Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Thiel.
Hi Cassie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Having an artist for a dad, I have been heavily immersed in the art world for my entire life. Every road trip we went on was an opportunity for my dad to capture a new idea for a painting with his camera. When I was around 11 or so years old, we took a trip to visit my Aunt with my grandparents. On the way, we found a beautiful field of wildflowers. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. My dad was out in the field taking pictures, and I asked if I could take some pictures with his camera too. I don’t think I’ve put the camera down since.
I fell in love with photography as a small girl in a field of wildflowers, and then fell in love with the art of photography in my high school darkroom.
For me, photography is not only a way to collect and catalog memories, it’s an escape from the challenging and mundane. Nothing lights my soul on fire quite like photography does.
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?
Turning my passion into a business has certainly not been an easy task. I feel like the biggest struggle I deal with is comparison. So many people are photographers now, and it can be a real challenge to not compare yourself to others especially in this age of social media. You see everyone’s highlight reels and think that you are failing. Comparing everyone else’s highest highs to your lowest lows. it can be extremely discouraging.
Every once in a while I have to bring myself back to my roots and remind myself why I started all of this in the first place, which is usually when I end up in a field of wildflowers or driving along a country road at golden hour photographing anything and everything that speaks to my soul.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer that specializes in portrait photography. I especially love photographing couples, families, and seniors. I am most proud of my sessions that lean more on the creative side. Because I started my photographic journey photographing landscapes, still life’s, and the general beauty in the world around us, my absolute favorite sessions are when I can take a regular portrait and make it more artistic.
In the photography world today, most photographers I encounter are self taught typically in their early 20s/30s which is amazing, but I feel like this is what sets me apart from a lot of other photographers. I started so young and ultimately learned on film, which is such a lost art now.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Most of my early mentors were photographers that have long since died, which I know, doesn’t make a lot of sense. I poured over books by Ansel Adams, and studied works by Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Edward Steichen, Vivian Maier, and Edward Weston. Then I looked to more modern day professionals. I researched everything I could on Irving Penn, Sally Mann, and later Brooke Shaden and Joel Robison.
As I got older and got serious about starting my business, I reached out to current photographers that had a style and business I admired, but I started by soaking up everything I could about these photographic legends. I would recommend that to anyone starting out. You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been. Learning about these early photographers taught me so much and that knowledge has been invaluable to me as an artist.
In terms of current networking, talking to other photographers, joining online forums and groups, second shooting, and just putting yourself out there is the best way to get to where you want to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cthielphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.thielphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cthielphoto
