We were lucky to catch up with Kendra Grimes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kendra, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I recently styled and directed a maternity shoot for two fellow creatives I’ve had the pleasure of working with several times before. In past collaborations, the soon-to-be mother—a talented makeup artist and vintage clothing dealer—and her partner, a designer, photographer, and videographer, were usually behind the lens. So, to have them entrust me with the visual direction of such a personal project felt incredibly special.

Working with a woman carrying life is a delicate experience, and as the stylist, my priority was ensuring she felt comfortable and confident in her ever-changing, growing body. This project challenged and deepened my skills, both professionally and personally. I like to think of it as refining my “bedside manner,” a term I use to describe the empathy and sensitivity required in these intimate moments.

The most rewarding part was seeing the final product and knowing these photos will forever commemorate such a monumental chapter in their lives. There’s something deeply moving about knowing your work has captured a moment in time—your art immortalized in beautiful memories that hold lasting significance.

Kendra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began my journey in 2017, creating informative fashion content and serving clients under the name “Koko Stylings.” This platform allowed me to express my passion for fashion, style, and creativity while helping others do the same through content creation, instructional design, and styling editorial fashion photoshoots. Over the years, I refined my approach, and by 2024, after several rebrands, the evolution of “Koko Stylings” led to the birth of KENSPO – a brand/hashtag grounded in the simple yet powerful mission of “Inspiring confidence through style.” In this new chapter, I place immense value on sharing vital information that simplifies and streamlines the style process, helping clients break free from the limitations they’ve imposed on their wardrobes. I also take great pride in offering personalized, hands-on service, where I can dedicate focused attention to each client, ensuring their style reaches its full potential—whether through fashion styling, beauty instruction/recommendations, or hairstyling.

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

A key lesson I’ve learned is the importance of letting go of perfectionism. Throughout my content creation journey, I often found myself waiting for the “right moment” or over-analyzing my work, holding it to unrealistic standards. It took time to recognize the pattern I was creating—one where fear prevented me from sharing my work or seizing opportunities. The algorithm certainly wasn’t waiting for me to get out of my head. Eventually, I reminded myself that, while this path is full of opportunity, it’s also meant to be a creative outlet, not a source of stress. Perfection is a subjective concept, and the only one calling my work “imperfect” was me. Once I embraced the therapeutic nature of art, the pressure lifted.

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

It’s empowering to know that I can take a vision and transform it into something others can see, feel, or touch—truly magical and a blessing. It’s also a privilege; not everyone has that ability. With this in mind, I feel it would be a disservice to the Creator not to explore and share my gifts, whether through crafting a look, producing a video, or innovating a process. Creativity is a gift I don’t take for granted.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendrathekreative
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/alittlebitofkenspo
• Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/kendrathekreative

Image Credits

Brandon Thomas (Photographer) — Images 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
Doug Smith — Images 3 & 4