Meet Casey Kelly | Digital Creator & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Kelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey, how do you think about risk?
My everyday life and career both consists of taking risks, almost all the time. I think that risks are big factors in life and it’s your choice at that moment, if you take them or not. There has been only a few moments in my career where I said no. There is this feeling of regret that you can’t describe when missing an opportunity that was given to you. I had a long burn out this past year, it lasted around a month. I felt that my heart was not in my business, I did not want to take any risks and I did not want anyone to judge my career. I needed that burn out to make me realize that I was the only one who could take the risks for me, that no one else was going to do it and my business will not grow on it’s own. I thought about a lot of things during that whole month of May, how I could just quit and that would be the end of it. Then I thought about what could happen if I didn’t quit, if I took the risk and got back to work. I wasn’t on the path that I dreamed of, so I rebranded, everything. I changed from being the person behind the camera to the person in front of the camera using a tripod, I created a business email and most importantly, I started concentrating on creating better content. I focused on what type of content my audience was looking for and what I looked for in a person when I decided I wanted to follow them. I have taken big risks since then, I’ve gotten opportunities to work with some of my dream brands, I am currently in the making of publishing a few of my portraits and I have met amazing creators who are just like me. Not all the risks that I’ve taken have turned out great at first, but when you bounce back from it, it makes it all worth it!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My passion for the minimal experience, whether it be fashion, lifestyle or beauty content sets me apart from everyone else. I have a love for the realistic and practical experience of branding. What I mean is, I’ve found that being your own person and displaying your personality is what really sets you apart from anyone else. I find myself being most proud of my practical collaborations, something that can benefit my audience at home. I want to experience everything to inspire others, when it comes to travel, lifestyle or fashion. It was not easy picking out my niche, deciding and narrowing it down to exactly what I wanted. It took months for me to finally decide to change my business, there is no deadline for anyone deciding what they want in their path. I create what I want to create and what my audience looks for in me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my friend to the Idlewyld Inn for cute late brunch. If we decided to go out for the day, we would probably go to the Covent Garden Market, Marky’s Crepes & Waffles, CommonWealth Coffee or Bijan’s Art Studio. Garlic’s or The Tasting Room for a yummy Italian dinner. We could go see a concert, comedy show or sports game. For a quick treat, we would either go to Merla Mae Ice Cream or The Boombox Bakeshop.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to thank my family, especially my partner. I wouldn’t be able to chase my dreams without him. From him setting up backdrops in our own living room to driving over an hour out of town so we can just get the perfect picture. My mother has supported every single one of my campaigns, since the day I started. She’s always the first one I call when I’ve done something great. She is full of great ideas and is a huge factor in my business. Lastly, I have to thank my father, who personally taught me how to use a portrait camera every week for almost 6 months, and told me to run with it.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cykellz/