Katie Kolenberg was born into a family of artists, but it wasn’t until the birth of her son eight years ago that she realised photography was her path to follow. “It was incredible to finally find it, and three years later I took a huge leap of faith, quit my job, left my old life behind, and started my own photography business,” she says.
Originally an acting school drop-out, she eventually completed a graphic design degree which taught her the basics of photography. A professional portrait photographer of six years, Kolenberg remains as passionate as ever. Katie’s focus is family portraiture and she believes in the importance of telling real family stories, and preserving family history. The stunning environment Katie lives and breathes in Canberra constantly fuels her to create beautiful art for her clients’ walls.
The impressive number of awards she’s earned is testament to her skill and prowess. Kolenberg won the commercial category of ACMP Projections in 2010 and was named AIPP ACT Emerging Photographer of the Year that same year. She has also been a finalist in the Head On Portrait Prize (2012), a semi-finalist in the Moran Prize, and a runner-up in the Editorial and a finalist in Documentary categories of the 2012 Australia’s Top Emerging Photographer awards. Also in 2012, she was named runner-up AIPP ACT Family Photographer of the Year.
Over the last 18 months, she was named 2014 AIPP ACT Family Photographer of the Year and in 2015 was a finalist for the AIPP ACT Family Photographer of the Year and AIPP ACT Wedding Photographer of the Year. But probably her greatest achievement was being named the 2015 AIPP Australian Family Photographer of the Year.
For now, Kolenberg strives for the perfect work/life balance, but she also has an eye for bringing out her full potential as a photographer. “I hope to carve out more of a niche in time, and I hope to get to know, and eventually free the artist inside of me, so I can go on to prolifically create truly fulfilling personal work.”
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