Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalli Obray.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been fascinated by documentation for as long as I can remember. Asking for a camera rather than toys for Christmas, filming summer trips, small photo shoots of my friends. The love runs deep for me, and has luckily come fairly naturally.
I remember being a 19 year old college student sitting in my cheap dorm room. I was watching a girl;not much older than me, filming weddings all over the world. I remember feeling this incredible longing for that life. Documenting others monumental moments for a living, let alone being paid for it. I called my then boyfriend, now husband, and said “I just can’t believe how lucky she is to do that.” He gave me some advice that would forever change my life, by telling me that “everyone starts somewhere, put out your interest in doing this and see what happens.” A short two weeks later, I shot my first wedding entirely for free. And it has been a slow roll snowball effect ever since. I ended up dropping out of college, going full time with videography, and now travel the world doing exactly what I thought was unimaginable all those years ago.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, is it ever? Running a business in general is difficult, let alone having it be based off of your talents.
There’s always the struggle of charging your worth, but it being too cheap or expensive. Comparing yourself to others who are absolutely incredible and feeling inferior. And of course, working weddings is a very delicate and high pressure industry.
I would say I am pretty self-critical, but for the best. It has honestly continued to push me to always grow and learn more.
There’s always going to be bumps in the road and lessons learned. But it’s how you handle them that matters.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I film weddings and elopements all over the world. It’s an incredible honor and privilege that will never fail to humble me. I’m most proud of my ability to love and serve my couples. By doing so, I’m able to deliver beautifully crafted, personal films every time. On top of being an artist, I highly prioritize my client’s experience, which is just as important as the end product I am sending. Recently, I’ve been able to brand out and begin mentoring and teaching other wedding vendors as well, which has become a whole new passion for me.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s hard to say. The wedding industry is ever-evolving, especially with the influence of social media. But I’d like to think we stop putting so much weight on having “Pinterest worthy” weddings. I hope that shifts to having “individualized” weddings. Prioritizing what each couple wants. Putting their wants, vision, and love first. That’s where the real magic happens, in my opinion. Happy couples, photograph best.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kallicovideography.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/kallicovideo
