Kelly Phillips has been interested in photography since her eighth birthday, when her parents gifted her a Kodak 110 cartridge camera. Like a flash, Kelly was snapping and shooting everything in sight. Anything that caught her eye, or her interest, ended up on film. She often wonders if her parents ever regretted having to develop so much film! But by the end of that first summer, she had photographed friends, flowers, leaves, interesting moss, bark on the trees, and views from her treehouse. “I photographed everything I saw,” says Kelly. “Capturing all the little details of my yard.”
During her high school years, however, photography had to take a back seat to the many after-school activities that kept her busy. She would have loved for her high school to have a photography course, or even a club. It wouldn’t be until after graduation, however, that Kelly was able to dive back into the fascinating art of capturing a moment, an expression, a perspective, or even a detail, then letting the whole world see it through her eyes.
After school, Kelly upgraded to 35mm film cameras and started travelling around the country, attending photography workshops taught by some of the nation’s best. Along this journey, Kelly was not only able to sit offshore at the beach in North Carolina, taking pictures of the wild horses, but she also got to attend a very exciting, fourteen-day intensive seminar at Yellowstone Park!
Though she loves photographing a wide variety of subjects, she found a special place in her heart for doing portraits. The first time she set up to take some initial portraits for her portfolio, she noticed how nervous and vulnerable people can feel in front of the camera. “To be honest,” she admits, “I was nervous too!” Luckily, however, she was working with someone who understood and worked with her through trial and error.
“It’s easy to see when you’re doing the right thing,” she says. After checking the image on the camera after every couple of shots and tweaking what was happening in front of the camera, Kelly quickly learned how to gently encourage her subjects and help them to relax. This became a rare and warm talent, especially when photographing people who are self-conscious about their appearance. There is so much about portraiture, however, that can bring out the most beautiful best in even the shyest subject. Angle, composition, pose, and even lighting are all part of the photographer’s canvas.
Kelly recalls how she felt when one of her subjects saw the image on the camera and began to cry, saying, “is this really me”?
Helping clients overcome camera shyness takes talent, and creating the right mindset is all part of the formula for success. Kelly works with her clients prior to the session, discussing goals, wardrobe choices, and even a playlist for the session. “We talk through what they want to communicate with the photographs,” says Kelly, “and then we go to work. I like when I can help clients look at different poses. I usually demonstrate the pose first and let the client mirror how I’m positioned till they are comfortable, and the pose looks amazing.”
So many rewarding interactions with truly happy and grateful people solidified Kelly’s desire to pursue portrait photography as more than just a hobby or side gig. By this time, she had upgraded again to digital, shooting with a Canon 2D Mark IV.
It was 2011 when Kelly Phillips Photography was officially established, but at this time, Kelly was still dabbling. She recognized that stepping into photography full-time was going to be farther in the future. Most of her work during this period was on-location portrait sessions.
She also began entering her work into contests, winning awards and recognition for portraits selected as Professional Standard by reputable judges in the industry. She has won several landscape contests, and in March of this year, she won no fewer than four Bronze awards for her portraiture from Portrait Masters.
By 2020, however, she was finally ready to take that leap of faith and go full time. Fortunately, her husband, delightfully also named Kelley, is amazing with tools and construction solutions. In just a couple weeks, he was able to convert an available room in their Soapstone Ridge Road home in Floyd into a working photography studio.
The studio, however, is not the only part of the Phillips’ home that gets used for photography. The friendly animals and the beauty of the surroundings are also useful. This is particularly true when young clients come for fun candid photos that utilize the property’s numerous, charming, woodsy paths.
Visitors and clients alike are frequently greeted by a variety of beloved family pets. The wagging tails and curious chickens often elicit a smile when people arrive. Her on-site menagerie can sometimes even play a part in the process of bringing out the best from her subjects.
Kelly provides numerous wardrobe and accessory options and has multiple colors of backdrops to match even the most discriminating palette. She also partners with local salon owners, such as Salon 610 in Check, to provide professional hair and makeup services the day of the session. Many clients have stated that this is an amazing opportunity to do something wonderful for themselves and have often been known to schedule plans with friends or loved ones after the session.
Kelly uses all aspects of a photography session to craft a style for her clients. “In many ways, it’s about mindset,” she says. “If I can help show my client how amazing they look by using different poses, lighting, angles, and wardrobe options, it usually becomes a huge confidence booster. I also show them previews of their images, either on my computer screen or the back of the camera as we go.”
This process, which typically takes up to four hours, has worked time and again, as Kelly aims to capture and present personal style. This can translate to a wide range of audiences and uses. For example, corporate headshots have evolved over the past decade. While the standard studio presentation still exists, many people seek a product that reflects their personal brand. The range of expressions and presentations is endless.
“Some people want to look confident, strong, or stoic. Others strive for an open, friendly vibe. It’s entirely up to them.”
The ultimate objective is that when Kelly’s clients leave the session with their excellent images, they also leave having enjoyed the process. They step out with a greater sense of confidence or, at the very least, they move forward without the dread of future moments when a camera lens might turn their way.
Though Kelly loves her home studio and the opportunities it creates for great photographer/subject teamwork, she is also reaching out and spreading her photography around the community. “I’m now partnering with several local businesses,” she explains, “on everything from corporate headshots to preschool photos.” This means that Kelly can be anywhere in the New River Valley, bringing her distinctive eye and coaching to your doorstep.
One of Kelly’s favorite local business collaborations happens around holidays. Every Christmas, Kelly Phillips Photography partners with Sweet Providence Farm, where families, couples, friend groups, and others enjoy sitting for holiday photographs. Sitters often choose the setting of a much beloved, antique truck prop, but Kelly is flexible to needs. Her sessions for the tree farm typically sell out as early as September, so if you want to capture some perfect memories this year, be sure to keep an eye out early!
Looking ahead, Kelly will be seeking opportunities to do more corporate projects, especially with Floyd small businesses. She loves her community and hopes to foster business success within it. “I’m a small business in Floyd,” she says, “and I want to work with my partner businesses in the community. Floyd is a special place and I know that by capturing the people who are bringing their energy and spirit to this town. I will not only support their work, but also support the community at large.”
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. As an experienced and passionate photographer, Kelly Connoley-Phillips can probably find a thousand ways to capture your story. But the point to focus on is that Kelly will utilize expression, versatility, and professionalism, all while working with you to capture the best possible images. At Kelly Phillips Photography, customers may need photos for business portrait. They might even be corporate and product images. They may even want weddings photos, senior portraits, or pictures for any life event you can imagine. In the end, however, they are your moments, and your magic, captured for all time.
Kelly Phillips Photography • 540-320-9570
KellyPhillipsPhotography@outlook.com
www.KellyPhillipsPhotography.smugmug.com