Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Hester.
Hi Kendall, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I basically started my photography journey in 2020 during/after covid, I was 17 years old and entering my senior year of high school, I graduated in 2021. I remember feeling like I needed to pick up on a new skill/hobby during the time we were at home and it just so happened that the camera caught my attention. At the time I was spending a lot of time with my older brother who is also a photographer based out of Dallas, you can say he began mentoring me once he seen I was serious about the craft. Fast forward to today I now work as Marketing Coordinator and lead photographer for a apparel showroom here in Dallas, with that being my 9 to 5 I have been able to work right under the CEO and learn business principles I can apply to own my business. It has truly been a blessing in disguise because not only am I learning but I also get to sharpen my photography skills everyday whether it be on a model or not. With the skills from my job I now offer marketing services as well as personal photography sessions whether it be a birthday, event or anything you’d need.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There has been many obstacles/challenges. What business doesn’t go through challenges? Its how you pivot from them that make or break you. I’ve had many many many people tell me that this is a oversaturated business and I shouldn’t see this as my career but more so a hobby. For me, my photography business has always been plan a. I’ve never seen another route for myself but I will say after hearing those remarks over and over again you start to believe it. From their you develop imposter syndrome, many creatives struggle with this. Then there comes the comparison rabbit hole you go down, and it is true. Comparison is truly the thief of joy. I’ll say comparison and listening to others is something I really struggled with early on. Today, I don’t really see anything as a struggle but more so a teaching moment.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I used to call myself a photographer but now I call myself a creative, only because for me its so much more bigger than the camera. How you plan, conduct, and execute all is an art (creative direction) within itself and that’s something I would like to shed more light on. However I will say I do specialize more so in photography. I shoot a lot of personal sessions whether that be maternity, birthday, whatever you need captured. I mainly shoot in studio portraits and I feel like that’s more so what I am known for rather than anything else. I am most proud of the fact that I haven’t given up yet despite all the outside noise, I’ve grown a lot from where I first started and I just proud of the growth.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Making the people around me happy, makes me happy. One of my favorite parts about the whole photoshoot process is seeing my clients reaction to their special moment. I truly get joy in seeing the people around me whether it be friendships, relationships, clients happy and fulfilled.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kmedia.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendallmichelleee/?hl=en
