Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Fechhelm.
Hi Kristen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always had an immense love for exploration, travel, and the beauty of nature. In 2016, I bought my first DSLR camera and headed off to backpack through Europe for a month, and to document the fantastic architecture, people, and culture. This is where I fell in love with photography and being able to tell a story and capture a moment with your own artistic vision. After my father passed away very suddenly 10 years ago and my life was changed forever, I realized the only connection I had left to him were tangible objects and photos. Thus, photos also became a means of connection to the past and possible fading memories. As my love for travel and nature photography grew I also started to explore lifestyle and portraiture photography, taking photos for friends and family. Family photos, engagements, pregnancies, weddings, to name a few; being able to help someone capture a moment and tell a story in a beautiful, artistic way became so thrilling and powerful. I then began to get into event photography, capturing candid moments that are brief and unscripted, which became one of my favorite type of shoots! With the help of some friends and connections, I was able to start my business, KLF_Photography, and gain many new and larger-scale clients!
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road! Running your own business has many challenges, especially when starting from scratch. Since I’ve never had any professional photography training and am 100% self-taught, I spent many long hours behind the camera figuring out my vision and how to execute it via trial and error. Not to mention learning how to utilize the platforms for editing photos, which is an entirely new learning curve. I love to learn and challenge myself, so it was exciting, but at the same time, extremely challenging along the way. Technology has not always been my strong suit, so learning all the minute details of programs like Lightroom and Photoshop was frustrating and exhausting, especially when you are paving your way with little assistance. Many challenges also came in the form of trial and error during shoots. Every mistake, from forgetting a SIM card at home, not recharging my camera battery, missing a candid shot, etc, enabled me to learn from these mistakes and not repeat them going forward. Being self-taught comes with immense challenges, but also allowed me to find my own path and approach to my art. The learning never stops either; I continue to learn from moments with every shoot and challenge myself to go above and beyond to perfect my craft.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in portrait, lifestyle, and event photography. The way I see the world is composed in photographs. Lighting composition, subject matter, and capturing a once-in-a-lifetime moment took a while to perfect, but how I see and capture the world sets me apart from other photographers. I have a bit of an adrenaline junky side as well, so there is nothing I won’t do for a good shot. Many of my clients laugh when I’m climbing through waterfalls, on top of boulders, or knee-deep in river water to get the right angle. It’s all about getting the perfect shot, and I’m not afraid to get down and dirty! I also believe I have the ability to put people at ease during a shoot. Being a model is a challenging task for most of us! It’s aways awkward and challenging to be the subject of a photo; thus, making people feel comfortable is imperative when it comes to portrait photography. I always strive to make photo shoots fun and lighthearted rather than stressful, which they can be. Laughter is always the best way to put people at ease, and my goofy personality sets me apart from other photographers as well. It brings me joy to capture moments for people they can have for the rest of their lives. I also pride myself in my ability to challenge myself and continue to learn every aspect of photography daily to meet my client’s needs and progress.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
Don’t give up! It’s so easy to get distracted, disheartened, and want to give up on something new and challenging, especially when you’re paving the way yourself through your research and own experiences. There were many times when I was highly frustrated with my work and felt like I could never compare to the fantastic photographers I saw in books and online. It’s essential to believe in yourself and follow your vision. Comparing your work to others will only lead you astray from what makes your art so individualized! Learn from other, but don’t compare your work. That aspect took me a long time to learn, and I continue to struggle with it. Challenge yourself! Continuing to learn and go above and beyond what you can do opens the door to endless possibilities and progression. I don’t know if there’s anything I wish I knew starting out. The struggles along the way made my art and business what they are. No one gave me a guidebook or held my hand, which taught me perseverance and allowed me to learn firsthand from my mistakes. Mistakes and small failures only lead to learning and perfecting your craft!
Pricing:
- $100-$250 1hour+ for Family/Portrait Session
- $150-$250/hour for Event Session
- $50-75 20min Mini Session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.klfphotos.com/
- Instagram: @KLF_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenleefechhelm/
Image Credits
Credit to all my amazing clients and friends who have supported me along the way!
