We recently connected with Kelsie Deardeuff and have shared our conversation below.

Kelsie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

In spring 2019, I was pregnant and expecting our first baby who was due to make his arrival in October. I had always dreamed of getting into photography someday, but at the time, I just wanted a camera so I could document all of our children’s milestones. I never wanted to miss a moment, so I made the investment into a decent camera body and lens and got to work learning everything I could about my gear. It was an overwhelming process, because you don’t just need to learn your gear, but also composing photos, using correct lighting, and then there’s editing which is a learning curve on its own. It was a lot to take in, but I was so excited to learn all I could before our baby boy arrived. Well, fast forward to Spring of 2020 and what started out as a hobby quickly became a business. I was nowhere near the talent I wanted to be, but somehow managed to be completely booked that year. I registered as an LLC and got to work establishing my business. Over two years later, I’m still learning. I invest in education every year and am always try to level up and bring my clients the very best. As a mom of now two, my heart lies with capturing families. I love the mess, the chaos, and the imperfect moments. Someday our children will learn to “look and smile,” but I prefer a storytelling approach to help my clients capture those fleeting moments… the perfect baby curls, the way little ones light up at mom singing their favorite song, the full belly laughs at dad as he throws them in the air. Our babes are only little for such a short time. I want to help families freeze these precious moment and embrace the season of life, no matter what that brings. And the biggest honor? Growing with my clients. When they choose me time after time and I get to watch the little personalities grow, wow. It’s so special and I’m forever grateful to those who choose me and continue to choose me. I love what I do and am so passionate about creating not just beautiful photos, but fun evenings full of laughter, snuggles, and sweet moments. I value creating memories and cherished works of art that will last forever. I often think back to all of the family photos I have that date back to my great, great grandparents. How amazing is that to think that someday, a great, great grandchild of one of my clients will hold one of my photos? These photos will be passed around for generations and capturing those memories is the gift that will keep giving. It’s truly so special and I take so much pride in documenting these moments.

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

I am a lifestyle photographer in Saint Charles County, MO. I specialize in capturing families/maternity, couples, and occasionally seniors with a storytelling approach. Every session is different because I follow the flow of my clients. I act as a guide providing prompts and activities that will encourage authentic interactions. And the messier, the better! I want all the real, raw moments! My goal is to tell my client’s story in a beautiful way with bold colors, golden light, and genuine moments. I’m a mama of two and got into photography to capture my own babies, but that quickly grew into a passion of doing the same for families in my community. I’m only two years into this, so I still have a lot to learn. But I’m so incredibly of my growth in such a short time. It took some time, but I love my style and am happy with the images I produce for my clients.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There are so many rewards to being a photographer, so that’s hard to narrow it down to just one thing. But, I think I’d have to say when clients choose me AGAIN. To know that they were so happy with my service the first time that they choose to come back is the biggest compliment I can receive. I take so much pride in my work and it is the best feeling when my clients appreciate the work as well.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Most of business comes from social media (Facebook usually), but the best source of new clients is word of mouth! I LOVE when my clients refer their family and friends to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kelsiedawnphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsiedawnphotography/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelsiedawnphotographyllc

Image Credits
Headshot of me credit: Hilary Wipperman Photography