Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Gordon.
Kristen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I first became interested in photography as a hobby in college while attending the University of South Carolina. I had my little digital camera, your typical point-and-shoot, that I took with me everywhere. Yes, I was that annoying friend and family member taking pictures of everything! Anything I thought was worth capturing to cherish the memory…CLICK! But the moment my photography journey truly evolved was in 2012 while visiting London, UK with my parents. My dad still talks about that moment to this day. I captured everything on my phone or digital camera and he was so impressed with my creative eye and the different perspectives I could create, he encouraged me to take photography more seriously. So that’s exactly what I did. My parents bought my first DSLR camera after I graduated college, and it was one of the best gifts I could have ever received.
A few years later, my family continued to grow and I became the ‘family photographer’ capturing moments of my little nieces and nephews. Then for whatever reason, my sister trusted me and asked that I take her engagement photos. I was hesitant at first because I didn’t think I was good or knowledgeable enough to take someone’s engagement pictures (even if it was just for my sister)! I kept asking her “Are you sure about this?? You don’t want to go to a professional??” People are going to see these images!! Thankfully, my sister saw something in me as well. It’s crazy how sometimes it’s the people around you that can see your gift and potential before you see it for yourself.
We did the engagement session and I shared it on my personal Facebook page. The feedback I received was overwhelming! Instantly, I started receiving messages in my inbox asking if I could take pictures of this person, family, or couples. Subsequently, I was faced with the question ‘How much do you charge?’ I remember replying to one person asking “Charge for what?” You mean to tell me people will pay ME to take pictures?! It’s so easy to doubt yourself when you’re trying something new and afraid what others may think once you put your service and/or product out there for everyone to see. But I thank God I had family and friends who were extremely supportive and challenged me to be more confident and own my craft. So that is how my photography business was born. Lavish Moments Photography opened in April 2015!
Before rebranding to K. Marie in 2018, I started as Lavish Moments Photography capturing everything from families, newborns, weddings, or anything you could think of. Along the years, I narrowed down my niche and found my passion for creating dynamic visuals for women of color. I am now a lifestyle and commercial photographer for women of color and the brands we love!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Wouldn’t we all love to say yes to this question? I can definitely say it has not always been easy going. In 2017, after celebrating only two years of my photography company, I took the biggest leap of faith and decided to leave the ‘Corporate World’ to become a full-time entrepreneur. Such a scary yet liberating feeling pursuing my dream! As you can imagine, leaving a 9 to 5 to focus solely on my business came with many challenges. Sometimes I would second guess myself. We’ve all done it. ‘Was this the right decision? Did I fully prepare for this transition? Why does he/she seem to have it all figured out? What am I doing wrong?’ That’s just what comes with the territory of being a business owner, afraid to fail.
I experienced moments of anxiety and some financial struggles. Because who are we kidding, being a start-up freelancer is difficult. After reading articles and listening to motivational podcasts about the journey of similar creatives deciding to go full-time with their business, I realized I experienced a lot of the same challenges. I made money but I had to reinvest a lot back into my business, so unfortunately I didn’t have the extra funds to do what I truly desired.
But what I have learned is that even through adversity and many stressful situations that occurred, if I could still wake up happy to pull out my camera and create, then this is what I was destined to do. Connecting and creating with such powerful women is my purpose. The lessons I have learned throughout my photography journey have made me a better photographer and business owner. Everyone is going to face an array of struggles at some point with their business, but the test is how to overcome them and thrive.
“The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow”.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about K. Marie – what should we know?
I offer lifestyle and commercial photography for influencers/bloggers, brands, and business owners. I specialize in capturing melanin in natural light. Too many times, I have seen and heard unpleasant stories about women no longer feeling comfortable in front of the camera because of their past experiences. Complaints about being too dark or overexposed and washed out, unflattering poses or angles, and even not recognizing themselves in the pictures. As a specialist in natural light photography, I’ve worked really hard to create a space for my clients to trust I will capture the essence of their beauty and personality every single time.
This year I co-hosted my very first photography workshop, Melanin + Light. Partnering with my sister photog, Denise of Denise Benson Photography, we sought to enhance the skills of beginner photographers. We received such great feedback and requests from other cities that we were immediately inspired to host another workshop in 2020. I am most proud that I’m able to educate and inspire other aspiring photographers in honing their skills of capturing their black and brown clientele.
Pricing:
- Lifestyle Sessions – Starts at $525
- Branding/Commercial Sessions – Starts at $725
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Kmarie.co
- Email: info@kmarie.co
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shotbykmarie
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shotbykmarie
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shotbykmarie
Image Credit:
Denise Benson Photography for my headshot.
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