Kara Marie Studios

Kara Marie Studios Austin | Como | Milan Photographer www.Kara-Marie.com/links

Hotel room self portrait challenge. I like to push myself to shoot a few frames when I’m at a hotel  — something outside...
05/22/2026

Hotel room self portrait challenge.

I like to push myself to shoot a few frames when I’m at a hotel — something outside of the obvious bed lying scenario. There’s usually not much space to work with and less than stellar lighting, but when there’s obstacles like that, I find myself liking the result better. Forced creative problem solving.

The first frame is one of my new favorites. I love the lighting— backlit softly by a small window behind me— enough for that eyelash detail to really show. The window in front of me gave some nice skin highlights and a few shiny pin points in my 5 day dirty hair that otherwise wasn’t showing any signs of life.

The black fabric I hung behind the window made for an interesting texture, and the mirrored reflection gave a double vision effect. Y’all know I love it when you have to squint a little. 😏

My rules are: never more than 3 minutes to set up, I can’t add to my existing look (ie: no added styling, no fixing hair/makeup), I can only subtract, no more than 10 minutes to shoot, and 10 minutes in post for the whole set. In this case it was 1 minute to set up, 4 minutes to shoot because my Chinese dumpling delivery was getting cold. Can’t have that.

6 minutes of self portraits, testing the distortion on my 16mm lens, balancing (at times) on my side table in my tiny It...
05/17/2026

6 minutes of self portraits, testing the distortion on my 16mm lens, balancing (at times) on my side table in my tiny Italian apartment, home alone for the first time in…??? In the final minute I got a phone call that notified me of yet another gut-punch of the bureaucratic variety (never ending). So enjoy that moment with me in the last frames. K bye.

There’s that favorite light again…✔️Doesn’t hurt that the fun level of this shoot was off the charts. Never gets old. 🖤 ...
05/13/2026

There’s that favorite light again…✔️

Doesn’t hurt that the fun level of this shoot was off the charts.

Never gets old. 🖤

I document women as naturally as they’ll allow me.What I mean by that is ^^^^.I hope to •see• you. But only when you’re ...
05/11/2026

I document women as naturally as they’ll allow me.

What I mean by that is ^^^^.

I hope to •see• you. But only when you’re ready. 🖤

XK

www.Kara-Marie.com

Mammas 🖤🖤 To the mammas who gave birth, to the mammas who wish they could, to the mammas who’ve suffered loss, to the au...
05/10/2026

Mammas 🖤🖤 To the mammas who gave birth, to the mammas who wish they could, to the mammas who’ve suffered loss, to the aunties who always show up, to the female friends who mother each other, to the women who mother themselves: I am INFINITELY inspired by women and all we’re capable of creating, surviving, loving, conquering, and nurturing. Happy Mother’s Day // Buona Festa della Mamma 🖤🖤🖤

05/08/2026

LAKE COMO. Sheesh. It took me 5 years of living here to do it, but I’ve finally started a separate space for “slow content” from Lake Como . If you’re into Italian lifestyle aesthetic and even…GASP…in •color•, follow along over at .lakecomo . If you’re not, then don’t. 🤌🏼

So how DO we photograph women more artfully? The short answer is this: by understanding that there is no ONE way to phot...
05/07/2026

So how DO we photograph women more artfully?

The short answer is this: by understanding that there is no ONE way to photograph every woman.

Not every woman will want to twirl around in a ballgown.
Not every woman wishes to be presenting her feminine.
Not every woman wants to be smaller.
Not every will want to hide what you want to hide.
Not every woman will like what you like.

But every woman is ART. Every single one.

As photographers *for* women, it’s our job to understand what will make the experience a success for them, and what will make them more proud to be themselves than when they showed up. Then we must work hard to deliver.

For the long answer complete with 1:1 guidance, hands-on-techniques, game-changing mental shifts, the exchange of creative energy amongst your fellow photographers, come to Women as Art in Milano this October. Enrollment is open and you are most welcomed. (Unless you’re a jerk. Then it’s sold out.)

www.kara-Marie.com/womenasart

XK

Portrait of Vika as captured during the “grand finale” process (my favorite part of every shoot) of the November Women a...
05/06/2026

Portrait of Vika as captured during the “grand finale” process (my favorite part of every shoot) of the November Women as Art workshop.

Muse: of

Never underestimate the power of a black backdrop, window light, and a few minutes of absolute presence. Year after year...
05/05/2026

Never underestimate the power of a black backdrop, window light, and a few minutes of absolute presence.

Year after year, this continues to be my very favorite setup to photograph women. Relaxed and natural and present. Simple but layered. No two women photograph the same and that’s the whole dang point.

Kara-Marie.com

Address

Austin, TX
78701–78705, 78708–78739, 78741–78742, 78744–78769

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