We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kimberly Baltimore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kimberly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers
When I first started photography, I made a bucket list of people that I wanted to work with that were famous. I have been manifesting that list hard. On that list was a rapper from Harlem named Dave East. I seen Dave East was coming to where I live, Michigan and happened to be performing at my friends Nightclub in Grand rapids. He ended up offering me free entry and VIP access with my camera. I was really nervous to go alone so I called one of my friends to come along with me. We drove an hour and a half to Grand Rapids and as soon as we showed up, the nerves started to kick in, as soon as you pull up, you see security with big guns and a huge line out the door. I Wasn’t sure what it was going to be like inside. I started questioning myself. What equipment do I use? Do I use lighting? Do I not use lighting? What lens do I use? Do I have enough batteries, At that point it seemed so much easier to just go home. My friend talked me in to going ,so we ended up entering the nightclub. We got in as promised, but no VIP access to Dave East. Inside it was hot, packed shoulder to shoulder with minimal lighting. All I brought with me was my camera and my 50 mm lens. I was scared of damaging any expensive equipment, so I went with the cheapest lens I had and used no lighting. At least the 50mm lens is great for low light. I was super nervous to use the 50 mm lens because you have to be close to your subject to get a good clean picture and there is no range of distance like a zoom lens. Next thing you know Dave East walks in the nightclub and is surrounded by security and his people. I could barely see Dave East at all. There was too many people in the way and everyone pushing to get close to him. Girls were climbing over ropes and everything to get to him. At that point I wanted to go home. On my way out I ran into a friend who knew the DJ and he told me to go stand behind the DJ booth where there were not as many people. I took as many pictures as I could. I could barely see because of the large crowd. People were pushing each other, and drinks were spilling everywhere. I was worried about my camera! I stood in the DJ booth a bit, and took as many photos as I could. I didn’t think I captured anything since I was so far away and didn’t have the proper equipment. However, I try to get as many pictures as I can. Once I got my photos, we left. I edited the pictures immediately and posted them that night on my instagram page. In the morning. I woke up to see Dave East posting my picture I took at the nightclub on his Instagram page. Before you knew it thousands and thousands of people are engaging with the photos that I took!!!! I never experienced that ever. Never thought I would!! The only problem was there was no credit given on the post, so people didn’t know that was my photo that I took. I thought I had a great idea by posting the picture I took on my story and telling all of my friends to go to his Instagram page and under the picture tag me for photo credit. Before I knew it tons and tons and tons of friends started tagging me under his photo to the point where he ended up reaching out to me. He explained that the picture was sent to him, and he didn’t know who took the picture, and I didn’t have the easiest Instagram name to tag, which was true. He was upset accusing me of slandering his name because he didn’t give photo credit. He was so upset he said he was going to just delete the photo. I was devastated. I apologized over and over. I never started photography to become famous, popular, or for the money. I have done it strictly for the love and passion. I would never slander somebody just to make me look better. I just wanted credit!!! I reached out a few more times to try and work with him, but he reminded me that I slandered His name and unfortunately, doesn’t want to work with me again as of now. Is very unfortunate because that was someone who was on my bucket list to work with, but at least I had the chance to! Working events like that you risk your equipment getting damaged, time away from your family, and even your life. I guess this was a learning lesson. Things aren’t always going to go as planned. A piece of advice for fellow creatives, don’t ask a bunch of people to tag you under a photo of a celebrity. As every shoot this was a lesson learned on how it goes when working with someone of that caliber. Again, I’m incredibly thankful and optimistic about future projects that will take me even further.i have since worked with more artists or creatives on my list!!! Have faith. Believe in yourself. Create.
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.
I’ve been into photography for years. I first started off, taking pictures of any and everything just for fun. I’ve always been a confident and comfortable person with my body and sexuality, and have had the love for boudoir. One of my best friends asked to be the model for my first boudoir Photoshoot. At first she was a little apprehensive because of past traumas and body image issues. She was brave and ended up doing the shoot anyways. Throughout the shoot, we talked about life, family, our insecurities, and just vibed. The photoshoot was complete and we were both nervous about the photos. When she seen the pictures her reaction and spirit changed so much. She became a totally different person. She said “I didn’t know I could look like that”. Her reaction to the photos made me want to do more photos like that to empower and uplift women/men who suffer from body image issues or just want to take beautiful pictures of themselves. Because of the boudoir shoot I did with my best friend, I got a few more inquiries right after. I was getting booked so much so fast and it was all word-of-mouth. I had no website and no LLC. I never did photography for the money let alone imagined being able to profit from it. I ended up taking photography more serious learning as much as I could. I started to take things more serious and got my LlC, business cards made, and my website. I currently Specialize in boudoir photography, but have ventured off into taking pictures Of performances, celebrities, models, influencers, and even family photos. When people book with me they are usually nervous and worried. My job is to ensure them that with practice, the right lighting, outfit choice, and pose will make everything turn out just fine!!! I like to be as personal with them as I can without being too friendly. I make sure that I’m open and available to my clients to answer any questions or concerns. I like to take the time to get to know my client through social media or through short conversation I will go as far as helping pick out outfit, choices, poses, and themes. I even went as far as doing my own self portrait, boudoir photos, and videos to help other women build up the confidence to do with their selves and learn how to pose as for their future shoot as well. That’s what people love about me. You’re not just getting a pretty pictures, you’re getting an experience leaves you feeling uplifted and confident. Having good vibes and good energy is very important to me . I don’t want it to feel like business. It feels like family. Like love. Never would I have imagined I would be doing what I love and getting paid for it. I’m not gonna lie many times It has been a big struggle to where I’ve been down to my last dollar multiple times, but it’s all been worth it. My brand is about working with great people who become more than clients giving me the opportunity to document every precious moment of their lives as it changes. I want to continue to uplift and empower women/men to be able to express their body as art to feel sexy and confident. Being sexy shouldn’t feel shameful. Throughout my career. I’ve learned that not all money is good money. That is how I continue to run my business. I am selective with who I work with based off the kind of person they are. I only want to work with positive, encouraging, creative, and Courageous people!!!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to unlearn overthinking. I overthink every photoshoot from the very beginning to the end of the editing process. For years every single Photoshoot I would edit all the photos and then delete them at least 3 to 4 times. It would take me weeks just for one. Photoshoot. It was taking up a lot of time, and I was missing out on a lot of money and clients. I had to learn how to stay out of my head. I had to learn that I have made almost every mistake I can make, and those lessons have taught me to make mistakes will be made, but everything will turn out fine!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Being authentic to who I am and never changing myself, just so others can accept me or like me. Doing boudoir photography is very taboo, and people have a negative perception on it. I take that negative perception and turn something so taboo in to tasteful art. I never back down from a person with a negative comment, and I always protect my clients by all means necessary. I am very personable with my clients and very one on one. I think that’s why people love working with me. I will continue to uplift every person I work with or come across, Everything had been word-of-mouth because of how I operate my business. I think I’ve done a great job this far.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kimbaltimorephotog.wixsite.com/kbphotography
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbphotography_2020?igsh=MXNzdDhwc29wY2g1OQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.gates.3975?mibextid=JRoKGi
Image Credits
Dave East (rapper) Kimberly Baltimore (Boudoir Self portrait) Maria Stuart Chanece Ulin Danyelle Stasiak Amber Lynne Kaycee Krupp Caskey (rapper) All photographed by me Kimberly Baltimore