Alumna and local photographer Catherine Masters created her blog, ofRen in 2014 after graduating from the university. The blog has now transformed into a space to showcase Catherine and Devin Masters’ photography, which is mainly of engagement and wedding photography. The husband and wife duo work alongside in her photography business and remain as passionate about each other’s love as they do when creating moments for other couples.
Courtesy of Catherine Masters
The typical goal of a photographer is to capture moments, but one local photographer and university alumna, has mastered the craft of business and art by being: “a force for love that moves people.”
Catherine Masters describes her own photography aesthetic as passionate, raw and joyful, citing inspiration from local artists, as well as painters, graphic designers, musicians, stylists and entrepreneurs.
“All that talent, passion and just pure grit sparks something in me,” said Catherine Masters.
Although she took two photography classes at Southeastern, Catherine Masters’ shooting and editing is mostly self-taught. Catherine Masters created her blog ofRen in 2014 after graduating.
“It began as a way to showcase photos from mission trips, my life and to share different things that were going on in my heart,” said Catherine Masters.
According to Catherine Masters, ofRen now functions as a website for her photography business, but still includes information about her personal life. Although her methods include shooting with a Nikon D750 DSLR camera and only using prime lenses, the goal of her photographs remains close to her heart.
“It is about so much more than just weddings, photos and art,” said Catherine Masters. “For me, it is about truly impacting marriages and loving people.”
Devin Masters, husband of Catherine Masters and now second shooter of ofRen admitted that although working with his wife was a perk of the job, so was witnessing her passion for her clients.
“She isn’t afraid to get personal and make relationships, and when it comes to the shoots themselves, she is more focused on getting the couples to engage one another so that what you get isn’t just a bunch of posed bodies and smiling faces, you get moments, real and genuine love captured,” said Devin Masters. “That, to her, is the most important aspect of what she does. She has the ability to show you the beauty that you forgot you had, or maybe doubted.”
Catherine Masters believes that working with husband Devin Masters has been a seamless process because of their knowledge of each other and their craft.
“He is so creative and intuitive that he picked it up so quickly,” said Catherine Masters. “He impresses me every day.”
Catherine Masters is from LaPlace, Louisiana and has lived in Hammond for six years. She admits that her childhood included ‘two loving and supportive parents.’
While attending St. Charles Catholic High School, Catherine Masters participated in many organizations such as: the swim team, student council, National Honor Society, music ministry, drama club, retreat team and was co-founder of the science club.
As a teen, she attended modeling classes and joined an agency in New York, but after a week realized that modeling was not her passion and decided to leave.
“Someone told me, ‘You need to just do it while you are young and you still can; make a bunch of money first and then go do whatever you want,’” said Catherine Masters. “That didn’t sit right with me. It turns out, you can actually make money doing what you want to do.”
For up-and-comers in the photography world, Catherine Masters offers riveting advice on grit, passion and destiny.
“Don’t follow your heart,” said Catherine Masters. “Your heart is the thing that will lead you east one day and west the next. It will make you feel like a million bucks and then convince you that you are not and never will be good enough. Follow your passion, the thing that keeps you up at night. The thing that deep down in your gut you know you have to do. We were all made with a purpose and a destiny. Follow that. Don’t let anything, not even your heart, keep you from chasing after it.”
Catherine Masters admits that although she was nervous that her time in high school might not exceed her experience in college, she remained social and delved into her education.
“It turns out, my time at SLU exceeded all I could have dreamed of,” said Catherine Masters.
While at the university, Catherine Masters studied mass communication and journalism, while minoring in Spanish. In her junior and senior year, Catherine Masters became involved in the MVMNT, the college ministry of The Mission Church in Hammond. It was at the MVMNT where she met her current pastors and reconnected with now husband Devin Masters. The couple remain leaders at the ministry.
While in high school, Catherine Masters worked as an assistant at a photography studio, but at the time had no interest in photography. After graduating from college, she did wedding photography for Lauren Carroll Photography. During her time in college, Catherine Masters was unsure about the outcome of her future, but remained reliant on her faith to lead her to the right decisions.
“I have found that I know how God works a lot of the time,” said Catherine Masters. “He gives me a small piece of the puzzle and when I step out in faith, I begin to see the bigger picture.”
The puzzle piece that was revealed was a sudden interest in photography for Catherine Masters. After buying a camera and enrolling in a camera course at the university, her mastering of photography officially began. Since then, Catherine Masters has remained true to her religion, craft and passion for love.
“I get to wake up every day and do what I love with the person that I love,” said Catherine Masters. “I get to experience some of the most intimate and joyous moments in peoples’ lives and turn those moments into something lasting. I feel so successful that sometimes I can’t even believe my life is this beautiful. It just keeps me striving and pushing on for even greater things. The best part is that I can say that all the glory goes to God, he truly is so good to me.”
Alumna and local photographer Catherine Masters created her blog, ofRen in 2014 after graduating from the university. The blog has now transformed into a space to showcase Catherine and Devin Masters’ photography, which is mainly of engagement and wedding photography. The husband and wife duo work alongside in her photography business and remain as passionate about each other’s love as they do when creating moments for other couples.
Courtesy of Devin Masters
Alumna and local photographer Catherine Masters created her blog, ofRen in 2014 after graduating from the university. The blog has now transformed into a space to showcase Catherine and Devin Masters’ photography, which is mainly of engagement and wedding photography. The husband and wife duo work alongside in her photography business and remain as passionate about each other’s love as they do when creating moments for other couples.
Courtesy of Catherin Masters