Meet Kenzie Maroney | Freelance Photographer

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

Hi Kenzie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For me starting my own business was kind of my only option. As a freelance photographer you just have to start doing it and see what happens. I had a few friends reach out about getting photos taken for projects they were working on and the rest just started happening. My clientele started building and I figured out the business side of things as I went. I knew nothing about the business aspect of being a freelance photographer, because we weren’t taught about it in school, so I learned it all as I went. When I first started, social media played a huge role in getting my name out there, so I advertised that way and if people liked what they saw they reached out. Then I slowly started making a name for myself and before I knew it I had my own business. Which for me is a funny way of putting it because I don’t ever really refer to it in those terms; to me its more of “I get to pursue my passion everyday and making a living from it.” But, when you take the leap whether you know what you’re doing or not, people will notice it, they will see the effort you put in and if they like it they”ll book you (or purchase something) and then they’ll keep coming back. Starting your own business is definitely scary, but for me it was less about “how am I going to do this and make it work?” and more so “I know I want to do this for the rest of my life so, lets do it.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a freelance photographer who mainly focuses on studio portrait photography, but will also do on location/outdoor shoots as well. My photography style is very clean, minimal, bright and crisp. I always say if you can do it with less equipment and do it well, you should! I have a 1 light set up with multiple backdrop options that range from neutral colors to bright blues, pinks etc. As my photography took off my style just kind of stuck around and progressed. Clients come to me specifically for my bright colorful minimal look and so its definitely become my niche after all this time! My approach is simple, yet vulnerable when it needs to be, and I take the time to get to know each client separately either before hand or during the shoot so that I can do my best at capturing who they really are.
I’m someone who has always been open to trying pretty much anything when it comes to making art… Art school helped me with that! Clients will come to me with ideas and sometimes say “this might be a bit weird” and honestly nothing phases me anymore ha! It has always been my goal to make people feel so comfortable in front of my camera (and me) that they are willing to try those weird ideas and are able to open up and be vulnerable. I know that being in front of a camera can be nerve wracking as hell, and its not always something people love doing, but I’ve learned in this business that the second I’m fully myself towards my client, they will do the same. Being a photographer of people is a lot about chemistry, learning what makes people comfortable, whether its small talk, finding a common interest, or simply the music being played in the background during a shoot. The relationship between the photographer and the client holds a lot of weight when it comes to how the final images look. That right there is one of the biggest realizations I’ve had in the 7 years I’ve been doing this. My job is to create art for a client, OF that client, they trust me with a vision or idea that all comes down to 1 or 2 final images they choose that they feel depicts them or their idea the best, and will then be seen by hundreds or thousands of other people. And because of that I’ve learned to put everything I have into every single photoshoot I do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Nashville has grown SO much in the past 11 years its hard to keep up! I’d say some of the best spots are anything from restaurants, to parks, and art museums. I’d probably start by taking them to my favorite restaurants in town…. Mas Tacos, Geist, Mitchells Deli, Burger Up, Green Chili, El Fuego, or Ilforno. Then we’d head to get a cocktail or a glass of wine at either Bastion, Barcelona, Inglewood Lounge, or Renion Bar. For an activity to do during the day (specifically when the weather is nice) there’s tons of waterfalls on the outskirts of town that are beautiful, we could walk or longboard at Shelby Park or Cornelia Airpark, and then of course make an afternoon out of going to The First art Museum near downtown for an hour or two. Anddd if they really want to go to Broadway I’d be willing to endure the chaos ha!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m dedicating this one to 2 of my college professors, Robin Paris and Angel Rabus. These two woman are the reason I do what I do today. They taught me everything I know about the technical side of photography, the artistic side of it, the vulnerable side of it and also what it takes to be an artist. Before I started college photography was a hobby that I learned a little in high school. When I started at Watkins College of Art it felt like I was stepping into the big leagues (ha!). I was no longer just taking photos of things I liked, now I had to give reasoning behind why I was doing certain things, write artist statements explaining my ideas even further, have open, vulnerable conversations about my art, and then take critique and criticism about it as well. Robin and Angel taught me how to do all of that. They helped guide me through frustration and excitement, they challenged me to think harder and more outside of the box. They taught me how to better articulate myself with words when talking about my art, and most importantly they showed me a safe space to be vulnerable with my art. They understood me and my mind on a level I truly don’t think anyone else has, and they did that from the day I met them to the day I walked across the stage at graduation 4 years later. They cheered on my ideas even when they were awful, and they vouched for me when I didn’t quite know what I wanted. Robin and Angel are such a huge part of why I am the artist that I am today. They believed in me and my art since day 1, and because of that it helped me to believe in myself. For that I will forever be thankful, and I’ll always cherish the time I spent being able to learn and grow with them. So, Robin and Angel this ones for you, I love you both, and thank you for everything.

Instagram: @Kenzie.maroney @kenz.ington_studio

Image Credits
Kenzie Maroney