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
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Invest in a good camera and bring it with you EVERYWHERE.
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
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.