Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Simmons.
Hi Kelly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my love for photography as a young child, being the one who brought the disposable cameras to friends’ birthday parties, family gatherings, and sleepovers. In high school, I learned a lot more about photographing using a professional camera while in the Yearbook class and on the Yearbook staff. I ended up majoring in Visual Communication and Design in college, which is a major incorporating photography, graphic design, and web design. My original goal was to become a sports photojournalist, but I sort of fell into portraits and wedding work as a way to get my work out there and pay the bills. I ended up loving it just as much as, maybe even more than, sports photography! I am now primarily a wedding photographer, but also work with families, couples, and product photography.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The hardest thing about my industry, or really any industry that involves having one’s own business, is that the best way to gain new clients is by word of mouth from past clients who loved their experience. In the time since I began working as a photographer, I have lived and worked in 4 states, with a few different locations in each state. Every time I moved, I ended up far enough from the last location that there were no repeat clients able to come back, and no word of mouth. Although looking at my portfolio, it was obvious that I had been a photographer for a long time, I had a hard time getting people to my website/socials to even look at my portfolio! With each new start, I had to have sales or special offers, advertise, and just get my name out there, before I could get a new client base again. Now, I have been established in my local area for more than 10 years, and have built up enough repeat clients and word of mouth recommendations, that I can keep my business up and running without having to run crazy sales or spending hundreds on advertising!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a photographer, I am mostly known for approaching all of my sessions or weddings with a journalistic eye. While I am perfectly capable of posing a family so that everything is “just so,” I much prefer to offer prompts rather than specific poses. For example, many photographers would approach a family session by putting two siblings next to each other, making them sit up tall, and having them just look straight forward and smile. I will instead ask one sibling to tell the other a secret, or tell them to yell their favorite food, and sometimes even give directions with movement like running or jumping. These prompts allow me to capture real expressions rather than fake smiles, and real interactions rather than some that may look forced. It’s the same when it comes to weddings as well, where I will offer the couple a prompt, like walking toward me holding hands, then let them put themselves into a position where they are comfortable to walk. Sometimes that could look like them being very spaced apart or closely holding each other’s arms. It could cause them to chat and giggle with each other, or maybe just look off into the direction where they are walking. All of these things help me to catch genuine moments, as well as keeping everyone comfortable during their sessions!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the biggest things I have learned is that the customer/client is paying for my time, experience, and creativity. They are not paying for me to just click a button. When I was first starting out, I was hesitant to take on clients because I didn’t think I had the best gear or the newest computer for editing, so my photos would not turn out as well as others. While, yes, someone can create good photos with amazing gear, if you want great photos, it isn’t about the gear or tech, it’s about the eye of the photographer and the experience they bring to the session to be able to create images that a client wants to keep and cherish. Once I learned that it isn’t about having the latest version of a camera, the biggest and most expensive lens, and the fastest editing computer, I was able to really focus on honing my craft and bettering myself in my work. Over the years I have, of course, upgraded gear, but my process is still mine, and that is what creates the images that clients love and keep them coming back and recommending me to friends and family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pbkpix.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pbkpix
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pbkpix
