Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenneth Cohen.
Hi Kenneth, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My love for always willing to learn and pivot is what got me to where I am today.
Change is constant and if you can not consistently change with your world it can be hard, especially in media.
I started my path yearning to be in front of the camera but learned to enjoy wearing a producer and director hat when opportunity was not presenting itself as much. Now I prefer those roles.
I have always had to make adjustments and change direction. I pride myself on being a Swiss Army knife when it comes to media. I feel like being flexible is the best transferable skill I have. I believe I am gifted but the ability to solve a variety of problems is what I believe has guided me on my path and has set me apart.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not been easy and I could list off a lot of outside variables that may have made the road even more difficult but the truth is I always put a lot of the burden on me.
I struggled to bet on myself early on in life. I struggled with the thought that I could be good at something I had a passion for.
I hurt myself in a variety of ways, whether I was doing a project well below my professional rate or not accepting a new assignment because of uncertainty in my ability to create what the client was asking for. That type of self-sabotage slowed my growth process.
Those dark days were important though. It helped me understand self-worth and what it would take to succeed in freelance. It helped me understand that there is no perfect time to advance, you have to always be progressing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a media specialist currently focused in portrait photography. I am employed as a 2nd shooter and videographer by two wedding companies, one specializing in traditional Indian weddings and the other focused on weddings in the Atlanta area.
I also do my own freelance work from headshots in Chicago to Graduation portraits at GSU.
My favorite part are portraits sessions with the couples. I love seeing the love and electricity between the couple.
I’m always happy when I can get the groom and groomsmen excited for the photos. The bride and her party are easy but getting authentic emotion out of the groom’s party is a challenge and I like challenges. The mood of my portraits can be felt and that is a goal for me every session.
How do you think about happiness?
Moving within my purpose is what makes me happy. Understanding that I’m filling a need or void for someone else is refreshing.
Today we can be so self-serving and I think it’s important to see the world with a macro perspective.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: _Camfuk3nny
Image Credits
Kenneth Cohen
