Nope! No words!

I literally have ZERO words for this girls introduction. This GIRL….this WOMAN….this PHOTOGRAPHER KNOCKS MY SOCKS OFF!

I have followed Mrs. Kilner since her begginnings on Creative Live’s RESTART with Jasmine Star. I IMMEDIATELY connected with her the most out of the 3 students…though they are all pretty FAB…and I was the girl that laughed when she did. Cried when she cried and felt growth when she did!

I am forever greatful for all that I learned from Creative Live and Restart with Jasmine…but I am even more grateful for having someone I can live and grow through that experience with. Melissa made me feel as if I wasn’t alone in my struggles and on my journey to becoming a “professional.” Photography was make it or break it for her. SHE NEEEEEDED it to work and be successful for her family. By now, you know its the same deal for me.

Melissa is a genuine soul that brings more life, love and positive energy into a room than ELLEN! (And thats big statement y’all) But seriously, after you read her interview below…I hope you fall in love and can learn and grow from the girl that HELPED MEEEE learn and grow over these past few months.

I finally got to tackle her at UNITED and I was devasted our conversation ended so soon. I have 2 new goals in life:

1. Go to Seattle so I can be on creative live annnnnd try the First Starbucks ever…

AND

2. MEET UP AND SHOOT WITH MY NEW LOVE OF LIFE….THE FAB MELISSA KLINER

Thank you for being such an inspiration and role model to not only me but so many others out there. I know the KNP fans and followers will just adore you as much as I do. I better get a call when you come East and um…skype and wine date soon, please?! Your amazing…keep up the great work and without further ado….words and advice from the ever gorg MELISSA KILNER!

 

The Interview:

 

1.Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer?

I’ve been a professional photographer for 4 years (2 years working under another photographer, and 2 years owning my own business)

You were recently just on Creative Live, RESTARTING your business, can you give up a summary of what you learned and took away from that experience?

Oh my gosh, I could write a book about everything I learned. The CreativeLIVE experience was incredible. Probably my biggest lesson? I need to embrace me. Stop comparing. Stop trying to be like everyone else. I needed to spend a lot of time self-reflecting, looking at who I was and MY strengths, MY passion, and really embrace those and build my business around that.

2.Where are you located? 

I live in Gig Harbor, Washington. It’s a small town on the Puget Sound about an hour south of Seattle. I shoot all over the Pacific Northwest… and well, I want to shoot all over the world. 🙂

 

 

3. What is your approach to photography? 

First and foremost, it’s important to me that my couples are having a blast. Photography is supposed to be fun. And face it, you spend the majority of your wedding day with me, so I want to make sure you’re have a great time. And just as important, I want you to feel and look AMAZING. I love making my clients feel like supermodels.

4.Define your style??

My style? I want my couples to look chic, timeless, and completely in love.

 

 

5. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?

My word, the first time I helped shoot a wedding. This may sound cheesy, but the second I lifted my camera to my eye, I felt a part of me come alive. Taking pictures makes me feel joy. I love connecting with people. And to capture other people’s connection?? AMAZING.

 

 

6. Most REWARDING part of your job is?

Showing people how beautiful they really are and giving people pictures that become priceless heirlooms that will stick with their families for generations.

 

 

7.For those of us photographers looking to set up a styled shoot, where the heck do we start, how do we do it?

I styled and photographed my first styled shoot a few months ago. Here are some quick tips I learned along the way:

 

1. Come up with a strong concept that isn’t already all over Pinterest. (mine was glam/nautical)

2. Contact as many vendors as you can to try and get as many people on board as possible. (It will lighten your load to not have to take care of every little detail). Explain to them your concept and then trust them to show off their best work.

3. DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS. If you are interested in getting your shoot published, make sure you have a TON of details. Invitations, boutonnieres, desserts, table settings, EVERYTHING.

 

 

8. Best advice you have been given in your photography career? And best advice you would give a new photographer out there?

Best advice I’ve been given? Define my own success. My dreams aren’t everyone else’s dreams. Success isn’t about being the richest person in the world, success is what you want it to be. For me, I just want to wake up next my husband, and hear the pitter-patter of my kids‘ footsteps in the hall. I want to go on adventures and see the world. And I want to develop amazing relationships with my clients and capture their love. Advice for new photographers? Do the work and ask for help. Working under another photographer for 2 years and having my work constantly critiqued was a hard pill to swallow, but I know it made me just that much better and made me work that much harder. Constantly seek ways to be better. Well, I guess that’s advice that will apply to everyone new or established.

 

9.When it comes to your brand, how did you develop it?

Many are stuck on how to build a brand around who they are and what they like and what they want to do…some guidance would be so great!

I can’t say I’m an expert at this because I had a TON of help developing my brand. This took a LOT of reflecting and work. A brand is SO much bigger then a logo and a website. First you want to figure out what kind of photographer you want to be. What do your pictures say about you? I was given the task of coming up with 3 words that I wanted my brand to be. I went through all of my work and picked out all of my favorite photos and figured out their commonality. (My 3 words ended up being chic, classic, and connected.) And once you know what you want, be decisive on the kinds of pictures you display online.As far as the esthetic portion of your brand, I would start by looking around your house at the things that you love. I love my office, bedroom, and kitchen because they are clean and bright. I grew up boating and I have an obsession with being on the water and all things nautical, and I knew I wanted to incorporate that. My closet is FULL of white, navy, red, sequins, and horizontal stripes (it’s ridiculous).

 

10.What are the plans for the future of MK??

 

I am so excited for this next year! I have connected with some amazing couples and will be busy photographing weddings! I’m excited to just keep doing what I love! I’m also hoping to get to see a little bit of the world this year so if you know anyone getting married in other states or other continents… ya know… send ‘em my way.

 

THIS WAS JUST AH-MAZING…AND THE IMAGES…PURELY STUNNING! Thank you so much for sharing all of that wonderful information with us today Melissa.

To follow Melissa KILner, here is how:

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

Website: http://www.melissakilner.com/

To learn more about Restart and Creative Live, please head here:  http://www.jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm?postID=1552&restart-a-photography-business-makeover