Meet Kalee Salcedo | Conceptual Commercial Photographer

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

Hi Kalee, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was younger, I was always drawn to art. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t trying to make something. I’ve had a hundred different hobbies in my short lifetime, and I continue to learn new artistic skills. I have grown up hearing horror stories of people who hate their jobs or how they skipped out on their dreams for something else. I want to spend the one life I have doing something I love for work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When asked about my work, I describe it as conceptual commercial photography. Through my work, I aim to explore a wide range of conceptual messages using color or a lack of. I enjoy creating surreal scenes that explore complex narratives in a playful and lighthearted manner. Much of my inspiration comes from my personal life or those around me. I try not to become overly attached to any single piece of work.

For me, photography is about capturing my thoughts and ideas, anchoring them somewhere beyond my mind. It’s almost like therapy. I have explored numerous themes—such as childhood, attachment, grief, and other complex narratives. While I often address heavier topics, my style doesn’t immediately communicate that. I manipulate color to narrate my stories.

My work is minimalist, often influenced by aspects of Wes Anderson’s style. I tend to get bored easily, and I love how much I can control and transform each image in photography. In post-processing, I always begin with the color palette. I believe it’s essential to establish the colors of an image before adjusting exposure, contrast, or adding an “S” curve, because color sets the tone and mood first. Every detail in my work is symbolic. I’m meticulous about how I arrange my scenes and subjects. What you leave in an image stays with the viewer, and I want that to convey the most accurate message possible.

Every photo I take and every project I curate teaches me something—more than just technical skills. They teach me about myself, others, art, and the world around me. There’s beauty in exploring these narratives in the way I do. I want to make light from stones. I want to capture not only the world around me but also my own experiences.

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.
This is a tough question. There are so many wonderful places to visit in Atlanta. I think if I had to take them somewhere, it would probably be either the Georgia Aquarium. The reason for that is that I was born in Florida but moved after a few years, and my family and friends joke that the “Florida girl” runs through my blood because I love anything related to aquatic life or water and the ocean. I could sit there for hours and hours and just watch the beautiful creatures. There’s nothing else like that feeling to me.

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?
I would like to dedicate this to little me. While there are many incredible people around me, little me believed in me more than anyone could, and for that, I owe her everything.

Website: https://happypillsphotography.squarespace.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aces.psb/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalee-salcedo-063966297/

Image Credits
Myself: Kalee Salcedo