We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keshia Kastl. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with keshia below.
Hi Keshia, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My hard work ethic comes from learning discipline and responsibility from a young age. I was involved in competitive gymnastics till my teenage years. The countless hours of practicing and perfecting those skills have now translated into my adult years resulting in a hard work ethic. Without learning these traits like hard work, responsibility, and determination, I believe being a young business owner would be tough. I am so very thankful for my background and what has made my business successful!
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?
Hello! First off thanks for taking the time to read more about me! I am Keshia Kastl, owner, and photographer of Photos by Keshia. I am so thankful my dream of being a photographer has transformed into a reality and I love what I do! I began shooting in 2010, graduated from UCO in 2015, have opened 3 studios, and have made my small woman-owned business a success! My studio is currently in Yukon, OK. Whether in the studio or on location, I offer a variety of different types of sessions including:
Boudoir Session for ALL
Headshot & Marketing and Promo Sessions
Maternity & Newborn Sessions
Engagement & Wedding Photography
Kids, Highschool Seniors, and Families
At Photos by Keshia, I strive to be the best I can at being creative while also being professional. This may look like bringing your vision to life and creating memories to last a lifetime. I do this all while still being prompt, educating my clients, and having great customer service and communication. I am thrilled not only to capture so many special moments for all my clients but to be a part of those exciting times! Thank you!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
After taking a couple of seconds to ponder a few skills of knowledge that were impactful while building my business, the firsts that came to mind are:
Hard work, Dedication, and Determination: As it’s been mentioned my young years of growing up in competitive gymnastics molded me to be who I am and I think this knowledge helped build me up for success later in life!
People skills: Making clients comfortable and feel engaged in front of the camera is a huge deal. Having gained these skills in high school and college propelled future success.
Artistic creativity while still being a business: They say people are either right or left-brained. I fully believe to be a profitable photographer you have to be a bit of both! Artisticness is something that lives inside you. You can be a magnificent artist, but if you can’t run a business you may never be recognized for it. Having both these skills is key to prosper!
If I had to advise any photographer or young creative starting their business I would suggest getting plugged into a mentorship. Try picking someone whom you admire and would like to learn from. Being in the field day in and day out will not only educate you but fuel you to hopefully be successful!
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My supportive parents taught me to always be self-reliant proud, and determined. The number one thing my father always mentioned was that you always want to be your boss. I heard him say those words so many times, I did just that. Being your “own boss” can have its challenges and isn’t for everyone however, I think these words were so impactful in creating my journey!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.photosbykeshia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photos_by_keshia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhotosByKeshia
Image Credits
Head shot Photo of Keshia: Josh Moon
All other images: Photos by Keshia
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
