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Kelly Williams
Kelly Williams
00:48

Kelly Williams

Kelly Williams Photography

Dallas, TX USA

"The goal is to get as many ‘no’s’ as you can get because you’re going to get a ‘yes’ eventually. Just put yourself out there and don’t be scared."

Career Roadmap

Kelly's work combines: Art, Entrepreneurship, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Photographer

I photograph people for advertising and self-promotion.

01:25

Day In The Life Of A Photographer

My Day to Day

I have a very fast-paced work environment and things are constantly changing. I always have to be ready to adapt or change things up. I also do a lot of physical labor by setting up and moving equipment. I have to maintain a high level of energy throughout the day.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

At 17, I was terrified to ask for help because I was afraid of being turned down. As I got older, I learned that was ok and that asking was the easy part. Eventually, you will get a yes.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Photography

    Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Grew up in a small rural area of Ohio in a lower middle class family.

  • 2.

    Took up the hobby of photography at age 11 after first learning the fundamentals in a middle school photography class.

  • 3.

    In high school, a family friend gifted her a camera with interchangeable lenses, which allowed her to experiment more with her art and learn more about photography.

  • 4.

    Attended the Ohio Institute of Photography where she got her degree in portrait photography—says this school focused on the technical and that “you didn’t really get to explore creativity.”

  • 5.

    Her first job out of college was working for a small portrait studio that she ended up getting fired from after only two weeks.

  • 6.

    Got a job as a model just to pay the bills, but ended up modeling and working as an assistant to her agent for over 8 years—this experience opened the door for her to start photographing models.

  • 7.

    She moved to Los Angeles to accept a job working for an acting manager, but it only lasted a few months because she hated it—decided now was the time to become a full-time photographer.

  • 8.

    Made the move to Dallas, Texas where she set up a photography studio located in the Dallas Design District and is now an esteemed professional headshot, portrait, and fashion photographer.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    I'm too scared to ask for help.

  • How I responded:

    At 17, I was terrified to ask for help because I was afraid of being turned down. As I got older, I learned that was ok and that asking was the easy part. Eventually, you will get a yes.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • I've had a lot of jobs that I quit or was fired from simply because I wasn't invested in them. Learned a lot about what I don't want to do, but the constant changes were challenging.