Family and lifestyle photographer Catherine O’Donnell on the Be Inspired Photography Podcast.
Listen to Patrick chat with family and lifestyle photographer Catherine O’Donnell about building your portfolio, selling printed photographs and the pure joy of photographing families.
Catherine O’Donnell’s Bio:

Catherine O’Donnell is an award-winning portrait, lifestyle and commercial photographer and specialises in creating images with an effortlessly beautiful soulful quality.
She is an advocate of the value of creating beautifully printed artwork and is drawn to capturing heart-centred images with a sense of life and energy.
With a refreshing approach and soulful vision, Catherine’s relaxed style attracts a mix of private commissions and commercial clients/ lifestyle brands.
Drawn to the beauty, simplicity and emotion of everyday moments and turning these imperfectly perfect moments into art.
She is also a mum to two lively little people and especially loves photographing children, family connections and creating beautiful artwork to enrich clients homes.
‘I really want my clients to have an experience, not just a photo shoot, and for my pictures to capture a sense of life and spirit. Essentially I photograph people, and tell a story.’
There’s a quote I love which is; ‘Don’t shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like,’ by David Alan Harvey this pretty much sums up how I feel about photography.
Catherine was born a creative soul and used to paint, sketch and take pictures from a very young age. She previously worked in various creative roles, including as the editor of a magazine and as a teacher before honing her craft and becoming a professional photographer.
Winner of Best Photography Smallish Design Award Gold 2017. Published by Professional Photo magazine & Vogue Italia.
Catherine O’Donnell’s official site. 
Be Inspired Photography Podcast with Catherine O’Donnell.

00:00 Welcome to Episode 41 of the Be Inspired Photography Podcast.
00:37 Introduction.
00:51 Sign up for our newsletter.
01:06 Leave us an iTunes review.
Catherine O’Donnell on the Be Inspired Photography Podcast.

01:44 Catherine O’Donnell interview.
01:50 How Catherine got started in photography and how she became a professional photographer.
05:42 O’Donnell describes her style of photography.
06:38 How to get your subjects to relax when photographing them.
08:47 How Catherine makes a living from photography: Make yourself different and bespoke artwork for people’s home.
11:40 What inspires Catherine O’Donnell?
12:02 Catherine’s creative process. What’s her starting point?
15:10 How to build trust with your clients and get them to open up.
18:07 O’Donnell’s post-production and editing workflow.
18:44 Typical technical setups: cameras, lenses and natural light.
21:08 Catherine’s advice for starting out in family and lifestyle photography.
23:12 The honour of capturing people’s lives and being invited into their homes.
24:31 How Catherine O’Donnell shoots with hand-painted Seamless backdrops.
25:43 Where to find and follow Catherine online.
25:57 Who is Catherine O’Donnell’s favourite photographer of all time?
Be Inspired Photography Podcast Episode 41.

26:51 Thank you to Catherine O’Donnell for joining us on the Be Inspired Photography Podcast.
26:58 Leave us a review in iTunes.