Today we’d like to introduce you to Keva Burns.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I had a pretty active childhood. Growing up my mom/best friend of life put a lot of effort into exposing me to different activities. But I always had a flair for the dramatic so I gravitated towards creative activities; Lots of art classes, community theatre groups, film and video classes, and of course photography classes. I think maybe subconsciously she knew I would end up somewhere in the creative industry, so she made sure my relationship with the arts stayed pretty fresh. Visuals especially have ALWAYS been my jam. Photos were a huge part of my childhood. I was always the kid whose mom made everyone stop to snap the group photo. She made sure to capture what seems like everyday of my life from birth through college graduation. I’ve got a closet full of photo albums to prove it. Personally, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I’ve always loved the nostalgia that photos can create. They’re basically the present day version of time travel. One look at a photo can immediately take you back to a place you thought you’d forgotten.
All that being said, I grew up, went to college, got a marketing degree, and set out to get a “real job” because that’s what everyone says you’re supposed to do. I had just started what I considered my first big girl job and not even 2 months in my mom passed away. What we thought was a sinus infection turned out to be stage 4 cancer and in a blink she was gone.
After that my whole perspective on life changed. That quote “live everyday like it’s your last” has been burned into my mental and now controls everything that I do. I am no longer interested giving time to anything that doesn’t achieved the ultimate goal, living my passion and finding my purpose. I knew if I was going to move forward it would have to be doing something I loved because my purpose in life couldn’t possibly be found sitting at a desk in an excel spreadsheet. So I left my big girl job, stepped out on faith and started a photography business.
Please tell us about your art.
I’m a photographer and the owner of CustoMYze Me, a creative studio focused in portrait, commercial, and fashion photography with graphic design services. I gravitated towards photography because I personally feel it’s a bit more subjective. Two people looking at the same image can see or feel something completely different and I love that. There are no rules and everything is open to your own interpretation. I chose to focus in portraits and fashion specifically for the human element. There’s something about a human subject in a photo that helps bring it to life.
My work is usually at one end of the extreme spectrum or the other, there’s no in between. I love strong black and white images or insanely bold colors. I draw inspiration from almost anything, films and books mostly, but I’m an emotional creature despite the game face that I try to keep on so I could find something beautiful and inspiring in a Popsicle stick. For my personal projects I never really have an end game as far as “what I want people to take away from an image.” I think it more fun to watch people make their own assumptions, but for my clients it all comes down to the story they want to tell.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Whatever you do, don’t quit. Period.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
All of my most recent work can be found on my website or featured via social media but I do hope to be doing some fun exhibitions project sometime in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Address: CustoMYze Me Studio 1444 Oak Lawn Ave. sTE 510 Dallas, Tx 75207
- Website: www.customyzeme.com
- Phone: 214-755-8596
- Email: info@customyzeme.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/customyzeme/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CustoMYzeMe/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/customyzemeltd
Image Credit:
Keva Burns; CustoMYze Me
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