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

Hi Audrey, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My grandfather was the head photographer for the Sacramento Bee. I never got to meet him, but he was always celebrated to me as a great creative in our family. Spools of films and pictures were on every surface possible on my grandmothers walls of photos he had taken. Its a deeply nostalgic feeling to me to look at photos that people have decided to print out. I think thats where learning the craft started anyways, by simply looking at someones decades of work constantly, But in terms of how I shoot today, there is nothing and I mean nothing to substitute a real toss into the deep end of a pool, Another more seasoned photographer told me that you’re essentially a problem solver in the moment when you’re working on a clients vision or a collaboration of your own. I would say the largest obstacle for me when I first started out as the sheer overwhelm of how much you need to learn and the ever changing environment photography can be. Once I started to feel more confident in the problem solving aspect of photography, its forever shifting which is much more engaging for a long career.

Audrey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I worked the Restaurant and Craft Beer industry for 10 plus years and if you’ve worked for a boot strap location long enough, someones either going to throw a camera or a mash tun shovel in your hand eventually. For me I gravitated towards the marketing aspect and never looked back. I was running content for 5 different locations in San Diego. It was a lot of work and I learned a ton. Once the pandemic hit, like most I pivoted from one existential crisis to another landing on, I need to go into the mountains. My boyfriend and I went on a month long camping trip where I reinvigorated my love for nature and the vagabond lifestyle. Over the last 4 years I’ve been threading those two things together to provide a service to brands and businesses that gives them authentic high quality content. I’m part time on the road traveling, making content, and while Im back in San Diego Im shooting events, products and brand photography for entrepreneurs like myself.

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

I think i’ve gained some serious resilience with a few things. Number one is believe in myself when everyone says no including myself. I had to really work on that mindset and I am so much better for it. In terms of my mental health Ive come a long way. I am not my trauma, nor am I a victim. I am not my depression or anxiety but Ive worked through that for years now, thanks to therapy and lots of reading.
I have moments where I am creatively prolific and then slumps where I have no idea why anyone does anything at all.. Im much more consistent now and I am very proud of how far Ive come in that regard.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

As someone who worked in Customer Service in a many different ways and mediums, making real human connections and understanding that yes, I am providing pictures, videos ect but I am also providing a service, an experience, or a level of care and professionalism to my business that I think makes the experience memorable. I am a champion for my clients success and I am excited about where they are going with their own pursuits and goals as a business. I love showcasing that hard work and attention to detail. Following up with my clients after everything is said and done goes a long way as well, but its easy for me to do that because I do legitimately care.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://westcoastoutdoor.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audreyinfocus/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-klemp-19aa221aa/

Image Credits
Portrait Shot By Kristen Karhio @karhiocreative