Daily Inspiration: Meet Kelley Traver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Traver.

Hi Kelley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always had a fascination with photography. In high school in the 90’s, I had my camera wherever I went. I loved dropping off the rolls of film at the drug store and going to pick up heavy rectangular packages filled with, who knows what. For me, it was opening treasure chest every time. I would delve out my newfound treasures to friends and family with pride. Fast forward 25 years later, now a stay-at-home mom with two kids, two dogs, and more laundry I ever thought possible, I needed something for me. I wanted to start something I felt passionate about, and photography was my first thought and love.

I picked my old camera and started shooting for fun. I had little to ahem, (zero) idea what running a business would be like or how hard the art of photography is. I really thought shooting and finding real emotion would be it. Oy, yeah I had a LOT to learn. In general, I am not the type to overdo anything unless it’s my passion. So yeah, overdo, I absolutely did.

I bought everything, cameras, lenses, researched everything, and signed up for every lesson I could. I am pretty sure I felt every emotion possible, discouraged, proud, unstoppable, defeated and usually within minutes of each other.

I almost quit a dozen times after every mistake. Even days I said, “I think I’m done” something kept me going. It was the feeling I got being able to share and delve out those treasures like I did in high school again. Except that now, I had specifically created them. That feeling of sharing my discoveries still gives me the same feeling it did at 16, like a shiny gold coin.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I was diagnosed in adulthood with ADHD. I consider it an obstacle and an advantage. Girls/women are notoriously underdiagnosed as children and I fell in that category. It can make even easiest yet, mundane business tasks hard to accomplish. However on the flip side, the hyper-focus side of ADHD helps me find my creative vision. I dive headfirst in when I editing or shooting. I have used my tools my make lists and check off the harder tasks first in the day. This gives my brain plenty of time to play later and bring my images to life.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Portraits are definitely my thing. I love making people feel great about themselves. I have had clients ask me for photos that are just like “X”‘s, and my response is, they will never be. Your personality and what shines about you specifically is what will come through, and that is uniquely yours. Whether it’s their style, personality, or even outfit, My goal is to find what makes you shine and try to bring that out in your portrait. I also love using and manipulating light in my work. How light and shadows fall on you creates drama and interest. Light can also really enhance or distract from what you are trying to convey.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Personally, I am seeing a shift to more natural, candid movement in portraits, which I love! I think more vivid colors may make their way back too.

Contact Info:

• Email: kelleytraverphotography@gmail.com
• Website: www.kelleytraverphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kelleytraverphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ktraverphotog

Image Credits
Myself, Kelley Traver