ABOUT ME
Welcome to the Empire
Kate O'Connor here. I've traveled the world photographing, thinking and writing about humans, love, and the soul's journey.
I am a feeler. I move through life observing, wondering (and sometimes worrying) about how people feel, and how I feel. Feeling is my orientation, for better or for worse. Photos, to me, are just a shortcut to remembering how you felt when the picture was taken. When I look through my lens, that's what I'm looking for.
I am a seeker, a romantic and an optimist. A nerd and a bit of a hippie. Sometimes I say the f-word, but always in good taste. And I love champagne.
Let's get to know one another!
YOU WANNA KNOW MORE?
If you've read the info page, you know I'm into "mindfulness". Meditation has been an amazing tool in my life, and I incorporate it into my work as much as possible. It started several years ago, when I was suffering through a bad depression. Over years of emotional healing, I recognized the major benefits of knowing, accepting and loving myself... and the side-effect was learning to accept and love others, too. Nothing brings me greater joy than capturing someone with love, and sharing that with them.
My focus has become creating a safe space where people can be themselves and truly be seen. This, I believe, is the secret to always looking beautiful and natural in photos.
EXPERIENCE
I've photographed over 250 weddings, including travel and destination weddings in Hawai'i, Manhattan, San Francisco, Ireland, Jamaica, Vancouver Island, Ottawa, Montreal, Muskoka, Prince Edward County and all around the GTA.
PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION
Finding Your Frame (2015) and Family Photojournalism (2016) workshops with Documentographer, Catherine Farquharson
Beloved Workshops with Jesh de Rox, 2013 & 2014 - creating the open and experiential state for people being photographed
WPPI Conference 2013 (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International)
Second photographer for Documentographer, Olive Studios, Toronto Wedding Studios, Larua Jane Petelko, Christina Gapic, Nikki Leigh McKean
Staff photographer, Mango Studios, 2010-2013
Applied Photography Diploma, Sheridan College, 2000-2002