Kristine Lo
Kristine Lo
Photographer / Creative Consultant
Los Angeles, CA
www.kristinelo.com
www.natureandintent.com
instagram @kristine.lo
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I work with fashion, lifestyle and wellness brands creating elevated content, strategies and experiences.”
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I started my creative career building a fashion brand as a creative director and designer for five years. My experience included building a business from concept to launch, managing an e-commerce platform & wholesale accounts, building brand presence through press & social media and ethically producing clothing & jewelry locally in Los Angeles.
I built my first company in my early twenties and decided to let go of the company after solopreneur burnout at 23. I decided to get a ‘real job’ and worked full-time a photo agency in Venice. The years at the agency really inspired me because what I loved most about building my first business and brand was creating the visual messaging to build a digital presence, implement strategies that were authentic and creating events. I was so invested in this creative pursuit that I worked 5 days a week, then took art & advertising classes at night and worked on my portfolio on the weekends.
In 2016 I started working for myself again as a commercial photographer and creative consultant working with fashion, lifestyle and wellness brands.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
My personal perspective on how to be successful is you have to create value, have empathy, and integrity. I find that sometimes these are traits that come naturally to some or take many years to cultivate for others.
I know that if I want to get an opportunity, I have to show what value I can offer. My first few photography jobs, no one handed it to me. I built my portfolio collaborating with brands and creative teams for awhile before I landed projects that are fully aligned and paid my full rate.
Being able to see the world outside of your own perspective is also an asset in any industry. I get to work with so many different personalities and not all clients are created equal. Through years of professional interactions, I’ve learned to be compassionate but also create strong boundaries. I also believe it helps to balance out empathy with having a strong sense of identity and integrity. Confidence in your work, your worth and yourself will communicate to people if they would hire or partner with you to represent them.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I’m currently launching my creative consultancy called NATURE AND INTENT. It’s a creative container that houses my services to support businesses with integrity. I offer on-going content creation, authentic marketing strategies, partnerships and event production. My past entrepreneurial and creative professional experience provides a holistic perspective and skillset available for my clients. I am equally invested in creating visual assets, strategies and experiences for my clients as if I were representing my own brand. My intention is that every partnership is aligned and our work contributes to the collective good.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
Aesthetically, my work is minimal, natural and feminine. My passion is capturing the beauty of moments in nature, portraits, and still life through light, color and composition. I also share my creative and spiritual perspective through my VISUAL DIARY. It’s become this container that houses my authentic nature and intention.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
As much as I love creating content and consulting for clients, my personal projects are always pushed aside. My intention for this year is to create more self-commissioned visual art that is an expression of my authentic love for nature and sacred moments.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
How long it has taken me to post this ILOVECREATIVES profile! I am finally getting better at marketing myself (humble-bragging) about the work I’ve done for past clients ☺
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Project Manager for my creative consultancy, NATURE AND INTENT. I would love for this role to help with nourishing the content, strategy and production needs of conscious companies.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
It was such a hard decision to end my first business. I felt like I failed and wasted the 5 years I invested in building the brand. In hindsight it was one of the best decisions I made. I would tell my 23-year-old self that there is no such thing as failures but lessons that steer you into your true path. Because I let go of this business, I ended up working a full-time job at a photo agency. The experience at the agency supported my current role as a creative professional and photographer. The experience from that first business also would be the foundation that helps my clients with the unique lens I provide in creating content, building digital presence and experiences.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I would like to learn from a mentor about conscious capitalism. I love learning from people who go ‘against the mainstream’ when it comes to profit and purpose. There’s something I truly admire in people who prefer the harder path in life and do it with intention.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
For photography, what nourishes my lifestyle and bank account is producing editorials, campaigns and lifestyle content. Create more intentional content for fashion, lifestyle, travel and wellness brands. For my consulting services, I am expanding my on-going content creation, consulting, and event production services through NATURE AND INTENT. Also, manifesting some brand activations, creative workshops, wellness programs and retreats this year.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
I love working with clients and companies with integrity. To be able to create content and experiences for a living is a dream. Always grateful for work that aesthetically and consciously aligns.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
Content creation and consulting start at $750. Commercial photography projects start at $2,500.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email me at hello@kristinelo.com for photography inquiries or connect@natureandintent.com for creative consulting & event production.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Investing in travel and wellness to nourish my creativity & spirituality.
This member profile was originally published in February 2018.