Meet Haley Roksandich | Owner & Photographer of Haley Katherine Photography, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Haley Roksandich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Haley, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I think I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. I get it honestly from my father. Growing up, I never knew what career path I wanted to take and never saw myself as a “career driven” woman. All I knew was I wanted to be happy in the career field I worked in. Working meaningless 9-5 jobs didn’t really sit well with me. I wanted to do something that would bring joy to myself and to other people. I found that joy when I started practicing photography in 2010. I would see how happy my work made my clients and that gave me a sense of fulfillment.

In 2021, I became a single mom to 3 kids, working a job that I didn’t enjoy just to get by. I was always torn between work and taking care of my children. If someone was sick, I had to call out of work then I would get penalized at work for just trying to care for my children. I learned quickly that corporate America was not built for single moms.

In 2023, the opportunity arose for me to turn my long time passion into a full-time business. I was nervous as I had never gone out on my own before and my family was depending on me to succeed. I had to make sure we would be ok even if I failed. I took the risk and managed to establish a successful wedding photography business here in East Tennessee.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a licensed wedding photographer for east Tennessee and surrounding areas. What sets me apart from other photographers is my attention to detail and ability to capture your day in a way that tells a story. I got to where I am today by hard work, dedication and not quitting when I felt like I wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t easy. Nothing worth having comes easy. I have overcome challenges by pushing through hard times and turning to loved ones for encouragement. I’ve learned that if I want to be successful at what I do, I have to push myself and continue to learn new things. If the world could know one thing about me it would be that I’m very dedicated to my work and my clients. With me, you’re not just getting a photographer for a day but also, a life long friend.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The great thing about east Tennessee is there’s always so much to do! In Knoxville, you could visit a farmers market in market square, walk around and see the beautiful murals down the different alleys and catch a UT game. You can take a day trip over to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg where there are things to do like visit some of their many different historical or science museums, go to different arcades, put put golf, eat out at restaurants like Margaritaville, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen and the Old Mill. You can visit the Smoky Mountain National Park and take a trip to places like Cades Cove to see all the different wild life of the Smokies. There are also many fun outdoor activities to do like hiking, ziplining, fishing, mountain coasters, etc. The possibilities of things to do here are endless!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shout out to all of my clients I’ve had through the years. You have made me feel like the work I do matters and have been so kind to me. I have truly enjoyed creating memories for you and starting friendships from our professional relationships.

I want to give a shout out to my Dad and Stepmom for buying me my first DSLR camera years ago and opening this whole world for me. I don’t think we ever would have guessed an early Christmas present would have unlocked a new passion of mine.

I want to give a shout out to my kids for being my driving force and the reason behind every decision I make in my life.

I want to give a shot out to my Mom. I couldn’t do it without her love and support. She’s always been so supportive of my dreams and always willing to help however she can. I owe her so much!

Website: www.haleykatherinephotography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/haleykatherineweddings

Facebook: www.facebook.com/haleykatephotos

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haleykatephotos