We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kim Belverud a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kim, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I developed my confidence and self-esteem simply by showing up and doing the thing. There is always going to be some amount of fear in doing something new. For me, once I was able to push beyond that fear, I found that even if I failed, I could pivot, try something new and find success in the unexpected. I had to take chances. I haven’t always been good at doing that because of my desire to succeed and fear of failure. But I’m also very stubborn, so that helps in keeping me going when I would otherwise want to quit. The confidence was built over time once I kept showing up and believed in what I was doing.
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’ve been a professional photographer for almost 8 years now, but I started a new project 8 months ago that I’ve been really excited about and that my clients have absolutely loved. I’ve been working on a photography series called “40 over 40” and it’s an amazing experience I provide women in this age range. I’ve worked with women in their 40s all the way through their 70s. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience – for the women I’ve served but also for me in empowering and uplifting these women through the art of photography. It’s been a wonderful gift.
Each woman who participates comes into my downtown studio and receives styled hair and custom makeup from my professional hair and makeup artist team. They receive styling guidance and access to my client closet with gowns, custom dresses from fabrics, robes, etc. We do the photo session with 4 to 6 different looks, and then I do a special Reveal meeting for them to pick out only the photos they want to keep. I provide high-quality heirloom products from the best professional photography labs around the world.
I am wrapping up the project now, but one of the best parts about the entire project will culminate on October 5th when I host a huge exhibit and gala in honor of these women. Anyone is invited to attend. There will be food, drinks, shopping from women-owned businesses, a keynote speaker, a silent auction, a workshop, and of course, the gallery of photographs of the 40 women. I want every single person to leave feeling inspired. It’s going to be an incredible event that you won’t want to miss. Tickets will go on sale soon. You’ll want to check out my website for more information on how to get your ticket because they will go fast!
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?
If there were three qualities that I’d consider most impactful in my journey, it would be curiosity, creativity, and commitment. Curiosity helped me figure out how best to serve my clients – what is a pain point, how can I help, what are their interests? If something didn’t work, I stayed curious in why and curious in what would. My creativity helped shape my art. It allowed me to keep honing my skill in photography, mastering techniques, and trying new artistic edits. And commitment helped keep me in the game, despite wanting to give up. When I invest in something, I know I may not see the benefit in the short term – I must be patient and committed, and then I’ll start seeing the effects of it.
I know not everyone has the time or patience for the commitment part, but for me, there was no quick easy formula. I had to stumble a lot and have things not work out as I had hoped, for me to eventually find my way with it. The more I did, the more I figured out what worked and what didn’t work. Stay true to who you are. Figure out your passions. Determine who and how you can serve best. Looking back, it all makes sense that I’m doing what I’m doing because it combines all the things I love but while also serving my clients in the best possible way.
The last piece of advice I’ll offer is to follow the basic principle of “Be. Do. Have.” Start with the person you want to be. Envision it in every detail. Be that person. Take on that identity. This will allow you to do the things and take on the actions of that person. And then ultimately, you’ll have what you need and want.
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?
Yes, absolutely! I love working with other women-owned businesses who also serve women. I want to collaborate with other businesses who help to empower and uplift women – whether it’s physically, emotionally, or mentally. If anyone wants to get involved with my 40-over-40 Women’s Exhibit and Gala, I’d love for them to reach out – whether it’s donating their time, product, service – it will all make a significant difference. As the phrase goes, I truly do believe that empowered women empower women. And if we can lift each other up and serve one another, we are unstoppable and can do amazing things in our lives, our communities, and the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimbelverud.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimbelverud
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimbelverudphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbelverud
- Other: https://www.kimbelverudportraits.com/over40
Image Credits
Kim Belverud Photography, LLC
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