04/11/2026
There are some people who come into your life as clients… and then just quietly become something more. That’s Kate.
I’ve known her for almost 10 years now, and over time she’s become not only someone I photograph, but someone I genuinely look forward to seeing. Every single time. She has that kind of energy… the kind that lifts a room without even trying.
Kate’s shop, Happy Life Boutique is tucked inside the Sandpaper Factory in Rockland, and is a reflection of exactly who she is. Warm, inclusive, uplifting, and just plain happy. The vibe is instantly welcoming. It’s colorful, a little magical, and full of pieces that feel good. Whether it’s clothing, accessories, the incredibly fun Charm Bar or the perfect little gift you didn’t know you needed.
It’s the kind of place where you walk in and just feel better.
Photographing her in her space felt so natural, because it’s her. The joy, the confidence, the playfulness, it’s all real. And being trusted to document that, to capture her in the place she’s built with so much heart, is something I don’t take lightly.
What I love most is how aligned we are in what we’re creating in the world. We’re both, in our own ways, gathering women into community… creating spaces where they feel seen, supported, and lit up from the inside out.
Kate does that through her shop.�I do it through my camera.
And somewhere in the middle of that, we’ve built a friendship that I’m incredibly grateful for.
Kate Ann
