We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kim Jenkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kim, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?

I interned with a talent company in college for a graduation credit. I was excited to have my first experience working alongside a more seasoned photographer and learning some new tricks. My boss was very eccentric and he had many names that he went by. He had me working at a bar/club to take some promotional photos. Everyone there was 30 and up, so I stood out like a sore thumb. Between old men trying to chat with me or dance with me, I tried to make the most of a situation I did not want to be in by taking aesthetic photos of the decorations and the colorful lights dancing around. I finished the night and my boss asked to see what I shot. As he began to review them on my camera, he started deleting the aesthetic photos I had taken (which were beautiful!) telling me that’s not what he was looking for. I was going to keep those photos for my portfolio but they were now gone forever. I got back to my apartment and just sat with my camera, wondering if I had what it takes to work as a “real” photographer. That night, I decided on two things: 1. That I strongly dislike shooting events and 2. I am never going to let somebody tell me that anything I produce is not art, not worthy, or not beautiful. After that, I created some graduation photos for my friend who loves music and we based them off of his favorite albums and the way the artist posed on the cover. I went into Photoshop and edited the colors, textures, and the words to reflect his graduation. He loved them and I’ve never been more proud of my use of the skills I developed and I learned a new method to express my creativity. You have to listen to your own voice and don’t compare yourself or doubt your abilities as an artist.

Kim, 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’m Kim ‘Jinx’ Jenkins. Jinx is a family nickname, short for Jenkins. My father passed it to me when I started playing sports and dancing, so when I discovered photography, it felt natural to carry the name with me. I was born in West Philly, but I was raised in Baltimore, so this my home. I’m a portrait and fashion photographer and I love showcasing beautiful Black people. They are my favorite subject but, of course, we love everybody over here! I rarely work with “models” and most people are timid when they first walk in front of a camera. My goal is to have everyone who shoots with me have fun, laugh, and get comfortable in your skin. I want to collaborate on your project to really give you the photo shoot you want, not just what I or others may think looks good. My client’s happiness is the most important thing at the end of the day!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For me, the most effective way I grew my clientele was by starting with the friends who needed my skills. In community college, I got cool with a group of performers and we would all go to events together. When Instagram started popping, I would take photos of them performing and headshots of them for them to post. My friends were always telling people who their photographer was, tagging me in posts when their other friends were looking for photographers, and the word spread. Recommendations are the best way to grow clientele. When you do good work, be kind, flexible, and fun, people will notice and your clients will rave, but it starts with your real support system.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At first, no there was not a goal to the art. I naturally gravitated to the camera in high school, but I didn’t know what I wanted to say. It wasn’t until recently that I started channeling any strong emotions that lasted more than a day into my art. In sharing those emotions out loud, I realized that I wasn’t alone and other people felt the same way. In channeling those emotions through my photography, I connected with more people than I ever thought I would. When I shot Rose Garden with the two ballet dancers, it was around elections, Trump was talking bad about Baltimore and he endorsed a Black woman Republican who made a slander ad about the city. I found an article that debunked her video and I decided to do my shoot in the same location. The girl, Ciera doesn’t have the stereotypical ballerina, size 0 figure, but she was so beautiful, young, and talented. I was so proud to have her represent what real young Black girls look like. Trel was the only Black male dancer I could find, showing his dancing on IG. He came out and his strength and grace was breathtaking, but he was still very masculine, very “Baltimore” and I loved it! The people, men and women, would walk or drive past, watch from the stoop, and were cheering for us. The community supported us young people and some said they had never seen ballet in person before. It was an incredible moment for everyone and it really connected us. The goal now is to keep sharing and relating to people because I believe the best art is the kind that makes you feel something.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kimberleej8.wixsite.com/jinxphotography
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jinxphotography__/

Image Credits
Models: Trel, Ciera, Randi, Zaire, Tayo, Yanii, Megan, and Lesha