Katrina’s  Story

Once upon a time…
I recently went to my twenty year school reunion and we were all asked to write a blurb about what we had achieved since leaving school. It made me realise how some things change as we grow older (and supposedly wiser), but some things remain the same.

For me, High school, and grade 12 in particular, was all about having a great time – not necessarily achieving A+++. Grade 12 was all about cruising through life and having a good time doing so – and it still is!

Since then I have achieved so much and I can honestly say I have a truly precious life.  I have now been married almost fourteen years to my wonderful husband Andy and together we have three gorgeous girls. Andy and I were saying just the other night that this year is definitely worth celebrating!

In the beginning…
I was your typical little bush kid who loved searching for stones, playing with the menagerie of farm animals, helping dad in the yard or mustering on the motor bikes. Thankfully I have married a wonderful cook as was a bit of a tomboy and never really spent much time in the kitchen.
When I finished high school in Toowoomba and not being entirely sure of what I wanted to be when - and if - I ever grew up I decided to set sail for the motherland hoping to figure it all out.

To cut a long story short, after an amazing two years of traveling through Europe and working as a nanny in London I returned to Australia for my brother’s wedding. Still not sure what I wanted to do…I decided to chat with a careers advisor (I know what you’re thinking - how daggy). It made me decide that I wanted to go to Queensland College of Art to study photography. I knew then that I wanted to be a family photographer.

I spent the next four years rushing between full-time work and study, often until late in the night, but I knew that this was what I wanted to do! In my final year of study I married my best friend Andy.

The next stage in my life was starting my business and having babies – at the same time! In 1996 Katrina Christ Photographer, specialising in family portrait photography, was born! Although I was working really hard to kick start my business, it was a bit up and down for three years. I always had to divide my time between work and family, which on occasions was not easy.

In 2001 when my oldest girl Isabella was four and Marianne was one I decided to really give the business a proper go. By this stage I had decided to specialise in family portraiture. All of my blood, sweat and tears paid off because the business took off.

Five years ago I had another gorgeous girl Cameron and along with our dog Millie our family is complete…and Andy is still the only male in the household.  This is my gorgeous family.

Seven years on, I have my successful family portrait photography business in a beautiful East Brisbane studio with my fabulous staff (Who you can read all about and yes I am Mrs Brady!) plus I also have two other thriving studios interstate.

Eighteen months ago I set up a family portrait photography studio in Melbourne which is owned and managed by Nami Salmon who was my studio manager here in Brisbane for two years. Six months ago I set up a family portrait photography studio in Sydney.

My challenge through all of this has been to maintain the work/life balance; isn’t that everyone’s ambition these days? I work four days a week so that I can have one day a week to just be a mummy and spend time with Andy and the girls.

So as you can see, for me life is great.

My goals for 2008 are to spend more time playing with my girls, to play more hockey (which I am loving, although twenty years ago playing I didn’t bruise quite so easily) going on more dates with my husband Andy, spending more time with family and friends, especially my parents and my twin sister Jo - who has just had her first baby, Finan who is the first boy in the family! and maybe a few more family portrait photography studios too.

Thank you Thank you Thank you to all my gorgeous family and friends and a special thank you to my sensational team, love you all!

Katrina X

Brisbane studio of Katrina Christ Photographer - the home of beautiful family photography