LIFE
Growing up in Wyoming, Kathy Thomas was compelled by capturing imagery. “Pictures told so much history in one snap that I relished in that as a child. I love the freezing of a moment in time and allowing others to go back to that moment and hopefully remember that emotion. I love when you see a photo and you can feel their story.”
After a decade of corporate work as a seasoned and accomplished multi-store director for top brands like Louis Vuitton and Lucky Brand Jeans, Kathy decided she wanted “to do something more meaningful in the title of what I called my career.” She wanted to control the freedom of her own time and have the ability to dictate her own work schedule. At the same time, a former coworker who saw Kathy's photographs on Facebook insisted Kathy photograph her upcoming October wedding - just six short months away. Kathy, although not a professionally trained photographer, reluctantly agreed. Kathy still remembers the date, March 26, 2013, that she left her career in luxury retail with the goal of turning her passion for photography into a scalable business.
CAMERA
Kathy was gifted a professional camera by her husband. Determined to make her dream a reality, Kathy was strategic about every move she made. She called professional photographers and offered to be a second shooter. Working with others she began to fine tune her skills. Six months into her business, Kathy photographed her former coworkers' wedding making it her first solo wedding and her first wedding featured in a national publication. Kathy knows now more than ever that it is never too late to act on something you are passionate about. After eight years in the industry, she has never regretted her decision, acknowledging, “ I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't take that leap.” Paying it forward, Kathy combines the lessons she has learned from others along with her own experiences to actively mentor other business owners.
Kathy Thomas Photography has studios in Nashville and Orlando and Kathy's trusted team is an extension of Kathy herself. She and her team travel worldwide to capture life’s moments for their clients. Kathy prides herself in capturing candid imagery by taking the time to understand her clients and provide art direction in every shoot to ensure her clients feel comfortable and look fabulous on camera. The Kathy Thomas Photography team goal is to evoke emotion from their clients when they view their images, in the same way images did for Kathy as a child.
Though Kathy has had the honor of photographing talent like John Legend, Kristin Chenoweth, and professional athletes, it is the trust her everyday clients place in her to capture their most treasured moments that keeps her striving to exceed their expectations. And while Kathy loves to shoot anything surrounding love, her expertise lies in capturing extraordinary life moments for real people. Outside of wedding photography, Kathy and her team love to photograph anything from boudoir to high school seniors. The diversity of their portfolio keeps them inspired and challenged.
But Kathy Thomas, the self taught, internationally published and award-winning photographer, is quick to downplay her numerous accolades. “Photography is an extension of who I am, but not everything I am.”
ACTION
“Life is about connecting with people and being in a community” yet upon returning to Nashville, Kathy was unable to find a community co-working space that had all the resources she needed, and which also reflected her as a business owner and an entrepreneur. Kathy's desire to connect with other people, to challenge herself, and to be inspired by others, led her to take action. Kathy established her own co-working space, Collective 615, to solve this issue not only for herself, but also for the other great women she met in Nashville.
“Collective615 for me was doing something to serve others that was so much larger than myself. It is a way for me to serve women who are entrepreneurs and women who work remotely, to give them an environment that reflects them as professionals.” Collective615, located in L&L Market at 3820 Charlotte Avenue in Nashville provides women with resources and networking opportunities to grow their business and net worth. A thriving community of diverse industries and leaders where women connect, collaborate, and create, Collective615 embraces creativity, encourages diversity, and empowers women to live their best personal and professional lives.
Kathy Thomas, the self described “Photographer of People” is a serial entrepreneur, juggler of many plates, wearer of many hats, passionate about connecting people, passionate about supporting women in business, a rule breaker, and a lover of love. And while her modesty would not allow her to state the obvious, her clients, her peers, and anyone viewing her photographs can attest that Kathy Thomas is simply not a Photographer of People but more appropriately “THE Photographer of People.” KathyThomasPhotography.com Collective615.com