Karl Maasdam

Who: Karl Maasdam, professional photographer and small business owner.
What: A conversation about the journey of starting a new photography business and finding success.
Where: 505 SW. Second St. Corvallis, OR. 97333
Why: There is something to be learned from those who have followed their dreams and succeeded.
Contact: Call him at (541)-231-0679 or e-mail at info@karlmaasdam.org



What really happens in the life of a photographer? How do they run a business doing what they love?

Today is the day to find out.

Walk into the studio of photographer Karl Maasdam, and notice several canvas photos displayed on the walls. People smiling, people playing, people kissing.

All People.

He is ready to sit on the comfy couches in his studio living room to discuss the life and business of photography.

Karl is a great example of someone who doesn't just maintain his skill and talent as a photographer. Starting his own business has grown his abilities. As a commercial and editorial photographer he gives great advise on both starting a successful business and living the successful life.

This small room looks like any living room one might sit in. The photo's that hang here tell a story of the person who hung them, the one who shot the photographs and captured the memory as all his own.

Karl explains that one of his favorite parts of working as a photographer is the people. Some more interesting than others. "I really like meeting people and hearing their stories." He says.

One of his proudest achievements is the picture he took of a woman mowing the lawn while carrying two babies: one on her front and the other on her back.

The picture made it into "America 24/7" a book consisting of pictures from various photographers in the US. Since then, it has been used in several other publications.

Most of Karl's work is done at home, but he often meets clients at this downtown studio in the college town of Corvallis, Ore. Work hours vary depending on the time of year. Mid-July through mid-October is when bookings are the heaviest for this popular photographer. It's not unusual during this time for Karl to spend 60 hours per week working on projects.

It's February now and Karl is ready to relax and chat for a few minutes. He eases onto the couch and thinks back to how this happened.

It was eighth grade when he took one journalism class with just two weeks focused on photography and was instantly hooked. His mom worked for the newspaper and young Karl liked photography. These two familiar grounds were the start to a job he loved in photojournalism.

Karl got married and soon a daughter was born. By the time Karl's second child came, he had decided to quit his job and work independently.

Many of the people Karl now works with, knew and respected his professional work from his job at the newspaper. This gave Karl an open door to several assignments that helped start his own business.

"It's a lot of commercial work." Karl has estimated that commercial work takes up about 55 percent of his job. Oregon State University and Samaritan Health Services is a big part of this.

Marketing and public relations coordinator, Jennifer Nitson says that Karl has been taking pictures for Samaritan Health Services since before she began with them in 2008.

"I have not worked with another photographer since I've been here," she says. "He just does a really good job for us."

Wall hangings at Samaritan hospitals highlight the facility's own doctors and nurses in action. A Samaritan billboard on Highway 34 also displays Karl's journalistic style in gigantic proportions.

Karl explains that he likes what he does, but only when he gets to actually do it.

"I like it all... The only thing I don't enjoy is it's always slow in Jan, Feb, Mar. This is the first year my youngest has been in school full time so I have all day of being bored." Today, Karl's work is to clean out a room in the studio.

In the summer months things will pick up and Karl will have full weeks of up to 60 hours.

"A couple years ago I did 30 (weddings) in one summer which is ridiculous," says Karl. This meant cram packed days. An eight hour wedding means 40 hours of work after the wedding to do things like copying pictures to CD's and fixing photos.

On a wedding website, a recently married bride raved about the great service that Karl gave, saying,

"The photos turned out better than I could imagine with every memorable moment captured. His type of photography is the storybook idea where staged photos are to a minimum and he focuses on photos that tell the story of the day."

"It's the closest thing to story telling, which I love," says Karl, "And so many photographers shoot weddings now that it's getting harder and harder."

The hardest part of starting his own business?

"The actual business part. My wife's an accountant so she does a lot of that (financial) stuff.
But it's also fun to have a business" says Karl. He adds, "The first year of taxes was horrible. Now I'm much more organized."

"I always tell people, 'take a business classes cause man, you never know."'

"They always say you don't make money in a business for the first five years and its true."
Karl is very honest about how tough it can actually be.

"We didn't make money for three years," he explains, adding that it's important to be saving for retirement and have extra money in the bank in case of broken equipment or other emergencies.

Despite tough beginnings, Karl has learned a lot and really enjoys the job he has made for himself.

"The worst part is not having coworkers. Having employees is not the same as having coworkers.

This setback is minor in Karl's mind. He loves the people he meets and looks forward to his assignments.

Being able to work around his job to spend time with family and pursue his passions was Karl's goal and he has succeeded in all aspects.