Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kerby The Photographer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kerby, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
Watching music videos from my favorite artists and creators is one way I handle my creative blocks; I also like to watch movies that focus on cinematography & captivating stills. My favorite movies to watch right now are A24 movies! Their style of filming is amazing… all of that helps me get the creative juices flowing again.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a photographer/creative director born on the south side of Chicago. My passion for photography came from the influences of the Windy City culture, from the music to the fashion and lifestyles found within the city. I like to use a unique approach by using locations you may not have thought of using for photo shoots and working with local talents, like models and stylists, to execute my concepts and projects. I feel what makes me different from most creators is how exclusive I am because I enjoy working with people I genuinely connect with. I believe that being too accessible ruins the longevity of the impact you are trying to make as a creative individual. I always say to my artist friends know your worth! Because it is very easy to be taken advantage of in this line of work.
At this moment, I’m very excited about launching my posters! I’ve received so much feed back over the year from people telling me to sell posters… I was selling prints sized at 8×10 but friends, family and past customers have always told me that my photography will look good blown up to a poster size. So stay tuned for that drop and hopefully you see something you like for your home or office or even a gift for a friend.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One very important quality in this kind of journey, is your social skills. The way you approach others and how you present yourself is key! I always tell people; 1st impressions matter. When you speak, speak with confidence, make eye contact and know what you are going to say before approaching, because we are living in a generation where the attention span is very short, so always have your words together!
Business relationships are important because you never know when you will need a favor, guidance or a trusted opinion. So I would say loyalty and honesty play another big role. Everyone appreciates an honest person. I always tell my creative friends; Don’t surround yourself with ‘yes men’
I would rather have a dollar than 4 quarters.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always looking for other creators to collaborate with, whether you’re a model, a stylist, a DJ, or even a realtor I am always looking for ways to grow, and better my business and myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kerbythephotographer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerbythephotographer?igsh=MW10cXF0dTl1dGpuOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Shot by: Kerby, The Photographer—KTP “BOOK US NOT THEM”
