Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Androski.
Hi Kathy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
You know how it goes with those visits to Grandma’s house, right? Sitting around, hearing old stories, flipping through photo albums? That’s where it all started for me. As a kid, I’d spend every sleepover diving into those albums, hearing stories about what was happening in each picture. Pretty cool that I’ve inherited a bunch of those photos now as they’re honestly some of my most prized possessions.
I remember DYING for a Polaroid camera when I was young. Eventually settled for a Kodak Point and Shoot, but man, I took that thing everywhere snapping pics of friends, pets, or whatever I could find. By high school, I was hooked enough to take photography classes where we developed our own film in the darkroom. Did more of that in college and swore I’d have my own darkroom someday. I guess Lightroom is kind of my darkroom now!
Funny thing is, I never actually thought about making photography my career. I became a teacher instead, but people always knew I was camera-obsessed and gifted me nicer equipment over the years. For a while, I was that person who brought a portable printer to get togethers so everyone could take home prints.
So how’d I end up with a photography business? Classic story; someone asked me to shoot a small wedding for actual money. I dragged my friend along for support, and she suggested we start a business together. That partnership didn’t pan out, but Byrd’s Eye Photography was born about 8 years ago anyway. It’s grown slowly since then, mostly because I’m still working full-time as an education administrator. When I’m not doing that job, though, I’m completely consumed by photography. I’m eating, breathing, and sleeping it. Total passion… or as some folks like to point out, total obsession!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I definitely wouldn’t describe my journey as smooth. There are so many more aspects to running a photography business than just taking pictures, and I’m constantly working to improve on all fronts. The business and legal side of being an entrepreneur has been a serious learning curve, but honestly, marketing has been my biggest challenge. Trying to keep up with promotion while balancing a full-time job and handling all the other moving parts of the business? That’s been seriously tricky. The photography market is super saturated these days, so finding ways to stand out is crucial and I’ll be the first to admit I’m not exactly a natural at that part!
One difficult experience that really sticks with me was when a wedding client was unhappy with their gallery. I completely re-edited every single image and printed countless test prints trying to figure out what they were seeing that I wasn’t in an attempt to make things right. After all, this was one of the most important days of their lives, and my clients’ satisfaction means everything to me. I was so stressed about the situation that I lost five pounds in just two days. Despite doing absolutely everything in my power to address their concerns, I don’t think they were ever truly happy with the results.
The situation bothered me a great deal, and I actually made the decision to stop shooting weddings, maybe even quit photography completely. Then something unexpected happened. Not even 48 hours after making that decision, I received several new wedding inquiries and bookings out of the blue. I took it as a sign that God had different plans for me than walking away from my passion. That whole period was incredibly difficult and tested both my confidence and resolve but looking back, those challenging moments ultimately strengthened my commitment to the craft and helped me develop thicker skin in this competitive industry.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a portrait and wedding photographer, but what I really do is preserve the moments in life you never want to forget. Whether it’s your baby’s first birthday, your wedding day, a graduation milestone, or a family being themselves, I’m there to freeze those fleeting moments so years from now, you’ll look at that photo and instantly feel a smile spreading across your face as you remember the genuine laughter that filled the session.
Just the other night, I had a family session that perfectly captures why I love what I do. As they were getting into their car afterward, we overheard the mom say, “That was fun!” What made this especially meaningful was that she’d started the session by telling me how much she hated having her picture taken and how terrible she always looked in photos. I hear this so often, particularly from women and especially from moms. We’re incredibly hard on ourselves and struggle to see the beauty that others recognize instantly when looking at us. There’s this special glow that radiates from deep within when people forget about the camera. That authentic self that emerges in moments of true happiness and capturing that essence is what motivates me.
One of my most treasured professional memories involves a boudoir session I did for a client. We arranged for professional hair and makeup so she could feel her absolute best, carefully selected a variety of flattering outfits, and the session flowed beautifully. She wanted to create a book as a surprise gift for her spouse. When we met to deliver the finished product and she began flipping through the pages, she suddenly teared up. Looking over at me with genuine emotion, she confessed that she never knew she could look so beautiful, and thanked me from the heart. I will never, ever forget that moment. If I could give that same experience of self-discovery and confidence to every woman I photograph, I’d consider my life’s work complete.
There’s something incredibly powerful about showing someone how others see them and helping them recognize their own beauty through fresh eyes. Those transformative moments when clients truly see themselves are what make all the business struggles and challenges absolutely worth it.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
The best photographs truly happen when all the pressure is off. I often tell my clients to approach their session with the mindset that they’re going to treasure these images simply because of the sentimental value they hold and the irreplaceable people captured within the frame.
There’s this magical transformation that occurs when you release yourself from the burden of trying to look a certain way or achieve some version of “picture perfect” that you’ve built up in your mind. When you allow yourself to just be authentically you, that’s when the magic happens. You are already special and beautiful exactly as you are, and my job is simply to showcase the genuine essence of who you are in that moment.
Years from now, when you look back at these photographs, what will make you smile isn’t whether your hair was perfectly styled or if you found the most flattering angle. It will be remembering how your daughter couldn’t stop giggling during the session, or how your partner looked at you with such genuine love, or how your family came together during a significant chapter in your lives.
I’ve seen this countless times behind my lens, the moment when someone finally relaxes and stops worrying about how they’ll appear in the final images. Their shoulders drop, their smile becomes genuine, and suddenly there’s this beautiful authenticity that radiates through every photograph. Those are the images clients always choose as their favorites, without fail.
So my advice to anyone hesitating about booking a photo session? Stop waiting until you lose those ten pounds or until everything in your life feels perfectly aligned. The time is now. Your story deserves to be documented exactly as it is today, with all its beautiful imperfections and unique qualities. So please, go get the pictures! I promise you won’t regret preserving these fleeting moments that make up your one extraordinary life.
Pricing:
- Portrait sessions begin at $350
- Elopements begin at $995
- Weddings begin at $2,490
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.byrdseyephotography.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byrdseyephotography82/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByrdsEyePhotography82
Image Credits
My headshot was taken by Stacey Flores Photography.
