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

Hi Jenny, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

If I was starting over today, I would spend less money on buying all the unnecessary gear , you know all the “ cool” stuff you see advertised, and more money on education. Starting out I thought I needed the best gear, the coolest bag, the nicest camera strap and a big fancy lens. While yes, some of these things will produce better images , the biggest thing is knowing how to use what you have. A skilled photographer who understands composition & light can produce a better image on an iPhone than an uneducated photographer with the biggest and best camera. That’s not to encourage anyone to start a business in an iPhone haha BUT educational is the MOST important!

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

I’m a wife and mom of three crazy kiddos and we have three crazy dogs to add to the chaos!! My hubby and I are both in the film/photo industry and do some projects together.
I love the family unit and the small moments that so often get overlooked.  I’m sure it’s cliche but the statement “the days are long but the years are short “ really hits my mama heart when I think over the past 16 years of hard days and thinking certain things would always be a struggle and realizing now that I let a lot of sweet moments get buried in the chaos.

I started as a photographer because I started to love capturing photos of my kids. Seeing them grow up so quickly and wanting to remember those things that I kept letting slip as they continued to grow was so important.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been relatability. Being a family photographer and a mom gives me insight on how the moms who are booking may feel and allows me address their pain points. Any form of relatability is going to ease the minds of your clients and build trust. Let them know you get it.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me is getting to see things come to life. I’ve always been a creative from a little kid painting pet rocks to making dances with my friends to Britney Spears( don’t ask me to show you haha) I’ve always enjoyed creating and seeing my ideas come to life. It’s fun, lots of learning and problem solving and can be challenging but I love it.

Contact Info:

• Website: Jennykelleyphotography.Com
• Instagram: Instagram.Com/jennykelleyphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennykelleyphotography/

Image Credits
Rachael Victoria photography took my personal image