Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Jones.
Hi Kim, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey to interior photography has not exactly been linear. About two years ago, I was a decade into my interior design career and feeling burnt out and unfulfilled. I knew I needed a change, but I wasn’t sure what that looked like.
Around that time, I took a trip to Marfa, one of my favorite places to visit, but something different clicked this time. I spent the weekend viewing a lot of amazing art and photographing the town, and I left feeling creatively reenergized to try something new. I’ve loved photography since high school, when I took a photojournalism class and instantly fell in love with the medium. Over the years, I continued to pursue it as a hobby, and in 2019, I bought my first film camera and rediscovered that passion all over again. I had always gravitated toward photographing architecture, design, and landscapes, and it suddenly dawned on me that I could combine my two biggest passions into one career. For the first time, I could clearly envision a path that felt like a good fit for me.
Not long after returning from that trip, I invested in a more professional camera and dove headfirst into learning the art and technical side of interior photography. I got involved in the architecture & design photography community, took courses, and leaned on my network in the design industry to find opportunities to practice and build my portfolio.
A few months later, I worked up the courage to leave my full time design job and take the leap into self employment. It was one of the most terrifying decisions I’ve ever made, especially as someone who had always followed traditional 9 to 5 job. Leaving behind a stable career I had spent my entire early adulthood working towards was not easy, but the decision has been incredibly rewarding. Everything I learned and every connection I made throughout my design career has led me to here.
Looking back, I’m so glad I took a chance on myself. In the nearly two years I’ve been doing this full time, I’ve grown so much, both as a photographer and as a person. I genuinely love what I do, especially the opportunity to collaborate with other creatives. One of my favorite parts of the job is working together to tell the story behind their work and capturing the thought and intention that goes into every project. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph some incredible spaces, and I’m excited to continue growing as a photographer, refining my craft, and building a business that reflects the work I’m passionate about.
Alright, 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?
Like many creatives will tell you, the journey has had its fair share of ups and downs. Some weeks are so slow that you wonder if you’ll ever work again, while others are so busy you can hardly keep up. As you can imagine, that comes with a whole range of emotions!
Beyond honing my craft and learning the technical side of interior photography, including all the gear that comes with it, I’ve also had to teach myself how to run a business. That’s something I never really had to think about when working for someone else. From marketing myself and finding new clients to managing finances and writing contracts, there are so many behind the scenes responsibilities that come with running a business on your own. At times, it can feel overwhelming to wear so many different hats.
But every challenge has been a learning experience, and each lesson has helped me become a stronger, more confident business owner. I’m still figuring things out as I go, but I’ve learned to trust myself, adapt, and keep moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an interiors and architecture photographer, working with interior designers, architects, and builders to capture their projects and create portfolio and marketing imagery for their businesses.
Interior photography is a niche and highly technical field, both during the shoot and in post-production. Every space I photograph comes with its own set of challenges, whether it’s color casting, limited natural light, tight spaces, or reflective surfaces, to name a few. In many ways, each shot feels like a puzzle to solve. Learning to work with artificial lighting has been a game changer for my work, allowing me to shape and control the light to create the look and feel I’m after rather than relying solely on natural light. I approach each shot by working through the challenges a space presents while also trying to create a sense of mood that conveys how the space actually feels in person. While interior photography is, of course, about documenting a space, there’s also a lot of creativity involved in how you choose to capture it.
My background in interior design has given me a unique perspective that I bring to every shoot. I’m able to observe and understand spaces in both two and three dimensions, considering everything from spatial flow and layout to functionality and the relationship between different elements. Having once been in my clients’ shoes, I have a deep respect for their vision and understand how much thought, time, and intention go into bringing a project to life. Some projects take months or even years to complete, with countless decisions made along the way to get every detail just right. It’s important to me to honor that work through my photography, capturing not just what a space looks like, but the narrative behind its design.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is living a life that feels fulfilling, both personally and creatively. I think it’s easy to get caught up in the expectations we set for ourselves or follow a path simply because it’s familiar and secure. For a long time, I thought I would continue down the traditional career path I had started, even though something felt like it was missing. Taking the leap into photography taught me how important it is to listen to that feeling and give yourself permission to explore something different, even when it’s scary. Leaving a stable career to build something of my own was a big decision, but it’s shown me how rewarding it can be to create a life and career that align with your passions. I want to continue creating work I’m proud of, building meaningful relationships with the people I work with, and never losing the curiosity that led me here in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimjonesphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimjones.photo
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimjonesphoto/
