My Wild Life
Called to the wild
Years ago, I left my film career and busy life in the City of Angels for the vast wilds of the African bush — to learn it, photograph it, and help protect it. I was drawn there by a need to fight rhino poaching through film and photography; art for a cause has always been one of my guiding principles. That need led me to South Africa, where I became a certified safari guide. It was my way in: a reason to be in the bush every day, building the knowledge and relationships that would become the foundation for a career, a lifestyle — a life.
I'd never been anywhere so unfamiliar, and I'd never felt more at home.
That's where I discovered nature — not the postcard version, but the real one. Beautiful. Raw. Unpredictable. Being in the wild teaches you to pay attention: to yourself, to the land, to every creature that shares it with you. I spent a year sleeping in a tent in an unfenced camp, without electricity — I withstood the elements, and learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and that everything is temporary.
My personal safari
My love for photography and conservation has led me down paths I never could have anticipated.
I've been grateful to guide photographic and conservation-minded travelers through wondrous places in search of iconic wildlife — the deserts of Namibia, the rivers of Brazil, the grasslands of Kenya, the geysers of Yellowstone, and more. I've taught photography workshops, led conservation internships, and donated my artwork to support causes I believe in. My work as a conservation photographer has taken me to nonprofits in Brazil, South Africa, and the U.S., and I've worked as a photojournalist for The Guardian in Brazil and Lesotho.
All of it matters in storytelling — it's how I seek to build empathy between people and the wild.
Yet, at the heart of all this are my private moments in the wild: a jaguar emerging from inky water, a bison locking eyes with me across a snowy field, a gorilla grunting as he moves past me, his musky scent filling my nose. Those are the moments of connection I experience, and then create art to share it with you. Standing in front of one of my images, I hope that you feel that same pull toward the wild — and toward a part of yourself.
The great equalizer
My work has always been about connection — to place, to animals, to the parts of ourselves that our buzzing modern life makes us forget.
Standing in front of a large, wild animal, I feel a part of the landscape. I am considered, negotiated with, and we experience coexistence. We both have a right to be here and we both deserve respect.
My wild art photography is a living dance between me and the animal. I have no control, only presence. Together, we co-create the moment and the art.
I am so grateful that I chose this wild life
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IPA (International Photography Awards): 6 Honorable Mentions & 11 Official Selections - 2026, 2025, 2023
National Wildlife Federation 2nd place (Baby animals category) - 2022 Gardiner, Montana
Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium Grand Winner - 2021 Yellowstone
Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium Finalist for 2 images - 2021 Yellowstone
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Kate's work has placed in various international photo contests, been exhibited alongside some of her wildlife photography heroes, and helped raise funds for causes she cares about. She's taught for Yellowstone Forever, photographed for the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, and helped raise over $2 million through Prints for Wildlife — speaking along the way on ethics, storytelling, art, nature, and conservation.
Awards and Conservation Collaboration
Artwork For A Cause
Giving back is an integral part of Kate’s work. She contributes fine art pieces to fundraisers that support nonprofit organizations, helping to raise both awareness and resources. If your organization is interested in partnering, please reach out through the inquiry form.