KATIE MOTTA

Website | Instagram
Katie Motta
_{Photographer, Marketing Consultant, Web Designer}

Articles by Katie

How Having a Website Can Launch Your Brand to New Heights

katie motta photographer marketing web designer — _{photo by Anna Fitzpatrick}

I discovered America’s Next Top Model when I was 15 and changed my whole career path!

Hi Katie, welcome to VQS, tell us how you got started in photography and web design?

When I was 6 years old, I picked up my first camera. It wasn’t anything special – just a point-and-shoot digital camera – and I just took pictures of anything I could. I lived pretty far into the woods growing up, so I photographed mostly nature: leaves, sunsets, insects, icicles, you name it!

Around age 11, I discovered National Geographic Magazine an realized you could be a photographer for a profession. At that point, my plan was to be a National Geographic photographer and do it for a living. But THEN, I discovered America’s Next Top Model when I was 15 and changed my whole career path!

I became obsessed with fashion photography and did practice photoshoots using my friends and thrifted clothes, until I eventually went on to be a Photography Major at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Since then, my obsession has been commercial/fashion photography and portraiture.

What new projects are you working on now?

I am currently starting my own business by mixing my love of photography with marketing and website creation. My goal is to assist small businesses that are transitioning to have an online presence in response to the pandemic. I offer different packages for a lower price point to make my services accessible for everyone!

What 3 core values do you believe are necessary for success?

I am a strong believer in:
1.) Keeping a positive mindset
2.) Being respectful and friendly
3.) Being hard working and focused

These are crucial in becoming successful! You need to keep a positive mindset when things aren’t going great (which sometimes they won’t) to get yourself back on track. You have to be friendly and respectful to make meaningful connections with other people, not just in your industry, but overall in your life. And you have to be hard working and focused to get things done!

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Who have been some of your favorite people/projects to work with?

While these are not ALL of my favorite experiences, these are a few that stuck with me recently. I appreciate working with anyone and everyone I can. I see every opportunity to do something new as a stepping stone to learn a new skill or meet a new mentor, but a few of my favorite projects that I have worked on in the past were mostly while I was at school.

I had the opportunity to work with Sophie Elgort when I volunteered to help with a photoshoot for her non-profit organization: Through Our Lens Inc. She was so friendly and I really loved working to assist her! During that project I also worked alongside lighting guru Clif Hausner. I got to learn a lot from him that day, and Clif is someone I can still call on for advice today.

More recently, I have enjoyed working with Vision Quest Sound’s very own Philip Garcia! I have only worked with him for a short while, but his positivity and helpful tips have really inspired me to continue to learn and grow!

How Having a Website Can Launch Your Brand to New Heights

What future opportunities would you like to be involved with?

Any that I can! I always keep an open mind and I soak up as much knowledge as I can. Any new opportunity that comes my way, I will take as a challenge and appreciate the journey and life knowledge it gives me!
Send Katie a message here.