We were lucky to catch up with Kelsey Hawkinberry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kelsey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

If I could go back in time and start my business sooner I don’t think I would! I think the timing was just right for me personally. In my early 20s I was all over the place. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to be. And I definitely wasn’t ready to commit to something as big as starting my own business. I would start things and quit within months because I didn’t like it. I’ve always had the mindset that life is something to experience, so I knew I didn’t want to waste my time pursuing things that didn’t align with me. It took me until my mid 20s to realize photography was something worth pursing. It made me excited and I felt determined. I ended up graduating from Appalachian State University with my degree in Commercial Photography. My plan was to move to NYC and be an in-house studio photographer for a company. In my final year of school I was offered a salary position as a Marketing Photographer with a jewelry company out of Wilmington NC. It wasn’t New York City but it was a stepping stone! By my 3rd year of doing that I knew it wasn’t for me anymore. I still wanted to be a photographer but I wanted to serve others and feel like I was doing something meaningful. That’s when I went head first into Wedding Photography! The timing of my journey was just right for me. Starting a business is scary and it takes time. I had to be at a point in my life of knowing it was what I truly wanted to do in order to really give it the attention it needs and for me that was came after a lot of trial and error that I wouldn’t have experienced if I decided to start my business sooner.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Kelsey, the photographer behind Keerha Visuals! A lot of people actually think my name is Keerha, which technically isn’t wrong! My full maiden name is Kelsey Erin Hawkinberry and thats the root of my business name. When I was in school studying Commercial Photography we had an assignment to create a business name for ourselves. I started to combine letters from my name (my business is me so it just made sense to start there) and by the 3rd combo I had Keerha. It is the first two letters from each of my names and I am obsessed with it!
I started my photography journey around 2016. My full time job was as a receptionist at a Law Firm and I shadowed other photographers in my spare time to try and learn that way. I still wasn’t convinced I could make a career out of photography until I found the Commercial Photography program at Appalachian State University. I read alumni success stories and stalked them on Instagram, envisioning my future life! Once my mind was set on that I went full throttle! I registered for classes at the community college because my GPA from High School was definitely not going to get me anywhere! Once I had enough credits to apply I sent in my application and waited for a response, just to find out I was denied!! I balled my eyes out, like anyone would do, and then I called the school to ask how I could be a better candidate for next time and guess what? They had made a mistake on their end and told me over the phone I had been accepted and would start fall of 2017! I always wonder what would’ve happened if I never called. And thats where it all started for me! I went on to graduate in 2021 and got a job working as a Marketing Photographer in Wilmington NC with a big jewelry company. I felt like I had made it! But three years had passed and again, I felt like I was just going through the motions. At this point I knew in the back of my mind I was ready to start my own business. I had taken on clients on the side and LOVED photographing peoples love stories. So in true Kelsey fashion, I went full throttle towards that goal! Now here I am, a full time Wedding Photographer serving couples in NC and beyond. I couldn’t be more proud of myself for taking leaps and risks into the unknown! Listening to your instincts will never lead you astray.

My hope now is that my passion for this shines through and people see the love I put into my craft. I didn’t just willy nilly decide one day to be a photographer. I truly see it as my life calling.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Before I started college and my photography journey, one of the very first podcasts I listened to was Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday. Its funny because I actually found it in the library on my lunch break, why a 20 something year old was getting their podcasts from the public library and not their iPhone, we may never know. But It was an episode with Brené Brown, I can’t remember the exact title, but I remember them talking about living a life you’re passionate about and that alone lit the fire under my butt and I started taking action immediately! One of my other favs as a wedding photographer is Nathan Chanski’s podcast “Passion with Purpose”. I listen to lots of Audio books as well and some good ones I’ve found are:
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Wedding Photography by Taylor Jackson
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The ultimate goal for me is serve my community and be happy! Simple as that. I want to give back to others while also creating a life that provides adventure, exploration, fun, and connection. Photography has been the absolute best way for me to do this. I capture these peoples’ stories with images they can cherish forever and even lifetimes after them, thats pretty freaking awesome! Along side that, it gives me the flexibility to do all the other things I love and actual live my life rather than be stuck somewhere from 9am-5pm (my worst nightmare).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keerhavisuals.com
• Instagram: @keerha_visuals
• Facebook: Keerha Visuals