We were lucky to catch up with Kellie Harvey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kellie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Optimism can be found anywhere. I know that may sound cliche, but really, it’s all about perspective. I’ve been in the same room, in the same chaos as people doing the same job as me, but with a different mindset – and I’d bet you’d be able to tell who’s an optimist and who isn’t.
I’ve simply learned that I can either be upset, or not. I do realize that can’t be used in every situation, but it can be used more often than a person might think. Recently, I looked around my kitchen, not redone, and compared it to my dining room, recently painted and rearranged. I was irritated that the kitchen wasn’t what I wanted yet, and quickly thought about how I really did have a lovely kitchen that I’ve tasted delicious meals from, how fortunate am I? Why should I not love the progress along with the end result? Again, it sounds cliche, but why on Earth would I want to find every inconvenience as a negative? Why wouldn’t I want to look for the one thing that could turn not just my day, but other peoples around?
They say love is a choice, happiness is too.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi! I’m Kellie, and I recently went full-time with my photography career. About seven years ago I got in front of the camera with nearly no clothes on and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. As women, we constantly compare ourselves to others, we constantly pick at what we think should change, and we’re constantly in fear of what people will think of us based solely on our looks. Getting in front of the camera didn’t prevent those thoughts, but it did change them. I went from asking my boudoir photographer to keep my images private, to asking her to share them on her pages! I left that session on cloud nine, feeling on top of the world. I knew then that I wanted to give that same feeling back to others.
As a young girl, teenager, and woman, I’ve constantly battled body image dysmorphia and related my self worth to a number on the scale or the fine lines I see in the mirror. The media has promoted unrealistic images of what the perfect female should look like, and so many of us have allowed ourselves to believe that that was the standard to live by. How dumb is that? Those negative thoughts are now quickly quieted when they pop up, because of course they do from time to time, however, they don’t define me, I won’t allow it. What I will allow, is helping other women learn to quiet those thoughts as well.
My boudoir session changed my life. It made me want to show other women that they are worthy of self love too. That they are beautiful even when the world tries to tell us what beauty is and whether we fit the mold or not. So then what? Break the damn mold.
What fills my soul with fire really is helping other women find their own fire. Giving them an afternoon of glam time where they can indulge in girl talk and studio time where they find their inner model. Many women spend so much energy making sure everyone else is taken care of and a boudoir session shifts that, it allows them to give focus back to themselves and see their body differently, thus, seeing themselves differently.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Although it can be a flaw, I am a perfectionist. Oh, the irony. Not leaving room for failure has allowed me to literally not give up. I’ve left sessions where I felt like I didn’t get a single good image. I’ve ran promos that resulted in zero bookings. I’ve tried and failed – which is not my strong suit, but it pushed me to change how I did things in better hopes of success in the future. Next – intuition. This primarily refers to the work that gets done behind the scenes – editing. Some days get long, and some are just plain hard. I’ve learned when I’ve been working on the same image for far too long to just move on for the time being. To close my computer and let my eyes and mind rest. And Vice Versa. I try to give myself a shut down time, it’s usually 9-10pm, but, if I’m half way through a gallery and I’m killing it, I’m going to keep going. I will say, it bever gets delivered at midnight because I believe in checking your work with fresh eyes in the AM, but I don’t see a reason to close shop when it’s flowing. Lastly, find places to learn. Whether it’s a facebook group, a local club, or a private Youtube channel. Find a place you feel comfortable learning and asking questions, or simply observing.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Harry Potter, hands down. I’m a fan through and through, yes, even as an adult. What the series has done is created a new world where people find creativity, bravery, and a sense of belonging. I’ll put the movies on simply for comfort on a busy day. I know it might sound a little lame, but really you see the characters all find their sense of self. They find the lines they won’t cross,
what risks are worth it, and how important strong relationships are. Those are direct skills to be used as an entrepreneur.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Some of my worst days have also been my best. It’s a conflicting feeling but that doesn’t stop it from being any less true.
“Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself.” Leaving my job, “quitting” my job to focus only on my business has been terrifying, but after procrastinating way too long and finally doing it, it has never felt more right to quit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kelliephotographynd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelliephotography
Image Credits
My headshot was done by Just James Studios in Minot, ND and the following images were taken by myself, Kellie Photography.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
