Cat Herndon Photography is CCMB’s photography sponsor and is also a sponsor in our annual guide to area photographers. She specializes in photographing children and newborns.
When I was a child, there were no cell phones that could take photographs. Most portraits were done in a studio in front of a backdrop. They were so formal. Personal family photographs were often taken with a film camera that needed to be sent to a lab for prints. You had no idea how the photograph turned out until after it was printed. There was no delete button or option to reshoot. The photographs were sometimes out-of-focus and often grainy. Those grainy, unprofessional photographs are my most cherished photos.
When I began my photography journey, I started like most women photographers I know. It began with my children who are five and seven now. I wanted to capture their everyday life. Not just the posed milestones, but the moments in-between. I fell in love with documenting their lives. I began to wonder if I could apply my love for lifestyle photography to a business.
Over the years, my editing style has changed. My camera skills and technique has improved, but my goal has always been the same. I want to capture real emotion, real love and real life for families. My real passion has always been with photographing children, however.
My start in life was turbulent, filled with abuse and terrors that most children never have to experience. By the time I moved away from that life, I was nearly eight years old.
That childhood innocence that most children live was never a part of my life. I think that is where my passion for capturing children stemmed.
I want to capture each stage of their lives from newborn to graduation. I love capturing those cheesy smiles that make parents cringe because it’s real life. I love the quiet moments when kids are exploring a new area. At the studio, I love seeing the excitement and joy on their faces when I tell them they can jump on the bed or swing inside!
In 2015, I opened my studio. Recently, I added a new room that I’ve been calling, “The Lifestyle Studio.” It’s the vision I had for the studio in 2015, but I just wasn’t able to accomplish it with the old setup. When it came time to renew my lease, the option to add a room opened up. The room is a gorgeous 270 square foot space filled with natural light from a huge window. I want to create the type of images that make people feel something.
It’s not just about the photographs though.
