Meet Catrina Maxwell | Owner and Lead Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Catrina Maxwell and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Catrina, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I started out not knowing what I wanted to do as a career, so I ended up in administration and then moved up to accounting before realizing that I craved something more. At the same time, I was always the girl at the party taking pictures and capturing the moment. It wasn’t long before I was photographing my friends’ bands when they would play at bars in Atlanta. The bands started paying me, not a lot, but I would get a little cash and free entry to the show. Eventually, a friend said to me, ‘You should do this professionally.’ I decided that I was happiest when I was behind my camera and knew that to take photography further, I needed training. After a lot of planning and strategizing, I left my 10-year career in accounting and went to school full time for photography. In 2008, CatMax Photography was officially born.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. Since launching my business, my photos have appeared in Rolling Stone magazine, Getty Images, Atlanta magazine, StyleBlueprint, and more. What sets me apart from other photographers is my emphasis on creating a relationship with my clients and making it as easy as possible to capture the images they want.
Recently, I had to pivot due to COVID-19, and like most small businesses, COVID-19 was probably the biggest hurdle I have ever had to survive. During 2020, I reevaluated my business, passions, and what I felt like other small businesses needed, which I realized was CONTENT. With that said, I took a course in business branding photography and created my signature Personal Branding Experience. The Personal Branding Experience helps small business owners create purposeful content that elevates their brand, communicates their message, connects with customers, and brings in more revenue. I have worked with interior designers, bakers, yoga teachers, handbag designers, and financial advisors. They have all raved about the experience and expressed how excited they are to have so much content for their website, social media pages, and marketing materials. You can learn more about their experiences by reading the ‘Woman Wednesday’ series on my blog. If you are looking for additional details on the process, pricing, etcetera, you can find that information under the ‘Personal Branding Experience’ tab on my website.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A couple of places that would be at the top of my list to take a best friend from out of town to would be the SkyView Ferris wheel in Downtown Atlanta to see the city from above; Desta, so they can experience the best Ethiopian food in town; the High Museum of Art for its HIGH Frequency Fridays series with different DJs; and Ormsby’s is always a fun spot for drinks, yummy food, and games. I love finding live music, so that would have to be on the list as well. Maybe we’d do some shopping at Ponce City Market and walk the BeltLine too.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The people who have helped make it possible for me to be where I am today and that I am grateful for are: my clients, for always being honest with me and giving me great feedback; Frank Mullen, for helping me realize how amazing photography is and for mentoring me through the early years of my career; Ben Rose, for always being there to offer knowledge; and the family and friends who have supported and encouraged me to do what I love.
Website: www.catmaxphotography.com
Instagram: @catmaxphoto
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catmaxphotography/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatMaxPhotography
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9UOSsPp8eYViheZiNgFHlw
Image Credits
CatMax Photography