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

Hi Kelby, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
My retirement from the Air Force, art, and my photography business are all important things that I believe will have a positive impact on the lives of my kids. Completing 20 years in the Air Force before starting my photography business has shown them that it is never too late to follow your dreams. Also, when I was young, no one told me that I could be an artist and do what I love for a living. I have a son and a daughter who are both artist who hopefully now know that they can do something in that field when they grow up if they choose. Of course love is the most important thing that I think we give as parents. The beauty of running my own photography business is that I’m able to create my own schedule and make sure that I’m available to my kids each day. They truly motivate me to be better. Everything I do, I do for them.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I consider myself an artist in almost every since of the word. My friends call me the Renaissance Man because on top my photography and videography work, I can also draw, rap, and produce music. Because of the business, photography has became my primary focus though I will always have a love for all things art. I think the main thing that sets me apart from my peers is my versatility. I’m never too big to do small shoots and I the love the challenge of bigger productions. The majority of my work the past two years have been street portraits with models on location on the city streets of Atlanta. When I started 18 years ago, most of my shoots had either a comic book or supernatural concept (Vampire, Superheroes, etc), but at some point I lost that when my business started focusing more on family portraits and weddings. Though I love capturing families and events, I plan on doing more conceptual shoots this summer with a focus on my love of comic books and movies. With everything going on in the world, I’m also wanting to do photoshoots focusing on social issues that are very important to me. When you’re an artist, it’s hard to balance art and business which is the biggest challenge to overcome. It’s a challenge that has taken me years to overcome which leads to the biggest lesson I’ve learned on this journey which is to always find a way to keep it fun. I keep it fun by always trying to learn something new and always trying to better myself to keep things interesting. What do I want the world to know about my brand? I want everyone to know that I’m reliable, creative, and love to collaborate with my clients to capture their most precious moments.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Varsity in Atlanta is a cool spot to eat and I usually start with Lenox when friends are visiting. It’s a cool place to see the real nice side of ATL. I’m a family man, so the Zoo, Botanical Gardens, and Six Flags are always top of the list for me. Woodruff Park is one of my favorite photography spots and has a lot of cool urban scenery there plus my favorite restaurant is Rosa’s Pizza located in that same area. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are quite a few people who have supported and encouraged me over the years, but I would like highlight two. My mother is my original motivator. When it was time decide whether I would start my own business or not, she gave me the best advice. She told me “You can’t walk on water if you don’t step out the boat”. That motivated me to take the leap of faith. The second person, is my wifey, Carolina who has supported me in everything I’ve wanted to do with this business and craft without question. She has done way more than the supportive pat on the back, she’s truly invested into my dreams.

Website: www.kelbywalkerphotography.com

Instagram: @kelbywalkerphotography

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelby-walker-2874339a/

Image Credits
Trinity Walker Monique Banaay Breanne Addis Dewayne Vandross Hannah Marie Shantell Reggie & Nicole Braeden Walker

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