Get to know me -
Inspiring you to discover new ways and places to explore the outdoors, near and far
How I ended up here
Hey there! I’m Kat Bennett, an adventure travel and outdoor photographer, storyteller, and digital content creator with a passion for capturing and exploring the world. My love for photography started early, and over the last decade, I’ve been lucky enough to document my travels across more than 30 countries and dozens of states. Growing up in Kentucky, I used to devour stacks of Travel + Leisure magazines that a neighbor passed along to me and dreaming of one day seeing those places with my own eyes. Those glossy pages sparked a lifelong dream to see the world, and I haven’t stopped chasing that dream since.
My first taste of international travel came in high school with a trip to Jamaica, and it was there that I realized I wanted more than just resort vacations—I wanted real adventures. College gave me the chance to do just that, from volunteering in Germany to interning in Panama, and studying abroad in Southeast Asia. With each trip, my love for travel photography grew alongside my passion for travel.
After grad school, I sold my car to fund a backpacking trip through Europe and Morocco. I spent that summer waking up every day with my camera in hand, capturing everything I could. Even when I returned to start my first corporate job in Washington, DC, I made the most of my maxing out my PTO every year to explore new places every chance I got.
Three years later, I was ready for something new. I packed my bags, moved to San Diego, and started exploring the western U.S. in earnest, from the deserts of Arizona and Utah to the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. San Diego is still my home base, but my adventures haven’t slowed down. In 2022, I took the leap to chase my dreams full-time. I spent months traveling through Mexico, South America, and Indonesia, and now I’m back in California, ready to keep exploring and sharing my journeys with you.
Whether it’s hiking, camping, or road-tripping, I’m all about finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors, and I hope my story inspires you to get out there and do the same!
Fun Facts about Kat
Get to know me
I've been documenting my adventures since I was 10
I was gifted my first ever camera when I was 10 years old. It was a tiny camcorder that I used to make “commercials” of my friends, family, and pet rabbit (lol) and I have loved taking photos and videos ever since!
I loved the outdoors so much, I made it my career!
I have a degree in Environmental Science and Business Management, and outside of my Instagram page, have worked in the Energy and Utilities field for most of my corporate career
A trip to San diego turned into a full on move here!
I first moved to San Diego for “ just 6 weeks” and that 6 weeks turned into 6 months & I’ve been here since with no plans of leaving!
These are some lifelong goals I am working towards
I have 3 major life goals: publish my own coffee table book, earn enough from my photography/content creation to make it my full time job, and start a hostel/some kind of hotel business one day. A 4th life goal would probably be to create a short documentary!
Here's what life looks like when I'm not on the road...
When I’m not traveling, I love to read (“Wild” is my favorite book of all time!), work on becoming a better surfer, walk by the beach with my Golden Retriever named Maverick, hike as many of California’s trails as possible (the Trans-Catalina trail has been my favorite so far!), and snowboard in the winter
Some of my travel “favorites”:
Countries I’ve Visited:
Too hard to pick! Panama holds a really special place in my heart! A close second would be Indonesia
States:
Hawai California Oregon and Idaho
National Parks:
Glacier National Park with Grand Teton as a close second!
Experiences:
Hiking Tour du Mont Blanc trek for 10 days in the Alps, snorkeling in Nusa Lembongan, and riding horses through Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador
A few questions you may have
What kind of camera do you use?
I mainly shoot on my Sony A7 IV but also have an Olympus Stylus and Pentax K1000 film cameras, a DJI Mavic Air 2 drone, and a GoPro Hero 11. I also shoot a lot of my videos on my iPhone
How do you edit your photos?
I use Adobe’s Lightroom application on my laptop! I have created dozens of my own “presets” or filters that let me quickly edit my photos in my own, unique style
What kind of camera do you use?
Although it may look like I travel all the time, I am actually at home the majority of time! My Instagram feed is definitely a highlight reel and I actually enjoy spending a lot of time at home in San Diego. I usually try to take 2 or 3 week long trips a year with about 7 or 8 weekend trips, plus a few “staycations” around San Diego thrown in too!
How do you edit your photos?
Yes! I organize and lead a number of group trips every year. Check out where we are heading next on my Trips page!
Check out some of my latest adventures
Don't travel solo, travel with us 🙂
Group Trips
Want to join me on my next adventure?
Craving adventure and some new travel friends? My group trips have taken us from trekking the Alps to riding horses through Patagonia. Whether you’re up for multi-day hikes, exciting outdoor activities, or just want to join a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, see where we’re headed next!