We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Genevieve recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kimberly, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
When I first moved to Los Angeles, risk felt like a natural part of who I was. Even though I was fearful, I somehow learned early on to push through pain and discomfort to get where I wanted. My vision was much more powerful than the pain I carried, so it almost became an obsession for me to get where I wanted. My approach wasn’t always the healthiest, but it was a lot of fun for a while! Somehow, I just thought that if I got to where I wanted, it would heal me… it didn’t. These days, I’m much softer and more vulnerable than I used to be, and I know this change was necessary for me to grow and create from a place of rawness and truth. I still take risks, but they’re very different now. It’s about risking being truly seen and heard, regardless of what people think. I recognize that my emotions are entirely valid, and my experiences are worth sharing because they’ve shaped the person I am today. I no longer feel the need to hide behind the fluff and colors that I used to. This newfound vulnerability has helped me become the artist and person I am today — and I’m really proud of that person!
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?
Story and emotion are at the heart of everything I do—they pull me out of bed in the morning and inspire me to create and make things!
My name is Kimberly, and I’m a Filmmaker and Photographer based in Los Angeles. My journey began as an editorial & commercial photographer, where I developed a highly marketable style from years of understanding the wants of my clients and the needs that people have to be seen and understood. Today, my work is still grounded in the values I’ve learned during that time, creating visually appealing stories that are both flattering and raw enough to feel like an honest representation of my subjects.
As a self-professed film nerd since childhood, I found comfort, connection, and inspiration through the film screen. This perspective ultimately shaped how I see the world through my lens. On set (and in life), I strongly believe that you can truly connect with anyone if you are open enough and create a safe and welcoming environment.
My goal is pretty simple: to make people feel seen for who they are and to shed light and beauty on those who often feel overlooked or misunderstood.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
At first, I think it was naivety (yes, I’m considering this to be a quality, haha!), or maybe it was just a lack of common sense which came from not truly understanding how the world worked because I felt like I had been kept small and isolated in a lot of ways. So, the idea of just leaving my hometown and going to LA felt like freedom to me. I just wanted to get going — do something with my life! And I didn’t think of all the things that could go wrong — A LOT of things! I think I just knew in my heart that I’d figure it out once I got going. Besides that, I’d say my curiosity, tenacity, and open mind/heart and heart got me moving. I wanted to create — to learn! And I wanted to connect with people in whichever way I could.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Without a doubt, my partner and best friend, Andre. Sometimes, you just need one person in this world to hear and validate your experiences. He’s always been that person for me. I used to think we were so much alike because we loved the same music and movies— but the more we’ve grown together, the more we’ve realized how different we are and how much those differences benefit us in the long term. We have very (very!) different brains. I’m sensitive and emotional— I feel things so deeply. And he’s so much more stable, and it balances things out for me. Sometimes, it feels like he looks at me like I’m this wild or exciting creature who keeps things interesting in his life, and I look at him like he is my rock or anchor. It’s like all the puzzle pieces inside my brain are spread out, and he’s the one who helps me put all the pieces together. I’m so grateful to have a partner like him. And I know that none of this would be possible without him.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimberlygenevieve.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kimgenevieve
- Other: Art Print Shop – Art of Vieve – www.artofvieve.com
Image Credits
Kimberly Genevieve
