Check Out Keiko Guest’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keiko Guest.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In the 1950’s post Korean war Japan, my father had cameras, which was rare. He taught me how to use them in my formative years.

20 years later, I was gifted a 35mm camera while, around the same time, I learned dark room processing from a friend who was a commercial artist.

In the early 1970’s, I danced for the Louisville Ballet, so my first dance photographs were of fellow dancers.

After moving to Atlanta, I was hired in 1980 to dance with Ruth Mitchell, director of an eclectic performing company. She gave me my first dance photography job as well. This led to years of living my two passions with a schedule that allowed me to live a fairy tale adult existence.

The work was intense and hard, but all compressed into the spring 3 month “end of the year”, as well a shorter Nutcracker season. I also worked annual headshots over decades of working with dance companies.

That particular work honed my makeup and hair styling skills which was another passion along with the fashion and beauty industry, introduced to me by my fashionista mother.

In the 50+ years, I have photographed thousands and thousands of dancer, actors and models. in productions, for magazines, promotional work, as well as regional and International Ballet Competition and the competitors.

When the pandemic brought the world to a halt, I was left with no work and no one to work on.

In June of 2020 I was launched onto TikTok by a former child model who, nearing adulthood, had 1M followers. He introduced me in a post and I immediately had followers.

At that point all my work became focused on my one and only subject……..ME. I spent 2.5 years creating content and posting daily, specializing in dance, comedy, makeup and fashion transitions. I reached 512,ooo followers before life changed for all including the viewership and algorithms of the platform. It took over a year to wean myself off, with great emotional difficulty.

In the meantime, at 75 years of age, the persistent awareness that when I am gone, the work I have been saving will all wind up in the landfills.

So, a dream I have had for years is to give all the work back to the countless number of dancers/ entertainers I have been capturing for decades. This burning desire is the source of the culmination of my upcoming thank you fest /mega event: GALA EXTRAVAGANZA 75 on June 14 at Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Fortunately I have been blessed to have had the work and when one door would close, another would open. In the half century of working, there are so many people who have been instrumental in my life.

My main struggles upon going digital, was that I was completely out of control. I, at 53 years old, had no clue about technology and the digital world. I had to blindly depend on others, which proved costly in the long run.

I now do all of it myself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in photographing Arts and Entertainment, mostly dance. I am also known for my headshot that are recognizable decades after production.

I am proud of the history I have with so many dancers and their mothers/parents spanning 50 years.

I have been told I am very particular and will focus on issues until I feel there is no more I can do to improve the image.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have done a lot in my life:

I have had 3 Fine Art Photography Exhibits

Built an 8000 sq. ft house from the ground,

Traveled extensively,

Learned to create on social media, being director, choreographer, dance captain, make up artist, hair stylist, wardrobe coordinator and performer.

Spent 50 years in the same business.

Consequently, my reputation as a success has preceded me only for people to realize, upon getting to know me, that I am very much an ADHD personality who has to juggle and stuggle with many issues.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Keikoguestofficial
• Facebook: Keiko Guest
• Youtube: Keiko Guest
• Other: TikTok: keikoguestofficial

Image Credits
Keiko Guest Photographer