Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Gilley.
Hi Kimberly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am owner and photographer of Photography By: Kim G. I am a wife to the best husband a girl could ask for and a mother to two amazing kids. I have always had a love for photography and remember taking pictures with a film camera as a child. I captured any and everything, then waited anxiously as the film was developed at our local Eckerd Drug Store. I also enjoyed looking through old photos and trying to remember the exact details of that day.
However, I believe my true love for photography began 11 years ago when I became a mom. I was obsessed with photographing every single moment of my daughter’s life. No matter where I am or who I am around I look for opportunities to capture genuine moments so special occasions and events are never forgotten. After several years of taking photos of family and friends as a hobby, I finally decided to enroll in school to learn photography as a professional.
Photography By: Kim G was created during the Pandemic! Starting a new business during the pandemic was extremely scary and challenging. I knew that my approach had to be different from the norm due to the unusual circumstance we were facing. Photo shoots required social distancing, lots of communication and flexibility. But I had faith that if God gave me the vision, everything would fall into place.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I think it is safe to say that all businesses experience some bumps in the road.
One of the struggles I have faced along the way is finding my niche. While the result in photography is always a beautiful photo, every photographer has their own unique style and tends to gravitate towards a specific genre. When I started my business, I took on any job that came my way. I was new and so excited to work but quickly realized I didn’t enjoy them all. The only rule I had for myself was to simply have fun and create a business that I loved. So, I had to take a step back and truly think about what spoke to me. Families, milestones, couples, lifestyle portraits and photo shoots that have purpose behind them is what speaks to my passion for photography and so, that is what I capture.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in family and lifestyle photography. My goal is to be the photographer client’s call for all their special moments, whether that is for portraits for a Christmas card, the arrival of a newborn, or birthdays and celebrations. Most of the clients I have are repeat clients and many of them have become friends.
I just recently celebrated my first year in business and am most proud of the success I’ve had in such a short time. I started during the Pandemic and expected things to progress slowly, but I have truly been blessed. During this year, my work has been published 8 times across 4 different magazines, one of which was a cover. I was also chosen to be a featured artist in a magazine and nominated for an award. However, the thing that stands out the most is the relationships I have built within the community. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some dynamic creatives and meet people that I probably would have never met outside of photography.
I believe what sets me apart from others is my approach to creating the best experience for my client. Prior to a shoot, I ask clients several questions about their expectations from the shoot, their personalities, their style, and hobbies. This allows me to tailor the shoot specifically to them. No photoshoot is the same!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that you enjoy?
When I am not working, I still enjoy photography as a hobby.
Both of my kids play sports, so I love putting my professional hat to the side to simply take photos as a mom. I also volunteer at their schools and I am typically the team or classroom photographer.
A few years ago, I discovered an app called PhotoCircle that I absolutely love. It allows me to create private groups and share photos with teachers, coaches and parents. When working with kids, cyber safety is always my biggest concern. While social media is fun and easy, I never share photos of kids without a parents permission so, PhotoCircle gives us the ability to share, comment and download photos just as we would through social media but in a safe and private manner.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.photographybykimg.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/photographyby_kimg
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/photographybykimg
