Today we’d like to introduce you to Kacey Chadwick.
Kacey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been a creative, artistic person, but I got into photography back in high school by chance. Bored over summer break, I was asked to clean out a junk closet for my parents and buried in the far back, I found a large black bag that I had never seen before. To my surprise, it was a brand-new film camera, plus multiple lenses! I asked my parents for the backstory, and they had said they had bought it when I was born, thinking they would capture all the memories…but so many years later, they couldn’t even remember using it once! I asked if I could play around with it and thank goodness they said yes. It was there that I fell in love with photography. I loved going on walks and clicking away at whatever caught my eye. I then asked friends if they would model for me and always had a camera with me.
After high school, I went to the College of the Canyons and studied photography and art. I learned how to develop my own film there, and I loved being in the dark room. At the same time, I got my first real DSLR camera and continued working with inspiring models, hair stylists, and makeup artists. Creating fun photo concepts and learning together with other artists while bringing those ideas to life was the most fun and rewarding time I had in college. I still stay in contact with a lot of those people today, and I love seeing what they are working on nowadays.
Fast forward to my adulthood, it became harder to juggle my creative/artistic state of mind and trying to become an adult. Occasionally, I would still do a shoot when my creative juices were flowing. I did notice that when I had a session scheduled or photos to edit, I was a happier me. I had to follow that joyful feeling, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it into my adult life. I was starting to get requests to capture more family milestones, like engagements, maternity, and newborn/family sessions. I came to realize I really adore working with clients going through these milestones. Today they trust me to capture it all! I enjoy watching these families change and grow over the years – I appreciate seeing the baby bumps become little kids running around, growing with these families and having them even become friends!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would not say it has been a rough road but there have been some struggles. The type of struggles changes over the years as well. When I was younger, I had to learn balance. Balancing my want to do this creative outlet 24/7 and a full-time job, bills, etc. I wanted to jump into photography with all I had, but at that time, I wasn’t getting paid to create this art. It was a loved hobby of mine. I had responsibilities that I had to take care of at the same time.
In later years, Photography became my dream career! Now brings in fear and doubt. Can this be my real job? Am I good enough? Will everyone like my work? Can I really make a living doing what I love? Just must make that jump! Of course, today there is still doubt there if I am “good enough” for this career, but I work on not comparing myself to others – I try to learn from their work instead. I take courses to learn different techniques, lighting, poses, marketing, etc. Fear and doubt will probably always be there, but now I use it to help push me to be even better.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Kacey D Photography, I am a family photographer. My bio states, “Photographer for all” and I mean it! Whatever stage of life you are in – I am your photographer to capture those memories. Could be a creative portrait session, maternity, newborn, or your family sessions, whatever you want captured – I am the one. What makes me the proudest is having families become returning clients. Treasuring the moments from baby belly bumps into grown kids that are excited to see me again and again. I adore seeing those smiling faces year after year. Having a photography session may seem like it is just for fun, but really, we are freezing these moments in life permanently for you to treasure forever.
My goal when you book with me is that you feel safe that you made a good choice! Communication, brainstorming locations and outfits, needed props, etc. I want you to show up and feel excited, stress-free, and ready to smile. A session with me is filled with laughs, games, is adventurous at times, with the most beautiful lighting and location.
What makes you happy?
Being a mom myself, I cherish the kids – I take the time to let them get comfortable with me, making them laugh, letting them be silly and get excited with them! Making sure the kids have fun and are happy to be there is amazing. I also feel for the moms when I see them relax within minutes of the session starting, knowing everything is okay and you are going to get some sweet images. BUT what really makes me jump for joy on the inside is hearing the dads say, “That wasn’t bad at all!” “That actually was fun!” “She is great!”. THAT brings me delight! Winning over the hardest critic is the best feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kaceydphotography.pic-time.com/client
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcdphotog/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kcdphoto
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kaceydphotography
Image Credits
Kacey D Photography
