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Conversations with the Inspiring Kylie Peinado

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylie Peinado.

Kylie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Wow, where to start! Like most mom-togs, I really got into photography after the birth of my first daughter in 2008. I had dabbled in it a little here and there before that, but never really as anything more than playing around.

In 2010, I decided to really pursue my interest in photography and enrolled in a professional photography course at a local technical college. I graduated with honors the same day my second daughter was born and didn’t really do anything with it for a while after that because, well, my hands were a little full! I started taking photos for my friends and their families here and there, and slowly got my name out there and grew my abilities.

After we moved to Firestone in 2016, I jumped in full force. I decided that photography was what I wanted to do full time – I wanted to be my own boss, to have more time with my family, and to really pursue this growing passion of mine. So, I dove in and absorbed as much knowledge as I could! I practiced every day, I watched countless hours of YouTube videos and classes on Creative Live, and I really started coming into my own style.

I have definitely found myself in my photography in the last three years. I am still constantly learning new things and I still take classes to grow ALL THE TIME. There is so much that goes into both being a photographer and owning your own business, and I really enjoy every aspect of it and I’m always learning as much as I can so that I can do it the best that I can!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. As a working mom, it is sometimes hard to make time to do things that spark your own joy. It is hard to take time away from my kids to grow myself and my business, even when I feel like I’m doing it FOR them! But it is SO important! I want to show them that my hard work pays off in the long run. I want them to understand that if they are passionate about something if they really want something, it is worth the hard work and sacrifice to achieve it! I have been incredibly lucky to have more support than I know what to do with, and even my kids are supportive. My 8-year-old actually just recently handed my business card out to her entire class without my knowledge – her teacher told me about it a few days later!

Another aspect that has been tough for me is just putting myself out there to be judged. Photography is my art, and it has been hard for me, personally, to not compare myself to other amazing photographers. There is always a little bit of self-doubt in the back of my mind, and it’s a little scary! We are always our worst critic though. I feel very lucky that, in our NoCo area, the photographers I have networked with are all about community over competition, and I just think it is the most amazing concept! There is always something to learn from someone else, whether they have more experience than you or less, and the photographers in this area are more than happy to help one another learn and grow.

What should we know about KBP Photography? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I think I am most known for my work with families. I LOVE working with families and seeing how the dynamic of each relationship within a family unfolds before me during a session. I think it is so important to have photos taken of your family, and often, that isn’t just a cell phone pic or a selfie. The kind of photos I strive to provide my families really captures the story of their life, as it is right at that moment. I want to give families memories – I want them to remember the way their baby fits in their embrace; the feel of their toddler’s hands entangled in their hair when giving a bear hug; how much their twelve years old has grown but is still their baby. I’m a mom, I KNOW how fast these things change, and how much you miss each stage, even when it is sometimes brutal to be in the thick of it. They say that the days are long, but the years are short for a reason!

I am totally obsessed with motherhood, and I always have been. I LOVE pregnant bellies, and birth, and newborn babies. I am currently earning a certificate as a birth photographer to fully round out what I am able to offer expecting parents, and birth photography is definitely my newest passion. It is THE most amazing thing to witness the birth of a new baby!!!

I hope that what sets me apart from other photographers is that I’m just me. I’m a real-life mom. I have been where my clients are – I have had toddler meltdowns and teenager attitudes. I fully understand the obsessed mind of a pregnant mama and the joy of a birthday. I know first hand the moments we don’t want to forget with our children sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and I want to give a little piece of that back to the families I work with.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I think the most prominent experience growing up that made an impact on my adult life was watching my single mother put herself through college while working full time. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, because what seven years old does, but looking back now as a mother, I don’t know HOW she did it, but I understand WHY. Sometimes we have to get through the struggle and just hustle for a little while, to get where we want to be. The sacrifices won’t happen forever.

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KBP Photography

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