Meet Joanne Kent | Photographer

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

Hi Joanne, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thinking behind starting my photography business was more of a why not? I had gone to college for film and video and had taken photography classes when I was in High School. I was always taking photos from as far back as I can recall. After college, I earned a Master’s in Childhood Education but then stayed home with my kids for several years when they were younger. By the time I was ready for a full time teaching job, there weren’t any! The economy had tanked! In my previous teaching work, I had also taught photography and took portraits of the kids for the afterschool and summer programs. I had never stopped taking photos. Eventually, with the economy still questionable, I realized that I could just start Etsy shop for my art photos and do portraits and also headshots or marketing photos on the side. It was really a very natural process that simply took one decision that this is what I wanted to do. I love my work!

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 varies. I photograph places as well as people. I love to taking pictures. It’s a lot of fun to frame things and to play around with settings on the camera, or angles and lighting. I also love editing photographs after the fact. Sometimes I’m straightforward with it, and other times I take liberties with settings to get to the emotion of a place or person. I get excited meeting new clients or traveling to a new location. Every photo shoot has its own unique set of challenges to work out. That need to quickly adapt in the moment is what keeps things exciting for me every time. I use natural light so that’s also challenging and fun.

I’ve been doing photography for a really long time. Since I was a kid really. My experience gives me a confidence that nothing else probably could. In order to turn my art/hobby into a business though, I had to make the decision to just put myself “out there”. I don’t worry about comparing myself to others, and I don’t worry about what other people think of what I’m doing or how I’m doing it. That’s a risk that some people aren’t comfortable with but it’s the only thing that stands in the way of success, in my opinion. While the recognition from big jobs can feel really good to your ego (and to your wallet), that’s also not how I measure my own success. For me, success means longevity. Success is knowing that I will keep going and never give up. That for me has been the biggest lesson. Simply put, I won’t give up. It hasn’t always been easy to get enough work to pay all of the bills, but that’s why I also have an Etsy shop, and I substitute teach sometimes as well. These side gigs are great because they are flexible and I can still always make time for photo shoots.

In terms of my brand, I think of myself as someone who is earnest and authentic. I look to share the truth (as I experience it, of course) of a moment in time. I like to really get to know my clients in a deeper way, where I can see their inner light and then capture it and share it back with them. It’s super fulfilling to show people the beauty that you see in them. I also love capturing the flavor of a place or neighborhood. Taking photos all around Atlanta has been a fun side project for me, I sell a lot of those photos in my Etsy shop, and I also have some of hanging in several hotels and offices around Atlanta. I take requests too! Sometimes people ask me to photograph a favorite restaurant or some other special place (maybe where they proposed or had a first date or something) and then they give the photos as presents for their loved ones. It’s particularly fun doing those kinds of requests.

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.
If someone were visiting me in Atlanta I think we’d have to take a food tour all around the different neighborhoods to get a feel for some of the places. Maybe if we went up to the Westside we’d go get LaFonda or West Egg, or over to Nuevo Laredo for some Mexican food. Of course, there’s always the Chattahoochee Coffee Company to show them some beautiful Atlanta nature while sipping on a coffee. Another day, maybe I’d take them over to Fat Matt’s for some chicken or ribs and live music. I’d have to bring them to see Martin Luther King Jr’s childhood home at some point. Then we’d have to head over to Krog Street Market for some Enchiladas at Superica or a cheeseburger at Shake Shack and a walk on the Beltline to people watch. Also, I’d want to show them the skate park and then maybe a walk to Ponce City Market where it’d be a toss up between getting Ramen at Ton Ton or some Bang Bang Chicken at Jia. If we kept going we could catch a movie at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema then sit at Apres Diem for a bite. Since I live in Decatur, I’d likely want to take the person for a fancy cocktail and some nice outdoor patio sitting and people watching at Leon’s. Maybe afterwards, get nice beer at the upstairs Belgian bar at the Brick Store Pub. While in Decatur, there’s also some really delicious Indian food too. I’d want to go to the buffet at Madras Mantra. So many places at Patel Plaza too though! Madras Mantra has a (non-vegetarian) sister restaurant up in Alpharetta called Madras Chettinad! That place is open all the time and has the best Indian food buffet I’ve ever had. We’d need another week to check out Buford Highway and all of those restaurants. I also think the Mexican food at Plaza Fiesta is a real treat. Plus, it feels like you’re in Mexico. There are countless interesting people. neighborhoods, food, and cultures to experience here. One week really isn’t enough. They’d just have to move here to get the full experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have always had the support of my mother, Margaret Ebell, and my grandmother, Bessie Dillon, to do my creative work. I am lucky as I know many creatives may not have had that kind of support from their families. I’d also like to acknowledge the book Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert as a great source of support. I found it inspiring as well as grounding. Gilbert delves into the spiritual world as a place where creative ideas are just waiting for the right conduit to come along to help birth them. There is magic in the creation of ideas and that you should follow your instincts and dreams no matter what, if that’s what keeps the fire burning inside of you. She talks about how being creative is living a more inspired existence and how risk taking is important to fulfillment. My desire to create and connect with other people and to share authentic experiences are guiding principles in my work. The other thing I loved about Big Magic is that Gilbert matter of factly reminds us not to quit our day jobs until we can afford to do so without struggle. This is why I supplement my photo work with substitute teaching. I love spending time with kids, so it’s a natural way to keep me grounded in the reality that my photography might not always pay the bills.

Website: www.joannekentphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannekentphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoanneKentPhotography/

Other: ETSY: https://joannekentatlantaart.etsy.com

Image Credits
Mike Koenig, Joanne Kent