Life & Work with Kendall LaCombe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall LaCombe.

Hi Kendall, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been a full-time wedding photographer for 4 years and have loved every single second of it. I got into wedding photography because of my dad. He was a luxury wedding photographer in Arizona for over 20 years, so I grew up thinking that wedding photography was the coolest job anyone could ever have.

I started enjoying photography in high school. I did some fine art photography for a few years and entered a few competitions, but it wasn’t until I started taking my friends’ senior photos that I started to feel a passion for photography.

Turns out I love taking photos of people way more than I do a bowl of fruit! Since then, I have continued growing and learning and in 2020 I decided to quit my job and go full-time as a wedding photographer. I have now followed in my dad’s footsteps and become a luxury wedding photographer.

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?
Starting your own business is hard. In all honesty, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started. So much of my time and energy over the past 4 years have been dedicated to learning new skills that will improve my business. I don’t think most people realize how much goes into starting a small business and keeping it running.

As someone who has ADHD, it can feel incredibly overwhelming having to learn so many things and stay on top of everything that owning a small business entails. I am happy to say that I am finally at a place where I have found what works for me and my clients and I cannot wait to see where the future takes me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a luxury wedding and elopement photographer based in Colorado Springs.

I would say I am most proud of the impact that my photos have had on other people’s lives, There is something incredibly special about giving someone a physical representation of their beauty and how loved they are. There is nothing I take more pride in than someone feeling confident, beautiful, and loved because of my work.

I don’t love the question “What sets you apart from others in your career field” because, in all honesty, I don’t want to be set apart from other photographers. Some of the best people and business owners I have ever met are other photographers. I feel wildly honored to be lumped into the same category as some of my favorite people in the world. If I am anything like them, I have done something right with my life.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The biggest takeaway I have after starting a business right before a global pandemic is that you HAVE to be willing to adapt. That has helped me so much in my career. Things will happen that will throw you off or won’t fit into your plan, but it’s how you problem-solve that matters. Things don’t always go as planned and that’s okay.

Rescheduling over 20 couples because their weddings got postponed was not what I had planned for my first year in business. Because of those adaptations I have gotten to see new places, learned I have a passion for micro weddings and elopements, and is the reason I have met some of my best friends in the wedding industry. That is the silver lining lesson that I learned through covid.

Pricing:

• Weddings Starting at $3,000
• Elopements Starting at $1,800
• Engagements Starting at $500

Contact Info:

• Website: kendalllacombephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendalllacombephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klacombephoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-lacombe-a20020209/