Story & Lesson Highlights with Keshvar Merchant

We recently had the chance to connect with Keshvar Merchant and have shared our conversation below.

Keshvar, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The community around me. I’ve spent the last few years intentionally showing up, connecting with other creatives who inspire me, turning clients into genuine friends, and saying yes to new groups and activities even when it felt awkward. Real connections take time and honestly, a lot of rejections before you find your people. The ones you can show up authentically with, who have your back no matter what. I’m really proud of how many incredible humans I now have in my corner, supporting and growing alongside me in all the different parts of life. It’s not something you can see in a portfolio, but it’s everything.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Keshvar, but everyone calls me Kesh, and I run KeshMesh Studios, a Calgary branding and portrait photography business. I started with a deep love for capturing stories and human connection, and it’s evolved into working with incredible female entrepreneurs and small businesses across Calgary and beyond who are building something they truly care about.

I’ve found my sweet spot working with women in business who need brand photography that actually feels like them. My approach is all about creating images that are natural, intentional, and deeply authentic. I want your audience to see you, trust you, and feel something when they land on your page or scroll through your feed. In a world of overwhelming visual noise, I believe in creating content with intention and ease.

From shoot planning and budgets to styling and post production, I handle every detail so the process feels seamless. I’m a big believer that clear communication is what makes everything work beautifully. At the end of the day, I’m here to help mission driven brands tell their story visually in a way that resonates and connects.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The version of me that believed showing up for others first was the only way to be a good person. I spent years people pleasing, saying yes to everything, thinking that making others happy would somehow lead to my own happiness. Spoiler: it didn’t.

I’ve done a lot of work to release that pattern and understand that boundaries aren’t selfish, they’re necessary. Now I prioritize my own needs and wants, which actually allows me to show up more authentically for the people who matter. The ones who respect and understand me. And the ones who don’t? I’ve learned it’s okay to let them go too.

I believe in kindness with boundaries. That’s the balance I’m building now, and it feels right.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
More than once, honestly. The common thread was always the same: I couldn’t show up for my work the way I wanted to, and that gap between where I was and where I thought I should be fed every negative story I told myself. Not good enough, not earning enough, not hitting the “success markers” everyone talks about.

Those moments were especially heavy in the beginning when I didn’t fully see my own value or trust the work I was creating. But here’s what shifted everything: redefining what success actually means. It’s not about checking boxes or hitting arbitrary numbers. It’s about pursuing something meaningful with your whole heart and believing in it, even when it’s messy.

Now I see that the work I do, the incredible people I get to call clients, even the uncertain and rocky parts, they all add up to something real. When your energy and beliefs are aligned, it’s so much easier to keep going. When they’re not, it’s easy to feel like you’re not worthy of becoming the person you imagined. I’m learning that worthiness isn’t something you earn. It’s something you remember.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you can hustle your way to success in six months if you just work hard enough. The “grind until you make it” narrative is everywhere, and it sets people up to feel like failures when they don’t hit those arbitrary timelines.

The truth? Most people who’ve found success have also had a ton of failures, learning moments, mentors, and behind the scenes struggles they don’t talk about. We see the highlight reel and think that’s the whole story, but it never is. Not every path needs to look the same, and honestly, most don’t.
I think we need to normalize going at your own pace. Consistency and taking risks that actually align with who you are will get you where you’re meant to go, but it might take longer than Instagram makes it seem. And that’s okay. Comparison really is the thief of joy, and the sooner we stop measuring our chapter three against someone else’s chapter twenty, the better off we’ll be.

Success isn’t a race. It’s just showing up for yourself, again and again.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Honestly? I started by doing what I was told. I’ve always loved creative work, photography, visual storytelling, all of it. But for a long time, I followed the “safe” path because that’s what made sense to everyone else.

Even when I started my own photography business, I almost fell into the same trap. People told me what I was good at, what would be easiest to sell, what niche I should focus on. And sure, it had value, but it didn’t feel like mine.

Launching KeshMesh Studios as a Calgary brand photographer was the moment I chose myself. I decided to focus on what actually lit me up: capturing authentic stories for female entrepreneurs and small businesses who are building something meaningful. Brand photography and portrait work that helps people feel seen, not just look good.

It was a risk to go against the advice and trust my own creative vision, but it’s what’s allowed me to grow into the photographer I actually want to be. Now I get to work with mission driven brands and tell their stories in ways that resonate deeply, and that feels like exactly what I was meant to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keshmeshstudios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keshmesh.jpg/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshvar-merchant/
• Other: https://ca.pinterest.com/keshmeshstudios/
  https://www.behance.net/keshmeshstudios