Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Sutton
Hi Kendra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
– grew up with a disposable camera in hand.. I’ve always loved documenting life’s moments
– when I turned 18 my parents bought me my first DSLR camera for Christmas
– photography remained a hobby throughout college while I pursued multiple degrees in education
– upon graduating from Utah State with my bachelor’s and Idaho State with my master’s, I became a middle school English teacher
– during summers, in between school years, I would offer photo sessions to make a little extra cash and dive deeper into my creative side
– one day in my 3rd year of teaching, one of my 7th grade students asked me if she should chase one of her dreams. Later that day another student asked me if teaching was my passion. The two questions collided and took my mind into a deep reflective state.
– yes, teaching was A passion of mine, but I also had other passions beyond the classroom (ex: photography). I also felt like I was doing my students a disservice by telling them to “chase their dreams” if I wasn’t even taking that advice myself.
– so… I finished my third year of teaching and took a leap of faith to start my photography business.
– I enrolled in a few online photography classes, researched YouTube A LOT, completed a 6-month wedding photography internship in California, and upgraded all of my camera gear.
– I spent the next year building my photography portfolio and marketing my small business.
– I started documenting weddings all over the US.
– And once I was more established, I couldn’t quite let teaching go, so I decided to be a sub in the classroom here and there as well as tapped into the educational side of photography.
– I hosted multiple photographer retreats/workshops, conducted zoom trainings, created educational resources for beginner photographers, added an internship program to my business, and more!
– Meshing my two worlds (education & photography) has been a dream come true! I have graduated 7 interns from my team who all have successful businesses on their own now. I have documented over 100 weddings and countless sessions. My work has been published in magazines, and I’ve travelled to 19 states and 7 countries capturing love stories around the world!
– I just recently moved from Idaho to Hawai’i and have been loving the change of scenery. I still serve clients globally, but my new base is Oahu.
– I wouldn’t be where I am today without MY PEOPLE. My husband has been my #1 supporter (a career switch can be scary for a spouse, but he was rooting me on every step of the way). My family + friends who helped share my work, model for me, and send me uplifting messages. My mentor, Nicole Kirshner… she still inspires me and has taught me a lot about client experience, running a business, and marketing! My students who made me love teaching and pushed me to follow my dreams. My fellow photographers who shared their advice, welcome me into the community, and encourage me. Wedding vendors I’ve worked with who truly value teamwork and collaboration and make the job fun! My clients who have trusted me with their most precious moments. And lastly, God. I know none of my success would be possible without Him. Through the ups and downs of changing careers and running a business on my own, He’s blessed me with the strength and determination to continue moving forward.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
– leaving my teaching career with consistent income to start a business with unpredictable income was a financial struggle at the beginning. Luckily, the earning potential in photography is limitless, and I had some savings built up to use until I was matching/exceeding my previous salary
– setting up the backend of my photography business was a learning curve since I did not study business nor marketing in college. Creating a website, legally registering the business, preparing for/filing taxes, designing contracts, collecting payment, etc. were all things I had to discover and learn how to do.
– work/life balance! This one was and probably still is my biggest challenge. Being self-employed makes it very easy to overwork yourself—lots of late nights and early mornings.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What do you do? I document love stories around the world
What do you specialize in/what are you known for? I specialize in luxury wedding photography and I’m known for clean timeless editing, a fun effortless experience, amazing travel adventures, and cool flash photos on the dance floor
What are you most proud of? The friendships/relationships I’ve built along the journey. It feels good knowing my time, efforts, knowledge, and talents have made so many people smile and have given couples photos they can cherish forever and share with generations to come.
What sets you apart from others?
– My ability to help couples feel comfortable and enjoy their day without focusing on the camera. I document moments as they unfold and truly have an eye for composing each frame to tell their story in an emotional, unique way without much effort on their part.
– My experience of shooting in many different climates, seasons, and places around the world! My clients have full trust in me that I know how to capture their wedding scenery whether it’s in the spring in Japan, the summer in Italy, the fall in Mexico, or the winter in Idaho.
– My collaboration skills to ensure the entire vendor team feels valued and united and that the wedding day runs smoothly for the couple!
-And lastly, my passion for my job! It truly excites me when I see a wedding or session on my calendar. Some people dread going to work, but I LOVE IT. From the initial consultation call… to booking… to timeline prep… to day-of documenting… to editing… to gallery delivery… and beyond! I love every part of it, and I believe that radiates to my clients.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Honestly cannot just list one. It’s a combination of many qualities: faith, humility, determination, creativity, consistency, charisma, adaptability, positivity, and confidence.
Pricing:
- US weddings start at $4k
- Out-of-country weddings start at $6k
- Other sessions start at $500
- Mentorships/Education Opportunities are available for photographers!
- Inquire through my website for availability & exact pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ksuttonphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksuttonphoto
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ksuttonphoto
