We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kendra Visioli. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kendra below.
Kendra, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
In 2016, my husband and I welcomed twin boys, joining their big brother who was only 17 months old at the time. In the midst of intense sleep deprivation and the overwhelm of 3 under 2, I found myself in the dark pit of postpartum depression. We didn’t have family nearby, but co-workers and friends rallied to support us and to keep showing up for our family. Realizing that so many people around us were willing to truly love and care for our family was incredibly meaningful and fostered a sense of true community for me. It gave me a sense of purpose and a heart to serve in expanded ways. Coming through to the other side of PPD, I carried that sense of purpose and empathy with me, which drives many of the ways I relate to the world around me.
In 2020, our family relocated from Texas to Colorado, in the height of the pandemic. I anticipated being able to meet our neighbors, find a church home, find community through school, and rebuild my client base. As I’m sure many of you can relate, none of that unfolded as we hoped for months after moving! Feeling incredibly isolated, I also felt really discouraged about my business and took the lack of new clients personally, and those depressive thoughts crept back in. Since family sessions were so sparse, I started reaching out to other local small business owners, offering to trade services or product in exchange for updated branding photos. It was amazing to see how the small business community encouraged one another during such a difficult year! I developed a new skill set, and discovered a love for branding photography, in addition to making connections with other local small businesses that have carried on through the years.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a photographer based in Reunion, Commerce City, Northeast of Denver. I launched my business as a family photographer in 2015, and have since expanded to include senior sessions, brand work, boudoir, birth photography, and studio work. My business was born out of a love for serving families, and part of that is shared in my partnership with Foster Friendly to offer discount sessions for new foster placements and adoptions. My style is colorful and classic, with an eye for joyful moments and beautiful light.
I really enjoy the level of variety in my work, and the fun of watching families grow and kids grow up in front of my camera through various seasons of life. Being welcomed into the more personal parts of your story- whether through a maternity session, boudoir session, or last photos with a loved one- is an incredible privilege that I don’t take lightly. Each session has unique glimpses into someone’s story, which I love being able to capture for them!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For me, starting with a strong sense of connection to kids and parents was a huge asset. I have worked in public education for years, as well as in youth ministry, so communication skills with kids and parents have been critical.
Before launching my business, I enrolled in classes at The Art Institute, and I have continued to pursue workshops and classes to continue growing in my craft; being a lifelong learner is an invaluable quality. Stay humble and teachable to keep growing!
Third, finding community and support is such a valuable asset. Nobody is out there truly doing it all on their own successfully; we all need support to keep going, to feel encouraged, to manage all the different pieces of keeping a household and a business running smoothly. Reaching out to friends, family, or fellow business owners to build community is such a valuable tool, especially for seasons that feel slow, discouraging, or overwhelming.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed I dial back on the things that might be adding stress or distraction, like my phone use or things around the house I can let go or outsource. It’s okay to order takeout, hire a housecleaner for that month, or find a sitter to get a few hours of work done uninterrupted. If those extra costs aren’t manageable in that season, I set a timer to give myself a set amount of “focus” time for a specific task, so it breaks the job into pieces I can handle and doesn’t feel like a never-ending job. I always have my to-do list physically written out so it has obvious pieces and progress, and I get the satisfaction of crossing tasks off the list. I usually approach that list like a “snowball” where I’ll start with the shorter or easier jobs to really see the progress and feel that boost of productivity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kendravphotography.com
- Instagram: @kendravphoto
Image Credits
Kendra V Photography
