Katie serves as Fotolanthropy’s CEO, chief storyteller and producer. In 2011, Katie founded Fotolanthropy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that combines photography + film + philanthropy to share inspiring true stories of people who have overcome adversity. Katie, her team and Fotocrew members from across the country have created a movement capturing stories of everyday heroes that inspire us all. Since its inception, Fotolanthropy has documented over 20 inspiring true stories many of which have been featured by local and national media outlets. Katie and her team have produced the following films: Baby James (an 8-month-old baby boy who lost his life to brain cancer), Beauty out of Ashes (a brave family that lost their home to the wildfires in Bastrop, TX), The Road Ahead (a new father diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma), Unexpected Joy (an inspiring family with a special needs child), and Each Day Counts (a baby boy diagnosed with SMA), Gloriously Ruined (a heartfelt adoption story) and Dance in the Rain (inspiring story of a teen that has battled brain cancer) www.vimeo.com/fotolanthropy
In 2012, Katie founded and designed a socially conscious product, Fotostrap: the Camera Strap that Gives Back. Fotostrap is a fashionable camera strap manufactured in the USA that donates 10% of each sale to Fotolanthropy. In addition to direct online sales, Fotostrap retails across the country and internationally. Katie is also the Principal Photographer for Katie Norris Portrait Arts.
In 2013, Katie produced the award-winning full-feature documentary film, Travis: A Soldier’s Story, the inspiring true story of United States Staff Sergeant Travis Mills, 1 of only 5 soldiers to have survived quadruple amputee injuries from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film has screened in over 45 cities across the country including the U.S. Capitol. Travis: A Soldier’s Story has garnered local and national media attention.
In 2015, Katie produced The Luckiest Man, documenting the inspiring true story of John Paine, who has lived courageously with ALS for 15 years. The red carpet premiere received overwhelming support hosting 800 guests and the film is now in the process of attaining wider distribution.
Katie’s giving based brands, Fotostrap and Fotolanthropy, have received local and national notoriety. Fotostrap received national attention when Katie appeared on two national Fox News’ Small Business Spotlight segments. Her Fotolanthropy stories have been featured by media outlets such as CNN, FOX, online at Today.com, DailyMail, Faithit, Huffington Post, Washington Post, Access Hollywood and Dallas Morning News. Notably, Fotolanthropy story A Father’s Love has 1.6M views online. In 2014, Katie was recognized as Baylor University’s Young Alumna of the Year and a finalist of the Dallas Foundation’s Good Works Under 40 award.