We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kim Dalton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kim below.

Alright, Kim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

I’ve always loved photography and capturing moments that I wanted to remember forever. Even if I didn’t have a camera on me, I remember taking faux photos and filing them away in my mind. As I entered college, It never dawned on me that I could be a Photographer for a living so I studied business and office skills instead and ended up working in the non profit world doing payroll and typing newsletters until my first child was born.

When my son entered the world with his days and nights backwards, I decided to try my hand at staying home instead of being in the workforce. i loved it….mostly, lol. In all honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Kids grow up way too fast and I cherish every moment (both good and bad) that I got to spend with all three of them. Once my youngest was old enough to hit kindergarten, I told God that I was going to need a job and my friends and family encouraged me to look into photography based on photos I was posting on Facebook of my own kids. I asked for a dslr for my birthday and started reading everything I could on how to use a camera (beyond the auto mode) and started following photographers on social media, who’s images I admired. While sitting in our pediatric office, I felt a nudge in my spirit to ask the office if they would like photos of kids on their walls. I was shaking so hard when i made that phone call and to my surprise, they were opening a new office and would love to show my work! Another Dr’s office in the building reached out to me about shooting city imagery for their office and now I was making a little more money which I put back into my fledgling business to buy lenses and other equipment.

I started doing pretty well with high school seniors, and my city photography was discovered by a local art dealer who served as the middle man and placed my images in offices and hospitals across the city. I really loved what I was doing, but was still making below poverty level income. More and more people began asking me about headshots, which I didn’t know the first thing about and so I started investigating on the best ways to shoot a headshot and stumbled on Peter Hurley and his Headshot Crew. At the time, the last thing I thought I needed was another monthly expense so I planned on staying in the Crew for 3 months and then making my exit. That was over 6 years ago! I no longer shoot high school seniors or families and honestly I haven’t been down to photograph anything new in the city either because headshots keep me super busy. The below poverty level days are way behind me. Meeting new people every day energizes me (even though I am an introvert). Every human has a story. Every human has beauty just waiting to be seen. I am honored every single time someone trusts me with those things.

Kim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a die hard Headshot Photographer. I work with business owners, employees, entire teams at companies and even actors and models. I decided to specialize in headshots in order to equip my clients with a top-shelf image that they will be proud to use and I will be proud to say I took. As a photographer, people expect that you can shoot anything and everything. Weddings, birthday parties, seniors, families, newborns, headshots. While that is true, when you niche, you are better equipped to deliver the best in that genre. I would rather do one thing in an excellent manner than 20 things that are decent. Speaking of “decent”, that is one of my least favorite words in the English language. Who wants a “decent” anything? Definitely not me. If I’m going to invest my resources of time and money, decent is not what I want to end up with.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I’ve always had cameras throughout my life, but when I decided to throw my hat into the professional photographer ring, I asked for a dslr for my birthday. We picked out a $900 Nikon D90, which of course comes with no lens. The first lens I bought was a 70-200 mm 2.8 second hand for $1,100. I borrowed that $1,100 from our family finances and was super proud when I made that back from shoots. From then on, everything income I generated from photography, went straight into buying more lenses, software and equipment. Yes, I did buy more than I needed in the beginning as my eyes were HUGE and everything looked so intriguing.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

When I decided to study headshots, I reached out to a local talent agency with an email asking if they might have any clients who needed a headshot. I offered 3 free images in exchange for practice and use on my portfolio. I woke the next morning to 275 emails with photos of actors/models asking to be chosen! It was a slight panic for me as i didn’t want to hurt any feelings or frustrate anyone. I did respond to every single person thanking them for reaching out and letting them know of the 275 emails I received and how I couldn’t possibly service everyone. In the end, I shot about 20 of those people. I am now a preferred vendor for the agency and am so thankful for every one they send my way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kdaltonphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kdaltonphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdaltonphoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-dalton-headshot-photographer-44337990/