kate benson, Author at Kate Benson Photography

Fashion and Product Photographer | Charleston, SC | New Business Cards

by kate benson | Jul 20, 2016 | Charleston Fashion Pho..., e-commerce photographer, Ecommerce Photographer, Fashion, Product, Still Life Photographer

As you can imagine, as is true every time a lull in my photo blog comes, I’ve been quite a busy bee lately (So you can be busy as a South Carolina Product Photographer)! A small preview of the time transpired since my last post in May is this: I bought a house (yay!!), moved, shot thousands of pieces of clothing and more than a few pretty cool products, travel to Miami a few times, met and photographed lots of beautiful models (in both Miami and Charleston) and somehow, finished a book. A single book. Since May. Because life is a spin of working and mom-ing with a bit of sleep and food here and there right now. So as I sit in my new office with boxes still very packed around me, I sit to type another overdue blog post. The boxes will have to wait.
A quick preview of some of my new photography comes to light in my new business cards. Last week on an impromptu road trip around South and North Carolinas to meet with some of the people based here that I’ve started working with (or would love to have the chance to work with), I was rather embarrassed as I handed out my very old, desperate for an update, business cards (I sit shaking my head as I write this). Let’s just say, they did not match my work at this point. So off to Moo.com I went and with the help of some restrictions (yes, I HAD to have gold foil on mine and no, there was no room in the budget for custom placement, so the templates were inevitable) I created a few pretty new cards to introduce my brand.

The cards will have 4 different images on the front, 2 fashion, one lifestyle and one product. Being a versatile product photographer and enjoying the crossing of thresholds that let me still play and explore creativity, I wanted cards that could be specific to the needs of each client. So without further adieu, here are 3 of my 4 designs (one will be shown and given out after the images release).

Besos!

First, a shot from a recent shoot in Charleston for Beija Flor Jeans:

Next, a favorite of mine from a photoshoot for Boca Terry:

Third, a sophisticated still life for Crown & Buckle:

Lastly and not nearly as exciting, my contact info:

As always, head on over to my website for more based in Miami and Charleston product photographer work!

Fashion Photographer | Kate Benson | Cosabella Summer 2016

by kate benson | May 5, 2016 | Advertising, Charleston Fashion Pho..., e-commerce photographer, Ecommerce Photographer, Product

It is hard to stay on top of when and where my work is printed. My genre is complex since I shoot products and have no bias as to on what or how. I just think deeply and explore products visually with my camera. So despite being a product photographer, I often lean towards more of a fashion photographer. It is logical, many of the products I shoot are fashion products and often brands who start working with me one way, trust and ask me to shoot their products other ways. Cosabella is a great example of where working together small lead to much bigger shoots. This was shot last fall and has just released.

You can imagine it is hard for me to track down my work when the time between shooting and printing is so long. Cosabella is really awesome about it though and they often sneak me a catalogue way before it is seen by anyone else. It is a small but very appreciated gift to get to see the shots finalized months before they go live. This season has some of my favorite lingerie to date, btw. I’ll take one of each of the above, thanks.

Also on their homepage was another shot from that day, the Align Shoot. Cosabella has some fantastic (and super stylish) activewear.

What I wasn’t expecting to find was a shot we took last month for maternity! This sweet and beautiful model was sandwiched between two shots from over half a year ago!

Cosabella is just about the only place that makes really cute maternity. I wish I had known when I was pregnant! Somewhere, I scanned some more shots from the new Summer 2016 catalog and will share here when I find them! For now, enjoy!

Charleston Fashion Photographer | Kate Benson | Collaborating with Alexandra Styles

by kate benson | May 3, 2016 | Charleston Fashion Pho..., Fashion

Do you know what is wonderful? Finding a team in Charleston, SC who can produce greatness in front of a camera with me. On a locals beach on Sullivan’s Island, the week before last (wow, time flies) I collaborated with a fantastic stylist Alexandra Munzel for Alexandra Styles (check out this fantastic Charleston Stylist‘s Instagram for some of her most recent work). Alexandra conceptualized the shoot (stripes), did a fantastic pull, and primarily produced the shoot. She then was the first one ready on set. So to all my Miami (and beyond) followers/readers, take note. These are the beaches in Charleston (and I’m pretty beach bias shooting in Miami the last 9 years). This was all shot with local talent. Our model Maribeth, is represented by Directions USA and a local Carolina girl. Hair and makeup is by Emily Allyson, also local.

So bravo to the team. I’m happy with this and it is the first time in YEARS I shot fashion for fun and not work. I’m looking forward to having this group, especially Alexandra, on set again soon.

Charleston Commercial Photographer | Dear Sleep,

by kate benson | Mar 24, 2016 | Just for fun

Dear Sleep,
I have really missed you lately. Between flying to Miami, Dallas, and Miami again this month, it’s been busy. Let’s add to that, Sam traveling “literally” (shout out to you Miami) every other business day that I wasn’t away, has made it even more crazy. So it’s been on the road, getting home to single working mom life, the back on the road, repeat. But this morning, I slept until 7:15am. A number that used to be missed by me because I slept through it. A number that lately, over the last few years, I see after hours of being awake.

So as I noticed myself with a bundle of energy (headed to the gym in a bit), I also noticed as I responded to my emails a different tone. Everyone is my buddy. When responding to quote requests it’s all smile emoji this, wink emoji that, and lots of over exaggerated exclamation points. “Oh, my email went into the wrong folder and did the shoot with someone else and wish it had been me? NO WORRIES!!! 🙂 🙂 Maybe next time! Hope the shoot went well!!!” And that crazy part, I actually feel this way. It’s been so long, so so so long, since I had a full night of sleep.

One of my best friends Marisol used to be a client. She would always tease me because I have the WORST customer service (okay, maybe it isn’t the worst, but it is usually all business and getting straight to the point). A few years ago, my agent at the time told me I wasn’t allowed to talk on the phone without actually physically smiling because it came across in my voice (a quick note, I never had any idea I could possibly be coming across badly! I always have had a lot of respect for everyone and try and be really good about that to anyone reaching out). So as I’m writing my overly friendly emails this morning, responding to quote requests, I just started laughing. Turns out, all along, the only thing stopping me from being “all business” and “overly friendly” was just a bit more sleep. There is a balance in here somewhere I’m sure.

And on that note, it’s off to be super productive (hopefully).

Starting over, sort of. | Charleston, SC Photographer, whhhhaattt?

by kate benson | Feb 11, 2016 | Uncategorized

Yup. Charleston. South Carolina. Funny story about this, I went to a psychic years and years ago (Okay, I LOVE that kind of thing, now you know I’m a nerd too). I wanted to get out of Miami so badly it hurt. She told me that it would happen and when it did I was going to move somewhere I never in a million years would decide to move. She said when I visited this place, Sam and I would both just know it was where we were supposed to be. That was like, 6 years ago. 6 YEARS. So she was completely right. No offense, but I’m a Yankee girl from NH who moved to the capital of Latin America (Miami, hello) for 9 years. Let’s just say, I didn’t expect our politics to match and that people would like this left wing, immigrant lover, civil rights supporter who can’t and won’t keep her mouth shut about things she believes in. But here we are. And we are so head over heels in love with this place.
Now you also know why I’ve been completely silent on the blog front for so many months. Last summer, work was going crazy. I was so busy that my team of girls and I were all pushing 40+ hours a week to complete all the projects coming in. Then in October, Sam go the offer we couldn’t refuse. Not only was it a great company asking him to come, but they flew me out with him for the interview so I could see Charleston, and boom, fireworks. We were smitten. So he had to start by the end of the month. That gave us about 3 weeks to pack our house, find a new home, and move. Did I mention this is all with a toddler running around?

With the help of the most amazing girls in the world (who I miss everyday), we made it here. The next few months became a spiral of flights back and forth from Miami, unpacking and house hunting, finding childcare and learning our way around, making friends, hosting visitors, and working like crazy. To pretend this has calmed down is a lie. It’s still a whirlwind of chaos. But I do have some organization to it. I have a space here I shoot in. It’s not my ideal studio yet so once we do buy a house I can start searching for my studio. I kept my Miami studio (well, Fort Lauderdale one) and so when I fly back I have that space for shooting which is great. Turns out Jetblue has just started direct flights from Charleston to Fort Lauderdale, which are about 1.5 hours long, how great is that! So it’s let me keep running the business in Miami that I need to and still do smaller jobs here. Most clients are shipping me everything unless it is on model and then I have been flying down. It is working out incredibly well.

So there you have it. The reason I’m off the grid for so long and you aren’t seeing me around anywhere. For all my clients, thank you for still working with me even though it is a little more production now to get me there! I love you all so much!! And of course, if anyone fancies a trip to Charleston, you are always welcome! And I’m not really starting over because I am still in South Florida, I’m just ALSO in Charleston now. 😉

With that, I’ll show a few personal shots (aka, cell phone, facebook captures) of life here so far, so I can share how amazing it has already been!