Meet Lynda Kennedy! She is an awesome photographer and an AMAZING Mom!
I met Lynda Kennedy back in 2008 while we were both shooting in the same park in California. While both of us were so busy, we didn’t have a lot of opportunity to get together, but I knew this woman was destined for great things. She is a woman of pure passion and it exudes through her eyes and brilliant smile. Her images are fantasic and I am so glad she will be with us this week on the forum so you can ask her all those important questions! Soak in her answers to our Amazing Mom interview and join us Thursday night from 5-7pm PST on the Soarority Forum for more greatness!
Q: When did you start your business and what was the turning point of taking it from a hobby to a business of charging people?
This is a great question! I started my business about 9 years ago … however, due to my lack of confidence, it wasn’t until 2009 that I really pursued it with all my heart. I was stuck shooting in “P” mode and that really kept me held back from the confidence to be able to charge clients for their sessions. 2009 was a great year, I found my way out of “P” mode and this was when things really began to take off for me.
Q: What inspires your photography?
Details, color, texture – I would say these all inspire my photography. I always try to find what is unique about the subject I’m photographing, what stands out to me about this person or family? I try to capture ‘love’ … not just a pose. I have discovered that texture and color inspires my style and with that I try to push myself to trying different lighting and ideas while on a shoot.
Details, color, texture – I would say these all inspire my photography. I always try to find what is unique about the subject I’m photographing, what stands out to me about this person or family? I try to capture ‘love’ … not just a pose. I have discovered that texture and color inspires my style and with that I try to push myself to trying different lighting and ideas while on a shoot.
Q: What inspires you as a person/artist?
Relationship & Love inspires me as an artist. Believe it or not, I always pray on my way to a session. I pray for creativity and for me to be able to see who I’m capturing through the eyes of Heaven. I want my eyes to be inspired from another perspective or view. If I can capture what is the bond in a family or the love in a relationship … that is what I want. If I could sneak in for a little while and catch with my camera the laughter, tenderness & fun that makes each relationship unique … aaaaaahhhh, that is the best and what I aim for.
Q: To help inspire our newbies..what is one or two pieces marketing/self-promotion ideas that really helped to get your name out there?
One thing I did early on to promote my business was running an ad in a local Mom’s group newsletter. I initially ran a fairly large ad with a picture & my business info. I didn’t get one response! So after thinking about it, I had the idea to run a classified ad (which was free!). I ran the classified ad saying something like, “photographer looking for children models to build portfolio” … and it worked! I would meet local mom’s at the park photograph their children for free and then, show the pictures to the mom’s and offer prints at a discounted price. It was a win/win for them and for me!
Q: What is the best and toughest part about doing photography while being a mom and wife at the same time?
I don’t think you could ask for a better job while being a mom and wife! If I had to pick a hard part, it would be the time editing the pictures, but other than that it has given me the opportunity to work from home and work around my families schedules. Sometimes I have brought my husband with me on out of town weddings, the hotel is covered by the bride and we get a little time away – can you say bonus?!?! I spend a lot of time volunteering by mentoring young moms/ladies – photographing also gives me time to spend with these young moms that leaves me with a great sense of fulfillment and joy. My other joy is the fact that my “job” happens to be one that is rewarding as well and I am so thankful that I get to call myself a “photographer” and make money while doing so!
I don’t think you could ask for a better job while being a mom and wife! If I had to pick a hard part, it would be the time editing the pictures, but other than that it has given me the opportunity to work from home and work around my families schedules. Sometimes I have brought my husband with me on out of town weddings, the hotel is covered by the bride and we get a little time away – can you say bonus?!?! I spend a lot of time volunteering by mentoring young moms/ladies – photographing also gives me time to spend with these young moms that leaves me with a great sense of fulfillment and joy. My other joy is the fact that my “job” happens to be one that is rewarding as well and I am so thankful that I get to call myself a “photographer” and make money while doing so!
Q: Is there one more piece of advice you’d give to newbies?
My advice to newbies … is to believe in yourself. This was so huge for me. What caused me to go from ‘program’ to ‘manual’ was believing in my heart that I could do this; somehow, someway, this was going to happen! It had to happen for me – due to the economy, my husband had been out of work for over a year and I needed to step up and either find a “non-fulfilling, I can’t stand my job position somewhere” or I had to really see this photography business take off. I had taken classes, read books etc … and things just wouldn’t stick for me. I always had this thing hanging over me that I couldn’t learn & retain f-stops, apertures, metering etc. I found a plaque that said, “She believed she could, so she did” … this became my personal quote at the end of 2009 and that is what cause me to take my photography to another level. If you have the passion for photography – pursue it! Find others around you that are doing it, find resources that help you, find what is your personal style & believe you can do this!
My advice to newbies … is to believe in yourself. This was so huge for me. What caused me to go from ‘program’ to ‘manual’ was believing in my heart that I could do this; somehow, someway, this was going to happen! It had to happen for me – due to the economy, my husband had been out of work for over a year and I needed to step up and either find a “non-fulfilling, I can’t stand my job position somewhere” or I had to really see this photography business take off. I had taken classes, read books etc … and things just wouldn’t stick for me. I always had this thing hanging over me that I couldn’t learn & retain f-stops, apertures, metering etc. I found a plaque that said, “She believed she could, so she did” … this became my personal quote at the end of 2009 and that is what cause me to take my photography to another level. If you have the passion for photography – pursue it! Find others around you that are doing it, find resources that help you, find what is your personal style & believe you can do this!
Q: What are the classes/workshops/DVDs/books that you’ve watched or read to teach yourself photography? Were they helpful?
Here are some of the resources that helped me: Search the web – find other photographers that you like – study their composition. Don’t try to be them, but find inspiration through them. I attended classes and workshops in my area. I put myself “out there” by introducing myself to other successful photographers and would let them critique my work. I was a second shooter at weddings so I could learn and begin to get my “feet wet”. Me Ra’s DVD’s were HUGE in getting me from “P” to “M” – she spoke my language and taught it in a way that caused it to stick for me. Me Ra’s confidence workshop is awesome — it is an investment that is well worth it! Another great tool is “Photovision” by Ed Pierce.
Here are some of the resources that helped me: Search the web – find other photographers that you like – study their composition. Don’t try to be them, but find inspiration through them. I attended classes and workshops in my area. I put myself “out there” by introducing myself to other successful photographers and would let them critique my work. I was a second shooter at weddings so I could learn and begin to get my “feet wet”. Me Ra’s DVD’s were HUGE in getting me from “P” to “M” – she spoke my language and taught it in a way that caused it to stick for me. Me Ra’s confidence workshop is awesome — it is an investment that is well worth it! Another great tool is “Photovision” by Ed Pierce.
Q: Can you tell us a fun back story behind this GREAT photo!
I just photographed another home birth … talk about amazing! I stopped by the next morning to photograph big sister Jade seeing her baby sister for the first time.
Q: What type of camera equipment did you have when you first started shooting portraits? And what have you added to your camera bag since then?
Starting off I had one camera (nikon D70) and one lens (Tamaron28-200). I bought my next camera body (Nikon D300) used off of Craigslist; I also purchased 2 used Nikon lenses (85mm 1.8/ 17-55mm 2.8). I also own a Nikon 50mm 1.8 and a 80-200mm 2.8.
Starting off I had one camera (nikon D70) and one lens (Tamaron28-200). I bought my next camera body (Nikon D300) used off of Craigslist; I also purchased 2 used Nikon lenses (85mm 1.8/ 17-55mm 2.8). I also own a Nikon 50mm 1.8 and a 80-200mm 2.8.
Q: How did you find out about Me Ra and the SOAR! community?
I found Me Ra by searching the web for photographers. I saw that she did the confidence workshops and although I wanted to go, I thought chances would be slim that it could ever happen for me. By following her blog, I applied the first time she did the Soar! contest and although I wasn’t one of the ladies chosen … I still found my wings to Soar! I was able to attend a workshop (again by believing!) and she is who you think she is … such an inspiration. Thanks Me Ra, for finding your heart and causing others to soar into their dreams you are a bit of heaven on earth!
I found Me Ra by searching the web for photographers. I saw that she did the confidence workshops and although I wanted to go, I thought chances would be slim that it could ever happen for me. By following her blog, I applied the first time she did the Soar! contest and although I wasn’t one of the ladies chosen … I still found my wings to Soar! I was able to attend a workshop (again by believing!) and she is who you think she is … such an inspiration. Thanks Me Ra, for finding your heart and causing others to soar into their dreams you are a bit of heaven on earth!
P.S. Don’t forget…we are so fortunate to have time with Lynda tomorrow night on the SOARORITY forum for this month’s Ask and Learn Session from 5-7pm PST. See you there!
Wendy:)
Wendy:)
nice – i love these posts – thank you so much for sharing Lynda! Love reading these!! 🙂
YAY!!!
Wow Lynda, amazing! I admire your photography so much! It is gorgeous and it is the colors that draw me in & the emotion in it that captures me!
I am glad to have met you at Mera’s workshop and have the honor of witnessing your photography SOAR!!
<3
Beautiful pictures and answers!! Can’t wait to hear more tomorrow during the Ask and Learn session!
So excited you are doing the next ask & learn Lynda.
LOVE the family picture!!! You have some handsome boys 🙂
I’ll try to get on the forum tomorrow night – no baseball this week so I should be able to. xoxo
Lynda, I love your answers..and such beautiful photos you shared. One of these days I hope to meet you.
So inspiring! Especially for us moms who don’t know what to do with our passion. Lynda, your work is amazing, keep on doing what you do, because God has truly blessed you!! I hope we can meet up one day!
That’s my niece!!!! I’m only a proud uncle. I love to look at her photo’s on Facebook. Great job Lynda.
She is gifted with her camera, she has photographed my kids and during the shoot I think these pictures are not going to work, the kids where moving or not smiling but every time my kids look awesome!!!!!
Lynda, Love seeing you and your beautiful family here on the blog. You have been such an inspiration to me and the Soar community to keep going and pursuing your dream even if life throws you a curve ball. Congratulations on the success and growth of your business. As always I love seeing your photos and the colors are amazing (even if I am a little jealous that you live in Cali and get soooo much more sun than we do here in WA). I am bummed that I will be on the road during the Ask & Learn tomorrow night, but maybe I can shoot in a couple of questions from the road (I’m not driving). May God continue to bless you and your family!
Thank you for all the kind comments. It is an honor to be featured on Mera’s blog! I look forward to chatting with you on the forum tomorrow evening!
“She believed she could, so she did” … Thank you for this.
you ARE amazing! so thankful to have met you 🙂 you are a beautiful, talented & inspiring woman!
[…] A BIG thank you to Lynda Kennedy for all that she generously shared during the Ask & Learn last week! Girl, I heard you ROCKED […]