Where are you based? Where do you photograph the most?
I photograph people in love. On mountaintops… In glacier-carved valleys… Alongside rivers… Nestled in ancient forests…
And, my work and play have taken me across some of the most beautiful public lands in the country, so I find myself often in Alaska’s Chugach National Forest, national lands surrounding Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park, and across the other equally amazing wilds of Alaska.
My homebase in the South of the US means that I explore & share state parks and forests all across Tennessee.
I get to play in the rich beauty of North Carolina, and the DuPont State Forest, Blue Ridge Mountains and more.
I love that I can inspire my clients with the wild hidden in the city, with adventures in Georgia’s Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area tucked inside Atlanta’s sweeping metro area…
And, I am able to work and play —gratefully— across SO MANY MORE public lands across California and the western U.S.
These public lands have always been so much more to me than backdrops. They shape the experience. They are the experience. And they belong to all of us, not the highest bidder. This is why I care SO much about keeping them protected and accessible for everyone…
Why did you become a PLC member?
I joined Public Lands Creatives because I was struggling feeling like I was navigating it all alone. If you’ve ever tried to do things “the right way” with public land permits, you know the feeling: confusing websites, unclear “rules”, unanswered emails, permit offices giving you different answers depending on who picks up the phone.
I carry solid commercial insurance. I read the fine print. And I still find myself stuck in permitting limbo way too often.
I’ve been misclassified (for example, as a “guide” in one Western national forest, annual commercial use authorization required with revenue-based fee assessments in another Southern park), looped through conflicting offices, and left scrambling with clients on the line. The intention is to follow the rules. The challenge is figuring out what those rules even are.
Being part of PLC means I’m not alone in that anymore and thankfully, it is an amazing group of caring artists who are committed to sharing learnings, connecting to help each other, and in working at the grassroots level to make it better in any way we can.
Why does PLC matter?
Because we’re not just dealing with red tape right now. We’re dealing with real threats.
Public lands are under attack. The Trump administration’s attempts to roll back protections, sell off/privatize access, and silence climate action have real consequences… Not just for the landscapes we love, but for the people who depend on them, live in them, work on them, and tell stories about them.
PLC is paying attention. They’re tracking what’s at risk, helping us understand the fine print of policy changes, and mobilizing our community in real time. That matters. A lot. Because when creatives like us who rely on public lands not just as inspiration, but as our actual workspace, are organized and informed, we can have real power.
And with this active guidance from the PLC we can better speak up, take action, and help protect these treasured places.
Why do you think others should become a PLC member?
Because in my opinion, you shouldn’t need a law degree or ten hours of phone calls to capture a client’s story at a trailhead or deep in the wilds where nature is the primary guest. Because there should be a clear path for creators to access public lands legally, respectfully, in a way that manages visitation volume/impacts, yet, without being penalized for caring. Because when artists like us lose access, stories disappear and the connection to these places fades.
PLC is working toward a future where permitting is clear, fair, and equitable. Where the voices shaping public lands access rules reflect the people who actually use them, live near them, and tell stories on them.
If you care about what happens with our public lands, I believe that supporting PLC is a real, tangible way to help take steps to protect them.
I believe our creativity is a form of stewardship. Why? Because I’ve seen that when we take care of the land, tell & show stories of experiences on these lands, and share our passion in our work, we help others fall in love with these places, too.
So many of my clients go back to these beautiful natural spaces they chose to marry at for anniversaries and milestones because it’s not just a place to them.
And when people love something —like this amazing place that’s a cornerstone in their story together— they’re more likely to fight for it.
That’s what PLC helps us do: connect, protect, and push for fair access. Together.
See more of Kate’s Work:
Name: Kate | Soul & Sky Weddings
Website: https://soulandskyweddings.com/
