized wedding photography was the perfect way to marry the two!
When college graduation was on the horizon, I knew in my gut that I wouldn’t be interviewing for a corporate job like the rest of my classmates in the Business Honors program at Mays Business School. Between my part-time job, studying, and participating in other organizations, I knew that I’d only been using my leftover energy to focus on my photography business. I also knew I’d never been satisfied until I realized the full potential of my business by giving it 110% of my energy and attention. When my classmates were busy interviewing for jobs the last semester of college, I was working behind-the-scenes to build my website, book weddings, and participate in bridal shows.
Coming from a family filled with entrepreneurs, I had their full support as I decided to dive straight into full-time wedding photography the moment I graduated. That same year, I photographed 6 weddings and married my high school sweetheart, Alex. I worked tirelessly (like any small business owner would!) to build the business of my dreams. The hard work paid off because the following year, I photographed 34 weddings! Flash forward to today, and my husband works alongside me as we photograph weddings as a husband and wife team. Our business has taken us all across Texas, to multiple states, and even out of the country. It’s fun to look back at the road that led us to where we are today, and we are always excited to see what’s in store for us next!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One thing that is inevitable while running a small business is change! We have gone through seasons of incredible growth, and while that is always a huge blessing, it also presents its own challenges.
During my first year as a fulltime wedding photographer, I remember there were some days where I didn’t have time to leave the house because I had so many emails to tend to, social media accounts to manage, and photos to edit. These “growing pains” in my business presented me with the chance to think strategically about the future of my business. I realized I could no longer be a one-woman show, so I made one of my best business decisions yet. I hired a private photo editor who helped me tremendously and allowed me more time to do what I love to do- serve my clients and photograph more joyful colorful wedding days!
Alex and I don’t think small business owners should have to choose between their businesses and their families, so this was just one way we were able to make a change towards finding a healthier work-life balance. However, it’s still a constant battle to maintain this fine line of balance! It’s not always easy, but we are constantly reevaluating ways that we can work more efficiently and better manage our time.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Our business, Kati Hewitt Photography, is based in Houston, Texas. We are a husband and wife team who photographs joyful wedding days all over Texas and beyond. Wedding photography has a hold on our hearts because we believe in true love, the power of authentic storytelling, and the importance of family heritage.
One thing that sets us apart is our husband and wife dynamic. While I’m blogging weddings and working closely with clients and vendors, Alex is researching the latest camera equipment and pushing us to explore the more technical side of our craft. I love that our brains work in different ways because it means we can each bring a unique perspective to every wedding day. Our favorite part of photographing weddings together is working as a team to ensure our couples receive the best coverage of their wedding days. At the beginning of each wedding day, Alex photographs the groomsmen while I photograph the bridesmaids. Then, we come together to tag-team the ceremony and reception. We are constantly reminded of how sweet it is to be able to work together every weekend!
We’re known for our colorful, natural imagery and our calming presence during the hustle and bustle of a wedding day. We are passionate about creating beautiful art while also providing our couples with the resources they need to have a memorable and enjoyable photography experience. When we photograph wedding days, we focus on how we can best tell the story from beginning to end as artfully and thoroughly as possible. One thing that makes us different is that we place equal importance on both natural light portraits and candid reception photos. We think there is beauty in the posed and the unposed, and we are passionate about showing that in the way we document wedding days!
We are most proud of the legacy we are documenting for our couples, and we hope they will pass down their wedding photos from generation to generation. Memories are indescribably important, and to be able to capture those fleeting moments for our couples is an incredible honor!
What were you like growing up?
Looking back at how independent I was as a kid, I’m not surprised I was drawn to entrepreneurship! I was always very studious and inquisitive, and I performed better on projects that had loose guidelines and plenty of freedom to be creative. When I think back to my high school and college years, I was always driven to make straight A’s even if it meant long hours of studying. I carried that determination with me when I started my photography business, and I can’t think of a better fit for me career-wise! Wedding photography always presents new challenges since each wedding day is different. The people, the location, and the overall conditions are always changing which means you have to be prepared to handle any situation. I’ve been a natural problem-solver since I was a kid, so I feel like I thrive in dynamic, high-pressure situations.
I was also lucky to grow up in the same city as the majority of my relatives. Coming from a big Greek family, we were always celebrating small victories, birthday parties, and holidays together. I grew up loving traditions, such as the Greek foods and pastries I knew would be on the table at Thanksgiving. This part of my childhood greatly shaped my approach to photographing wedding days. One of the reasons I view capturing memories as so important is because I’m enamored by traditions and family heritage. I always picture how incredible it will be when my couples’ grandkids are flipping through their wedding album for the first time.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://katihewitt.com/
- Email: kati@katihewittphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katihewittphoto/
- Facebook: http://katihewitt.com/www.facebook.com/katihewittphotography
Image Credit:
Kati Hewitt Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.