Check Out Kelly Reynolds’s Story

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

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 backstory with our readers?
My path here wasn’t a straight line, but I wouldn’t want it to be.

Before I ever designed websites, my world revolved around animals. I grew up in Ohio, then after graduating college, I followed that passion across the country out west, fulfilling a childhood dream of working as a marine biologist in Hawai’i. From there, my career led me to the Bay Area, where I worked with exotic and marine animals at the California Academy of Sciences. I also worked at the SPCA at this time along with some pet sitting gigs because I also loved working with my domesticated furry friends too.

Working with animals really taught me what it means to be patient, observant, and deeply attentive. It was extremely rewarding work, but after nearly a decade in roles that were physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding, I knew it was time for a major shift.

Family and close relationships have always grounded me and over time my priorities began to change. As loved ones stayed a long plane ride away, I found myself craving more balance, flexibility, and a life that allowed me to show up fully for the people I care about. Eventually, that pull brought me to Atlanta and, ultimately, to take the leap to start freelancing as a website and graphic designer.

Looking back, the pivot makes sense. I spent a lot of my childhood crafting, decorating my own entire Barbie cities, and coloring exclusively with sparkly gel pens. As a millennial, I also experienced the rise of the internet and technology firsthand. Digital design became the natural intersection of those two worlds and a way to build something of my own.

It all came down to wanting more freedom and creative ownership. I wanted to work with people who genuinely care about what they’re building and to help businesses grow in a way that feels meaningful.

Freelancing gives me the chance to support others without the burnout I experienced before. I may work just as hard(if not harder) but prioritizing myself while still helping others feels entirely different. I found myself drawn to small businesses, indie brands, and creatives who value intention and individuality.

The work may look different now, but the values are the same: lead with empathy, curiosity, and thoughtfulness. It’s definitely not the path I could have planned, but it’s the one that feels the most authentic to me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely more bumpy than smooth. In my early twenties, I moved across the country by myself. First to Hawaiʻi not knowing anyone just running purely on passion and confidence. At the time, it felt fearless, like everything would just work out. And in many ways it did. I landed what I thought was my dream job in a dream place.

But living on an island can be isolating and eventually I realized I wasn’t building the connections or sense of community I needed. I took everything I’d learned and moved again this time to California, where my brother and sister-in-law had just settled. Having family nearby felt like a much needed anchor and California immediately felt like home.

That said, it was expensive, and animal care jobs don’t pay much. I worked two, sometimes three jobs, lived with multiple roommates, and slowly burned out. After years of pushing, I had a hard realization: I had always believed my job was my life, but that mindset was leading me straight into exhaustion because I had no balance. I wasn’t afraid of change, I just needed to be honest with myself.

So I made another big move, this time back east to Atlanta to be closer to family. Unfortunately, the first couple of jobs I landed there turned out to be extremely toxic which pushed me to a breaking point. Around the same time, my brothers moved away again and it felt like that sense of home disappeared all over.

That was the moment I had to really look inward and choose a more intentional path. With the support of my family, friends, and my boyfriend, I finally took the leap into freelancing and for the first time in a long while, it felt like I was building something that actually aligned with who I am.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create custom websites designed to support and elevate small businesses, indie brands, and creative entrepreneurs who don’t want to fit into a one size fits all box. As a solo freelance web and graphic designer, I work closely with my clients from start to finish. Unlike big agencies, I take the time to truly understand them and their business.

Each website is custom built and tailored to their brand goals. No cookie-cutter templates here. Just intentional design that blends bold visuals and strategy, making their site easy to navigate and exciting to show off. My goal is to provide a finished website that feels aligned, expressive, and unapologetically them.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I liked to dance to the beat of my own drum. I had a strong sense of independence from an early age and liked doing things my own way. I was curious, creative, and always finding little ways to carve out my own space.
We couldn’t have pets at home, so I became the neighborhood pet sitter to get my animal fix. I built up a small client list through word of mouth and referrals before I even realized that was a thing. Even then I loved the responsibility and connection that came with it.

I stayed busy as a kid. I spent a lot of time with friends, played video games with my brothers, and was constantly on the move. I had my first “job” at seven years old running a paper route with my mom and brothers, which definitely instilled a strong work ethic early on.

I was a mix of girly and sporty. I loved playing dressup, always had my nails painted, and experimented with makeup, but I was just as happy getting outside. I played volleyball and lacrosse and spent a lot of my free time biking, rollerblading, and hanging out outdoors with my brothers.

Music was also a huge part of my life. I took piano lessons through high school and still play whenever I can. I always had music on or headphones in. I remember when I got my first CD player it felt like a major life moment. Then when my brother gave me his old MP3 player I really felt cool. It was fun discovering new music and downloading songs onto my mp3 player really felt like an upgrade from the cd player life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.miragedigitalstudio.com/
• Other: kellyr.freelance@gmail.com

Image Credits
For the Keepsake Salon website-photos were taken by Ashley Rockstar Photography