Today we’d like to introduce you to Robyn Tholen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started KC Kids Photo—formerly Lil’ Angels Photography—right after graduating when I was just 22 years old in St. Louis. That very first spring, I somehow managed to book about 20 schools. It was the beginning of something I never could have imagined would grow into what it is today, 26 years later.
After about two years in St. Louis, I met my future husband at the Lake of the Ozarks. Once we got married, I moved to Kansas City and started the business all over again here, eventually selling my St. Louis company and focusing fully on building what would become KC Kids Photo.
In the early days, school pictures looked a little different than they do now. We dressed the kiddos up in fun Velcro outfits—almost like the old 80’s glamour shots. Babies wore lacy rompers, little boys sat in open briefcases, and parents loved the surprise of seeing their child’s photos when they picked them up from daycare. My grandfather helped me sell the packages in the afternoons during pickup, and together we built the business one school at a time.
What started as just me and my grandpa has grown into a team of 15 employees and the privilege of photographing over 220 private elementary schools and preschools across the Kansas City area. We also opened a small, cozy studio next to our office near Smithville, Missouri.
While photography has always been my passion, the people I work with mean even more to me. Our team truly feels like family. I pray for them and their families every day, and we try to celebrate life together. I love hosting overnight holiday parties, Friendsgiving celebrations, Friday ice-cream sundae bars, Monday lunches, or lake day celebrations to wrap up the season.
I feel incredibly blessed to work alongside people I love, photograph kids who make us laugh every day, and provide families with something they will cherish for the rest of their lives. What we do matters to people, and for that I am deeply grateful.
My greatest hope is that one day—whether it’s my children or the amazing people on our team—the legacy of love, commitment, and care that built this company will continue long after I pass the torch.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the struggles, while minor, have always been a blessing in disguise that made us better. Its all in how you like at it!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One of the things I am most proud of is being able to scale something that I once believed would always just be me. In the beginning, I was honestly nervous about hiring employees. Letting go of control felt scary, but I quickly realized that the vision I had for this company would have been impossible to achieve alone.
The growth of KC Kids Photo has only been possible because of the incredible team around me. What started as a one-person operation has grown into a group of talented photographers who truly care about what they do. They are not just button pushers — they are professional photographers who understand how to capture real expressions and authentic moments.
Many of the women on our team photograph outside of KC Kids Photo as well. They shoot weddings, newborn sessions, and family portraits, which means they bring a level of experience and creativity that you don’t typically see in traditional school photography.
Our goal has always been to change what people expect from “school pictures.” For so long, yearbook photos have been the standard — a quick head-and-shoulders shot with a forced smile that simply gets the job done. I wanted to create something better. Something families would actually want to frame and place on their mantle.
In our elementary schools, parents can choose from three to five different poses instead of just a single headshot. At our preschools, children receive anywhere from eight to eighteen images, similar to what a parent would get during a mini photography session they might normally schedule for their family.
I believe what truly sets us apart is that we combine the quality and experience of boutique photography, with the efficiency of school photography. Families receive images that feel personal, natural, and full of personality, not just another standard school portrait.
It’s a different approach and it’s something you simply don’t see happening in most school photography programs around the country.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that the city is easy to get around and has everything I could ever want. We have lakes, concert venues, sports teams and great shopping. Our downtown feels clean and big
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kckidsphoto.com
- Instagram: @kckidsphoto
- Facebook: @kckidsphoto
