Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Benson.
Hi Kristen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved photography, but I had never considered it as a career, even while attending business school. It wasn’t until some health issues knocked me off of my past career path, that I considered doing something that I love; like becoming a professional photographer.
I was born & raised in South Florida and then moved to the Carolinas in my second year of college. Now, because I have family/friends in both areas, I travel back & forth between Central Florida and Charlotte, NC area (including surrounding areas like Rock Hill, SC). Both of these places are growing tremendously.
My goal is to highlight the talent in each of these locations through my work and really show off what these small businesses have been able to accomplish.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Learning how to become a real professional hasn’t been easy; especially since I’m self-taught.
I signed up for as many free webinars as I could find, studied all kinds of photography videos created by some of the best photographers around the world, and learned a ton through trial & error. There were definitely days where I felt like a total failure and that the pictures just weren’t good enough.
The truth is though, in those days, I did fail and those pictures weren’t good enough, but that’s okay. Whenever I messed up, I learned what to NEVER do again and what I needed to do in order to do better in the future. Each time I failed I got a little bit better.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When the pandemic happened, it highlighted the serious need small business owners had for current custom imagery (of themselves and their establishment) for all of their social media platforms.
People were no longer leaving their homes and the only way to get to know you, as a business & owner, was through your website, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.
This was one of the reasons I decided to focus primarily on personal branding & candid marketing (or what I like to call “business lifestyle”) photography. I realized that my business education, customer service background, and passion for photography, genuinely made this the perfect job for me.
Even though I am open to doing different types of photography (event, engagement, maternity, etc.), my passion is helping small business owners show off the more personal side of their business; images of their creative process, behind the scenes, what they do on their days off, & more.
My goal is to help entrepreneurs feel comfortable in front of the camera, bring their vision to life with unique colorful imagery to use on all of their social media platforms, and show their future customers why this is a business they shouldn’t pass up.
I am very proud of the progress that I’ve made within the past few years. It was only three years ago that I touched a professional camera for the first time. Seeing, not only, how much my photo-taking skills have improved, but also my editing techniques is truly amazing.
It really is so humbling to go back and look at where you started. It will make you extremely appreciative of how far you’ve come. Since I was a little kid, people have always told me that I’ve had “the eye.”
Eventually, I realized that I didn’t just have the eye for taking pictures, I had a talent for taking flattering candid ones; those natural, genuine, “in the action” moments.
Friends of mine that hated being in pictures, realized over the years that I would never let them look bad in a picture that I took. Plus, I’m pretty goofy so that tends to help people relax and feel more comfortable around me & the camera.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Besides spending time with family & friends, dancing to my favorite songs, kayaking in peaceful places, and going on hiking adventures… I genuinely find happiness in helping others to see themselves the way that I do.
I love being able to show each person just how unique & beautiful they are. Seeing their reaction & the confidence boost they get after seeing the results truly makes all the hard work worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kmbeesphotography.com
- Instagram: @kmbeesphotography
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdwy24St/
Image Credits
KMBee’s Photography
