March 27, 2017

Meet Kasey Patterson of Kasey Keown Patterson Photography in Druid Hills

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasey Patterson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We are a new(ish) local company that has heaps of experience and attention to detail. Kasey, who the company is named after, is a SCAD grad and has been working for 8 years doing photography and extensive, high end post-production work on photos (think take 3 so-so photos and she will merge them to make a magical picture). Stacey has been in high tech marketing roles for 20 years, and has been an underwater photo instructor for the past 7, including at the Georgia Aquarium. Kasey and Stacey have been close friends for 6 years, working on web and photo projects just because it’s fun to work together.

So in January of 2017, when Stacey was looking to be more present in the Atlanta community versus Silicon Valley, and Kasey was looking to go full-time out on her own, it was a natural fit for Stacey to team up with Kasey to do a photography services company!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Funnily enough, we started working on the website and building the freelance photography work exactly a year before we decided to go into business together. With a lot of the website work done, we were able to quickly spin up a blog and plan some mini-photography shoots that have naturally built up the business this year.

Park Tavern also gave us an opportunity to create a live photo booth station for their major events, with a professional photographer taking the shot and editing it immediately onsite. Though it was a great learning experience, there wasn’t enough demand there to merit full days when there are more creative lifestyle photoshoots booked. We probably will not be doing many more Park Tavern events, but several photographers have passed on our names for weddings, and we will be doing more live action photo booths in the future.

We also spent some time writing a blog giving advice for newborns (http://www.kaseykeownphotography.com/a-mom-photographers-perspective-on-hiring-a-newborn-photographer/), and placed postcards in several local OBGYN offices. This month we will be capturing lots of new little ones. We also have some really creative ideas for senior pictures, and are planning a blog to help give graduates some inspiration soon.

Kasey Keown Patterson Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
There are three keys for each of our photo shoots: location, light and laughter. Combine these three and we find those candid moments of tenderness, innocence and love that make for lasting memories. It’s our photojournalistic approach of capturing these in-the-moment photos and keeping the shoots comfortable and fun that keep families coming back to us. We pride ourselves on planning the photo shoots and taking time to get to know our clients, helping us to create a more personal, tailored experience. The best photos always come from when people are having fun. So fun is our mission.

Another serious advantage is our high-end editing abilities. Other photographers and media houses use our post-production services which range from color adjusting, photo retouching and full compositing of multiple images. We are fast, thorough and have a keen sense for light and color. The quality and speed that we produce these images results in top-line quality photos delivered quickly, and since we do it fast and in-house, you get a lower price.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Ultimately success is happy customers. If we get a new client from word of mouth from a delighted customer, there is no greater compliment. In a city with a lot of excellent photographers, and with camera phones being so good, it is wonderful to have our customers say we stand out and that our services are worth the money. We’ve been fortunate this year so far, as most of our clients have posted pictures from our sessions on social media, and nearly all have generated referrals.

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