We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaycee Dolwick . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaycee below.
Alright, Kaycee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Where do I even begin with “taking a risk”? Before becoming a full-time photographer, I was a high-school teacher. It was a career that was extremely fulfilling and gave me a lot of security, but at the same time it was emotionally draining. I remember thinking after a really tough day of teaching that I cannot imagine myself doing this for another 20+ years, and that was before Covid hit the educational system. I began really considering other career avenues in 2019, and I began studying and immersing myself in all things photography. That following year I was able to quit my teaching job and devote my life to this photography business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Wow, okay, here we go. I am a Cincinnati based wedding photographer, but I am willing to travel- actually- I would love nothing more than to travel for a wedding. Since 2019, when I internally made the decision to quit teaching, I began consuming my life with photography. One thing about me is that I am achievement driven and extremely competitive. So, I wanted to learn everything I could as fast as I could because I already felt like I was late to the game. I also had this “fight or flight” attitude because I had to make this business work. I had no backup. This was my one and only plan. As I studied more and more, I began to figure out what I was drawn to photographing and my personal style. I would best describe my style as modern, editorial, and chic. I want all my couples to feel like their wedding could have been on the cover of “Vogue” or “The New York Times.” I love my city weddings. There is just something about getting lost in a big city and taking creative portraits. I really just love the vibe the city gives to any photograph. Enough about the photos- let’s talk about my “Why”. I got married in 2021, which was a week after I photographed my first wedding. I got our wedding gallery back, which was absolutely amazing, and there was one photo that almost had me on my knees in tears. It was a photo of me and my grandfather, who has battled cancer for 15+ years, dancing at my wedding. I didn’t grow up with a father, so he took on two major roles in my life, and he is the most important person to me. This photo is the most joy-filled moment of my entire life, and my photographer was there to capture it. When I saw that photo, I knew I wanted to create that photo for every single bride. They may not have the same story as me, but they do have people they deeply care about in one room. I want to make sure I create that one photo that they will cherish forever and can’t imagine their life without it.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
There are many, but the one goal of mine is to never lose sight of what makes me special, unique, and different. When I began planning my brand, my look, my vibe, my aesthetic, I felt like I could have gone in 50 billion directions. However, in the beginning, I just began creating work that felt like me because I didn’t really know any different. I gained a lot of popularity and followers right off the bat. Unfortunately, for me, I began following other famous photographers and even local photographers, and I wanted my work to be just like theirs. At the end of the day, though, I wasn’t connected to what I was producing because it wasn’t “mine.” I was trying to mimic other photographers, and I was left unfulfilled and disappointed- mainly because my work wasn’t looking like theirs, and I lost my own purpose, while trying to follow in others footsteps. Once I really focused on me, what I like, my “why”, and serving my clients needs and wants, that’s when I really began to thrive.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I’m a “Yes” girl through and through. I want everyone to be happy with me, and I naturally want to please everyone. Well, I learned very quickly that that is a recipe for disaster if you are a business owner. I had to learn that when you say “yes” to something- you are saying “no” to something else. This year, I took on way more than I should have. I’m not sure if it was because I was sticking true to my “yes” mentally or I just wanted the money, but I missed out on a lot. Looking back, it really sucks. Knowing I said yes way more times to my business than I did my husband, family, friends, aminals, really hurts. However, you don’t realize it until you take a step back and evaluate. So, I had to pivot, and create very strict boundaries for myself to ensure I wasn’t “working for a living.”
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.kulturedphotography.com
- Instagram: @kulturedphotography
- Facebook: Kultured Photography
Image Credits
Olga Polo