Meet Kacey D Chadwick | Family Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kacey D Chadwick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kacey D, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
COMMUNICATION! I know that seems so simple when most people live with their phones in their hands 24/7, but everyone communicates differently. I have open communication with my potential and current clients. I always do my best to follow up with them, let them know when their photos will be ready. I encourage them to ask questions, vocalize their concerns, and bring up their own ideas they may have! The better communication we have, the better we will work together!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I absolutely love my families. I enjoy spending 30 minutes to hours with them and creating memories and art with them. My work is very colorful, and a real lifestyle approach to family photography. I love the contrast of lighting and colors. A learning curve was focusing on my editing style and showing off the true colors and brightness to life – sometimes that is with the styling, and sometimes that is with nature’s beauty. I am so proud when a family books for a second (and more) times…that means I passed the “test”, and the first session was just as special to them as it was for me!

A challenge I have had and still battle with is comparing myself and my work to others. There will always be someone that you believe is better than you. I try to take it as a learning opportunity – try to point out what I admire about their work and try it out in my own style. It could be posing a client, using a prop, a marketing idea, or a creative angle of shooting. No more competition is my goal. I must remind myself sometimes that my clients come to me for my work, and my personality! Some people could offer something I don’t, but I create a bond with my clients. I love each and every one of them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in a suburb area outside of Los Angeles. Simi Valley isn’t too big, but we have a few cute spots. I am a foodie too, so my day would circulate around meals, I can’t be the only one that does that?! My favorite breakfast spot is Le Herisson, a French Japanese Cafe – their Espresso Croissants are amazing! On a good day we can hike up to Mt. McCoy Cross and see all of Simi Valley at the top! Lunch you can’t go wrong with tacos and beer – the shrimp tacos at Tacos 805 are my favorite! We don’t have much of a night life here and don’t forget I am a mom of 3 little ones under 8 years old – Most of the time we are in bed by 9pm! You can always take a short drive and go into the crazy fun adventurous beast of Los Angeles, or head to the beach in either Malibu or Ventura. An hour away is Ojai which is a mini relaxing getaway from the city.
I enjoy where I live, we are close to everything and still in a seemingly quiet town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My husband deserves a great deal of credit for allowing me to follow my dream career while he parents our 3 kids. Coming home from a long day of shooting and having dinner ready and the kids bathed, or even the kids asleep and making tea for us to share and catch up on our day together. Having a helpful partner to pick things up where you left off is AMAZING. Plus allowing me edit in bed while he sleeps – he hates the laptop light, but he understands the late-night editing sessions.

There is also my Ventura County Photographer Friends group chat – we share ideas, collaborations, support one another, refer one another to job openings. It helps to feel comfortable with fellow creative members in the community, and not that everything is a competition and pinning against one another. I love seeing others work and admiring the beauty of the images, it is so much easier to not be competitive and help support one another instead. I also really enjoy seeing them on location and rooting on one another.

Website: https://kaceydphotography.pic-time.com/client

Instagram: @kcdphotog

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

Other: https://book.usesession.com/i/olHlL0dpp

Image Credits
My headshot is by Lise Lorene Photography.