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

Hi Kimberly, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

When I was choosing a name for my business, I was practicing yoga often and I love the idea of opposite forces working together that create something new. It is the salty to the sweet, the peanut butter to the jelly, the yin to the yang, fierceness and vulnerability, confidence and humility. On their own, wonderful, but together….even better. Grace With Fire Photography emerged as the idea of opposite forces that come together to create something as a reflection of the balance and duality it takes to be in a creative profession. Photography is both an art and a craft. It takes intuition, skill, and a lot of practice. It’s about making the intricate seem effortless because at some point it actually does become effortless!

Kimberly, 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’m a professional photographer whose passion for the craft began in high school in the mid 1990’s when I was on the yearbook staff as a photographer. It was there that I first discovered my love for seizing the moment and I was fascinated to learn about the darkroom. That curiosity led me to explore darkroom techniques while at Seminole Community College and later I attended the University of Florida, where I earned my BFA degree in Creative Photography.

After graduating, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with photography so I put that dream on hold while pursuing other artistic endeavors and creating personal photography work. In 2009, I decided I have to pursue photography as a profession I worked in the restaurant industry as a server, all while slowly building my photography business. In 2020 I officially became a full time professional photographer and I’m grateful to be able to focus entirely on photography today.

Helping others show up with confidence in front of the camera is so important because it is something that I have personally dealt with. There are so many ways to convey that personal power and being someone’s coach for that is empowering. When I’m helping clients feel at ease with posing, creating lighting that highlights their best features, or simply fine tuning my skills, I lose all track of time and feel my best. I believe that one of the keys to success is showing others your enthusiasm and skills so that they feel the trust that is necessary to be in front of the camera.

My specialties include headshot and branding photography, as well as portraits for families and individuals. I worked with Orlando Style Magazine for five years, photographing hundreds of business professionals from various professional backgrounds.

One of the qualities that sets me apart is that if a client is smiling for the camera, I want it to be an AUTHENTIC smile. I have several tricks in my toolbox to achieve that of which I am not afraid of telling some dad jokes to get the smiles going. I want my clients to feel at ease, while guiding them through a variety of poses they can confidently use in front of any camera. I know that being in front of a camera can be intimidating, so I do my best to keep things relaxed and fun. I find that humor helps people to lower their guard, and that’s when the magic happens in front of the lens. Camera confidence is valuable and I teach others how to get there.

Ultimately, I’m proud of the fact that I can create a seamless, enjoyable experience for my clients from start to finish. Whether it’s a large corporate headshot event, a branding session, a personal portrait, I’m here to make the entire process as easy and stress free as possible.

If there’s one thing I want potential clients and followers to know, it’s that photography is my passion—it’s my art, my craft, and my way of connecting with others. I’m here to help you show up, shine and bring your vision to life.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Although I studied photography in college, I wasn’t certain about the direction I wanted my career to take. I simply knew I had a deep passion for it. At the time, the industry was transitioning from film and darkroom techniques to the digital age. It seems funny now, but I didn’t believe digital photography would ever replace the artistry of film. I felt somewhat lost and uncertain about how to move forward in pursuing photography professionally, so I decided to take a pause. The work I was familiar with was in the restaurant industry, and after graduating from the University of Florida in 2003, I transitioned from casual dining to a fine dining serving job, while using my camera solely for personal projects.

It wasn’t until 2010 that I purchased my first digital camera and realized I had to pursue photography professionally. I knew, without a doubt, that I would regret it if I didn’t at least try. I was still working in the restaurant industry, slowly building my photography business on the side. I joined a local photo club and attended meetups in town, and gradually, I began to feel like I was on the right path.

In the early stages, I focused on breaking into the wedding industry. I photographed weddings for close friends, then for colleagues, and eventually received a few referrals. This led to opportunities to second shoot weddings with an established Orlando photographer, Kathy Thomas. As is often the case when you tell people you’re a photographer, they assume you specialize in weddings and will tell you that’s where the money is. While I had the skill and ability to take beautiful wedding photos, I always knew that portraiture felt more in line with how I wanted to show up and help others do the same.

While I was finding my way, I dabbled in maternity shoots, shot real estate listings, did food photography for local restaurants, and took family portraits—you name it, I probably tried it, except for newborn photography.

In 2018, a significant opportunity came along when my friend and hairstylist, Albie Flores, recommended me to a local magazine that was hiring. After an interview, I was hired by Orlando Style Magazine as their business portrait photographer. If it wasn’t for him, I would have never known of that opportunity. Over the next five years, I had the privilege of photographing prominent business leaders across Central Florida and Tampa. This experience truly shaped my career and led me to specialize in branding and headshot photography, which is now my area of expertise.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Don’t be afraid to follow up with people. I used to think that if I didn’t hear back from someone after they inquired, it meant they weren’t interested in my services. However, that’s not always the case, and I absolutely believe in the power of following up! I had a potential client reach out to inquire about headshots for their company. After a week or so, I hadn’t heard anything after our initial call, so I reached out to see how she was coming along with finding a photographer. You know what? She told me that she was happy I called her back and that she had been so busy that she forgot about needing a photographer and since I followed up she was going to go with me. We’ve been working together consistently now for 4 years. That was a lesson learned. Just follow up, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gracewithfire.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracewithfirephoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracewithfire
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyjefcoat/

Image Credits

Grace With Fire Photography: Kimberly Jefcoat