Collaboration over Competition is the name of the game!

I’ve always believed in collaboration over competition. Being a creative – being an ARTIST – is about learning from eachother, and working together, at the end of the day. It’s not about competing, or ladder-climbing, or winning… in art, we win TOGETHER. The same way that we win as a community here in Minneapolis. We are stronger together.

And that’s why when I’m looking to expand and grow in my business, I look for collaborators. Powerful, inspiring creatives in my community that can being their skillset to Jessica Strobel Photography and really shine here! And that’s exactly why I brought Kat Regas onto the team. Not only is she a creative badass, but she truly GETS the Jessica Strobel Photography vision, and stands for what I stand for. Basically, she’s really, REALLY cool!

Because she’s so cool, I wanted you to get to know her a little bit more – so I gave her a little impromptu interview, and I thought I’d share that with you here!

Getting to know Kat Regas

Q: What has your journey as a creative looked like so far?

A: I’ve always been drawn to creative activities, starting with a love of the performing arts, specifically dance and theater. I did professional technical theater throughout high school, which has really helped with what I do now. I got a lot of experience with the various aspects of putting together a production (building props/sets, controlling lights/sound/video, doing makeup & costuming, etc.)

Q: What’s your favorite creative/artistic thing to do on your own time?

A: In addition to photography and social media, I am also a painter. I have been painting for a long time and have recently gotten into murals. I love how murals not only have the ability to transform a space, but also spark conversations and engage with the community.

Q: What do you love about working in the photography industry?

A: It sounds super cheesy, but I really enjoy getting to connect with people and tell their stories. Being in front of the camera is super vulnerable, especially if people aren’t used to it, so I am honored that people trust us to capture them authentically. Every time we go to someone’s house or workplace to get photos, I am humbled that clients invite us into their space and we get to see a slice of their lives and who they are. I also love all the dogs I get to meet!

Q: Are there ways you contribute to the community outside of your work hours, volunteering, that kind of vibe?

A: I grew up volunteering a lot, especially with people with special needs because my brother has Autism and we chose activities we could both be a part of. Nowadays, I engage with queer community projects, like the local theater group Transvestite Soup and the new community center Queermunity.

Q: Do you have an artistic degree? If so, why did you pursue it?

A: I went into college as a Psychology major with a plan to go to med school, but I quickly started missing creating. I switched to Strategic Communications with an emphasis in Creative Advertising as a way to combine my creativity with my people skills. I also graduated with minors in Art, Interdisciplinary Design, and Psychology.

Q: Do you have a favorite type of session to work on, or project-based aspect of your work with Jessica Strobel Photography that you want future clients to know about?

A: Katelyn and I both really enjoy helping Jessie create her fine art print sets and the content for the associated account over on Instagram! The nostalgic sets are super cute and already align with our other interests. I also love doing full content days with our social media clients because it’s when we really start to understand their brand and why they do what they do. Seeing people passionately talk about their work inspires us to want to get their message out.

Q: Has there been a moment in your work with Jess that has really stuck with you? A moment with a client, or an aspect of the work that you find fulfilling?

A: I come from a family of small business owners, so the opportunity to help fellow small business owners here in the Twin Cities has been super fulfilling. In the short time since we’ve started this endeavour, we’ve already seen remarkable results for our accounts and felt the gratitude from our clients. We recently got a text from one that stuck with me: “This is magic you guys. This is what social media help is SUPPOSED to look like. The ability to amplify who we are and take our message to more people without feeling like it’s not us.” It’s those kinds of moments that inspire me! Not just getting the positive feedback, but the big growth that makes the positive feedback happen in the first place.

Q: If there was one thing you could tell potential clients looking for a photographer, what would you want them to know about Jessica Strobel Photography?

A: Jessie is incredibly generous and treats every client like they are the most important client she has. Although she’s all about efficiency and has mastered the art of getting the photos she needs in minutes (honestly it’s super impressive!), if someone is unhappy with their photos she’ll always make time to retake them. (Which never happens but it’s nice to have the option!) She’s also really taken a chance with bringing Katelyn and I on board, so we’re grateful to her!

I’m so thrilled to have Kat joining the Jessica Strobel Photography team!

It’s been a while since both Kat and Katelyn (her feature is coming soon, don’t worry!!) joined the team, I’ll admit I’m a little late with featuring them here. But a little late or not, I couldn’t be happier to have them working with me, especially supporting social media management clients. It’s where their skillset really shines, and the results they’re getting for our clients are nothing short of spectacular.

So if you want to get more info about how you can work with Kat on your social media presence, head over to the full detail page for our social media management packages, and then… let’s chat! I would absolutely love to help capture the essence of your brand, and help grow your social presence. And I’m sure Kat (and Katelyn!) want the same!!

Bonus: Take a look at just a few results that my AMAZING team of collaborators and me have gotten for our social media management clients!