Meet Kelly Powell | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Powell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was 23 when I decided to go work for myself. I had a job working in a studio right out of college. The work environment was extremely stressful because of management. I had the opportunity to go to Sierra Leone, Africa to work with a documentary crew after the blood diamond wars had ended to document recovery efforts and bring awareness to the outside world. It was a life changing experience for me to hear so many incredible stories of loss and bravery and still see smiles on the faces of the people of Sierra Leone. They still loved life so much and were grateful for everything they had. I went back to the U.S. and thought to myself, ” Life is too short to be unhappy. I get to do what I love every day but I hate where I am doing it.” so I made the decision to step out and work for myself. I knew it would be challenging but I wouldn’t be unhappy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Photography was never something I really had an interest in growing up. My mother is an artist and I was always fascinated by her paintings and artistic ability. I was an athlete growing up so even though I liked art I never made time for it until later on in high school. I was big into illustration and design. I wanted to go to school for that. Once there I wasn’t real sure what I could even do with that skill and it started to weigh on me. I hated working 40/50 hours on one piece, isolated, hating it when I was done because I was sick of looking at my drawing for long.

I remember a friend telling me I should take a photography class and I was like, “no, I’m good.” but eventually I decided to take it. Living in the darkroom and developing film and images changed me. I loved it so much. I loved the immediacy of seeing what I shot show up on the film and figuring out all the ways I could manipulate light in a scene to get an image I want.
I have always been in love with cinema and photography was a bridge for me to create cinematic style photographs. Conceptual work is where my happy place is. Lighting, color, setting and characters coming to life in one image excites me.

It took a long time for me to figure out how to bridge the gap between artist and business person. I tried to keep them separate for a long time and realized that the way I visualize an image makes a portrait or commercial client stand out. I thought for a long time in order to be in business for myself in this line of work I had to stifle some of my creativity. I honestly don’t know why I thought that. Maybe because I am drawn to colorful yet dark imagery and horror movies. I didn’t want to scare anyone off. Haha!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to recognize my father. He has always been the voice of reason and the person in my corner to help bring me back to center. Growing up he always told me I could do whatever I put my mind to and I just believed him because he believed in me. He taught me about hard work but also how to relax and take in the good moments. Without his encouragement to step out on my own I am not sure I would have felt strong enough to do it. I’m extremely lucky to have a cheerleader like him in my corner.

Website: www.elementsbrandhaus.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elementsbrandhaus/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamkellypowell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElementsStudioPhotography