Meet Kelly Giordano

We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Giordano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from a decision I made in the middle of one of the hardest chapters of my life — during chemotherapy, after being diagnosed with cancer. I remember sitting there, and thinking: this is not how my story ends.

So in the middle of treatment, I signed the lease to what would become The Haverhill Studio. I was determined to create something greater than myself — a space that would foster creativity, connection, and community. I didn’t want cancer to define me. I wanted to build something that brought people together and reminded them — and me — of what it means to feel alive.

Since opening, The Haverhill Studio has become a home for hundreds of photographers, artists, families, and dreamers. It’s proof that something beautiful can grow out of the hardest seasons. That’s what resilience means to me — creating light when all you can see is darkness.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m Kelly Giordano — a brand photographer and the founder of The Haverhill Studio, a creative rental space located in the heart of downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts. My work lives at the intersection of storytelling, visual identity, and community-building.

Through Kelly Giordano Photography, I work with small businesses and creatives to translate their brand vision into imagery that feels intentional, elevated, and emotionally resonant. I bring a background in commercial real estate branding to my photography work — so I’m not just focused on capturing visuals, but on aligning imagery with business goals. I recently launched The Corporate Edit, a collaborative service that helps companies develop cohesive brand presence through strategy, photography, and design.

What I’m most proud of, though, is the evolution of The Haverhill Studio. It began as a space I signed the lease for while undergoing chemotherapy — a personal act of defiance and hope. Since then, it has grown into a creative home for hundreds of photographers, artists, and entrepreneurs. The studio has hosted everything from editorial shoots to community-driven events, and it’s become a catalyst for connection and creativity in our city’s revitalization.

Most recently, we completed our Pride installation to celebrate Haverhill’s first-ever Pride Parade — a milestone moment for the city and a meaningful showcase of what the studio stands for. We’re now gearing up for our holiday installations, which run from October through December and transform the space into a magical backdrop for families, photographers, and creatives alike.

Looking ahead, I’m focused on expanding both arms of my business — offering strategic brand partnerships for creative and corporate clients while deepening the studio’s role as a community hub. We’re developing new content series, hosting collaborative events, and building resources like The Directory — a curated guide connecting local creatives and small businesses.

At the heart of it all is this belief: your work should reflect the life you want to live. For me, that means creativity, connection, and leaving something meaningful behind.

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?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been:
1. Vision-Driven Resilience
There’s a kind of resilience that kicks in when life knocks you down — but what has carried me further is resilient vision — the ability to see beyond what’s hard and into what’s possible. I signed the lease for The Haverhill Studio while in chemo. I didn’t know how it would all work, but I knew why it mattered. That clarity gave me strength when things got uncertain.
Advice: Find your “why” and let it anchor you when the how isn’t clear yet. Resilience isn’t just about pushing through — it’s about holding on to the bigger picture.
2. Creative Adaptability
As a brand photographer and studio founder, I’ve learned that creativity is only as useful as your ability to adapt. From shifting trends to sudden life changes, the ability to reimagine, reframe, and redirect your energy is essential. It’s what allowed me to evolve my business from family photography into brand strategy, and grow the studio into a creative hub.
Advice: Give yourself permission to evolve. Every creative pivot is an opportunity to align more closely with who you are and what you truly want to build.
3. Community-Centered Leadership
The Haverhill Studio exists because I believed in building something with people, not just for them. I’ve led with openness, collaboration, and storytelling — and it’s created a ripple effect I never could’ve achieved alone. Whether through events, installations, or digital guides, I’ve watched community become both the heartbeat and the engine of my work.
Advice: Don’t underestimate the power of connection. Prioritize relationships over perfection — your community will grow with you if they feel part of the journey.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Without question, the most impactful person in my journey has been my husband, Mark. His support hasn’t just been emotional — it’s been foundational. Through every pivot, late-night brainstorm, health scare, and business milestone, he’s been the steady presence reminding me what I’m capable of.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, Mark held our family together with grace and humor. And when I made the unexpected decision to lease a studio space in the middle of treatment, he didn’t question it — he simply said, “If this matters to you, we’ll figure it out.” That belief — in me, in the vision, and in our life together — gave me the confidence to move forward even when everything felt uncertain.

Mark has never asked for recognition, but he’s played an irreplaceable role in every success I’ve had. His calm, grounded nature balances my go-getter energy, and his loyalty to our family gives me the strength to keep showing up with purpose.

In a world that often celebrates solo achievement, I’m endlessly grateful to have had a true partner through it all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thehaverhillstudio.com
• Instagram: @thehaverhillstudio
• Other: www.kellygiordanophotography.com
  @kellygiordanophotography

Image Credits

Kelly Giordano