Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly O’Connor.
Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started at the University of Texas at Austin in 2012. I was studying English and Accounting. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. My Sister and brother-in-law got me a camera as a gift because they knew taking photos would be a good hobby for me and something I’d enjoy, and we did a lot of traveling to Europe together as a group. I started taking senior portraits when a girl in my social group, Texas Sweethearts, asked me to. I quickly fell in love with it. I graduated from UT in December 2015 with an accounting job in Austin, so I was fortunate enough to say here. I quickly learned that working for someone else would always be hard for me, and I kept thinking in the back of my head that maybe I could turn my side hustle (which was rapidly growing) into a full-time gig. I knew I needed to shoot a wedding first and found an awesome photographer who let me second shoot for her. Within 5 minutes, I knew that wedding photography was what God had planned for my life. Over the next year, I worked tirelessly to get my name out there in the wedding community and was able to book 20 weddings. I was extremely busy with both jobs and finally quit when I got the courage! Now I have one employee, my director of marketing and client experience, and two associate shooters!
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall I think my journey with photography has been smooth, but in any endeavor, there are ups and downs! I think the hardest challenge I’ve faced is time management. As a business owner, you wear many hats, and there is always much to do! I’ve had to be intentional about planning my days and deciding my top priorities. I often can get carried away because I love my job so much and can find that I work too much. I always have to remind myself that a better work-life balance will mean a more productive photographer in the long run!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kelly O’Connor Photography?
I am a wedding photographer. I am most proud of how I can intentionally serve my clients. My brand is joyful, natural, with a punch of color, and I want my photos to accurately represent how the day felt so when my couples look back on their photos for years to come, they can be like, wow, that is how the day felt! I am most proud of how I can connect with my clients and serve them on a deep level. I truly believe God has called me to do this, so I don’t take it lightly and work hard to make people feel comfortable and like their best selves.
What matters most to you?
Many things matter to me when you have such a big role in someone’s special day! Whether I can help in the planning process so everything can go smoothly, pray over a bride feeling stressed before the ceremony, or be my couple’s hype woman, I love pouring into my clients! If I had to choose one, I would make my couples feel beautiful, special, and cared for in every way!
Pricing:
- Hour Sessions start at $500.00
- Weddings Average $5,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kellyoconnorphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyoconnorphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kelly-OConnor-Photography-262208451343211
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/KellyOConnorPhotography
