Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Lowry-Tisler.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It actually started with a disposable camera! I was maybe 12 or 13, dressing up my sister and her friends, doing their makeup, posing them, and snapping pictures. I didn’t realize it then, but I was already doing what would eventually become my life’s work!
Fast forward a few years…. I was a full-time college student, working full time, and raising my kids after a divorce. I was stretched so thin, constantly trying to follow the path I thought I should be on. But the more I pushed myself through it, the more I realized… it just wasn’t for me. Photography & honestly, building something of my own, made me feel alive! There was something about creating art, making my own rules, and carving out a path that was mine that I couldn’t walk away from!
So I went all in. I quit the path that was draining me and poured everything into this. It was terrifying, but I had a great support system. Especially my mom, who helped with childcare while I built my dream from the ground up. I built this by testing, pivoting, and learning in real-time…no perfect plan, just determination. And when things didn’t go right, I didn’t see it as failure. I saw it as a growth opportunity. I saw what didn’t work, so hopefully next time will be better!
One of the biggest shifts in my growth came when I stopped looking at what everyone else around me was doing. I put my blinders on. I focused on my path, my clients, and the impact I wanted to make. Tunnel vision in the best way.
I now run multiple brands under KLT Studios, all centered around empowerment, self-love, and creating space for people to see themselves again. I’ve learned that my ADHD isn’t something to be ashamed of, it’s my superpower. My brain is creative, always moving, always dreaming up new ways to help people feel more confident and connected.
And that’s what keeps me going. Watching someone walk into my studio unsure, and leave glowing. Watching them post that selfie they never thought they’d take. Watching them go from hiding behind the camera to being the main character.
What began with dressing up my sister and snapping photos on a disposable camera has turned into a business that empowers people daily… and I’m still learning and growing!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. Running your own business is hard! Some months you make enough to cover everything, and some months you’re barely scraping by. One week you feel like you’re killing it, and the next, you feel like a complete failure. And being a photographer is not just snapping pictures, it’s an emotional, mental, and physical job. There’s so much incredible talent in this area that it’s easy to feel like you’re not enough. You really have to stay focused on your path and your purpose or you’ll lose yourself trying to keep up with everyone else….
I’ve missed things my kids were involved in because of work. I’ve put strain on relationships.. It’s constant learning, constant growth, and constant hustle.
But even on the hard days, especially on the hard days, I remind myself what this really is. I get to freeze time. I get to create art that helps people see themselves. I get to give them something they’ll hold onto forever. And honestly that makes every sacrifice worth it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in empowerment. Yes, it’s photography, but it’s not just about the pictures! I run multiple brands under KLT Studios, and each one is rooted in helping people feel seen, powerful, and confident in their own skin. Whether it’s boudoir, glamour, or fine art portraiture, I create experiences that go deeper than just “smile for the camera.”
I’m probably best known for my boudoir work, not JUST because it’s sexy, but because it’s transformational. I work with women (and nonbinary folks and couples too) who’ve spent years hiding, waiting for the “right time,” feeling like they’re not enough. And then they walk into my studio and leave as someone who remembers who the hell they are.
And let me tell you…I bring the hype! If you’re in front of my camera, you’re going to be cheered on, celebrated, and reminded every step of the way how amazing you are. My clients talk about the energy I bring, how safe, seen, and hyped they feel. It’s not just about posing you and taking a picture…..it’s about helping you feel like the badass you already are. We laugh, we scream, sometimes we cry, but I promise, you’ll leave feeling like that bitch!
I’ve created signature sets like the Rain Room and the Bubble Bath, and I design full campaigns like “Boudoir Through the Ages” and “40 over 40 Campaign,” which highlight real people with real stories. I’m also building out KLT Empowerment Co, where I offer digital confidence tools like pep talks, journal prompts, workshops, and mindset resets & group events.
What I’m most proud of is watching people bloom. I see it happen all the time: someone walks in with nerves, unsure if they can even do a session like this and then they leave glowing, posting selfies, making themselves their own profile picture again! That light, the one they forgot they had, starts shining again, and that’s MAGICAL!
What sets me apart is the heart I put into every part of this. I don’t do surface-level. I don’t do trends. I create from a place of experience, growth, and healing. I’ve been through hard things. I’ve doubted myself. And I’ve rebuilt from the ground up. That shows up in my work and I think people feel that when they’re in front of my lens.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was always outgoing and full of personality… a total girly girl. I was the kind of kid who talked in full sentences way too early and wanted to be involved in everything. My mom spent a lot of time with me, teaching me things and nurturing that curiosity. I was smart, creative, and had a big imagination… but I also had that perfectionist streak where if I wasn’t immediately good at something, I’d convince myself I couldn’t do it.
I loved to draw, but I never thought I was “good enough,” so I’d hide it. But photography felt like freedom. It was something I could do that didn’t have to be perfect, it just had to feel right. I’ve already mentioned how I used to pose my sister and her friends and snap photos with disposable cameras, but really, that was just part of how I expressed myself. I was always choreographing dances with my cousin, putting on plays and singing on our “stage” (the back porch — my poor parents had to watch all the shows), organizing little photoshoots with my Barbies, dressing people up, and basically running the show.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.klt-couture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kltcouture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLTCouture
