Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kimmi Burk. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kimmi, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
The biggest thing that sets me apart is that I have combined my newborn photography and postpartum doula work. By doing this I am able to provide a personal touch, and cater to the different needs of families during their postpartum journey.
Since newborn photos are taken so soon after birth, it is not uncommon for parents to be experiencing very intense feelings, both physically and emotionally. I anticipate this happening with each client, and strive to create a safe and comfortable experience for them by utilizing what I know as a postpartum doula and applying it to their photo session. I offer sessions in-home as well as in my studio, so that if they are itching to get out of the house they have somewhere to go, or if they would prefer they can stay in, to be more gentle with their bodies. I work around the baby’s schedule rather than putting pressure on the parents to make changes to their routine for their session. Often, parents will find comfort and safety during the session, and choose to process their birth story with me. I am honored to hold space for these moments, and I strive to make the parents feel cared for as much as their baby is.
Kimmi, 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 was born and raised in California, where I met my husband, with whom I’ve been married for 10 years. Together, we moved around for a couple years, before finally settling down in Washington state, where we’ve been raising our two amazing little boys. In my spare time I like finding ways to be creative, so I do things like knit and paint. I also like to play video games, and have outdoor adventures with my family.
I have a passion for birth and postpartum journeys, and the healing that goes into it, so in addition to my businesses I’m working on completing my training to become a trauma coach. I also volunteer with an organization called Baby Blues Connection, which supports families through postpartum mood disorders. I firmly believe in doing what you are passionate about, and I am lucky enough to do work that I love, so it has never felt like work.
I have always loved taking photos to hold on to memories. I knew it was what I wanted to go to school for, I just didn’t know how much it would involve babies as it does now. After my own postpartum journey, I felt pulled to work with newborns.
As a newborn photographer, I strive to create classic images that the family can cherish forever. I take my time safely positioning the baby and capturing every little detail to perfectly preserve the memory of this sweet new little person. As I do this, I chat with the family about their birth story, their postpartum journey, and I offer newborn care tips, if prompted.
When I became pregnant with my first kiddo I worked for a little baby boutique that was doula owned and operated. The support and care I received just from being around the doulas was so incredible. It was something I wanted to provide to other people, so I became a postpartum doula. The experience I had in my postpartum was extremely intense in so many ways, particularly ways I never expected, and I felt inspired to support others through this experience. As a postpartum doula I provide trauma-informed support to families after they welcome a baby. Most of the time, my work looks like caring for the baby, and doing light housework while the parents get some sleep. I also provide lactation support and education, evidence-based newborn care education, and I hold space for the family, should they need it as they process their birth.
I am passionate about the postpartum journey, and providing a safe and comfortable space for families to show up as they are. My goal is that I leave my clients feeling genuinely cared for, whether that’s through doula work or photography.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Being a professional in a creative position shows resilience from anyone because of how hard it is to stay committed to a passion that is not a typical avenue of income.
I would like to say that I showed resilience when I pursued my passion, despite someone telling me it’s not possible to be successful as a photographer. However, I think I’ve shown the most resilience in constantly fighting myself. Every creative person loves to say “we’re our own worst critic” and I’ve finally accepted that I am no different. I am my own worst critic, and it has often led me to phone calls with my relatives (usually my sister) saying “I think I should quit.” Of course, I am far too passionate about my work to do so, but I think any creative will find that it’s easy to convince ourselves that the world doesn’t need our art. Managing and owning a business is hard, and keeping up with the financial aspect of all of that can be a challenge, but it truly doesn’t stand up to that little voice in my head saying “your work is not good enough”. I find my empowerment and my resilience every time I disagree with that little voice, and continue on.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One thing that I had to unlearn was that not everyone is my competition. I started out expecting that no one would be interested in helping me, or working around me, and although it’s possible to find that mindset, it’s definitely not the norm. Not everyone is trying to do the same thing, and we don’t all need to fight over clients. In an industry that’s client-dependent it’s easy to believe that everyone is competing for the same clients, but what I’ve learned is that the beauty in this industry is that everyone has their own unique way of doing things, and with our help our clients will find the proper fit. It’s better for our clients to have a community that supports and uplifts each other in our creativity.
Once I started out I quickly met people who were excited to teach me. I found myself surprised that my professor wasn’t pitting us against each other, but instead excited for us to work alongside one other and create different types of magic. When I started my business I was uplifted by other business owners, and we helped each other grow. When I moved to an area with a much more popular photographer I reached out and we chatted about having coffee. I’ve stopped feeling a pit in my stomach when I meet another photographer, and instead feel excitement; I ask myself what we can offer each other in the way of encouragement or education. This change of mindset has allowed my business and passion to grow in new ways.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kimmiburkphotography.com
- Instagram: @kimmiburkphotography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/kimmiburkphotography
- Other: tiktok: @kimmiburkphoto
