Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandy Kimble. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Brandy, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I did the most terrifying and exciting thing this year. I left my secure corporate job of a decade, to be a full-time photographer!

I had been doing my fun photography “hobby” thing on the side for 4 years but never really considered what it would look like as my career. Really I was just scared to trust myself that much. But then a few things happened…

I listened to a fascinating podcast on the power of regret which kind of knocked the breath out of me. I was sort of hiding behind the security of my job, you know, for my family and stability and all of the things we are taught to put first. But this got the wheels turning. Not enough to audibly say I wanted to be a full-time photographer, but enough to start consciously dreaming.

Then, I joined a Mastermind group of photographers for a 6 month stint. We met weekly to go over every facet of running a photography business. See, the creative aspect had always come to me through practice but owning a business is TERRIFYING! I had absolutely no idea where to begin. So I enrolled in this program and as the 6 months progressed, the business I would be proud to own and run, started to take form.

And then one day in April of 2022, I was talking with my husband (for the thousandth time) about what it might look like. He looked at my very seriously and said, “It is time to pick a date.” That was the final push I needed. To know that the person I share responsibility, a family, a home with, believed in me just as much as I was starting to believe in myself.

So in May of 2022, I had my last day of “work” and began my career as a full-time photographer!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The first time I got “the feeling” about a photograph was after my Grandparents passed. I walked around their home, the one I visited every Christmas, Easter, and random weekend. Everything was as it had been all of those years and I didn’t want to forget a single detail.

So I took my digital camera (you know the one that would fit in your pocket) and I took photos of their home. Then I used those photos to tell a story of the home and the people who made it so meaningful. I created a photo book and weaved together the story of our family. I gifted this book to my mother and her sisters and as they browsed the book, I got “the feeling”.

From then on, I have shown my love and care for people through photography. Honestly, I am just here to remind people of the wonders in this life. The things we get used to seeing, or become jaded to. I can see it, and show it to others in a way they haven’t seen before. And in a way that reminds them that they have lightening in a bottle.

I would say my niche is capturing relationships and presenting them in an elevated way. That relationship could be with a partner, kids, or yourself. We have so many relationships in this life that deserve to be celebrated. I do this by creating sessions with real emotion and a whimsical feel. The way I foster this balance is just getting people to be present. To see how beautiful this life is, how special their relationships are, and how magical they are.

I want people to feel taken care of and seen throughout their experience. I get to know you through questions and conversation. One way I do this is by incorporating the music you love, kind of like having your very own movie soundtrack. Then with some gentle guidance, patience, and a lot of corny jokes, we just have fun. My hope is that a session feels like self-care and spending time with a good friend (me!).

I want you to feel cared for and seen. And obviously I want you to have fun! That part is really important!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My approach to building an audience on social media is just being myself. I had to have a real moment with myself first. “Okay Brandy, you are not for everyone, and that is okay”. I am emotional and honest and use humor to work through hard things. I can be too real for some people. I recognize that I will only connect with some people in this way, but that connection will be real. I am going to talk about depression, being a mom, being a woman. For me, this is the only way to connect with an audience.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That photography is a zero sum game. I think we are taught, especially as women, that there isn’t enough pie to go around. We have to be competitive, in order to be successful. Honestly, that just never felt right to me. I think there is a photographer for every person, and a person for every photographer.

I definitely found a group of like-minded people with the Elena S Blair Mastermind. Her motto is community over competition and I could not be more on board! I have made so many photography friends (or as I refer to them, co-workers) over the last year. Cheering them on, recommending them, and working alongside them just feels right. And in return, I get a cheering section too. I get to learn with them and from them and they push my creativity to new levels.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brandbphotography.com
• Instagram: @brandbphotography
• Facebook: Brand B Photography
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Brand B Photography