Meet Kaylee Brown

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kaylee Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kaylee, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is SO real. social media is my worst and best friend! I went through a period in 2021 where I just did a big ‘unfollow party’ on my Instagram while I was trying to find my style. That was so refreshing! Having a clean feed, open mind, and 1 amazing mentor who helped me fine tune my craft; highly recommend!

I have spent the last 2.5 years perfecting my craft and editing style, along with my posing and I finally feel like I’m out of that cycle of imposter syndrome. Now it’s just all about confidence and seeing the proof in my continued bookings! That’s validation enough for me!

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

I have always had a passion for the arts and photography from a young age, back to 5th grade. I used my summer school money to buy a cheap digital camera and my sweet dad probably spent $100+ printing the photos at our local CVS.
I was unable to get into the photography classes in high school because they were so popular, so it was just something I did at home with our family camera. I ended up going to college for a Studio Art degree and Secondary Education degree to become an elementary art teacher. I taught for 4 years while doing a little photography on the weekends for friends and family. I hadn’t invested much in equipment and didn’t have any training on editing/posing, it was just a passion hobby.
I loved teaching, but when I had my daughter in 2022, I wanted to be a stay at home mom. Financially, that wasn’t going to be feasible so I started pouring into my side hustle.
Summer of 2022 I went all in. I got new equipment, started networking with other photographers and found my best friend and mentor, Renata Zimmer Photography. She taught me so much and was incredibly gracious with my hundreds of questions. She really believed in me back then and I know I wouldn’t be quite where I am at without her!

Special thanks to my sisters and their, now husbands, for being the best models while I practiced posing and prompts on them!

Everything really took off that summer! I was able to be a full time photographer, clients started referring their friends, and before I knew it, my dream of having a full blown brand and business had become a reality. At the end of 2022, I started my first studio on the Independence Square, where I still have a studio. It’s been the best journey!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I am not typically known for these qualities BUT in growing this business, I learned I had to be fearless, confident, along with being outgoing and humble enough to ask for help. I am a homebody, introvert by nature but my business stripped that away and I’m a better person for it! The challenges and skills, the thick skin required to do this was not an easy thing to learn, but those would definitely be my top 3!

Starting a business is daunting, especially in a big city like KC, but you have to be fearless and confident enough to take the leap. I had to remind myself to forget about the ”what if this fails” thought in the back of my mind, and dream about the ‘what if it doesn’t’ thought. That really got me through the beginning stages of getting started!
Confidence comes with practice and it’s okay to do small photoshoots for free with friends and family to gain that. I had a lot of Pinterest boards and I would take my iPad to those free sessions to practice posing and ways to make people feel comfy in front of the camera. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and allow yourself the grace to be a beginner!
And asking for help- it’s never a bad idea to have someone more experienced than you critique your work. It’s humbling for sure to think your masterpiece is gold, but having the eye of a photographer who’s been at it for 5+ years invaluable. Find someone to take you under their wing and soak up all the things, and if you can’t find someone, message me! I love paying it forward!

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents and husband made this dream come true in getting me started with my business.
My parents bought me my first camera during college, for my 21st birthday, just in time for my Photography I class. They always believed in me and cultivated a creative household where I was able to take as many photos as I wanted! I took tons of photos of my sisters, things around the house, sunsets- literally anything. And further, I can’t even imagine how much my dad spent on prints and albums for me to display my artwork- they both have never doubted me and I know it gave me the confidence as an artist to give this thing a try!

My husband and I got married at 22, not much longer after I’d gotten my first camera. He has always been the first to encourage me to try new things and when I decided to really give my business a chance, he trusted me to purchase my first professional camera, a new laptop, new lenses- that stuff is not cheap! He recognized the skill I had and saw how happy it made me, I owe him so much for allowing me to spend some money and invest in my business. He’s a saver, not a spender, so I know it was a big trust thing! He’s my biggest supporter though! I feel like I am able to give back to him now for all of that, by staying home with our daughters and raising them, while still supporting our family with photography.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Kaylee from KC Photography LLC

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