Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Kelley.
Hi Christian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I graduated college and went straight into a job at a beverage distributor, where I spent about two years. I loved the people I worked with, but not the job itself, and I constantly worried I’d be stuck in the industry forever. In January 2024, I had just applied for a promotion and was waiting to hear back when corporate walked in and announced that the company was shutting its doors — and we were all losing our jobs.
Once the shock wore off, reality hit: I had bills to pay, and sitting around wasn’t an option. I reached out to everyone I knew in the beverage world and applied to everything I could find on Indeed. But no one was hiring — and the positions that were available paid less and offered even fewer responsibilities. I valued myself too much to settle. That moment forced me to see something I hadn’t noticed before: I actually had the freedom to choose something entirely different.
A few days later, I came across a video about real estate photography and media. I was instantly hooked. I thought, I could do this. The creator of the video had a coaching program that promised to teach everything you needed to start and scale a business. I hopped on a call that same day, only to find out the program was way more expensive than I expected. I closed my laptop and told myself, “Okay… maybe this isn’t for me.” I pushed the idea aside and took a job in staffing sales.
I lasted about a month.
I couldn’t stop thinking about that program or the possibility of working for myself. So I made a decision: I’d pay for the coaching while working this job, and when I felt ready, I’d quit. A few weeks later, that’s exactly what happened — I quit, bought a tripod and a lens, borrowed an old Canon camera my parents had, and went all in.
By June 2024, I had my LLC, my business name, and a whole lot of determination. I started reaching out to real estate agents across DFW and booked four shoots in my first week. The funniest part? I had absolutely no idea how to shoot a house. But I showed up, did the work, and I’m so grateful to say that all four of those clients still work with me today.
For the next six months, I lived in a constant mix of fear and excitement as I went through the coaching program. I hit every goal I set for myself. And since then, Kelley Co. Media has continued to grow — not just in business, but in the relationships I’ve built along the way.
I’m only a year and a half into this journey, and I still have so much I want to accomplish. One of my biggest goals is to grow the company into a small team of photographers. I know how hard it is to find a job you love, and I would be honored to create that opportunity for someone else.
I’m incredibly grateful — to God, my family, my friends, and every single client who believed in me from the beginning. I can’t wait to see where Kelley Co. Media goes next.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. There have been plenty of days — and nights — where I cried myself to sleep. Honestly, I just had one of those days recently. I’ve faced financial moments that felt impossible to climb out of. I’ve lost clients. I’ve had seasons where I slowed down or stopped showing up the way I wanted to because I was mentally and physically exhausted. Imposter syndrome visits often.
But that’s the reality of being an entrepreneur. There’s no blueprint, no safety net, and sometimes no one who truly understands what you’re trying to build. I remind myself often, “No one around you has ever done this.” That can feel incredibly lonely… but it’s also incredibly liberating. I get to create something from nothing.
What gets me through the hard days is gratitude — and God. Those two things have grounded me through every setback and reminded me that the struggle is part of the story.
We’ve been impressed with Kelley Co. Media, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I specialize in Real Estate Media here in the DFW area. My services include photography, videography, drone, 3D tours, floor plans, virtual staging — and I also offer a “pay at close” option to make the process easier for agents who prefer not to pay upfront.
What truly sets me apart is the way I approach my clients. I know how demanding their job is, so I make it my mission to support them however I can. If that means helping move a few items before a shoot, dropping off a sign, adjusting my schedule to fit theirs, or just making the experience smoother and less stressful — I’m happy to do it. My clients work incredibly hard to provide for their families, and if I can take even a little weight off their shoulders, that matters to me.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built. I’ve met so many amazing agents and homeowners who have turned into not just clients, but connections I genuinely value. Those relationships are what make this work feel less like a job and more like something I’m truly meant to be doing.
Kelley Co. Media exists to give agents high-quality, reliable, easy-to-work-with listing media — but more importantly, it exists to serve people. And that’s what I want readers to know most.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I have a wide range of things that make me happy, but my faith, my family, and my dogs absolutely top the list. They remind me that even if everything else were to fall apart, I’d still have everything I truly need. That grounding is what keeps me going on the hard days.
Outside of that, I love being outdoors, I’m obsessed with interior design, and I’m a big sports girl — all of those things bring me so much joy and balance in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://book.kelleyco-media.com/order/kcm/book?returnurl=%2Forder%2Fkcm%2Fbook
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelleycomedia/
