Conversations with Kelly Simmons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Simmons. 

Hi Kelly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I have been a photographer since my freshman year of high school when I was given the opportunity to photograph the football team as well as to help with photos for the yearbook. I moved from Delaware to South Carolina in 2009, where I fell in love with the Lowcountry. I have a gorgeous daughter and a wonderful husband, who are both incredibly supportive of my photography career. 

I specialize in weddings, but I absolutely love capturing an engagement or family session as well! I like to approach any and all sessions with a photojournalistic eye. My goal is always to capture true and authentic moments between couples, families, and friends while providing my clients with gorgeous memories. I have worked with many people for headshots and branding photos, and I love to take product photos. If you have an idea for a session, I am game to take it on! 

Although I have been working as a professional photographer for more than 15 years now, last year I took a leap that I wasn’t ever sure would be possible. I left my day jobs to pursue photography full-time here in the Lowcountry and I could not be happier. Thanks to friends, family, and past clients, I have been able to continue working and doing what I love. As a small business, I appreciate every single person out there who has helped me to get where I am now. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I can’t say that it has always been smooth, however, I have always known that photography was where my passion lied. When I moved South, it was difficult to get the business started up locally, since a large quantity of my clients are referred to me by past satisfied clients. After years of working day jobs with photography being my “side gig,” my business began to build. I consistently work as a second photographer for other local photographers and strive to learn from everyone I work with. Just this past year, I was able to leave my day job so that I could focus exclusively on my photography. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When a client hires me to photograph their wedding or their family, they are hiring someone who will work to present the most true and authentic representation of the day. 

While I am able to pose my clients, I have found that the way to bring out the absolute best expressions and interactions in a photo is to just let people be who they are. I will give a prompt and catch what happens. Sometimes it can be a look into the eyes between a couple, or it can be a big hug for a family that will create the happiest and most authentic looks. 

When editing a session, my primary goal is to enhance the natural look of the photos. I aim to brighten the light, bring out some of the colors, or remove a distracting object from the background. I don’t use excessive editing, smoothing, coloring, or filters. 

If there is anything I have learned in my years of work, it is that people are most happy and receptive when the photos come back as simply a better and enhanced version of the day they remember. The entire reason for photographs like these is to capture a memory so that it will live on outside of people’s minds. My clients can share the images with people who weren’t able to be there, or they can look back in ten years and remember just how small their oldest child was. I want nothing more than to bring a moment or memory to life on a page or a screen so that it will live on once the moment is over. 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
The Charleston area is a wonderfully diverse and varied place. A person can walk down one street with cobblestones and old brick buildings, and a few streets over find a wonderfully modern art gallery. I love that, within an hour’s drive, I can visit a bustling downtown city, a historical home, a lush park, a quiet suburb, or take a walk on the beach. There is no shortage of incredible local food and handmade items to be found around the city and beyond. A person can pop into a restaurant or bar nearly any time of day and find a live musician playing while they order a drink made with locally-distilled liquor or beer from a nearby brewery. 

People have moved here from many states and countries for various reasons and stayed for the views and the true Southern hospitality. I have met people from all over, both in my work and just while out and about. Everyone has a story and it’s amazing to see and hear them all. 

If I have any dislikes, they would be almost 100% related to traffic and heat. The traffic can get pretty horrible here, especially during certain times of day, and the summer heat can be intense. That being said, these are pretty small prices to pay to live in an area like Charleston. 

Contact Info:

• Email: photosbykellyinfo@gmail.com
• Website: www.pbkpix.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/pbkpix
• Facebook: facebook.com/pbkpix

Image Credits
Shannon Rae
Photos By Kelly