Shani Studios

In 2006, Kate began the search for the perfect name for her studio. With a love for culture, people and travel, the word Adventure seemed to stick....

I am a Photographic Anthropologist. A Historian. An Artist. A Writer. out in her mind as the definition of what she wanted her studio to be about. With a deep interest in African Culture, Swahili seemed to be a language that just might fit the bill for the anthropological nature of this studio. After hours of searching numerous sites, Shani, a traditional Swahili name meaning Adventure surfaced. A perfect fit. ---- As a child I encountered many different types of people, from college professors to Antioch raceway pit crew. Amazing and ordinary people, some crazy, some determined. All of these people had stories that I loved hearing, now I love documenting those tales of life as well. From encountering a variety of characters throughout my life I have grown to appreciate culture and who we are as a species. Evolution and the melding of culture is blurring the lines of diversity causing traditions to be lost. Discovering this, I set out with a goal to document diverse cultures to preserve what could be lost forever to our continually developing world. A passion for diversity developed inside of me, followed by an understanding of the heart. It became clear and easy to see whom a person truly is. While working with a new client I take the time for them to become comfortable with me as a person before a photographer, because I believe that once one knows the photographer, they are no longer afraid of her cameras. The whole portrait session becomes personal experience that no longer is a dreaded portrait day. I want you to like what you see when you reminisce on your past years. Whether I'm photographing a wedding, birthday party or family portrait, I see every day as a special day, a piece of history and aim to capture person my client is inside. I believe photography is important to our lifestyle because it allows us to record our personal history. When you hire a photographer to log a piece of your life, you should be hiring a historian as well, someone who cares just as much as you do about logging all of the details of ANY special occasion. This - is what I do. Photography is my passion, Anthropology is my love and because of that, logging humanities personal history is my endeavor. I am Kate Krutzner. I am a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography. I am a Professional Portrait Photographer.