Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiersten Cederholm.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up, I always wanted to do the things my older brother did. When he was in high school, he competed in SkillsUSA for photography and film. I remember absolutely admiring the art in his photographs, this is what sparked my passion for photography. I started out with the cheap digital cameras that it seemed everyone had and then was gifted my first DSLR when I was in 10th going into 11th grade. After I graduated high school, I followed my husband to Colorado after his first deployment. When I moved out to Colorado, my photography was put on the back burner. I was working as a teacher at the time as well as planning my wedding around the army clock so I didn’t have much time for much else. Soon after I got married to my husband, he went off and deployed again. I had moved back home to Minnesota for a bit but then returned back to Colorado. I decided to pick up my camera again and start photographing families and couples, It was a wonderful reminder as to why I love photography. It was a great way to keep busy but also help provide for my family. I continued to pursue photography on the side to help provide when I needed to, but once COVID hit I lost my job at the law firm I was working at and I made a big choice to make photography my full-time job! I had found out I was pregnant with my son and this was the perfect opportunity to do what I love. In every phase of my life photography has always been the thing I always leaned on. It has taken a lot of faith to make the leap into pursuing my passion full time but I am the happiest I have been. I invested in myself and after 11 years of photographing I now offer weddings, families, events, couples, and newborns!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to where I am now has not been smooth at all, it has taken a lot of heartache and stress but also lots of motivation! One of the biggest struggles I have found in the industry is that you are going to be your worse critic. There were times where I doubted my ability and would take breaks from photographing because I didn’t feel my work was good enough. This stems from issues growing up, I was always told I wasn’t good enough or that I wouldn’t amount to much. This voice in my head was very familiar and almost comfortable. This caused me many roadblocks. I finally hit the age where I stopped listening to that voice in my head and instead used it as motivation! I spent hundreds of hours self-teaching myself a way to better my editing and photography- and in 2019 my husband returned from his 3rd deployment and invested in me and my company so that I could be the best photographer I could be. There are still times when that voice likes to creep in but I have the most amazing clients and every day I am reminded why photography has always been one of my true loves.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a photographer in the Plymouth, MN and Colorado Springs, CO regions. I specialize in weddings, events, families, couples and newborn/lifestyle photos! I am proud of how far I have come. I look at my photos from when I first started to now (11 years later) and it is night and day! One thing that sets me apart from others is that I am always trying to grow and learn in my photography, I never want to stop growing in my passion. Everything I do has been self-taught! I also provide my clients with a fully edited gallery. My galleries consist of around 50 + images which my clients get to choose the images in their package from. Many photographers will select their favorite images and only send those over. I have learned my favorites and my clients’ favorites are usually different so I like to put the choice into their hands, I want the photo shoot to be something memorable and something they can look at for many years to come. I am also a candid photographer, I will give my clients a prompt and I will photograph them doing the prompt. This allows a lot of movement and genuine smiles! I will do a couple of posed photos but overall, I try to make things fun! My husband is in the military and is away quite often so balancing being a full-time mom and working full time with little to no help has been a struggle but honestly, I think it has made me grow more as an artist and professional.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Photography as an industry I think will likely stay the same, maybe new trends on “what’s in ” for editing styles. As for myself, My biggest goal is to open up my own studio! This has been a goal of mine for a while but as time goes on, I am more serious about making it a reality. My husband is also going to be joining me once he is out of the military to be a part of my team and work as a husband and wife photography team. I am excited to share my passion with him and watch him grow as well.
Pricing:
- 15 Minute session + 8 images you choose from a full gallery ( 60+ images) $180
- 30 Minute session + 12 images you choose from a full gallery ( 60+ images) $225
- 1 hr session + 20 images you choose from a full gallery ( 60+ images) $400
- Newborn Studio sessions – 1 hr +15 images you choose from a full gallery ( 60+ images) $450
- Weddings – $400 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: Kcederholmphotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/k.cederholmphotography_llc
- Facebook: Facebook.com/kcederholmphotography
Image Credits
Kiersten (Kc) Cederholm (K.Cederholm Photography LLC)
