BIO-TECH - Katy Grainger

There are certain shoots that stay with you long after the production wraps. This was one of them. I photographed Katy Grainger in Seattle for a campaign with BioTech, a company working in more than 23,000 ways to fight disease. But what made this project unforgettable wasn’t the scale of the campaign, it was Katy herself.

A few years ago, Katy developed sepsis from what initially seemed like a minor infection. Within days, she was fighting for her life. She survived, but lost both of her lower legs and several fingertips. Reading about her story beforehand was emotional enough, but sitting across from her in person was something entirely different. What struck me most wasn’t tragedy. It was her presence. She carried herself with a kind of warmth, humor, grace, and strength that immediately filled the room. There was no self pity. No performance. Just an incredibly grounded human being who had endured the unimaginable and somehow came through with even more compassion and light. As a photographer, I’m always looking for connection. The kind of work that goes beyond making a beautiful image and actually means something. This project reminded me why I’m drawn to photographing real people and real stories in the first place.

I remember listening to Katy speak during the interview portions of the shoot and finding myself emotional more than once. Not because her story was only heartbreaking, although parts of it absolutely are, but because of the way she spoke about life afterward. Her resilience felt deeply human and incredibly inspiring.

The image of her prosthetic legs standing alone in the bathroom became one of the frames that stayed with me most. Quiet, simple, and deeply personal. It says so much without needing to explain everything.

I feel incredibly lucky that my work allows me to step into moments like this. To collaborate with people willing to share vulnerable parts of their lives in hopes that it may help someone else feel seen, informed, or less alone. This is exactly the kind of work I want to continue pursuing. Human stories. Honest connection. Work that leaves something with you after you walk away.

To learn more about Katy’s story and sepsis awareness, visit the Sepsis Alliance.