Hi! Kensey here! If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I’m a pretty open book. I share freely and believe in vulnerability in challenging and victorious times. If you’re just joining us, I’d love to share with you some things about myself that make this business what it is (one of a kind)! If you’ve been a part of the tribe for a bit, you may not know some of this, so read on, my friends. Let’s jump in!

01.

I began my journey with photography when I was just eight years old. At the time, I didn’t know how significant it would become, but it served as a much-needed tool of expression at that age. My dad passed suddenly when I was seven years old. That event in my life caused me to seek greater meaning in life and everyday “normal” things, so I picked up a camera and started viewing things through a lens. I would frame things in unconventional ways, use vibrant colors or deep monochrome to express what was on my heart.

For the next decade, I would use the camera on and off as I focused on school and my passion for rodeo. I took some photography courses in high school and decided I wanted to be an ariel photographer for the USAF. I enrolled in AFROTC in college and took more photography courses.

While the path I ended up on was the scenic one, I eventually found my way back to home base with a whole lot of life experience. After getting my license in cosmetology and then becoming a registered nurse, I realized years later that my true calling had been there all along. So, I took the leap to build my own photography business in November of 2021 and I couldn’t be happier with my profession. It’s highly unlikely I’ll ever fully retire.

02.

You probably already know I’m a Gemini, but what you may not know is that it’s a huge part of my business. Geminis are most commonly known for our “twin” nature of having distinct sides to our characters. Like the movie Split, just 99% less psychotic. For a while, it was really challenging to figure out what my business was going to look like. I didn’t fully figure it out until very recently. I tried on a lot of shoes… luxury market, adventurer market, the dog people, you name it. Then it dawned on me that I can serve all of those markets because, well, Gemini. So, this post is in celebration of the time I finally figured it out (which is now, we’re in it).

My business isn’t a replica of any other business. It’s not a carbon copy of my idols’ businesses or a cookie-cutter model that I derived from some online template. This business is, in essence, a Gemini. It’s adaptable, diverse, and fun.

Colin Bedell, author of Zodiac Signs: Gemini, says “we make people feel less alone because we are the twins. So we mirror other people’s experiences and understand the emotion that underpins that experience, which is what inspires people to feel less disengaged.” Whoa. So, basically, my business and I have mastered our zodiac sign and I’ve become a hardcore hippie. But, in a nutshell, my business is based on creating an experience based on what makes that individual or couple happy. No cookie cutters here.

Fun fact: my brother, my son, and I are ALL Geminis! Yes, holidays are entertaining.

03.

I’m an Enneagram 8. Yep… the controlling one. But this can be really good news! I’m also protective, resourceful, and decisive, which is really beneficial on wedding day. Oh and that willpower and vitality come in handy for the 60-hour work weeks with a 12-hour wedding tacked on the weekend! Enneagram eights are also known for being a little rebellious, fighting the status quo, and being industrious. So throw a problem at us and we’ll likely solve it alone and in a way that may be a little unconventional, but gets the job done. Self-aware eights are able to channel their controlling energy into more productive things, like controlling their own work schedule, goals, or financials in unique ways.

I’ll be honest, I’m pretty new to the Enneagram thing, but it’s fascinating! Feel free to reach out with more info on eights – I’m all ears!

04.

Life is rarely a cakewalk for anyone. I’ve been lucky enough to come out the other side rather unscathed. In February of 2022, we lost my son’s father, Tom. Two weeks later, I got married to my fiancé. And by February of 2023, I’ll be divorced. This year has been BRUTAL. We also tragically lost an aunt, had a horrible time with a severe leg injury with my dog, Tellulah, after a dog fight, all while trying to get my business off the ground in its first year. Whew.

While some truly heartbreaking and challenging events have happened this year, I believe, in my core, that my son and I have become stronger and better people for it. I’ve explored deeper purposes in my life, learned how to be a better mother for Truett, adapted to living life independently, learned how to suffer with grace, and allowed myself to be present and feel everything that has happened. I’ve learned how to endure suffering with a positive attitude and pick myself up when days are hard. I’ve learned to work through it, instead of going around it or avoiding it entirely. We only get one of these lives, so I’ve opted into living it like I mean it.

So no sad stuff here! We’re pushing forward with all our strength and always see and appreciate our tribe’s unending love and support.

05.

Let’s end this on a happy note after that rough bit. Let’s go with … kittens! We recently rescued two ADORABLE, heart-melting, snuggly little kittens. The plan was to get one, but then I couldn’t resist. So, we now have Miko, Murphy, and Millie, plus Tellulah the goldendoodle and Paxton the mutt. We don’t have a problem with pet hair at aaallll. Miko is our one-year-old tabby cat that has now been blessed with the nickname Big Papa because he’s massive compared to the kittens. He wandered into our driveway last year and has hung around since. Murphy, who is named after Ryan Murphy (yes I’m a horror buff) is a dilute orange tabby that has a face strikingly similar to that of Max from the Max and Ruby cartoon. Finally, Millie, named after Game of Thrones’ Melisandre is a dilute long-haired calico and she is, by far, the cutest little creature this earth has ever seen. She also likes to stare at fire, hence the name.

OKAY! That’s a wrap. I haven’t done a post like this in a hot minute, so I had to shake the dust off, but I’m glad I did it.

XO,

Kensey