CATEGORIES
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Read my interview with The Tastemaker’s Guide & learn more about Kristin Sautter Photography
Hallie Haas of The Tastemaker’s Guide recently interviewed me for her artists blog series. Hallie is a friend of mine and a talented design consultant for private events. I’ve had the privilege of photographing her work, her family, and even her horse over the last few years. Here’s a look at my recent interview with her.
Read the full interview on her blog, The Tastemaker’s Guide.
Where are you from and how does that affect your work?
“I was born and raised in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but from a young age, I was fascinated by distant places. I first visited Europe when I was 17 and felt instantly that I’d discovered a second home. At 18, I moved to England for a year and met my now-husband who is German. After my university years in Los Angeles, we got married and moved across the ocean. I believe I’m a part of the places I’ve been, the places I’ve called home. But I also believe in the importance of feeling at home in oneself. My work carries the sentiments of warmth and kindness from my childhood in the Midwest, the radiant light of Southern California, and the timeless, old-world sophistication of my now-home in Europe. But I’m always striving to feel at home in myself and inspire others to feel the same.”
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
“The late poet Mary Oliver’s work grounds me as a human and an artist. Josh Young for his seamless way of marrying old-world and modern aesthetics. Street photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Vivian Maier for their ability to capture humanity honestly. And countless great masters of art for their dedication to craft and exquisite technique.”
Describe your dream project.
“I love what I do as a wedding photographer, but my work has also given me the opportunity to do more bridal editorial work. I’ve often dreamt of large-scale editorials in magnificent European destinations like Paris, Amalfi, and Rome. I have so many ideas, but at the end of the day, a dream project to me is any opportunity to create something significant, memorable, and beautiful with like-minded, kind, and gracious artists.”
Where do you find inspiration?
“I often look to the past for inspiration: old-cinema, architecture, literature, theatre, the fine arts. I’m fascinated by the techniques of the great masters of art, and I love finding ways to apply these principles to my work as a photographer. Ironically, I don’t find much inspiration within the wedding industry. I look outward and find unique ways of bringing that inspiration inward.”
When is your favorite time of day to create?
“In the early morning. There’s something about being up before the world’s awake that gets me in a creative mood. Coffee is necessary, of course.”
Describe how art is important to society.
“Art is essential to the human experience. It nourishes the soul and teaches us what it means to be fully human—a feeling, breathing, inspired being. Joan Didion famously said, ‘We tell ourselves stories in order to live,’ and nothing describes the indispensable value of art better.”
