Photography

What was the biggest barrier you faced starting KATC?

Starting KATC: No Barriers, Just Self-Doubt

What was the biggest barrier you faced starting KATC? So, you know, from a surface level, I didn't really have a barrier. And the reason I say that is because when I started KATC, it was already, you know, well-established business. Lots of clientele, making a lot of money. I was, you know, there was nothing that was stopping me from rebranding other than myself. So, KTC was, it was, it came from the fact that it created, when I created my Instagram page, which was Kids in the City, and it was created so that I can kind of put my teamwork on another, you know, sector of Instagram. It blew up, and it blew up really fast just because of word of mouth from my existing clientele that I kind of grew up with. And they were calling for Kids in the City, but we ran into the phone, Arduilla Photography. So, it was just creating so much confusion that we just decided, you know what, let's just rebrand and just call the business, you know, Kids in the City. And KTC is just the acronym for Kids in the City, Kids and the City. But that was never like the plan. I just kind of like ran with it. But so, I guess in the end, the answer to this would be the biggest barrier, honestly, is me. I'm somebody who's very, very one-track minded, especially when things are going well. I don't like take on new things because I tend to like rock the boat. And because I'm so one-track minded, I sometimes like leave one thing, concentrate and grow on another thing just because I'm just so analytical with it all. I'm even going through that right now because I, you know, again, just being really lucky and blessed to have things fall in my lap. I'm got a business, a branding business where I'm photographing adults. A lot of people don't know it, but it's pretty big and we are about to start a new business on that. And again, just me, you know, somebody who doesn't accept change very, very easily. I've got to rebrand. So, not rebrand, but add to the brand. So, the biggest barrier, it's me.

The biggest barrier I faced starting ktc was myself. I'm someone who's very one-track minded and doesn't like to take on new things, so it took me a while to accept the change of adding a new business onto the existing brand.

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The biggest barrier I faced when starting KATC was actually myself. On the surface, there didn't seem to be any major obstacles because KATC was already an established business with a strong client base and revenue. However, the challenge arose when I decided to rebrand. Initially, I had created an Instagram page called Kids in the City (KIC) to showcase my work. It gained rapid popularity through word of mouth from my existing clients. But there was confusion because our phone was answered as Arduilla Photography, causing mix-ups. To resolve this, we decided to rebrand as Kids in the City (KTC), using the acronym. 

The biggest barrier was my own mindset. I tend to be very one-track minded, especially when things are going well. I'm hesitant to take on new ventures because I fear it may disrupt the stability I've achieved. This is something I'm currently experiencing as I have another successful photography business focused on adults and I'm about to start a new venture within that brand. Accepting change and expanding can be challenging for me. So, ultimately, the biggest barrier I faced in starting KATC was my own resistance to change.

What are some of the important questions you are surprised that few photographers ever ask?

Unveiling the Missing Question: Insightful Inquiry for Photographers

What are some of the important questions you're surprised that few photographers ever ask? Well, honestly, I'm not really sure what photographers ask other, I guess, potential clients, but I'm just going to tell you one question that I always ask as a portrait photographer when I am, you know, getting ready to work with a client. I always ask how they found me. And the reason that I ask how they found me because that lets me know what pictures of mine they saw, what clients they may have interacted with, because all of that gives me the expectation they're wanting from me should, you know, they hire me as their photographer. So asking how they found me gives me such an insight to what they may want. And you know, it just really kind of, I guess, answers a lot of questions, answers a lot of questions for me, rather than me quizzing them, if that makes any sense. So if they said they found me from like my socials, I know, you know, what images are there, I know the persona that I have there, the brand that I have there. If they said a certain client referred them, I know what my interactions were with that client what they purchased. If you know, just different little different things, they may have said I saw something on Pinterest. And I can say think to myself, well, I really don't have that much on Pinterest. So they're probably looking at old work. So just gives me a lot of insight about what they may want. Hope that helps.

The important question I always ask potential clients is how they found me. This question gives me insight into what images they have seen, and what expectations they may have of me if they hire me as their photographer.

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What are some important questions that few photographers ever ask? While I can't speak for other photographers, I can share one question that I always ask as a portrait photographer when working with clients. I inquire about how they found me. This question provides valuable insight into which of my pictures they have seen and which clients they may have interacted with. Understanding this helps me set the right expectations if they choose to hire me. Instead of quizzing them, asking how they found me answers many questions for me. For example, if they found me through my social media, I know what images and brand persona they are familiar with. If they were referred by a specific client, I can recall my interactions with that client and what they purchased. Even if they mention finding something on Pinterest, I can deduce that they may be looking at older work. Overall, asking how they found me gives me valuable insights into their preferences and desires.

Never feeling like I've made it: The secret to staying relevant and hungry

So the question is, when did you, did you know, you'd made it okay? I'll be honest, I still do not feel like I've made it. Um and my reason for thinking that way has to do with the fact that if I find myself at a point where I feel like I made it, you know, made it then I have nothing to strive for. I have no gold to reach. I have nothing. I just don't have anything to strive for and and I've been told I have a lot of tenacity and things of that nature. But if I have nothing, you know, over that, you know, that finish line, then it's kind of like, okay, well, what am I doing? So I never, I don't feel like I've made it. I don't think I would ever feel like I've made it and if I get to that point where I really feel like I was like made it then that's kind of like that's kind of a failure to me, personally because having that hunger and that drive to always want something new always want. Something you know to strive for keeps me going and after you know over 20 years full-time. It's that's a long that's a long time. You know, just like to keep going and to keep you and keeping fresh and to keep being relevant but having never feeling. Like, I've made it, I believe is what has kept me. I guess always feeling fresh and people perceiving me as fresh as fresh Talent. So hope that helps.

I don't think I've ever felt like I've "made it" because if I do, then I have nothing to strive for. Keeping that hunger and drive to want something new is what has kept me going for over 20 years and feeling fresh in the industry.

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To be honest, I still don't feel like I've made it. The reason behind this is that if I were to reach a point where I felt like I had made it, it would mean I have nothing left to strive for. I thrive on having goals and something to work towards. If I were to feel like I had made it, it would be a personal failure for me because that hunger and drive to constantly seek new challenges and growth is what keeps me going.

Even after more than 20 years of working full-time, I continue to push myself to stay relevant and fresh. I believe that never feeling like I've made it has helped me maintain a sense of freshness and be perceived as fresh talent by others.

So, in short, I don't think I will ever feel like I've made it, and I believe that mindset has been instrumental in my continuous growth and success.

What is the craziest thing that has happened to you while taking pictures?

Six-Year-Old TikTok Sensation Stops Traffic During Photo Shoot

What is the craziest thing that happened to you while taking pictures? Um, the one that I can just think of that happened this year because I'm sure there were more than this. I photographed this little boy. He was like six years old, but he was like the TikTok sensation. And we were out and I was photographing him in Chicago, but he lived in like LA. So this kid, I'm outside taking his picture. And when I tell you people were stopping us, you know, want to take a picture with him. They're like, Oh my God, I love you. And this kid is six years old. And I mean, everywhere we were, we were kind of at, they were, you know, stopping him. We even had people taking like video of us. They were in, you know, different high rise buildings and they saw us outside. I don't know how they saw it, but apparently I guess, you know, he was kind of, he was a dancer or he is a dancer and he was doing, I guess his signature move. So they recognized him and they would take him the film. And the only reason I found it was because they tagged him and then his mom tagged me in the video. So I was like, they recognize this little boy. Like he's like a little, little boy. So I thought that was a little crazy. Cause even cause my husband, he'll come help out. And he was like six years old. I mean, this kid, and these were like adults that were stopping him. These weren't like other like parents who had little kids. These were like full grown, like teenagers and adults, like amazed about this little TikTok sensation. So I thought that was kind of crazy.

I was taking pictures of a 6-year-old Tick Tock sensation and we were stopped by adults and teenagers who wanted to take pictures with him. It was really crazy how popular he was!

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The craziest thing that happened to me while taking pictures was when I was photographing a six-year-old boy who had become a TikTok sensation. We were in Chicago, but he lived in LA. Everywhere we went, people would stop us, wanting to take pictures with him and expressing their love for him. It was surreal to see adults and teenagers amazed by this little boy. We even had people taking videos of us from high-rise buildings and tagging him on social media. It was wild to witness the level of recognition and attention he received at such a young age. It was definitely a crazy experience.

Unplanned Success: The Story Behind Starting KATC

So the question is what drove you to start KATC? Well I wish I could say this was all planned but it was not. Around that 2010-2011 mark I had a Instagram page but it was not really dedicated to my work it was just personal so I was posting pictures of you know my vacations, pictures of my shoes, my drinks, all sorts of stuff just hanging out with my husband and I had my the kids who I was photographing most of them I was photographing since they were little kids and babies and they just grew up and thankfully I do keep a large amount of my client base so when these kids are on my page because I knew them they were kind of like family to me they'll say hey Miss Audrey can you post some of my pictures and I was like sure post them on there then I was getting friend requests or followers from other teenagers that were obviously like their friends so I started getting like an influx of like kids on there and I kind of they didn't like it so I was like you know what let me just make another page and I wasn't like connecting the dots and said hey I want to do Audrey Willard photography because I already had like an Audrey Willard name and I kind of felt it was too confusing so I just called it kids in the city that was it and because that just came from me I'm always watching the TV show Sex in the City so made kids in the city and would for whatever reason it all just blew up overnight and I'm always thinking marketing and so I have also had parents call in the studio you know looking for kids in the city but when we were answering the phone Audrey Willard photography they were not connecting the dots like at all that this was the same place sometimes we're like oh I think I have the wrong number and even before you could explain it they would hang up so we rebranded really really quick and it took off so it wasn't like I was creating a new business to capture that market the market caught me I was just adapting to it instead of waiting and then perhaps losing out I completely rebranded and here I am KTC or kids in the city so I hope that helps if not just ask me a follow-up question and I will get back to you.

Kids in the City, which is now known as Ka TC, started out of a personal Instagram page. When teenagers started requesting photos of themselves to be posted on the page, the founder decided to create a separate page dedicated to her photography business. After rebranding to Kids in the City, the business grew overnight and was quickly adapted to the changing market.

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The driving force behind starting KATC (Kids in the City) was not a planned endeavor. Initially, I had an Instagram page that was more personal, featuring pictures of vacations, shoes, drinks, and moments with my husband. However, since I had been photographing many of my clients' children since they were babies, they felt like family to me. They started requesting that I post their pictures on my page, and their friends began following me as well.

To separate the personal content from the children's pictures, I decided to create a new page. Without much thought, I named it Kids in the City, inspired by the TV show Sex and the City. Surprisingly, the page gained popularity overnight. I realized the need for effective marketing and noticed that some parents were calling my studio looking for Kids in the City but not connecting it to Audrey Willard Photography.

To avoid confusion and potential missed opportunities, I quickly rebranded and embraced the name KATC. It wasn't a deliberate effort to capture a specific market; rather, the market found me, and I adapted accordingly. This rebranding allowed me to fully embrace the success and recognition that came with KATC.

I hope this explanation clarifies the origins of KATC. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask, and I'll be happy to provide more information.

The Art of Photography: Retirement from Business, Not from Passion

The question is, will you ever retire from photography? Well, I'm gonna answer that in a two-parter. From the business of photography, that is a yes. Will I retire from photography as a whole, meaning will I ever stop taking pictures? That would more than likely be a no. I can't even imagine not taking pictures in some way, shape, or form for the rest of my life until I can't pick up a camera. But from a business perspective, absolutely. I put plans in the place for this to happen. Obviously, as I get older, I'm not getting any younger, but I do wanna be at a point where I can retire from the business aspect and enjoy life to the fullest without having to worry about the business part. I'm still gonna be involved in the art aspect, probably still teaching more on a more full-time basis, but in the grind of it, in business and all of that stuff, nah, I think I'ma retire. I think I put in lots of work in order to, I guess, live off the fruits of my labor, which I think all of us should do at one point, when it becomes a business. So yes from business, no from actually picking up and taking pictures. So I hope that helps.

Yes, I plan to retire from the business of photography at some point, but I will always have a passion for taking pictures.

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Will I ever retire from photography? Well, let's break it down. Retiring from the business of photography? Yes, that's a possibility. But retiring from photography as a whole, meaning stopping taking pictures? Most likely not. I can't imagine a life without capturing images in some way, shape, or form until I physically can't hold a camera anymore.

However, from a business perspective, I do have plans in place for retirement. As I age, I want to reach a point where I can step away from the business aspect and fully enjoy life without the worries of running a business. I may still be involved in the artistic side, potentially teaching on a more full-time basis. But the daily grind of the business? No, I think I'll retire from that. I've put in a lot of work to eventually reap the rewards and live off the fruits of my labor, as I believe we all should when our passion becomes a business.

So, yes to retiring from the business side, but no to retiring from actually taking pictures. I hope that clarifies my perspective.

Audrey Woulard answers your Photography questions. See all the advice Audrey Woulard has and get answers to your own Photography questions.

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Audrey Woulard is the owner and photographer of Kids And the City (KATC). She has been a full-time professional photographer for 20 years, specializing in fashion-forward high school seniors and families seeking something different. Her education website for Photographers is www.awteaches.com