Today we’d like to introduce you to Meli Kerr.
Meli, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I always liked photography but like a lot of people, I didn’t think it could be a real career.
Especially living in Utah, I didn’t want to be just another “do it all” photographer. So when I got to college I decided to pursue something totally different. First, it was Political Science, then Athletic Training (which I LOVED but had the HARDEST time with advanced Chemistry).
Then I remembered my love for the arts and thought I’d give Illustration ago… until I realized that I doodle, I do NOT draw. The end of my sophomore year came and I NEEDED to pick a major and I realized that I should do something I just loved and Photography came back into my life. It wasn’t going to be easy to get into the program (it’s one of the most competitive programs at the university, only ~20/250 make it each semester) but I put a portfolio together and submitted it and a few weeks later my acceptance letter came! I was SO ecstatic!
During my years studying photography at Brigham Young University, I fell in love with lighting, color, and especially meticulous studio work. My favorite things to photograph were extremely difficult and usually involved lots of reflections (like perfume bottles). So upon graduating in April 2017 I 100% thought I would be doing commercial work and giving into my love for the studio even though I didn’t involve working with a lot of people (which I LOVE).
In August 2017 my husband and I moved to Dallas to start our new adventure and his new job as a management consultant. I decided to start from scratch and try to make it on my own. When the very first bid came along I was SO stressed out and anxious that I couldn’t sleep and it wasn’t the good kind of anxious, it wasn’t excitement. After that, I decided to go full-throttle into weddings. It had everything I love so much-lighting, color, and PEOPLE. Lots and lots of people!
Today, I’m still learning, growing, and bettering myself but I’ve LOVED the journey! I’ve met INCREDIBLE vendors and created gorgeous images along the way! I absolutely love it!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. It’s been hard in a lot of ways. It’s been hard to meet new people, find clients, and establish myself in a place unfamiliar and new. It’s been hard to set up my business for the first time and build a portfolio that’s truly representative of me and what I can do. And there have been some really awful personal struggles along the way too.
In February I miscarried my first ever pregnancy at just 6.5 weeks. It was devastating! To make matters even harder, it happened during a shoot that I had been putting together for MONTHS. I could have probably explained to everyone what was going on and gotten out of it but I didn’t want to let them down or myself.
Luckily, I was able to do the shoot and get a second photographer so everything went well and I have some amazing images because of it. But the most amazing part was the love and support I received from everyone involved in the shoot! This community of creatives is absolutely amazing!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Meli Kerr Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Meli Kerr Photography is owned, operated, and a team of just 1: me. I hope to expand it one day to include several team players but for now, it’s just me! I specialize in weddings, but even more specifically I specialize in happy, bright colors, and light-filled love events.
Meli Kerr Photography is different because my focus isn’t just on your big day, but on what makes that day so big and special, to begin with! I LOVE making friends with my clients and focusing on what makes them so special and different because that differs from person to person and couple to couple. I want my clients not to feel like some random person is following them around all day but that they have a good friend to be there with them that just “happens” to capture all of the big moments.
I want them to feel like the incredible people that they are and be confident and happy in front of the camera so that they not only love the photos that result from their wedding day or session but that they also have an amazing and fun memory to look back on when they look at those photos. I think that’s what really sets me apart. I truly LOVE my clients and people!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My future is always unsure, but I kinda love that! I love looking at whatever opportunities come along and jumping at the most exciting ones. But when I plan for MY company I plan on photo education, building a team of photographers and experts to create an incredible experience for many, many people, and LOTS of traveling, especially traveling for weddings.
It’ll be a long road, My husband and I plan on starting our family in the near future and that will take priority for a while, but I’m already working towards my goals in education especially.
Early this summer I will be offering educational classes and mentoring sessions for anyone who wants to improve their photography skills. Whether you’ve never shot on a DSLR or you just need some help understanding lighting these classes and sessions will be there to help everyone, individuals and companies alike!
I was fortunate to get a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design and Photography from an absolutely incredible university and I want to pass on the knowledge I gained there and everything else I’ve learned along the way!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.melikerr.com
- Email: meli@melikerr.com
- Instagram: @meli.kerr
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/melikerrphoto/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
