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Jean Karotkin is a self-taught documentary/portrait photographer. Born in Texas and New York-based, she began my career relatively late in life. Jean’s work explores different subcultures of women, including women in Cuba, drag queens, inmates in the largest women’s prison in the world. Her current project is Women Behind the Lens, important living female photographers to inspire the next generation.

Q&A with Jean Karotkin

​Q: How would you describe the aesthetic of your website in three words?

​JK: ​Elegant, sentient and straightforward.

​Q: How often do you typically update your website?

​JK: ​Because of my latest body of work, I continue to add and delete images. When I have some free time, I will review the site to see if I need to revise anything. The site has so many new features that I haven’t had the time to apply.

​Q: ​How do you choose the photos that you display on your homepage?

​JK: ​I try to use images that would have the most impact, but what I may perceive as the best may be viewed differently by a curator.

​Q: What is your favorite new feature of liveBooks8?

​JK: T​​​​he site itself is so wonderful with it offering so many different features compared to the original ​liveBooks site. As I mentioned above, there are still features that I have yet to explore and apply.

 

​Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone designing their website?

​JK: ​For me, it was to keep it simple, which may not be applicable for the type of photographer you are. You want your homepage to make a really good impression, though. Therefore, the viewer will want to see more of your work, but not be overwhelmed.