Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Norton.
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Photography has always been a huge part of my life. Even as a child I would purchase disposable cameras and pose my little brothers in the yard for photos. I grew up with very humble beginnings and professional photos were never something my family could afford but I always envied seeing people with beautiful photos hanging on their wall. It wasn’t until I became a mother that I truly found my passion for Photography. My husband gifted me my first DSLR in 2013 when our son was a little over a year old. I was so proud of the photos I took in auto. But he always saw potential for my talent to grow and encouraged me to learn manual mode and perfect my craft. It wasn’t until we had our daughter that I became more willing to learn. I turned my camera to manual and took photos that were completely black for almost a week! When I finally started seeing their sweet faces on the screen, I was hooked. I began practicing every day until I felt confident in my skills. At this point, I decided to start practicing on people that were not my children. I didn’t have a ton of experience but I had a huge desire to learn and some pretty decent social skills. I spent countless hours watching webinars, YouTube and scouring every other corner of the internet to better improve myself. I worked for almost a year with no compensation just for the opportunity to hone my skills. My husband fully supported me and knew I was building something great. And eventually people started coming to me. It is so heartwarming that clients have continued to come back to me year after year. I will forever be grateful for being so blessed to capture so many families stories. The friendships and connections I have made along the way have made every late night and early morning worth it. I wouldn’t trade this job for anything. I have grown so much since those early days and have had the opportunity to photograph over 400 families and almost 80 weddings. But most importantly I wouldn’t be the photographer I am without my beautiful children Tate and Kayleigh. They have been my biggest inspiration and my reason to keep going.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Would it even be a journey if there were no bumps along the way? Of course, there have been plenty of struggles and days of defeat. My biggest issue in the beginning was light and learning how to get it to work for me. I eventually learned that the magic was at sunset in the golden hour when everything and everyone has a little extra sparkle. I’ve also struggled with feeling like I don’t measure up. I’m surrounded by amazing, talented photographers and it’s hard not to wonder if I am good enough. But I keep striving and working to be better than the photographer I was 9 years ago. Everyone grows and learns at their own pace, and I am no different. But the biggest struggle of all is time, enough time to edit, enough time to shoot and enough time for the things that matter most to me, my family.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I photograph weddings, engagements, families, seniors and babies. I truly thrive in golden hour and love nothing more than to chase the light and find magic in the interactions I have with my clients. I am silly and outgoing and have a way of making my clients feel comfortable in what could be a very awkward situation. If I were to pick one thing I loved the most, it would be weddings. I have had so many opportunities to shoot at the most beautiful venues and to form long lasting connections that last beyond wedding days. I get to watch the bride and grooms I work with go from being husband and wife to the greatest titles, Mom and Dad. It is such a blessing to be a part of so many memorable moments. I like to think that the work I do is creating generational treasures that will not only document that season of their life but also history for all of those yet to discover their families story, One of the things I am most proud of is my daughter, she often tags along for help with the babies and smiles. She once came along to a senior session when she was about 9 years old and was hanging out with my senior’s mom. She picked up a camera while I was shooting and off they went around the venue for her to take photos. She managed to manually change my shutter speed, aperture and ISO to gain perfect exposure. I was shocked that she was able to do that so effortlessly, as it took me so much time, effort and research to do those things. I think what sets me apart from others would be my ability to form connections. I truly want to get to know all of my clients and build a friendship rather than have you be another number. I also want my clients to be satisfied and will go above and beyond to try to make that happen. Whether it’s a little extra time to edit out that boo-boo that happened the day before, spending a little extra time during your session for the perfect photo or to pass off my camera to your little ones so that they feel included. I will always be your biggest hype girl, whether its loud and obnoxious or a quiet reassurance during wedding day. I truly want to make a lasting impression and you to be confident and comfortable during our time together.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
There isn’t one trait that could define success, but there are a lot of qualities that have greatly contributed to my career this far. I am dedicated, optimistic and passionate about my craft. I put in long hours and constantly try to provide a quality service to everyone I work with. Through every set back and struggle I have had perseverance and the resilience to overcome any challenge set in my way. My confidence has grown over the last 9 years and it has allowed me to accept many challenges and motivated me to work harder than ever before.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: @KellyNortonPhotography
