We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Holly Kempkes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Holly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

This is an easy question. Answer: To be remembered.
I want to leave this world knowing I left an imprint, some how or some way.
Once you leave, your legacy is all that is left. I would love to have mine be more than a distant memory for people. My art, my photography, my body of work and the memory of me will hopefully live on through others and be enjoyed for years to come.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

At a young age I snapped a couple photos of the rockies in Estes Park while on vacation with my family. I remember looking back at those photos and remembering exactly where I was in that moment, and the emotion I felt during it. As I grew older, and as things changed or people passed away, I found the importance of photos to be even greater. Capturing something meaningful is key and can hold great value.
Flash forward to present day, I find the most beautiful thing is untouched land. The vastness and unknown, is both stunning and humbling at the same time, and I find peace within that. Landscape photography is probably my favorite style, though I do enjoy snapping pics of animals and people as well.

One thing you could say I’m most proud of with this journey, is having the ability to give back to people and to my community. During 2020, when stores, restaurants and businesses were closed due to Covid, I did a free social distancing photo shoot with a fellow photographer and friend of mine, Kassie. She volunteered to drive me around town while I jumped out and snapped photos of people at a safe distance. Some held signs, some wore costumes, some just smiled….all so very perfect. What started as a few people just wanting to get out of their homes, became an all day event with over 50 different homes/locations and numerous people participating. Within those photos, I snapped a couple as they renewed their vows, a memory that fondly lives on today.
Myself and a couple other local businesses donated gift cards, and in turn we turned it into a friendly competition. My mom was clearly proud as well, as she reached out to a local news channel who contacted me during the shoot and then met us for an interview. They followed along to a couple locations and then aired the broadcast on the news later that evening. People still talk about it to this very day.
I have actually done numerous photo shoots over the years .for free. Not everything has to cost an arm and a leg and I don’t mind donating my time.
I’ve been asked before how I came up with the name of my business, and it’s always the same response.
By allowing people to see things through my eyes, in turn a different perspective, I feel like it allows them to see things they might have normally overlooked. “Through Another Eye” fit that meaning.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2022 I had a life altering injury to my left leg which left me with fears of amputation, and limiting my active lifestyle and hobbies. I was bed ridden for 3 months, and I remember laying there with a metal fixator holding my leg together when I got a call from my doctor saying that the surgery to repair my leg was too invasive and to much of a risk; “loss of limb” was very real. I was told it was up to me with physical therapy to get to a “new normal.” At that moment I had 2 choices. I either give up or I fight. I chose to fight. I didn’t want to lay there, thinking of all the places I wasn’t going to be able to go hiking, exploring, snapping photos of, But more so think “I’ll be there soon.”
After a year of PT with one of the best therapists a woman could ask for (Kristin,) I was able to get back to the things I did before, and I’m actually working harder than I have in my entire life. With at home leg strengthening, I continue to do the things I love, like photography. Though I am more cautious, I still get out into the wild where my soul feels free.

During my recovery, my mom had told me how impressed she was with my lack of willingness to give up. The only response I had was “it was never an option.”

I think this mindset is what allows me to continue with my business when buisness isnt as bountiful. Small but still mighty.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Word of mouth and probably my editing style. I enjoy drama in photos. Whether that is with the focal point, or the colors, (or lack there of,) or the emotion within it, I try to make each photo stand out in some fashion. I can look at any of my thousands of photos and tell you exactly where they were taken and I think editing them to fit the location of the photo is important and helps the viewer feel as if they were there.

Contact Info:

• Website: Throughanothereye.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/hak2782?igshid=m7w67pxxshg7
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throughanothereyephoto/

Image Credits
All photos taken by me 😀