We were lucky to catch up with Kenneth Baldwin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kenneth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
As a business owner, my feelings regarding work and what that means for me are ever-changing as I go through stages of my life. I notice myself shifting accordingly with the factors present at a specific time, often subject to many things. We, as humans, maintain inherent motivations that propel us toward our goals and shape our realities through their effect on our actions. An example is my passion for photography, the beauty of a world through art, and how it drives an overarching purpose within my convictions. The fervency within myself for the art form propels me to make decisions that will, hopefully, prove beneficial to my advancement in such. For clarification, I’ve taken jobs, declined opportunities, and networked myself, all intent on becoming the best creative possible. In some instances, I was ecstatic with how a new position could aid my artistic progression; other times, I merely did it for financial stability and the acquisition of resources. The way an individual feels about employment, aside from their venture, is subjective to their goals and the subsequent alignment of various aspects in their lives.
To answer more specifically, I would be happier as a business owner solely. However, I recognize the groundwork I must lay before taking the grand leap of faith for ‘k9nneth’. I love what I create when I can fund everything conceptually and have the time to edit to a standard of utmost quality, but lately, I can’t afford to do so. I now work for Wells Fargo as a part-time teller during the day and let my creativity roam in the evenings. I plan to utilize my investment here to open doors I never would fathom. Now, I wish I were doing what I want entirely, but the world doesn’t operate on dreams without the means to support them. There’s no linear journey for anyone looking to be an entrepreneur, so I’m content in knowing this story is far from over.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
For those unfamiliar, my name is Kenneth Baldwin, and I’m a 24-year-old photographer hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina. I attended the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, where I graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in marketing, and have lived in Greensboro since. I specialize in portraiture, whether in natural light or under the controlled environment of a studio. I like my clients to feel as if they are going to be in a high-fashion editorial, and if I had to, I’d describe my style of imagery as edgy, ethereal, and moody. I also provide services not limited to my preferred way of capturing things, such as events or family photos. I want viewers to see my images and say, “I want them to visualize my campaign.” and “I need to book him NOW!” I want my creations to emit energy one can almost touch through the picture. The association of ‘k9nneth’ with adjectives such as intense and fashion-forward, via customer and viewer testimonies, is what I am most proud to think folks see it as.
My photographic journey commenced during the second semester of my first year when I was granted the opportunity to shadow my older cousin, Martin, during a scheduled photoshoot he had in downtown Charlotte. I remember the joy radiating throughout my body as I held his DSLR for the first time, alongside the excitement of looking through the camera’s viewfinder. Shot after shot, I was taken aback by my innate propensity for the craft. The realization of my dream became apparent, and the path that lay before me was clear. Before this, I was always into pop culture, fashion, music, etc., and I often vocalized the passions within my mind to family and friends. I saw this opportunity as a chance to spark the initial creative flames beneath me, one that I could immerse myself in the realm of art. The fact he would submit some of my images to the model served as a final reassurance in the contemplation of what I believed to be my vocation.
From there, my sense of imagination began to bud like a rose in the late Spring season. I advocated for myself around campus, opting to do free shoots, complete with editing, to enhance my skills behind the lens and in the Adobe Lightroom editing software. I believe my defining quality to be my attentiveness to detail and adherence to putting out work of the highest standard, no matter how long it takes or how strenuous it proves. I maintain the idea that it sets me apart from other creatives and business owners who aren’t as serious about their craft to this day. My goal as a photographer is to make the subject feel more alive at that moment than they ever have, helping them see the beauty of themselves sometimes unbeknownst. It’s about more than the booking itself, but the installment of confidence and fierceness you can’t get elsewhere.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For myself, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is the ability to exercise passions profoundly important to me. When I take pictures, I can put forth my perfectionist tendencies and worldview to manifest an image that most defines that particular to me. I, as well as others, are set free from the constraints of rigged belief systems, mindsets, and realities that cage us in today’s society. Creativity is truthful and raw, often causing us to peel back and reveal layers of our minds that are not always evident. Through my processes, I’ve learned more about who Kenny is than any other area of my life because my innermost desires come alive when I’m performing artistic expressions. I cling to the idea of one day never knowing “work” again, as I’d be doing what is most dear to my soul. I am in charge of everything, from the settings to the composition, and my goodness, I think there’s no feeling like it.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think non-creatives may struggle to understand the pressures creatives and those who want to be entrepreneurs face regularly. Imagine wanting to become a successful photographer but combating the pressures of employment expectations, never-ending payments, and the opinions of those who don’t know what it’s like to be in your position. Well, this is not only my reality but the same for many other talented, deserving artists. The world is not set up in a manner where dreams occur through willpower, and the means it takes to have any stance as an artistic business owner are astronomical and often unattainable. The feelings of self-doubt are enough to deter the average person from taking the various risks to be creative and don’t get me started on the uncertainty associated with it. For those without imaginative motivations, it’s easier to assimilate into the workplace culture and navigate company ladders because the concept of contribution is enough for satisfaction. However, this isn’t the case for people like me, whose fire is lit during expressions of one’s essence through craftwork.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://k9nneth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kensflicks/ and https://www.instagram.com/k9nneth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009202873419&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-baldwin-923335158
- Twitter: https://x.com/k9nneth
- Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/profile/k9nneth Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/ic3hc7ax0ghla0j7jcb75herl?si=cTO55fM6Si2qet-siu3rsg
Image Credits
@thekrystalhall @_mindlessthoughts @ohkayjay_ @dukedeuce @tiacorine @mikesafull @_pretty.lulkayyy