Kelsey Webster shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Kelsey, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think one of the most misunderstood aspects of running a freelance business is that we, as the owner and operators, wear so many hats that things often times fall by the wayside. As a professional photographer, I am in charge of networking, reaching out to new clients, managing all social media, photographing the event, editing and delivering the finalized gallery, any and all follow up with my clients, and more. There is so much to freelance work that I didn’t anticipate and I’m still learning so much every day. Something that lives in my mind consistently is that I should be better at updating my website, or reaching out to new clients or other businesses, and posting my work to social media. But, I often have to remind myself to relax and let certain things go. I regularly have to prioritize tasks because it’s impossible to stay up on all of it. The most important part, to me, is that I’m proud of the work I’m getting to make and that I’m doing right by the people that put their trust in me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kelsey Webster and I am the owner/photographer behind Yellow Bellows Photography. I’ve been photographing for more than a decade and I absolutely love every second of it. When I first started photographing, I never knew that it would lead to the career that I’ve created for myself. I’ve been lucky enough to photograph with Kansas City Fashion Week for the last five seasons, as well as photographing multiple shows with New York Fashion Week. Additionally, I photograph multiple concerts a month as well as working with families, couples, or models to capture their individual ideas for each shoot.
I pride myself on photographing and editing as organically as I can. I edit as true-to-life as possible and I keep retouching minimal – it’s important to me to capture my clients as they are because that is one of the greatest beauties I find in photography. I love helping my clients pose in ways that capture their energy, and photographing candid emotions is my favorite thing in the world.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents were the first people to support me and see my potential. I grew up hearing from them that, “I could grow palm trees in Alaska” if I wanted to because of my strong will and my drive. They have been so important to my growth as a person and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. When I got out of college, mid-Covid, my father’s graduation present to me was a 3-D printed 4×5 film camera, which ended up being the namesake for my company. When I was sixteen, my first DSLR camera was given to me for my birthday by my parents, and that started my journey into photography. In so many ways, my parents have supported me and gently pushed me into the things that I love most. My parents have always seen my true potential and I am so lucky that I’ve been able to grow as a person with their guidance and love.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I think the fear that has held me back the most in life is the fear that I can’t match up to my own expectations of myself. I hold myself to an incredibly high standard, and that has resulted in a lot of challenges within myself. That very fear pushes me to continually develop my skills every day, which I’m incredibly grateful for. But, that same fear also holds me back because I struggle with comparing myself to my peers. I have nothing but reverence for my fellow photographers at the type of work they make, and it’s hard not to compare my work to theirs despite my best efforts. Even though I do sometimes compare my work to work that my friends make, it also pushes me to improve my own work.
Simultaneously, that fear keeps me from sharing some of the work that I’m the most proud of. Social media is not everything, but it can be a major factor in future jobs and opportunities.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Truthfully, and I’m not always proud of it, I think my friends would say that hard work matters a lot to me. It’s not uncommon for me to overload myself because I’m afraid to pass up opportunities that come my way. I’ve heard multiple times from my friends that they, “respect the hustle”, but they wish I would take more time for myself. What I love most about my friends is that they understand my work ethic and they’re always willing to help me any way they can, sometimes coming with me to shoots to act as my assistants. They are some of my biggest supporters and I’m endlessly grateful for them.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew that I only had 10 years left, I would stop comparing myself to others and I would put even more of my heart into my work. I would get out of my own way and create the work that lives rent free in my mind. I have so many amazing photoshoot ideas that I want to, and hope to, execute. I know that I just need to get out of my own way and make it.
If I only had 10 years left, I would dig as deep as I could and I would dedicate everything I had to my legacy, my name, and my brand. I’m so proud of what I’ve accomplished thus far and I know that I would spend the next 10 years building it up even more. I would use my work to travel and experience as much as I could, and I would use my work to help build others up. One of my favorite things about photography is using my photos to create memories and keepsakes for others. It makes my heart absolutely soar when I’m able to deliver photos to a friend or a loved one that gives them a glimpse into how I see them. I want the people that I photograph to see themselves in my photos as strong, ethereal, and beautiful. I would happily spend the next 10 years of my life dedicating myself to that mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yellowbellowsphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yellowbellowsphoto
Image Credits
All images were taken by me and all image credits belong to me.
