Storefront Stories: Katie Kaizer Photography - Celebrating Women's History Month Spotlights

In honor of Women's History Month, we’re spotlighting #ACKChamber Women Owned Businesses! We asked Katie Kaizer of Katie Kaizer Photography a few questions, here are her answers!

Q. What tips or advice do you have for other women wanting to start their own business? 

A. I’ve always been a huge advocate of education at the beginning of any new endeavor and especially in the field of photography. Having a strong foundation from the start is so important, and from there we continue to learn as we go. The beginning can feel overwhelming but if you seek out good education and connect with fellow professionals and mentors who you can learn from then you will always feel confidence in your journey, in knowing where you’re at and where you want to go next. I think this can be especially important at the start. I graduated from photography school 10 years ago and I still continue to attend workshops, conferences and work with mentors every chance I get. One of my most amazing mentors reminds us that once you’ve reached one mountain top there’s always a bigger, more challenging mountain to climb! Always remember that it’s a marathon and not a sprint.

Q. What mantra do you live by?

A. “Live in the moment.” Living in the moment can be challenging these days with all the distractions that surround us, but I try to truly experience what is right in front of me and appreciate the small things in life each and every day. This has become an even bigger mantra

in my life since we recently welcomed our new daughter Millie to the world. There’s no magic wand to slow time down, but if we can try to commit to being present then I believe we are making the most out of this beautiful life. This is also a very important mantra for me while I’m working and capturing my client’s stories, so I can focus on what is unfolding right in front of me.

Q. How do you balance owning a business and your personal life?

A. I’ve always been so grateful for our built in ‘off season’ on Nantucket in the wedding and portrait industry and I feel that helps me strike a nice balance when it comes to business and

personal life. I enjoy the hustle of the summer, the excitement of all the work and then the amazing time we get in the winter to regroup. Winters are about more family time, traveling, learning and enjoying the beautiful island we live on. In recent years after getting married and this past year after having a baby I have also learned the importance of building in some mandatory time off during the busy summer months so we can enjoy the summer as a family.

Q. Who is the most influential woman in your life and why?

A. My Mom, Thea Kaizer is the most influential woman in my life. She’s been a supportive and loving mother my entire life, but also an incredible role model when it comes to business and leading by example. My Mom has been running her business The Brant Point Inn & The Atlantic Mainstay for over 35 years. Growing up I saw first-hand how she would welcome guests with the most genuine and warm hospitality, making them feel right at home. She has stacks of guest books with the most heartfelt reviews and she genuinely cares about her guests and the people in her life. In every avenue of my life I am grateful to have my mom’s support, love and perspective. I recently became a mother too, and I continue to learn from my own mom in new ways every day. Now that I have a little more perspective on what it’s like to be a parent I can’t believe all that she and my father accomplished back when we were kids. They took a chance and built their dreams from the ground up, all while being incredible parents to my brother and I. My Mom grew up in the hospitality business on Nantucket gaining her personal values and work ethic from my grandmother, Dorothy Morris, who ran The White House guest house for over 40 years. I can only hope this tradition of women in business on Nantucket gets passed down to my own daughter Millie in years to come.

Q. Why do you think it's important to support other women?

A. I’m a huge believer in paying it forward and good karma. I’ve been so fortunate my whole life to have supportive female friends, role models, colleagues and teachers and I am committed to

putting that energy back out into the universe by supporting the women in my life every chance I get. I’m lucky to work in an industry where I’m surrounded by amazing strong women in business who are also dear friends of mine. We’ve learned a lot together over the years, supported one another and accomplished so much. I love the community of women in business on Nantucket and when we continue to support each other then I believe anything is possible. I saw so many strong examples of our sense of community during the challenges we faced with the recent pandemic, but through every moment we were able to adapt, support one another and succeed together.

Q. What can we expect next from you?

A. My hope for every year in business is to evolve my craft, give my clients an amazing experience and have fun in the process. This year should be an exciting one as it’s my 10th official year as a full time professional photographer on Nantucket so there’s a lot to celebrate!

Photo Credit: Top Left: Katie Kaizer Photography. Top Right: Cary Tozer. Bottom Left: Katie Kaizer Photography. Bottom Right: Kit Noble