Connection between people is always more important than the perfect light.
Kristeen Waddell
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Kristeen Marie Waddell has a trick for getting toddlers to stay still during photo sessions: cake. Yep, big, squishy, frosting-covered birthday cakes. And if you think that sounds chaotic, well, that’s kind of the point. Because for Kristeen, the magic isn’t in the perfect pose, it’s in the frosting-smeared cheeks, the barely-contained giggles, and the fleeting, honest moments that make a family feel like themselves.
Before she was photographing newborns and families across Indianapolis, Kristeen was immersed in the tech world, coding, designing, managing SEO campaigns. But somewhere along the way, between late-night edits and long days at a corporate desk, she realized she didn’t want to market for companies anymore. She wanted to work with people. Real people. The kind who don’t always look at the camera, but love each other fiercely.
In this episode, Kristeen shares what it took to leave the security of a full-time tech job and build a sustainable photography business, one that’s deeply personal, detail-oriented, and rooted in her own experience as a mother. From wildflower fields to one-on-one mentorships, and everything in between, she walks us through how she creates space for connection, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Here’s some of what we get into:
- Why photographing families is more about emotion than perfection
- How Kristeen built her client base using SEO and stubborn consistency
- The biggest lessons from transitioning out of the corporate world
- Why pricing your work fairly can actually help prevent burnout
- What it takes to earn a toddler’s trust during a photoshoot
- Her growing interest in mentoring other photographers, and why it’s never really about the gear
Kristeen brings a thoughtful, grounded energy to everything she does. If you’re a parent, a photographer, or someone figuring out your next leap, there’s a lot to connect with in this conversation. Enjoy!
Q: Do you see yourself more as a documentarian of family moments, or are you kind of storyteller that’s shaping how the moments will be remembered?
Kristeen: I think it’s somewhere in between, right? You try to capture genuine emotion and connection between families, but sometimes they need a little help to get there. I start with more posed shots to get them comfortable, then we move into natural interaction. People need to feel comfortable with you before they can be themselves in front of the camera.
Q: Why did you choose photography as your medium? Why not something like drawing or just stay into graphic design?
Kristeen: I think it’s partly that I like the lifestyle photography gives me. I could have freelanced doing graphic design, but I was more called to work with people than corporations. I love building relationships with families and getting to grow with them over the years. Capturing their stories is really fulfilling for me.
Q: How do you avoid burnout after photographing families for over a decade?
Kristeen: Pricing myself at a level that makes it worth my time has been key. When I first started, I charged much less, but that wouldn’t be sustainable now with three kids. Charging appropriately helps me support my family and attract clients who value both my time and their own. It’s helped me avoid working constantly and kept me balanced.
🔗 Connect with Kristeen Waddell
🧭 What We Talked About🎼 Early Journey / Origins
- Kristeen’s journey began with a degree in Computer Graphic Technology at Purdue University, chosen to satisfy both her creative passion and her parents’ desire for a non-liberal arts path.
- While working full-time in tech and digital marketing, she nurtured a growing passion for photography on the side, eventually making the leap into full-time photography after having kids.
- She describes herself as having started as a “bad photographer but a good photo editor,” a foundation that deeply informed her visual development.
📖 Philosophy / Vision / Storytelling
- Kristeen aims to create authentic images full of connection and emotion.
- Her sessions begin with posed shots but quickly evolve into capturing natural, meaningful interactions between family members.
- She finds joy in photographing the “perfectly imperfect” moments, especially with children, capturing them as they truly are rather than forcing smiles.
- Her work is often described as cinematic, filled with golden light and rich tones, which she attributes partly to instinct and partly to her consistent use of sunrise and sunset light.
📷 Tools, Gear, and Behind the Scenes
- While the gear list wasn’t the focus, Kristeen emphasized her background in photo editing and set design, referencing time-lapse videos she’s shared of constructing elaborate props like balloon arches.
- She maintains a very hands-on approach to session preparation, especially for newborns and cake smashes.
- Engagement tools include sound cues from Miss Rachel and the Baby Shark Song to get the attention of little ones.
🔁 Practice, Teaching, Platforms
- Kristeen runs a highly structured photography business, handling everything from client intake forms to detailed prep guides herself.
- Her most popular offerings include newborn sessions, “Grow With Me” milestone packages, and family sessions, particularly around fall and holiday seasons.
- She’s building a new arm of her business focused on one-on-one mentorship for photographers, which she prefers over group workshops due to her desire for deep, personal connection.
💬 Advice, Creative Strategy, or Challenges
- Her biggest business hurdle early on? Finance and business structuring, she credits her accountant for helping her set up properly.
- She emphasizes the importance of pricing yourself sustainably, especially when balancing a creative business with parenting.
- For those starting out, Kristeen recommends learning SEO and digital marketing. These skills that helped her rank highly in searches like Indianapolis photographer.
- She maintains full control over her website and uses tools like Google Search Console and Ahrefs to stay on top of keyword trends.
🌍 Influences, People, Brands, or Places
- Her sessions are often set in Midwest tree farms and wildflower fields, popular backdrops that align with her warm, cinematic style.
- Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, she leans heavily into the natural beauty of fall for family sessions.
- Photographic constraints – like only shooting during golden hour – are part of what define her visual identity.
🔮 What’s Next for Kristeen
- As she wraps a busy fall season, Kristeen is focusing on expanding her mentorship offerings, helping emerging photographers with both craft and business.
- She’s continuing to refine the balance between business, creativity, and motherhood, with an eye on building deeper relationships through her work.
