For photographer Katie Levine, capturing moments through a lens has always been second nature. “My dad always says I started taking pictures as early as age three,” she recalls. Growing up with a father who was a hobbyist photographer, Katie was surrounded by cameras and creativity from the beginning. That early exposure sparked a lifelong love for photography, storytelling, and the art of observing people in their truest form.
In high school, Katie became the go-to photographer for senior portraits, which led her to pursue photography in college. During her time as a student, she landed an internship at Vogue Magazine in Los Angeles. After graduation, Katie took a leap that would define her career - an opportunity to intern and work for world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz in New York.
“That experience completely transformed the way I see light and storytelling,” Katie says. “I’ve always been inspired by editorial work and the power of portraiture to capture someone's personality.”
Over the years, Katie’s style behind the camera has become more refined and intentional. She gravitates toward clean, editorial-inspired compositions and draws inspiration from her surroundings. “I want my clients to walk away just as happy with the experience as they are with the final result,” she explains. “There’s something special about helping people feel confident and aligned with who they are - especially through an image.”
While she enjoys all types of photography, editorial work is where she thrives. “I love the collaborative process - working with a team of talented creatives to bring a shared vision to life,” she shares. “There’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating imagery that feels timeless.”
One of the most meaningful shoots in Katie’s career was with model Lucky Blue Smith for V Magazine, inspired by James Dean. “I only took about 100 frames, but what we captured in that short time was insane,” she says. “When Lucky posted one of the images on Instagram, it caught the attention of the creative director at Paper Magazine. That meeting ultimately changed the course of my career.” The connection led to new opportunities, including working with Kourtney Kardashian and guest photographing on America’s Next Top Model in Season 24.
Katie often finds inspiration from film, TV, and the work of photographers like Richard Avedon. “I’ve always been drawn to images with a cinematic feel,” she notes. “Avedon’s use of natural light and clean backgrounds has had a major influence on my work.”
Outside of photography, Katie enjoys time with her husband and daughter, Liora. “Becoming a mom has completely shifted my perspective - in the best way,” she says. “She’s slowed me down and helped me savor life outside of work.” To unwind, Katie loves cooking, working out, and watching shows like Severance and Shrinking. She and her husband also enjoy Downtown Gilbert. “There’s something about walking up and down that strip and grabbing dinner. I even had my bachelorette dinner there, so it holds a lot of fun and meaningful memories.”
Katie’s next creative chapter includes launching her podcast, Beyond My Lens, this year. “My podcast is about bringing the stories behind the images to light,” she explains. Upcoming guests include Grammy-winner Abigail Barlow, entrepreneur Matt Gottesman, and actor Titus Makin from The Rookie and Glee. Her goal is to give listeners a deeper look into the people behind the portraits and celebrate their journeys.
Many are surprised to learn Katie has completed over 3,000 FaceTime headshots since the pandemic. One standout project was for Persana, where she worked with top plastic surgeons including Dr. Paul Nassif. “It reminded me how resourceful and adaptable photography can be.”
For Katie Levine, photography is more than a profession - it’s a way to connect, create, and capture the beauty of moments that last forever.
“There’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating imagery that feels timeless.”