Focus On: Kelly Young Photography

BY BILLY BRUCE
The Valdosta Daily Times

September 29, 2007 07:26 pm

— VALDOSTA — Young entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams continue to find success in the growing downtown area. Just ask Kelly Young, who opened her very own photography studio at 106 Webster St. back in June.
Now Young is offering a full range of photography services, including weddings, portraits and what Young calls “lifestyle” photography. You can see her work and prices at www.kyoungphotography.com.
Her studio is located in a traditional historic-period house that also houses the Cotton States Insurance office. Young’s studio offers the quiet, professional setting for achieving a customer’s needs, but Young also does location shoots upon request.
“This was a hobby before, but for the last three years I have enjoyed making my living by doing what I love, so it has been a lot of fun,” Young said. “I’ve got a young daughter of my own, and I have worked with children when I was a social worker in California. So I’m good with kids and now I get to work with them doing something I love.”
Her lobby walls (and web site) are covered with color and black and white samples of her work, including the cutest shots of babies, one with an infant girl wrapped in rose petals, another in black and white with her daughter looking at her own reflection in a mirror, inspecting her application of red lipstick. Young says she’s had wide and varied requests for different types of shots, but the strangest request came at a wedding she worked in Florida.
“I’m scared of heights,” she said. “They wanted an aerial shot of themselves and their guests, so they put me up in a cherry picker. I told them I wouldn’t go too far up. But I got the shot they wanted.”
Get the shot you want, too. Young has the know-how.

Q: How did you get into the photography field? When?

A: I have always had a love of photography. Growing up, my grandmother kept many family photo albums. I would spend hours flipping through them every time we visited. I still do to this day. I decided to make the dream a reality about three years ago with the birth of my daughter. I became a stay-at-home mom and spent every free moment studying and learning about photography on a professional level.

Q: Do you consider yourself a photojournalist, an artist photographer, both, or what?

A: I consider my photography style a little bit of both. When photographing weddings, my assistant and I are photojournalists. However, I look for what special moment to let my artistic side shine as well.

Q: What types of services does your business offer?

A: We specialize in children, families and weddings. We also are available for special events.

Q: What would your dream photo opportunity be? Or, if you could photograph something that you haven't, what might that be?

A: This IS my dream! Every opportunity I get to photograph an expectant mother, young child, senior, or a bride and groom on their special day, I thank God that he has made this dream a reality.

Q: Which professional photographers inspire your work?

A: There are so many wonderful photographers that inspire me. One of the most well known is Anne Geddes. A few others include Sherri Williams, an amazing beach photographer out of Destin, Fla., and Carrie Viohl out of Moultrie.

Q: What kind of training, certification(s) and/or schooling have you finished to enhance your abilities behind a lense?

A: I was blessed to work as an assistant to an amazing photographer, Carrie Viohl. Working under her gave me a hands-on experience and a jump start into the business I have. I studied at Valdosta State University in a 10-hour course under The Valdosta Daily Times Chief Photographer Paul Leavy. I continue to take photography courses and attend seminars and conferences to enhance my career opportunities. I am a member of the Professional Photographers of America. With God, all things are possible.

Kelly Young Photography
Owner: Kelly Young
Address: 106 Webster St.
Phone: 229-245-8100
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; appointment only Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday.

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