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

Hi Keeli, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I believe that happiness and the essence of joy can be found every single day, whether it be in the form of an explosive laugh or in a subtle touch & my dream is to capture such moments: authentic, true, and genuine as a lifestyle/documentary photographer.

At the age of 18, my twin sister and I were lucky enough to exit/survive the foster-care system, but we didn’t make it out with very many photos of us growing up due to all the moving/inconsistency. After stepping out on my own, I vowed to allow this emotion to inspire and fuel my passion of documenting the beautiful days ahead. As I nannied throughout college, I got to experience firsthand the whimsical beauty of time spent with children, and my spark for documentation styled photography was born. I feel that true magic emerges when the camera is forgotten about, and life simply is – and my mission is to it capture it.

As a mother myself now I firsthand have witnessed how fleeting some of these years go by, and they seem to keep going by faster and faster the older my children and I get. Capturing families heals a part of my own inner child that begs to be remembered and loved – the love everyone deserves to feel and know, and I hope to document the magic to be remembered for generations.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel like I may have answered this earlier in question #1 – I’m happy to elaborate more if needed!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So exciting! As a mother to three little boys (current ages being 7, 4, and 3) most of my days look pretty the same as we navigate school, extra curricular activities, and weekend hangs!

If my best friend was coming to town I would mix in some “fun” with some of my favorite “everyday” stops for her to see!

Everyday stop List:
A run with The Running Exchange or an Orange Theory Class to start off the weekend!
Go to “Lolu” in East Nashville to Sauna+Cold Plunge – see my friends!
Grab a coffee + Breakfast from Dose in East Nashville
Eat my weight in Ladybird Tacos!
Pop into “A Shop of Things” and “The Green Way” and “The Getalong” to browse/shop local.
Walk Cornelia Airpark + Shelby Park Greenway with my kids on their scooters!

Fun Stop List:
Community hour and dinner at Lockland Table
A staycation evening at The Waymore Hotel
See a show playing in town – so many fun venues close by!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shoutout Ashley Mason, the owner and creator of “Little Icons.” Little Icons is a portrait photography company that specializes in beautiful, playful, and classic, black and white portraits of children.

Ashley was a full-time working photographer when we met in 2017 and it was through her encouragement that I ever felt like I could be a “real” photographer – not just as a hobby, but as a working mother providing for my family as well. When Ashley and I first met my husband and I were pinching pennies in a major way as we found grounding, and we ended up working out. a trade together – my 6 month old baby would get portraits done from her/Little Icons and I would capture her family in a lifestyle family session.
Watching her take authentic photos of my child and celebrate him and his personality instantly sparked my soul – and the confidence I felt after her family loved their family session I delivered really planted the seed for my career.

To make a long story short – we manifested our paths crossing and now work together! She decided to build up the Little Icons team and I was honored to be the first photographer added to the team in 2021! The photographer team has since grown in such a beautiful way as we together take thousands of portraits of children over the US and Canada every year.

Without Ashley’s belief and constant guidance in my work I wouldn’t be where I am today. I ADORE my time working as a Little Icons’ photographer and I am grateful for the confidence I hold in myself now as I also document families and lifestyle sessions as Keeli Faith Photography.

Website: https://keelifaith.com

Instagram: @keelifaith

Image Credits
Image #1 (me with my 3 sons on white backdrop) is by Alaina Miller

All of the rest were taken by me.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.