Local photographer, Katie Swatek Hjelm recently had one of the pictures she photographed featured on the cover of SeniorInspire Magazine. SeniorInspire Magazine is a magazine utilized by photographers that dedicate much of their work to photographing high school seniors. It showcases articles and tips of the trade that will help any aspiring or professional photographer up their game and stay up to date on the latest trends and techniques being used by different photographers.

When Katie was in fourth grade, she was given a film camera, but did not really take many pictures or really become interested until high school. Katie has been doing photography since she was a junior in high school. A friend of hers had a film camera that Katie liked to mess with, and her love of photography took off from there. She was a part of the yearbook as a senior in high school and fell in love with design and photography. Even though she enjoyed photography, it was never on her radar as a potential career. In college, she switched her major several times before deciding on photojournalism which eventually led her down the path to portraits.

In 2012, Katie moved to South Dakota intending for it to only be a temporary move but decided to stay and pursue photography professionally. That same year she opened her first studio, Katie Swatek Photography, in Wagner. Her first studio was located above the old Blaha’s Bridal/ Stacy’s Expressions building. In 2014 she bought her current studio at 106 2nd St SW in Wagner.

Every year SeniorInspire Magazine hosts a contest that photographers can submit to in hopes of making the “Photographers to Follow” list. There are over 3,000 submissions every year to this contest. This year, 2024, Katie was extremely surprised to not only have five images chosen to be featured in the magazine, but also to have one image selected to be the cover of the magazine. The magazine cover featured a senior, Ashlynn, from Winner. Ashlynn decided that she wanted to have one of her sessions done in the Badlands. Ashlynn is featured leaning forward while sitting on the ground near a stream with the Badland rock formations in the background as the time-of-day approaches evening. Ashlynn’s bright orange hat and bold blue jumpsuit are in stark contrast to the earth tones surrounding her.

Katie has been featured in several other magazines as well. These include Senior Year Magazine, Monochrome Seniors and SeniorInspire. She recently won second place in three categories Outdoor Senior, Senior Sport and Senior Hobby at the Senior and Youth Sports National Conference (SYNC) image competition. That particular competition had over 1,200 images submitted.

When asked what her favorite types of photos to take are, Katie said that seniors would always be her favorite types of portraits to take. For everyday pictures, she will always pull over to the side of the road if there is a beautiful sunset. Another type of portraits Katie would enjoy doing would be taking pictures of her children, if only they would sit still for her. One of her favorite places to take photographs is in her own backyard, the Missouri River. She spends a lot of time there with her seniors and by the end of the season, ends up with more sand in her car than there is at St. Francis beach.

Her photography business specializes in modern senior portraits that emphasize a stellar experience as well as beautiful portrait work. Katie also offers family sessions and professional headshots.

Katie is a firm believer in staying up to date on the latest photography/portrait innovations and education. There is always something new to learn whether it be from a seminar, class, peer or professional. To stay relevant, it is important to learn as much as one can from as many people as possible. Each year, Katie tries to make at least two educational appearances, usually in the form of a conference and a workshop. SYNC is her go to conference. It fills her creative cup and allows her to chat with peers and people in the industry that are in the same season of life and business as she is. Over the years, Katie has also become a part of a close-knit group of industry friends that she talks to daily, and they help each other evolve as not only photographers and business owners, but as humans as well.

The upcoming senior portrait season, Katie is looking forward to trying some new things with her seniors. She will be implementing new ways of using color and color theory. She has always enjoyed playing with light when it comes to working with sports or unique ideas that her seniors come up with.

In order to get better at the art of photography, Katie does try to practice her craft. Usually, if she wants to practice with someone, she will ask a senior if he or she could come early to their session to try a few things out that Katie has had on her mind. Some of her ideas work and some of them do not come out how she had envisioned them, but that is what practice is for.

When asked what advice she would have for someone interested in photography or someone who has some experience under their belt, Katie said it was a tough question. If someone wants to do photography as a hobby, the best thing he or she could do would be to learn everything one can about the camera he or she is using. One interesting piece of advice Katie has is to learn the rules for no other purpose than to know when one can break them and understand that practice will never make perfect, but it will absolutely improve everything one is doing. Katie says to learn from as many people as one can. This is sound advice for any career.

As a photographer, Katie thinks it is important for someone to realize that it will take time to find one’s style. It will take time to develop as a photographer and learn who you are behind the camera. Education is something that can never be taken from you, so do everything you can to learn as much as possible. One final piece of advice from Katie is that if a person is looking to do photography as a business, it might be a good idea to major or minor in business when furthering one’s education.

Katie is married to her husband, Danny, and they have three beautiful children Jensen, JorDee and Jasper. When Katie is not busy working, she enjoys playing volleyball, watching sports with her children, planting flowers, watching sunsets and spending time with her family.

Congratulations Katie on winning the cover contest for SeniorInspire Magazine and having five more of your senior portraits selected to be in the issue as well.