Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Aro
Hi Kendall, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I ventured into photography shortly after moving home from Houston, TX in 2016. When I left Minnesota in 2014, my relationship with the state was rocky at best. I was fed up with snow, winter, and all things cold. At the time, I welcomed the warmer climate of Texas with open arms. After two years, I realized what I’d left behind. Houston is great, but I missed the seasons terribly. Gone were the cool summer mornings, crisp fall evenings, and beauty that is the first snowfall. Gone was the scent of opening your windows for the first time in spring. Gone was the sound of the loon lulling you to sleep on summer nights. Oh, Minnesota, how I missed thee!
So I convinced my husband it was time to move home, and we were back just in time for winter of 2016. I had a new-found love for the season and felt compelled to dive into that winter head first. We began snowshoeing, snow hiking, and exploring parts of the state we’d never seen before. It was then that I decided to buy my first DSLR camera to begin capturing the beauty of Minnesota, helping others fall in love with the state as well.
The name “Shades of the North” goes back to when I dreaded northern winters. My mom and I would whine about the scenery of winter calling it, “the land of one color”. It wasn’t until I moved back from Texas that I realized even in the dead of winter you can find all kinds of color in Minnesota, you just have to look for it. My endeavor became a bit of a challenge at first, finding beauty and color in all seasons. Just shy of ten years later, I still love capturing the beautiful landscapes our state has to offer. With two small children at home I don’t get out as much as I’d like to these days, but when I do I’m always reminded how lucky we are to live in this beautiful state.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Over the years I think the main challenge is remaining true to my own photographic voice. When you scroll social media, you see a lot of others have a similar passion, which is great! But I’d be lying if I said what others capture doesn’t influence my own creative eye. For awhile I’d go on a trip up the shore and scroll to see what others were capturing. What were the photographing? How did they compose images? It started to feel like I was chasing something I’d never catch, and I needed to bring myself back to why I started doing photography in the first place.
I decided to stop scrolling to see what everyone else was doing, and began to pull inspiration more personal to me. When I’m about to head out with my camera, or when I’m traveling up to the north shore on a photography trip I try to keep my brain clear of social media. I’ll listen to good music, read some good poetry (hello, Mary Oliver!), and when I arrive at a location I will oftentimes put the camera away for awhile and take in the full scene around me. What do I see? What don’t I see? I move around the location to take in multiple different angles – it is amazing when you stop, observe, and listen what else you’ll find.
It also helps to remind myself I am not doing this for profit, this is a hobby I am passionate about. Years ago I read the book, “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. She cautioned when you turn a passion into an income source, you may learn to resent it. I fully respect people that do photography for income and I know it can be a wonderful side hustle, that just isn’t for me. My day job and children are demanding enough, I need this to be a creative outlet with zero pressure.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work in tech for a large local corporation, leading a handful of project teams that deliver cutting-edge technology and infrastructure. Every day, I collaborate with incredibly smart engineers and visionary leaders to bring innovative solutions to life. I absolutely love my job and the people I work with, and I’m proud of myself every day for the achievements I’ve had as a woman in tech.
As a creative, I’m also proud that I’ve found a way to weave creativity into my life outside of my day job with photography. When you work in the business world, having a creative outlet helps add a little color to your world. Photography allows me to capture the beauty around me and express myself in ways that my technical work doesn’t always permit. It’s a perfect balance that keeps me inspired and fulfilled.
What matters most to you?
I believe it’s crucial in any career or hobby to articulate why we do what we do. For me, my family is right at the center of my ‘why.’ They are my inspiration and my motivation, driving me to excel in my professional life and pursue my passions.
As a parent, it’s funny how my family can be both my ‘why’ and sometimes my ‘why not.’ Between swimming lessons and playdates, life with kids is incredibly busy, and it can be hard to prioritize yourself. When my oldest was born in 2020, I struggled with postpartum everything, but mainly anxiety. In addition to seeking help from my care team, I realized I needed to work on myself to be fully present for my family.
I began reprioritizing myself, making time to get away with my camera occasionally. This was so important—it helped me rediscover my identity beyond motherhood, and in turn, it made me a better mother.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shadesofthenorth
