Meet Kelly Willette-An awesome photographer/ businesswoman and an AMAZING mom!

We are so fortunate to have Kelly with us this week, here on the blog and during the Ask and Learn session tomorrow evening in the forum.  I have had the extreme pleasure of knowing Kelly this past year.  She is a vivacious gal who knows how to run a business, hands-down!  If you have business related questions that you have been waiting to ask in the forum or in an Ask and Learn session, this is the session you do not want to miss!   She is the brilliant mastermind behind the “Finding the Joy” series and has polished her photography skills as an “Indoor Natural Light” photographer.  She also works feverishly designing new tools for photographers, like presets, posing guides, and marketing sets (some of which are FREE). She is one Busy Lady!  So grab your coffee and soak in the inspriation and words of wisdom from Kelly.  Then think of those questions you have been wanting to ask, and get them ready for our Ask and Learn Session with Kelly, Thursday night from 5-7pm PST on the Soarority Forum.

Q:  When did you start your business and what was the turning point of taking it from a hobby to a business of charging people?

I started my business in 2006 (that is when I started charging clients – though I wasn’t charging much at that point).   I think the turning point for me from just casually taking photos of my friends’ children to taking photos for paying clients was totally by accident.  I actually NEVER intended to turn my love of photography and children into a business or profession.  I was a graphic designer and stay at home mom, who just happened to love taking photos of children.  Once I started getting emails from strangers and relatives of my friends asking if I would photograph THEIR children just as I did their friend/relatives’ children, I had to reassess my intentions.  I quickly threw together some prices and started!  It took off like hotcakes because at that time, our area did not have someone who specialized just in children – so it was fun to be a bit of a trailblazer!

Q:  What inspires your photography?
I am HUGELY inspired by vintage family photos – especially those from the 1920s and 1930s.  I love knowing that what we as photographers are documenting today will be treasured by future generations.  You truly are creating a visual family history for people by photographing their children.  I LOVE this.  Our job as photographers is so important and necessary.

Q:  What inspires you as a person, artist?

All things classic and vintage!  I love silhouettes, classic and vintage clothing, genealogy, thrifting, the old standard songs (by Frank Sinatra, the Andrew sisters, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, etc.).  I believe I was born in the wrong era for so many reasons.  By looking back at my family’s history (and old photos and stories), it inspires me to get out my own camera and snap away!

Q:   What is one or two pieces marketing/self-promotion ideas that you can give our newbies?

Definitely start a blog and a Facebook fan page.  Though I LOVE all things vintage, I think that to be successful in your business, you need to use social media – and use it well – and stay on top of all the social media trends.  My blog and my Facebook fan page were the two biggest tools that helped me spread the word about my business.

Q:   What is the best and toughest part about doing photography while being a mom and wife at the same time?

Fitting everything in!!!  When I first started, I didn’t have parameters….clients would call my home phone at dinnertime (and I would take the calls…ugh).  I quickly learned that I set my schedule for when I want to photograph (I stopped offering weekend sessions! – clients would take their children out of school for a session), I decided that I wasn’t going to offer sessions during the summer since my kids were home, and I closed up shop for the holidays on November 15th (and I was firm on this).  Clients soon learned to respect my time more when I set these barriers.  Doctors don’t allow patients to set their working hours….we as photographers are allowed to set our own parameters as well.

I also stopped offering my phone number to clients.  I never had a problem…..they could email me with any concerns or questions and I would call them back if necessary (when I was convenient with my family’s schedule).

I’m sure some of you reading this may be appalled at the idea of dictating your shooting schedule or not giving your phone number out, but I never had a problem with it – and I literally have photographed hundreds of families.

I think y’all should know that once my daughter was born in December 2009, I put my professional portrait business on the back burner as I focused on my family.  With a husband who travels A TON and two young children, I decided to hang up my “photographer for other people” hat for a while as I focus on photographing my own children.  I still maintain my blog creating free downloads/actions/presets for my followers and by leading the “Finding the Joy” products and classes on line for other parents interested in better documenting their own children.  This has been really fulfilling for me to still be engaged with the photography community, but while balancing my family life.  Being practically a single mom to a baby and an 8 year old pulls me in MANY directions!  The blog keeps me sane and keeps my creative energy (there is a TON of it!) harnessed.

Q:  Is there one more piece of advice you’d give to newbies?

You have GOT to learn how to achieve consistent perfect exposure in manual mode prior to opening shop.  If you consistently have to “fix” your photos in Photoshop….you’re not ready.  Push yourself to have perfect photos straight out of the camera.

Q:  What are the classes/workshops/DVDs/books that you’ve watched or read to teach yourself photography? Were they helpful?

I am primarily self-taught, with the exception of a few in-person workshops.  I highly recommend the Me Ra Koh forum – tons of helpful information on there.  I think the forums provide so much wonderful support and information.

 

Q:  What type of camera equipment did you have when you first started shooting portraits? And what have you added to your camera bag since then?

I had a d200 and a 35mm 2.0 lens and a 50 mm 1.4 lens.  Since then, I upgraded to the full frame d3 (LOVE) and I added an 85mm 1.4.  the 50mm 1.4 lens is still my favorite!

Q:  How do you know about Me Ra and the SOAR! community?

I first came across Me Ra‘s site last year, and I was smitten at first glimpse!  I LOVED her approach to making photograph achievable for everyone.  This is so important and so rare these days when so many professional photographers are unwilling to share or are quick to point out the moms with cameras.  I’m a mom with a camera – and I’m proud of it!  I love that Me Ra embraces people like me!!!  She’s so awesome and down to earth.

 

P.S.  If you thought that interview was great…you are not going to want to miss Ask and Learn with Kelly Willette, tomorrow, May 5th on the  Soarority Forum, 5-7pm PST.   Tell your friends…Be there.
Have a great day!

Wendy:)