Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly O’Brien.
Kelly, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My dad moved us to Florida just before I started 9th grade. I went from being in a school with about 200 kids in 12 grades to a school with 600 kids just in my 9th-grade class. It was a culture shock! I had to sign up for classes and needed one more elective class. My dad convinced me that I would have fun taking photography and gifted me with his Minolta film camera to use for the class (is that aging myself?). After only a few classes, I fell in love with it! I also happened to be in marching band as well, and one day we had a photographer come in to do our band portraits. I grilled that poor photographer with a million and one photography questions. He could definitely tell I was enthusiastic about it and invited me to tag along for a couple of his other photoshoots. I learned so much from him in just a short time! I guess I didn’t drive him too crazy because he hired me!
Over the years I worked for him as an assistant and a 2nd shooter for weddings. I think having to really understand metering and lighting while using film really set me up for success later on. I won a scholarship to Savannah College of Art & Design and was thrilled to spend my freshman year there, but unfortunately, life had other plans for me. I scared myself. I psyched myself out into thinking that I couldn’t succeed as a photographer. Digital cameras were just hitting the market but I knew they were going to be big. I also told myself I could never afford to get all this new digital stuff. I ended up going back to south Florida and transferred to a private business university where I got a dual bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management.
I got a job in a nonprofit organization and worked myself to the point of exhaustion. Yet, during all those years in college and working, I was always photographing things….wedding, parties, headshots, pageants, and pets. Eventually, I finally got tired of working for other people, tired of not feeling fulfilled, tired of not living my dream. So I quit my job. I invested in some new equipment and set up my own photography business. It was a hard road, not glamorous at all! It took so much work, but now I have a thriving business that makes my heart feel so full!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first went to college at SCAD, I got so intimidated by all the other students. There was so much talent there! It was also super expensive. I just couldn’t swing it on my own even with two jobs. I felt so defeated leaving after only one year, but I didn’t quit altogether. I traveled back home and made some adjustments. I still worked as a 2nd shooter for other photographers, and I had a “grown-up” job (a term that a family member used, which I hated). I think ultimately that switching majors probably helped me longterm. Having a dual Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management allowed me to really view the work from a different perspective. It helped me learn what clients wanted and needed, how to manage people successfully, and how to operate a business. Once I got over my own fear of starting a business, those things came in super handy!
Starting a business is still really hard though. Just making business cards and setting up a website doesn’t drive customers to you. It’s a never-ending game of marketing, providing top-notch customer service, expanding your craft, and working crazy hours. Rarely a week goes by that I work less than 50 hours. I miss out on lots of friend’s events because I work nearly every weekend all year when my friends are off. As much as I love taking photos, I hate the business side of running a business. The Invoices, taxes, quotes, hiring other staff…it’s all AWFUL for an artist at heart.
One of the big things now is the advancement of cell phone cameras. I mean, they’re freaking awesome. But as a photographer, it’s terrifying. So I have had to reevaluate business and figure out the direction that’s best for me. People spend less money on portraits, but they still need a pro for events and weddings. I have really focused my attention on those areas as a result.
Coastal Click Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
After my 2nd year in business, I decided to rebrand. I changed my business name, changed my way of doing business, and changed my focus. Thank GOD I did that! My new name, Coastal Click Photography, just resonated with me. I’ve always been drawn to the beach and all things coastal. I focus my business on weddings and events. I absolutely love weddings they are all so unique and special. I will admit that I cry at almost every wedding. It’s usually the father-daughter dance or the first look that gets me. Also, my years working in the nonprofit world provided me with some wonderful contacts. I just happen to live in an area with hundreds of nonprofits all holding events year-round. My little core group of clients at the beginning has now turned into dozens of loyal clients who hire me to photograph all their events all year. My three biggest clients hire me to photograph over 50 events each year!
Now in my 9th year of business, I love that people in my community recognize me as “the photographer”. People also tell me often that I smile when I’m taking photos. I think it’s because I feel really blessed to see the world like I do, through the eyes of a giant zoom lens. I see all the best moments in people’s lives! I have worked really hard to excel at event photography. It’s tricky at times. Ballrooms are dark, guests can be uncooperative, people are stressed out, and things can move very quickly so you have to adapt, think outside of the box, and focus. I am always learning new lighting techniques, investing in gear to make the job easier, learning new editing tricks, and trying to grow as an artist.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
A few years ago I was using a 3rd party referral company to get business leads. I had great success with it early on. One day an out-of-state company hired me to photograph a conference for them in Miami. They were so thrilled with the photos and my interactions with their guests that they asked if I traveled for jobs. Of course, I said yes! That company hired me to travel to 15 different states photographing conferences for them. They probably could have hired local photographers and saved money, but they wanted to work with me! They used my photos for billboards, posters, banners, flyers, brochures, websites, and more. That was a huge milestone for me!
Pricing:
- Wedding packages starting at $1500
- Event photography starting at $200 per hour
- Portraits starting at $175
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coastalclickphotography.com
- Phone: 561-972-8446
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: CoastalClickPhotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/coastalclickphotography
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/thecoastalclick
Image Credit:
Coastal Click Photography
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