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

Hi Kimberly, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I have always been enthralled by creative photography, whether it was a fine art series or an editorial piece. Throughout my teen years, I loved to collect and peruse magazines because I was always inspired by what they contained. I took this inspiration and began trying to implement my own ideas in the same way, asking my friends to model concepts for me based on things like mythology or music that we liked. I felt that it gave me purpose, being able to bring visions like that to fruition, but I couldn’t yet see how to turn that into a viable career.

So I began doing the types of photography that there’s a high demand for: families, events, even a few small weddings. I found that although those niches are important, they never sparked the fire in me that creative concepts did. After deciding to move from New Jersey to Minnesota to start my life over, I vowed that I would give my dream career a chance and specialize only in editorial and lifestyle portraiture.

There’s a huge value in artistic photography that not everyone sees at first: it’s a break in the monotony of ordinary content and online trends. It’s a powerful storyteller that can be used to inspire, and my goal is to create a space where others are free to express their ideas. Although this type of photography isn’t highly sought-after on a regular basis, I’m motivated to succeed because I get to connect with others to create unique work that is not only interesting but truly means something.

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?

I’m a Minneapolis-based photographer who currently provides creative lifestyle portraiture with an editorial edge for individuals, couples, and brands. Through my portrait experience, I encourage others to tap into their inner artist and create fearlessly and unapologetically, using imagery as a storytelling medium to stun and inspire. In my work, I love to include a variety of aesthetics while also staying true to a clean and colorful style.

I grew up in a suburban town in South Jersey with a camera in my hand, eager to capture the world through my eyes. But the world there was too small for my bigger ideas, so I took a chance and moved to the midwest to give myself the space I needed to make those ideas a reality. I’ve found that the creative community here in the Twin Cities is incredibly strong and full of creative minds, and it was exactly what I needed to be surrounded by.

I’ve been pursuing photography since 2016, and although I’ve gained a lot of knowledge through different classes and hands-on experience, I think the most valuable thing I’ve learned so far is how important it is to really connect with others. As a photographer, it’s not enough to just point a camera at someone and tell them to smile or pose a certain way. You have to be able to capture genuine emotion, understand the client’s vision, and really get to know them to create powerful images. One of the things I’m most proud of is making that safe space for others to feel comfortable enough to create with confidence.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Transparency. As an artist, it’s important to recognize that aside from being a business owner, you’re still very much human. I’m extremely open with my followers about things I’m struggling with, areas I may be messing up, or why I suddenly stopped posting on Instagram for three weeks. I share my daily adventures, the thoughts I have, and the things I like. Running a business like I’m a professional machine for the sake of having that strictly professional image has never been my thing, and showcasing my human qualities has opened the door to trust that people are drawn to. Being transparent is something that people value and they feel more comfortable when they can relate to you. I didn’t realize at first that transparency was so important until I thought about why people interacted more with a post about a bad mental health day as opposed to a vague “sorry I’ve been inactive but I’m back now”.

My advice would be to open up a bit more (on a level that you’re comfortable with) and see how many more people you can reach just by being honest.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

A common misconception that people have about photographers is that they simply buy an expensive camera and start snapping photos. The amount of knowledge that’s behind the technical aspect of photography often goes unappreciated, and the amount of creativity that goes into a single photoshoot goes completely unnoticed. In my particular area of photography, there’s a lot of planning that goes into a shoot long before it even happens. I don’t just show up as the photographer, I begin the process with idea conceptualization, mood board creation, and wardrobe styling. I manage website creation and design, upkeep, and marketing. I plan social media posts, create graphics, read analytics, and do research to improve performance. I have to be skilled in client workflow, customer service and satisfaction. I take the time to do online courses and watch hours of YouTube videos to improve in all areas surrounding photography and business management. As a one-woman show this is just the tip of the iceberg, and it’s the reality for countless photographers in the industry. That’s why going out of your way to thank your photographer or even leave a nice review means SO much, it’s a little token of appreciation for all of the hard work that we do behind the scenes.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.kimberlyanastasia.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/_kimberlyanastasia
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kimberlyanyaphoto

Image Credits
Model credits: @_annacarolyn @vibinwithbeno @azuregazefox @felicia_bella_ @maaddiethomas @aaliyahmorganphoto @lilapage @sabrinayeg