Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen McDonnell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am now a junior at SCAD, majoring in Photography with a focus in fashion and commercial photography. My photography journey started my freshman year at Hilton Head Island High School. Photography was an elective class, and little did I know it would become my career. I love photography because it gives me a reason to slow down and really look at something. I like being able to take a moment, an idea, or even something ordinary and turn it into something that makes me stop and look at it differently. There is something exciting about creating an image that even I can look at and think, “wow, I made that.”
I have to thank my high school photography teacher, Patricia Schoelkopf, for helping me discover a creative side of myself that I didn’t know I had. I took all four photography classes in high school, and Mrs. Schoelkopf encouraged me to enter competitions, learn about SCAD, and continue photography after high school. She saw something in me and believed in me, and she is a big reason I am at SCAD today.
Because of Mrs. Schoelkopf, I was connected with Paul Nurnberg, an experienced commercial photographer in the Lowcountry. Working with Paul was a great next step after high school because it allowed me to take what I learned in school and apply it to real photography jobs. Over three summers, I learned more about studio lighting, editing, working with clients, and the business side of photography. He helped me understand what it was like to work as a professional photographer and gave me a better idea of what I wanted to pursue.
After high school, I also reached out to Rick Leipold, the owner of Island Life HH Photography. I originally emailed him hoping to assist and learn, but he saw potential in me and gave me the opportunity to join his photography team and shoot family portraits independently. This helped me become more confident working with clients and working on my own.
Over the past seven years, I’ve worked on many different projects, but for a long time I struggled to find a clear focus. I was trying different styles and couldn’t figure out what really felt like me. Coming to SCAD helped me work through that. Project after project, I was introduced to different photographers, styles, and ways of thinking about photography. Seeing the work of other students and learning about different areas of photography helped me better understand what I enjoyed most.
The more projects I completed, the more I noticed myself coming back to fashion and commercial photography. What I love about both is the creative process of taking an idea and building it into an image. With fashion, I enjoy creating an entire world through the model, styling, location, lighting, and overall feeling. I also love the collaboration that comes with these projects. Getting to work with models, stylists, creative directors, hair and makeup artists, and other creatives is one of my favorite parts. Everyone brings something different to the idea, and seeing all of those pieces come together to bring a project to life is what makes the process so exciting for me.
I’m still learning about myself as a photographer, and I know I don’t have everything figured out. Looking back, I can see how much I’ve grown through every class, project, and mentor. What once felt like being all over the place helped me find my direction. I’m always critiquing my work and learning from other creatives, which keeps me growing and excited about photography. I’m still figuring out where it will take me, but I know fashion and commercial photography are where I want to keep pushing myself.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Over the past seven years, I’ve tried many different styles and struggled for a while to find what felt like me. Coming to SCAD helped me narrow that down. Being exposed to different photographers, creative approaches, and the work of other students helped me understand what I enjoyed most and where I wanted to take my work.
The more I created, the more I found myself drawn to fashion and commercial photography. I love the process of taking an idea and building it into an image. With fashion, I enjoy creating an entire world through the model, styling, location, lighting, and overall feeling. I also love the collaboration that comes with these projects. Working with models, stylists, creative directors, hair and makeup artists, and other creatives brings different ideas together and helps turn a concept into something real.
I’m still learning about myself as a photographer, and I know I don’t have everything figured out. Looking back, I can see how much I’ve grown and how the experiences that once made me feel all over the place helped me find my direction. I’m always critiquing my work and learning from other creatives, and that keeps me growing. I’m still figuring out where photography will take me, but I know fashion and commercial photography are where I want to keep pushing myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a fashion and commercial photographer, and I love incorporating things I’m interested in, like equestrian and coastal life, into my photography. I like to think of my work as simple but still colorful and bold. I love capturing the beauty in everything around me, whether that’s the person, the clothes, or the environment. I enjoy bringing all of these elements together while helping the creatives I work with bring their ideas and visions to life. I think that’s what I’m most known for, taking someone’s imagination and turning it into something they can actually see.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as being proud of something I created or when I see a difference from months ago to recent projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karencreative.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.annecreative/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-mcdonnell-262777354
