Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirstie Clark.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
– Since I can remember, I have had a camera in my hand. Taking pictures of any and everything. To the point of driving my loved ones crazy.
My father gave me my first DSLR camera. He doesn’t know it but that was the beginning of the end of everything I was pursuing at that time. After that, at age 19 I dropped out of college to pursue my own business in photography. At the time, no one took me seriously. It wasn’t hard to take photos. However, to be an artist and to make a living off of it was a different story. That takes more work than people realize. There is a reason for the “Starving artist,” stigma.
I grabbed at any opportunity to take a photo so that I could get hands-on learning. Senior portraits, family sessions, weddings, birthdays…you name it, I was doing it.
I constantly juggled 2 to 3 jobs in order to reach my goal of eventually solely doing photography for a living. After 4 years of climbing, pursuing, working extra shifts and giving everything I have, I did just that. I have a passion for fine art photography. I knew I wanted to take that passion into something specific. I just wasn’t sure what at the time.
Five years ago I photographed my first birth. Unfortunately, around that time, this subject was taboo and deemed, “inappropriate.” I simply did not agree. No one could give me a logical response as to why this part of womanhood was marked “off limits.” The mere idea of something so natural being labeled shameful and guilt-ridden infuriated me. I set out to breach this taboo topic and empower women to talk about something that is beautiful but also intimidating and unknown. I was barely into my twenties and started this journey of channeling my passion to empower women through my work. I am now an exclusive fine art birth photographer.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I create fine art birth imagery. I create fine art birth photography by being invited into the most vulnerable space of a woman. It started with just being able to showcase my client’s experience through another set of eyes for the mother to reflect on and embrace later. I began to realize that through the relationship I gained with my clients and documenting the uniqueness of each birth, not only was I empowered but so were my clients. One by one they all started sharing how my work made them feel after feeling like they somehow failed. I was surprised at their thoughts. How could they have failed? They were able to make sense of what had happened with the imagery I produced. Something so violently beautiful was then processed through evocative art.
5 years later, after having my own child, I realized how crucial my role in the birth room could be to aide in postpartum depression among women. Thus, the love for birth photography simply dug deeper each time I left the birth of a mother. My singular hope to each mother I work with is that she knows that she is valued and respected. There is not enough of that in the business or experience of birth, and I have made it my mission to show them through my work. My artwork is vulnerable, remarkable, transparent, raw and evocative.
Through the years, I have had the rare honor of capturing birth stories and my clients graciously sharing their truths with other women around the world. My hope is that the people who I work with leave their birth experience with visual representation that they are valued and important.
How can artists connect with other artists?
My advice to other artists would be to keep your head down and chase your passion. I mean it. Believe in the idea that got you excited. Trust that voice that makes your fear say “no.” That mindset alone will bring people into your life that share the same energy.
Or as my husband likes to say to me, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
T.Roosevelt said that and it still carries tremendous weight today. I have met so many other photographers that have the same passions I do. You attract what you are. Reach out to them and be the first to offer your heart and kindness. Don’t wait for them to do it.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see my work at kpphotoinc.com
People can support my work by sharing my work on my various social media outlets. They can also support me by sending women to my site who may want a chance at seeing their intimate journeys from a powerful perspective.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4200 Broadway Avenue, Flower Mound, TX 75028
- Website: www.kpphotoinc.com
- Phone: 918-815-7035
- Email: kirstieperezphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpphotoinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KPPhotoinc/
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