Meet Kimberly Walker | Photographer & Writer

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

Hi Kimberly, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m originally from a small town near University of Ole Miss in Mississippi called Oxford.

Growing up through the years.. I’ve realized I always had a creativity in my blood. I spent my high school years being the camera person for the school’s year book club. My love for capturing people didn’t stop there. In my persona life Fuji disposable cameras became my preferred choice of photography. Buying several cameras at a time to ensure I never ran out of film. Now how many of you remember Eckerd Pharmacy? I know.. long time ago, but believe it or not they developed film with great quality. Spent much of my time there .. dropping off my cameras. To this day.. I am able to go back and relive those moments.. from high school and my younger years.

Now the next phase of my life became the anchor solidifying my love for photography. I became a mom at a young age. My daughter became the driving force… I didn’t want to miss a single moment. I wanted “freeze” time as much as possible. Reflecting on my own childhood I came to understand why I was so passionate about this. I myself did not have many pics that could tell the story of my younger years. I did not want history to repeat itself as it pertained to my daughter. As she got older.. not only did my investment in her, but my love of photographer became richer. I purchased my first real camera a Canon T3i Rebel.

The passion was unleashed. I snapped everything!

First steps, all of the once in a life time experiences, being the eagle eye from the sidelines when she played sports, capturing birthday expressions of excitement, Christmas memories filled with joy, prom, family vacations, and now grand-children. She has been an inspiration…

In my life I did experience a time of darkness and the two things that remained constant were my daughter and photography and together they pulled me from the darkness. From that darkness Lotus Lens born and I was reborn.

I fell into a state of depression after severely toxic relationship. I was merely functioning. The blessing and reason for that season I could not have predicted. My daughter would be the fighting force to bring me to the light that has now become such a life source. On a whim one evening she volunteered to be my muse..to get me out of the house. She would be the epitome of the teenage girl next door with her long flowing dark hair, big doe eyes, denim jack and camo pants. There was no pressure to perform. We found ourselves in downtown Smyrna.. she poured into me love and light. Her smile, her innocence, her sacrifice to show me that life still had so much to give me. The night became chilly after we rolled around on the hills of the Smyrna Square making it one of the most unforgettable moments in my lifetime.

That evening we went home with a grand idea of starting a business together to create a legacy for later. We tossed around names for hours. Sadly none would resonate as much as the one that stands today. The search seemed fruitless…until I began to plug into my true emotions. Looking for something that would relate to my current state of feeling muddled from the heavy weight of the world, but never giving up and being able to remain lighthearted regardless of life’s trials. Unexpectedly we came across the lotus flower. It carries many meanings.
When you look up the meaning of a lotus flower. You will find that the lotus emerges daily from murkiest of waters, unyielding, resilient, vibrant and exuding purity. The flowers signifies not only my journey but many of us and how we persist daily.

Lotus Lens Photography emerged. With this gift I have turned a time of darkness into light. I am able to help others capture moments that will last through time. My purpose and reason allows others to truly be present during life’s pivotal moments where you want to capture all of it, yet able to enjoy each turn of events simultaneously.

I find great pleasure and solace in being able to capture these moments for others. Turning what would be considered trauma into a beacon of light to share with everyone. Turning my pain into promise was the biggest flex.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I believe my life experiences have shaped me in such a way that allows me to see each individual beautifully and whole as they are. I have been told that I carry a “light” with me. I want everyone that graces the lens of my camera to know how much of a light they are in this world regardless of the occasion. Life in general is a celebration!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Quiet and laid back is my name and chill is the game. I am more of a homebody…

But if my bestie came into town and really wanted get out..I’d take them to Daydreamer Cafe in downtown Atlanta. The ambiance is very inviting to creatives and the Chai Lattes and croissants are delicious!

A walk on the Belt Line….East Ponce City Market…there is so much to see..and depending on the time of year we could see some really nice pop-up shops along the way! We would then head over to Parkside District in Lawrenceville. The fried green tomatoes are “fire”!!
Then off to Kat’s Cafe for live music in the early evening and then end the night at Cafe Intermezzo. The ambiance is always so relaxing and the B-52 cheesecake- you can’t deny!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Along my journey I have had some great support and influences. In addition to my daughter my brother Jack Butler was another congruent catalyst that simply said: “Drop the hammer”. He was referring to if I loved photography so much to -just go for it! So I purchased my LLC, built my own website etc. I have yet to regret that decision.

I never went to a 4 year institution to fine tune this craft. I am still reaching for the stars and growing everyday as a photographer. I had to pick up the pieces and on some days I am still doing so. However, the Atlanta School of Photography (ASOP) was such intrinsic part of my growth. The instructors there were photographers themselves and I feel they truly tapped into my skills.

My brother Shaheed also known as DJ Shaolin- saw something in me a few years back and welcomed me into the Power Family at 939 Power Hitz. Where I have been challenged as an introvert and as a photographer!. This adventure has introduced me to some really awesome people, organizations, djs, and personalities galore. I definitely wouldn’t be the person I am without this influence.

…and to my mentor Antoine Stephenson aka Yoda. He has been such a leader, insightful and fantastic teacher of the craft. There is nothing he can’t do or answer, hence the name “Yoda”. He has been a guide and a great friend in a world where people no longer care about sharing knowledge. Antoine simply wants everyone to win. Simply one of the best photographers I know and this is not limited to his talent, but also who he is at his core. However, his work is so dope!

Website: https://lotuslensphotographystudio.com

Instagram: lotuslens.photography

Linkedin: @lotuslensphotography

Facebook: Lotus Lens Photography

Image Credits
Photo credit: Lotus Lens Photography