Meet Kelsie Jones | Wedding Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsie Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business really came about after I inquired with some photographers one Christmas about a family session for my parents. My dad said he wanted portraits of all of us so I was going to make that happen. When I started to inquire with different photographers, I was getting these VERY large numbers back. It really upset me that family photos were almost unattainable for most people. I had a nice-ish DSLR camera I bought off Facebook Marketplace in 2014 that I had played around with and I set out to take family photos for anyone who wanted them that year. I wanted to make sure all families could afford Christmas card photos or fall family portraits. COVID hit in the spring of 2020 and a few of my friends had planned 2020 weddings that were being cancelled by the venues and vendors. I got 3 calls from friends who said “my photographer cancelled for my wedding, we’re going to elope – would you be up for photographing it for me?” I made sure to explain where I was in my experience with wedding photography, but all 3 of them had full faith in me. After shooting their weddings, I wanted to be a full time photographer and wedding photography was definitely my favorite. Here I am almost 2 years after going full time and I’m living a whole dream.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is all about romanticizing. I romanticize everything. Weddings, couples, and elopement photography lets me romanticize your love story and show it back to you. When I meet you and your person, I get a vibe for your chemistry as a couple and then my whole job is about bringing out the natural way you giggle together and play off each other. I want your photos to be a visual representation of how you two light up together. I want to make sure your photos show the world that there’s a sparkle in your eye and giddiness all over you when you get kissed on the cheek or when you dance together. I think a lot of times people come to me saying “we’re awkward in front of a camera, we don’t know how to pose, we’re not photogenic” and I take that as my personal mission to show you how cute you are together. When working with me, I use tons of prompts and less poses. My work is all about making you move together with shots that are candid and authentic. That’s what makes me the most excited about my career, is having couples come to me and say – “you made us feel beautiful” or “you really captured our chemistry and the way we feel about each other.” Photos don’t have to be something you overthink. I believe the most perfect images are the in-between moments; the adoring glances, the silly faces, the belly laughs, and the raw authentic shots between the poses.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d have to eat at the Vortex. It’s my favorite. There’s no better burger anywhere. Little Five Points would definitely be on the itinerary too. IKEA would be next because let’s be real, IKEA is few and far between and it’s a whole experience that needs to be had. Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall would definitely be on the list and it might be cliche but I love Topgolf. I’d have to spend a girls night out at Lips and throw Mary Mac’s Tea Room in the trip somewhere. I think I’d end the weekend forcing my best friend to do a sunset photoshoot with me in Piedmont Park at Mirror Reflection with the skyline.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jessica Watkins Jessica Watkins Photography
Dallas, GA

Jessica was a full time photographer in my area, and when I mentioned buying my own camera and dabbling in photography, she was so quick to take me right under her wing. She talked me through lighting scenarios and invited me to second shoot at weddings while mentoring me. Jessica still actively encourages me all these years later, sending me Venmo gifts for coffee when she’s proud of me, or making sure to text me that she’s rooting for me. Jessica is the most kind soul on this planet and I’m lucky to have learned so much from her. She didn’t have to teach me a thing, but she was constantly in my corner in the beginning and she’s still cheering for me now. Community over Competition, ALWAYS.

Website: www.kelsiejones.com

Instagram: kelsiejonesphoto

Facebook: kelsiejonesphoto

Image Credits
All images are owned by me.