Tri-Folks: Katelynn Cantrell
I usually remember people I meet and we have had some semblance of a conversation. Ask my wife, we are bumping into people I “know” all the time. But, neither Katelynn, the face above, nor I can remember where our paths originally crossed. We think it was likely at a Creatives Media Night. Years ago this was a group of creatives—photographers, makeup artists, models, and others—that would gather and be creative together making fun photos. Katelynn and I assumed we followed each other on social media after one of those gatherings. Through her social media posts I was impressed with her desire to help people who were dealing with difficult skin issues.
So, sometime between then and the middle of last year, I thought she would be a great candidate for my Tri-Folks series of portraits that feature a Tri-Cities small business owner. I am sure Katelynn would admit she likes the idea of the Tri-Folks series. But she was not too enthusiastic about being the face in front of my camera. Last year we were both vendors at the Tri-Cities Women’s Expo we had a chance to chat some more about my idea. After that conversation she came around to the idea. It took a few months, but we found a date to make the portrait happen. I packed up my mobile studio and met her at her place of business in Kennewick—Indie Beauty and Wellness.
Katelynn is quite a humble person. She shared several stories of how she helped people with their skin issues and I could see on her face how important her work is to her. That was inspiring.
And, as usual, here is a bit about her and her business in her own words. Enjoy.
How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities?
Where else have you lived?
I have lived in Tri-Cities most of my life. I am originally from Yakima, WA. But consider myself from Tri-Cities since my family moved here when I was very young.
What exactly is your business/service?
I am a Master Esthetician. I own Indie Beauty & Wellness. We are a spa that specializes in corrective skincare. We offer relaxation and corrective services. Although, my specialty is acne and skin dysfunction alone.
How did you find yourself doing this service?
And why do you do it?
I wanted to help people. Confidence is not easy to come by, it's a learned behavior. Helping someone realize that they are beautiful for who they are and making them feel confident in the skin they were blessed with brings me joy like no other.
What is one of your favorite client success stories?
I have too many to name one. My clients are like a beautiful bouquet to me. Each a beauty in their own right and so individually different. That’s one of the things I love about what I do.
What do you do for fun?
My favorite things to do are read, travel, and hike. I am a PNW girl through and through. So, anything outdoors is right up my alley as long as it's warm outside—LOL. Traveling has always been a passion of mine and I have been blessed to see a lot of different places and hope to continue to be able to do that. But my best days are when I'm hanging out with my dogs and reading a book.
Red Vines or Twizzlers?
Well, considering I have been gluten free since I was 14 and don't remember what either tastes like anymore (lol) I'm going to go from memory and say twizzlers because I liked peeling the strings & eating them individually (lol)