Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalee Kondo.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kalee. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Two years ago, my husband and I moved to the DFW area. He had just lost his job back home in Louisiana and we were desperate for a fresh start in a new city. We found out a week before arriving in the Metroplex that we were expecting our first child. We soon got settled at new jobs here and began our new life. I was working as an admin but was not fulfilled in what I was doing. I didn’t know where to start but I knew I wanted to own my own business and work for myself. 9 months went by very quickly and we were having our son. We decided to have a homebirth with a midwife, doula, and birth photographer. It was an amazing birth experience. I wouldn’t change anything about it. A few weeks later, we received our birth photos back. It was like something in me just clicked. I cried at the sight of relieving one of the best moments of my life. It was like I had found my purpose in life. I have been doing photography and filmmaking for a few years but not really focusing on it. In that moment, I knew that I would start a business doing Birth Photography and Filmmaking.
After my son turned 3 months old, I did the scariest thing and just started. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. I usually second guess all my decisions, but this one just had positivity radiating around it! I never once thought failure was an option. I attended my first birth that summer for free. I was there over 16 hours, but I was running on the endless energy of doing work that I enjoyed. I knew from that moment on that this is what I was going to do with my life. I branded my business with the help of my graphic designer husband, attended every birth business event that popped up on my google search, and told every pregnant person I came into contact with about what I do. I got told no about 20 times before someone finally hired me to capture their birth experience.
From there, I haven’t stopped learning. I’m now a trained birth doula in the process of getting certified, I am constantly educating myself on camera techniques and updating equipment, and I am learning more and more about the communities in the area and how I can better serve them. My goal in life and my business is to help women come to the realization that they are total badasses in birth and throughout motherhood. I capture strong women monthly and it is an honor I do not take lightly.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wouldn’t call it a smooth road. It was like going through a jungle with a pocket knife and clearing a path. I had to make my own way because I knew nothing about starting a business, very little about birth, and was still figuring out how to be a mother myself. The biggest struggle that I had was being told no. It sucks! It’s scary enough to put yourself out there to tell someone about what you do, then to be told no is very discouraging. When you’re starting out, lots of people will tell you no because you’re new to the business. I had to constantly remind myself that one day I would be the one turning down business rather than the other way around. It also took a lot of learning. I read at least 10 books on starting a business, listened to countless podcasts, talked with many birth professionals, and learned from other people’s mistakes.
My encouragement to young women starting out is to just do it. You may be scared out of your mind, but do it scared. We like to undermine our own value, but to someone else who can’t do what you can do, your work is priceless. Even if the market feels oversaturated, people have never seen you do it. Young girls need to see more women starting businesses and putting themselves out there, so be that example.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Genesis Birth Co. – what should we know?
Genesis Birth Co. serves the metroplex with Birth Photography, Filmmaking, and Doula services. My specialty is Birth Filmmaking. I offer more cinematic birth films that take family and friends through the journey of welcoming your new addition. I tell the story of the day through camera movement, music, details, and of course capturing the birth itself. Filmmaking is my first love. For years, I’ve done filmmaking in different settings. I take the skills I’ve learned through other types of film and apply a creative twist on birth films.
I am most proud of the way my brand empowers women, especially Mamas, to follow their dreams. Being a Mom can take a lot out of oneself, but it isn’t all that you are. I had to come to realize that I’m more than just my son’s mom. I am an entrepreneur at heart. I’m proud of the way my business showcases women doing something that seems like an impossible feat to others.
The thing that sets me apart from others is that my clients become my friends. I love supporting new moms through community because when I moved here pregnant and had my son, I didn’t have that. I had postpartum depression and it was really hard to get through because I felt alone. I never want moms to feel like they’re alone. That’s why I support my postpartum Mamas through connection and contact.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
My mom has always encouraged anything that I’ve wanted to pursue. When I was a kid I had much interests. I wanted to try everything. I tried dancing (hated the costumes), soccer, guitar lessons. art lessons, and many other things. She always let me try. It was freeing to be able to try things and determine which ones identified with me and which ones didn’t.
Another person who has helped me through my business journey is an amazing business woman named Jenna Kutcher. I’ve never met her or anything but I listen to her podcast religiously and take a business course with her. She has built a brand for herself and now empowers other women to start their businesses and helps them succeed. I look up to her accomplishments a lot and use her achievements to remind me that anything is possible for my own life.
Pricing:
- Birth Photography starting at $800
- Birth Filmmaking starting at $800
- Doula Services starting at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.genesisbirth.co
- Phone: 214-620-3018
- Email: genesisbirthco@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/genesisbirth.co
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/genesisbirthdfw
Image Credit:
Kalee Kondo with Genesis Birth Co.
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.
