Oerter opens photography studio

Sisters High School alum Kaci Oerter has a new business in town: K.O. Photography, at 371 W. Cascade Ave.

Open since the first of June, she does every kind of photography you can think of, from family events to weddings to pet portraits. Her bread and butter of late has been "Old Time" portraits, done in her Cascade Avenue studio. She prints her own photos in-house, and can handle prints up to 11 by 14 inches.

Originally from St. Louis, Kaci moved to the Sisters area during her sophomore year; she graduated from high school in 2005. She attended Chemeketa Community College in Salem, where she majored in graphic design.

But, she says, "I really liked the photography aspect of it better, so I ended up doing that. And," says Kaci, "I get to do my own design work," such as creating her own promotional materials and signage.

"I've been into art my whole life," she said, "And I've done a whole lot around town. During my junior and senior years, I pretty much ran the sign shop there (Sisters High School), doing signs for the ball field and a few businesses in town."

Kaci got a start in photography when some friends got married, and she offered to do their wedding photos.

"I really liked it," she said. "I'd done a lot of senior portraits for friends, and I just liked it. I bought the camera for school - we were required to buy a good camera - so I already had the camera, the computer and the software.

"Then my dad - my dad's big into business - he wanted me to get my own business going. He helped me start this up, financially.

"He's supported me through everything," said Oerter, "He trusts me so much it scares me sometimes. He's always willing to step up and say 'I know you can do it.' He's always been a great dad; my mom left us when I was five, and he raised my sister and me our whole lives. He means a lot to me."

Kaci's dad, Jim, owns the auto and truck repair shop in the Shell station on the west end of town.

"It was kind of his idea to do it now," she said, "I probably would have waited, but I'm really glad we're doing it now."

For the immediate future, Kaci plans on taking some business classes at COCC, continuing to learn more about photography, and growing her new business.