Hey, I’m Kelsey J

I first picked up a camera when I was 10 years old, and had no idea it would shape me into who I am today. Now I’m a commercial photographer, professional model, creative director, PR consultant, and influencer marketer. That’s a lot of titles for one ginger to have, I know, so let me show you how I got here…

01. Early Beginnings

My interest in photography started growing when I took film and advanced digital photography at my small town high school. I remember I’d spend my lunches in the darkroom developing photos. At the same time, I was signed to a modeling agency in San Francisco where I walked in runway shows for the likes of Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors, and where I gained a ton of on-camera experience and landed multiple magazine covers.
02. The First Path

I never thought photography or modeling could ever be a “real job”, so I went to college at UC Davis, graduated in three years with a double major in psychology and communication, and within two weeks of graduation found myself at a desk job at a PR firm. For the next four years, I worked my way up the ladder to the title of PR Manager and began running influencer marketing programs for companies including LEGO, eBay, and the North Face.
03. Chasing Freedom

Something in my life was still missing…I felt like I had done everything in life “right”, but I simply wasn’t happy. I was using all of my free time and calling in sick to go on adventures and take photos, but I realized I didn’t want to live for the weekend anymore. So one day I quit my job, moved out of my apartment, sold all of my things and began living out of a carry-on suitcase traveling the world full time, taking photos and posting them on Instagram hoping it would eventually turn into something. This turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made.
04. Here We Are Today

Since that fateful day, I’ve traveled to 31 countries across 6 continents, grew an online audience to over 500,000, landed photography campaigns with Fortune 500 companies, had my work published in Conde Nast Traveler and the New Yorker, and have seen my work displayed at Art Basel and on a New York Times Billboard. But most importantly, I’d like to think I’ve made 16 year old Kelsey in the high school darkroom proud.

I believe all of these experiences have led me to become the multi-talented creative and digital marketer that I am today.

From marketing campaign strategy to creative production with a unique point of view, I’m passionate about helping brands tell their story in a way that will resonate. Few other “influencers” have experience both on the creative side and on the marketing side of the business, which puts me in a unique position to not only execute campaigns, but help strategically create them. However, my primary goal is to show aspiring photographers that if I can make this career happen, they can too.

I aim to provide not only inspiration, but the education, tools, and community needed to succeed as a full time creative freelancer. Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone finding the ability to pursue their creative dreams, and I hope to be a resource on how to make that happen. To achieve this, I’m speaking at photography conferences, releasing educational content, hosting in person workshops, and offering online courses. And I’m just getting started.