Meet Katie New

About Me

I'm not your typical "professional" photographer - in fact, that word gives me the ick unless it's followed by Photographer. What I am is someone who sees beauty in broken places, truth in real moments, and meaning in stories people live through every day.

How I Started

People always told me I had a "good eye", but for most of my life, having a dream felt unrealistic. I was working nonstop, surviving, and trying to keep my head above water - hobbies weren't part of the budget.

six years ago, right after Christmas something in me snapped into place. I worked holidays, overtime, and weeks that hit 80 hours just to save up enough to buy my first camera. when I finally bought it- with the money I earned and fought to keep- it changed everything.

Photography started as a side hustle. Then it became a refuge. Then it became a calling.

My very first paid gig was a headshot for Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee- which ended up on the inside cover flap of one of his books. I didn't realize it then, but that moment lit a fuse that's still burning now.

How I Became a Full-Time Photographer

In 2025, after a stretch of unemployment and a job market that felt like a brick wall, I had a choice: go back to the same cycle that was draining me, or pour myself into something that might actually save me.

I chose photography

I chose myself.

And I chose to build something that didn't exploit me- something that meant something.

I started showing up at every major event that I could in Galesburg with my camera. I documented everything, especially the 50501 movement. I posted albums consistently. I organized them from day one. And the community noticed.

Today, I'm known as the Photographer for 50501 Galesburg. I've covered all 35 protests (and counting), photographed countless moments of resistance, vulnerability, and power and even given speeches between my shots. My activism and my photography are deeply intertwined- I don't separate them.

I've also sold prints in the Galesburg Community Art Center, bartered art when cash was tight, and followed every new photographic curiosity. I'm always learning. Always experimenting. Always chasing the next "I can feel this before I even look at the screen" moment.

Why I Do This

Photography grounds me.

It gets me out of the house.

It eases my depression.

It gives me purpose.

And every time I take a great shot, I feel it long before I ever see it- an indescribable rush, like instinct and confidence had a lovechild and handed it to me through a viewfinder.

That feeling is what I want people to experience when they see my work.

My Perspective

I'm a lesbian photographer, an activist, and a believer in humanity. My identity and my values shape how I shoot:

with honesty

with intention

with compassion

and with a commitment to representation.

My dream is to open an LGBTQ+ inclusive boudoir studio- a place where every body, every gender, and every identity can feel affirmed,  celebrated, and empowered.

My Approach With Clients

When you book with me, you're not booking a stiff, overly formal "professional". You're booking someone real. Someone who wants you to feel safe, seen, comfortable, and at ease.

you can expect:

a relaxed, casual atmosphere

guidance without pressure

authenticity over perfection

a photographer who celebrates who you truly are

an inclusive space for all identities

I don't want you to pose for me- I want you to exist with me, comfortably, and let me capture the truth in that.

Beyond The Camera I'M:

I am the lesbian photographer who can crochet a blanket, throw a tomahawk, binge NCIS, meditate with an oracle deck, align chakras, and ride off on a motorcycle (if someone would kindly book enough sessions for me to buy one ;)

I am soft in the right places, sharp in the necessary ones, funny, grounded, and connected to the world in my own unconventional, unforgettable way. Absolutely sober, still the life of the party, occasionally naked and howling at the moon.

I love long conversations, storytelling, and laughter. I am sweet, but in my "do no harm, take no shit" era. I am emotionally intuitive. A little chaotic in a fun, firecracker way. I'm still trying to figure out how many cats is too many cats and completely avoiding an answer to such an absurd question.

I have 2 cats, both are giving me a serious side-eye because I am writing this "about me" page about me instead of giving them all the attention and glory they deserve, and yet I still want more cats.

These pieces of who I am weave into the way I create- warm, candid, full of emotion and personality, and grounded in connection.

Let's Create Something Meaningful

If you're looking for photography that captures the essence of you, I'd love to work with you.

Let's tell your story- together.