We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kevin Dudley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kevin below.
Kevin, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
I’ve always loved photography. The challenge of composition and the beauty of seeing the world through a camera lens while trying to capture what the human eye sees is exhilarating. After losing my mother suddenly and unexpectedly, my passion for photography was transformed, born anew out of her ashes. The name “Soaring Phoenix” is a reflection of the idea that you can rise after loss. Loss does not have to be the end of the story. It can the beginning for a new journey.
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.
Many years ago, in a land far, far away…. That’s how these stories always start anyway…. I attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh to pursue a career in photography. Ultimately, I decided that the career was not for me. Though I didn’t pursue photography as a career, I continued to dabble in amateur photography, taking photos on vacations and such documenting trips to New York City, London, England, Los Angeles, Galveston Island, The Caribbean, and other places.
On April 9, 2020, an early morning phone call changed the trajectory of this journey. My mom’s doctor called and told us that she had passed away. Devastated, with my world shattered I became a shell of a person, merely surviving day-to-day.
One day, I decided to pick up my Sony A6000 and take it out for a walk though nature. Since then, I have shot landscapes that have won awards and been displayed in art galleries around the globe, I’ve also been a party to photoshoots that have inspired those around me to see themselves in ways that they never imagined possible.
A friend of mine who, ironically, shares a birthday with my mom, received a devastating breast cancer diagnosis in her mid-twenties. She asked me to do a ph0toshoot for her in pink for breast cancer awareness. At this point, she had lost her hair due to the chemotherapy treatments and she was trying to figure out which wig to wear for the photoshoot. I told her not to wear one at all and that her natural beauty was enough hair or not. This was a turning point for me as the photos came out incredibly well and the empowerment we both gained from the experience was life-changing for us both.
While I have yet to turn this photo-bug into a full-time gig. The fulfilment I get from capturing all aspects of life gives me great joy. The moments I share with nature as well as my friends and clients have been life-changing.
Selfishly, this photography started out as an outlet for a huge loss in my life. I never intended for it to take me where it has but I’m glad for wherever it leads.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
During the same time as the “Pretty in Pink” photoshoot, I embarked on a year-long “A Pic A Day 365” journey where I took and posted a new photo every day of 2022. This photo project/essay incorporated new techniques such as long exposure. The feature page exposure as well as daily engagements with the stories ang content that I posted was instrumental in exponentially increasing my online presence.
The adage of “slow and steady wins the race” is definitely accurate here.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Touching people’s lives. Whether its offering them a new perspective of their own self image or the world around them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soaringphxphotos.com
- Instagram: soaringphxphotos
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/soaringphxphotos/
- Twitter: soaringphxphotos
Image Credits
Soaring Phoenix Photography