Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Okenatez-Mahoney.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m one of those people that can never be idle. So, yeah, my life has been pretty full with awesome adventures!
A big part of that is that I have been a lifelong athlete. Like my photography, I love pushing myself with new and challenging things. I did competitive volleyball and track & field from junior high through college—I even did cheerleading for a while!
Then in college I was introduced to rock climbing—my life changed, no doubt. Amazing people, beautiful places, and tons of challenge! Eventually, my husband and I moved to Utah, and we took full advantage of the climbing, skiing, backpacking, road and mountain biking, and back country touring it offered. We practically lived outside! Honestly, it was amazing…
I know it might seem a bit odd, but when my daughter was born 10 years ago, we’d just moved to Atlanta, I was missing the mountains, and so the natural choice was to escalate my then casual road bike riding to racing. So, I got a coach and set to it… Crazy, right?! Ha! While I don’t race any more, we still do all our outdoor pursuits from our Atlanta area home-base. And, as a family we’ve added a passion for off-the-beaten-path international travel to the mix. It’s a perfect combo for us!
My photography has been a journey too. It was hard, but in the last year, I decided to dedicate myself to moving my photography business to “adventure wedding” and “outdoor lifestyle” photography. I’ve loved all my corporate clients, couples, and families, but in time, I found that the images and sessions I was most inspired by were the ones I made outdoors, adventuring with people who jive doing the crazy things my family and I love to do!
Please tell us about your art.
So with this shift, my photography is really focused on active adventure weddings and wander-inspired storytelling. So, living life outside with weddings, portraits, outdoor sport images at height, at speed, in the water, or out in the middle of nowhere! Sounds awesome, right?!?
I do want to talk a minute about “adventure weddings”, though… They are kind of a “new” thing popping up and lots of folks say “what the heck is that?!” It’s pretty simple though–it is about committing to your partner in the beauty of the outdoors.
I love it…. Adventure weddings are–happily! — starting to encourage couples to think outside the pretty narrow box of tradition for their wedding. Most couples don’t fall in love at a fancy event hall, so why would you want to commit to your forever there? Ultimately, especially for couple’s whose passion is going out and “doing”, a wedding in a confined space like that is just not as meaningful as it could be.
So, for me in my photography, I want to take the “adventure” part another step. I’m really stoked to be bringing documentary wedding & engagement photography to adventurous couples. I want to connect with adventurers who fell in love while hiking, road biking, rock climbing, mountain biking, #vanlife-ing, kayaking, and so many other pursuits. I want to show them that getting married outside, or, even in an ACTIVE adventure wedding that takes them out, celebrating what they do, where they do it, is absolutely possible!
So, if I could say anything about my art-my mission-my mantra, I’d say that your wedding, your engagement, are just that… YOUR story. Build a day around the adventures that celebrate you and your partner because THAT is what makes you awesome.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
Well, I think that view really depends on the artist. For me, regardless of the type of photo session I’m working with a client on, I feel like my responsibility is to capture *their* genuine story.
As a photographer, every image I capture, every decision I make as I edit them afterwards is ALL geared to showing the real experience. While the technical skill to take a photo from in a parking garage and “Photoshopping” it to look like you’re in a flower-filled meadow is amazing, that image will never have the same feel and memory to the client as actually being *in* the meadow. I think images are most compelling when they are art that tells an honest story.
And, I think that honesty is especially important now. Look at Instagram for example. So much of it is staged, or posed. Over-edited travel images or barely disclosed “sponsored” content. People should be inspired by content, not made to feel “less than”, “I could never”, or “misled.”
So, as a woman and an African-American in the outdoors, I am really excited by the groundswell of storytelling and content coming online from all kinds of under-represented groups in this space. And through my photography, I feel an excitement to be a part of helping show more diverse, unique, awesome adventurers and stories at the front.
Everyone belongs outdoors, so the more people see others who look like them or have life stories like them out there… it’s definitely a multiplying, encouraging, and empowering force!
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
If you’re interested in seeing more about the kind of work that I do, you should definitely check out my website at MAKEAdventureStories.com. If you are one that vibes with Facebook–I’m there, too! You can like my page at @MAKEAdventureStories
Through these, you can see some active adventure weddings, couples sessions, outdoor sport portraits, and, images from my adventure travel photography service. You are welcome to drop me an email or a message, or, to join my email list to get first dibs on location-specific sessions, special deals, and adventure travel notices!
Probably no surprise, but I also am a lover of Instagram! What can I say?! Scrolling through storytelling imagery makes me happy! So, I’d love for folks to find and follow me at make_adventure_stories on IG. This way, you are part of the fun as I continue to bring more couples, families, and adventurers along with me into outdoor lifestyle photography!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://MAKEAdventureStories.com/
- Email: Kate@MAKEAdventureStories.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/make_adventure_stories/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAKEAdventureStories/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/makeadventurestories/
Image Credit:
All images courtesy of MAKE / Adventure Stories Photography
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