Hey, I'm Kate!
The girl behind Gone West Collective.
I'm a photographer, storyteller, and creative based in Carson City, Nevada. I have a soft spot for real people, good stories, and the moments that happen when nobody's paying attention to the camera.
Whether I'm photographing a wedding, chasing dirt bikes around a track, documenting a family, or creating something for a local business, I've always been drawn to the same thing: the people and stories behind it all.
I'm not big on stiff poses or making everything look picture-perfect. Give me the genuine laughter, the windblown hair, the happy chaos, and all the little things that make a moment feel like yours.
Because those are usually the moments worth remembering.
A little bit of everything brought me here.
I've worn a lot of hats over the years. From ranch life and outdoor guiding to healthcare, nightlife, events, and everything in between, my path here hasn't exactly been a straight line, but I wouldn't change that.
All those different experiences have given me an appreciation for people from every walk of life and the stories they carry with them and I think that's a pretty big part of why I love photography as much as I do.
I'm just as happy photographing two people getting married in the mountains as I am standing beside a dusty racetrack or wandering around a ranch with my camera.
It's never really been about photographing just one thing. It's about documenting the things that make life interesting.
Less posing. More living.
If you're worried about being awkward in front of the camera, you're in good company. Most people feel that way!
My approach is pretty relaxed. I'll give you direction when you need it, step back when the moment calls for it, and probably make a few jokes along the way. You don't need to show up knowing exactly what to do. That's part of what I'm there for.
More than anything, I want you to feel comfortable enough to actually enjoy yourself.
Because when you're being yourself, that's when the good stuff happens.
A little more about me, outside the camera.
I'm a mom, a lover of the outdoors, and someone who's always felt most at home somewhere with a little fresh air and room to roam.
Give me a good road trip, an afternoon near the water, a beautiful sunset, or a day that ends a little dusty and sun-tired, and I'm a happy girl.
I love good coffee, real conversations, exploring new places, and finding beauty in the ordinary things that most people walk right past.
Building Gone West Collective has been a way for me to combine so many of the things I love into something of my own.
And getting to meet people, hear their stories, and document little pieces of their lives along the way? That's easily my favorite part.
Enough about me. What about you?
Whether you're planning a wedding, celebrating a milestone, putting together an event, or just want some really good photos of the people you love, I'd love to hear what you've got in mind.
Let's make something worth remembering.