Check Out Kelly Peterson Frazier’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Peterson Frazier.

Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I used to bring my camera over to my friend’s house when I was a kid. I have this one folder in my computer of her wearing a tie dye sweatshirt holding a little dandelion. She has horrible shadows on her face and the tree trunks behind her are hardly in a uniform fashion to detract from the subject. But I still remember that memory: we were happy. It’s often a human instinct to document, to curate. I get to do that for a living now. And usually in the moment of taking a picture, I’m happy. Even if I look back and the technical skills aren’t as good as they now are, I can still appreciate the evolution of art.

Anyway, that’s a longwinded introduction to my wedding and portrait photography business. I keep that beginning spark with me every time I pick up my camera. I try to see the person in front of me. I document them and I document their memory. It’s all about getting familiar with settings, people, resources, and bravery. Bring your tools and just do it. That’s how I got my business to where it’s at now and that’s how I’ll bring it to where it’s at in the future.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Accepting that ghosting is a very normal and real part of a business journey was an obstacle in the confidence sense because you have to keep brushing yourself off when people say no. You can’t let it belittle your worth or it’ll affect the next client who comes to you.

Another challenge is figuring out when to start outsourcing, especially as a photographer who often doesn’t have to get a loan to start the business. You juggle it all on your own until it’s time for the next step? Everyone’s step looks differently, but again, it’s about trusting that paying someone else will reward you in enough time.

Another female business owner in the Denver area once said to me, “All education is paid for, most people get degrees, but we get experience.”

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create art through my photos. I create memories through my experiences. I would say that in order for me to be successful, I like to interweave my artist identity with my professional one. I’m lucky because I’m someone who enjoys pushing my financial literacy whereas most artists find that to me the most intimidating part. Money is actually creative when you look at it. What can you do with this amount of money in your “pocket?” Save it? Invest it? Spend it? A mixture of it all like oil on a canvas.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Ah, this is a tricky question of course because everyone defines it uniquely. I’m someone who is about growth. Success is about whether it’s slightly better this time or at least maintaining during certain times. I’ve been working on redefining success to also include my relationships, my health, my home because those can get neglected sometimes when I only include business as my marker of success. Life is way, way bigger than that. Traveling helps see that too. My mom just sent me a podcast this week about letting go of control to experience awe. Definitely something I can work on, but also something I really value. Walking around a neighborhood after a photoshoot is one of my favorite moments because it’s ordinarily special.

Maybe that’s what success is: when the ordinary feels extraordinary.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kellyphotoanddesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyphotoanddesign/

Image Credits
Kelly Photo & Design LLC