Woohoo! Another Q & A with a 417 photographer! Who do you get to meet today? None other than the talented Grace Perkins of Grace Kay Photography! Let’s hop right in and get to know her!
Head shot by Hannah Arnzen Photography.
Meet Grace!
Hi! My name is Grace and I fell in love with photography 5 years ago! I started taking pictures for my high school yearbook, and it quickly became a passion of mine. Except back then, my dream was to be a sports photographer for the KC Royals, NOT taking portraits. In college, I found my niche and portraits became my main line of work. I entered college pursuing a degree in Journalism, but the idea of being a photographer always hung in the back of my mind. I left my photo shoots filled with life, and I knew that this would always be a part of my calling. So here I am today, an almost-graduate, photo-lovin', business-ownin' gal. Now that backstory is behind us, here are some fun facts about myself/photography: -I’ve been married for nearly a year to my high school sweetheart - While I’ve taken classes for photo, I still consider myself self taught (I learned most of what I know before I ever took a class) -I’m a cat person, sorry guys (except I’m not really sorry) -I’m big into sharing my gift with others, and I donate my services to Ambassador’s for Children and Camp Barnabas -I’m graduating with a degree in Advertising and PR in May, but photo will be my main line of work -Most of my issues can be solved with food - So that's me!
How long have you been a photographer?
Five years
How would you describe your photography style?
Bright, happy, full of life and always genuine
What is the most rewarding thing about being a photographer to you?
Building relationships with my clients and being their photographer for the many seasons in their lives.
What is the best thing about your clients?
They're just downright awesome! They trust me with bringing their vision to life, and they become close friends.
What is your favorite thing to photograph?
Couples and seniors, I love portrait work!
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I'm very goal focused, and after officially launching my business just two years ago, I've done close to 30 weddings while in college. I've been incredibly blessed with some great opportunities.
If you could give one piece of advice to yourself when you first started as a photographer, what would it be?
Don't worry so much about other photographers. Find your style and learn to love it. This is something I'm still learning.
Do you have any photography influences?
I'm a big fan of Olive Avenue Photo and Ansel Adams work. Two totally different photographers, and yet I can connect to both.
What is your favorite piece of gear?
I love my Sigma 35mm art lens. It's a dream to shoot with.
If you could give one piece of advice to your clients what would it be?
Trust your photographer! It's normal to feel awkward of unnatural at first, we don't always have cameras in our faces. So, let your photographer pose you and instruct you. We want to make you look your best!
What are some fun facts people may not know about you?
I'm a big True Crime junkie, I love any good murder mystery! You can read more fun facts about me in my bio :)
What would your ultimate, dream photo shoot be?
The salt flats. They're by far one of my biggest dream locations. I also would love to do a shoot on the west coast, either Oregon or Yosemite.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I follow a lot of photographers on Instagram, and they inspire me with their ideas and style. I love seeing the way others view photography. Everyone has a different style, and no one ever sees a photo the same way.
What was your favorite part about using Lightbox?
The light! It's in the name. It's incredibly dependable and I can always count on the same conditions. I can always count on an awesome shoot when I'm at Lightbox.
How would you like to use the studios at Lightbox in the future
I'd like to do more styled shoots. I have some awesome ideas I just haven't had time to do them!
Wedding photo taken by Abigail Derrick Photo.
Thanks Grace! We can’t wait to see what you come up with next at the studio!
You can find more of Grace’s work here:
Written by Bekah Schooler
Creative Coordinator
If you are interested in being featured in the Q & A with a Photographer series on the Box Blog, e-mail me at Lightboxbekah@gmail.com