Magic Happens Before The Camera Clicks | Greenville Portrait Photographer
- Mabry Thompson
- Feb 20
- 3 min read
“She smiled, then she teared up.” That is the moment Kate Callaham lives for.
If you have ever been in the studio on session day, you have probably seen it happen. The mirror moment. The quiet pause. The soft emotional smile when someone finally sees themselves the way they forgot they could look. Beautiful. Confident. Enough.
Kate is the artist behind KaKed by Kate, and she is also the main hair and makeup artist for Greenville Portrait Photographer, Photography by Mabry. Every full session with me includes professional hair and makeup for mom, and Kate is the one creating that experience from start to finish. She is a huge part of what makes session days feel calm, special, and honestly a little magical.
Kate has been doing hair and makeup professionally for three years, but her love for it started way earlier. She was the friend everyone called in middle school and high school when they needed help curling their hair or fixing their makeup. The real turning point came after her daughter was born. Kate felt a deep pull to finally go after the dream she had put on the back burner. She wanted her daughter to grow up watching her mom chase big goals and believe in herself.
Her love for women is the foundation of her work. She talks often about how meaningful it is to watch a client’s face light up after seeing their finished look. She especially loves reminding moms of their beauty, because so many spend their days caring for everyone else and forget about themselves.
Kate’s chair is a safe space. You can talk the whole time. You can vent. You can sit quietly. You can even change your mind about your look, and she truly means it when she says her feelings will not be hurt. She pays attention to people’s energy and meets them right there. That emotional awareness is one of the biggest reasons my clients feel so comfortable before stepping in front of the camera.
Her signature makeup style is natural glam. Skin still looks like skin. Freckles still show. Features look enhanced, not hidden. She believes makeup should enhance the beauty that is already there, a lesson passed down from her grandma. That philosophy fits perfectly with the way I photograph women and mothers. We are not creating someone new. We are revealing what is already there.
Her approach to hair is just as thoughtful. She starts every session with a real consultation. She looks at hair type, texture, length, and how well curls hold. She listens to concerns and preferences. She is honest when an inspiration photo will not translate exactly and then creates a plan that works beautifully for that individual.
Clients feel involved and cared for, not rushed through a routine.She also cares deeply about setting clients up for success before they even arrive. Kate always asks clients to wash their hair the night before and come with dry hair. Wet hair slows everything down and makes styling harder to hold. She also prefers clients arrive with a clean, bare face so her products can work their best without reacting to skincare she is unfamiliar with. These little details help the entire session flow smoothly, and they help every client look their absolute best on camera.
Kate is a licensed cosmetologist. She has attended advanced education including a Makeup by Mario Masterclass in Atlanta and training with Angel Samples. Her skill is backed by education, but her warmth is what people remember most.
Many of my clients love her so much that they continue seeing her outside of sessions. Kate also works behind the chair at Rooted in Williamston, South Carolina, where she specializes in blonding, lived in color, curly cuts, balayage, and more. That trust speaks volumes.
Kate is not just someone who does hair and makeup for my sessions. She is a core part of the experience I offer. She helps women walk into their session feeling calm, cared for, and confident. And that feeling always shows in the final images.
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