How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
Mason 8
Wylder 4
What do you love about living in the Sarasota area?
Being close to
the water. We just moved from Winter Park/Maitland (Orlando area)
over the summer so I love walking the bridge with my oldest and the
beautiful views.
What’s your favorite restaurant and place to shop in Sarasota?
I loooove Mexican food so I am a regular at Wicked Cantina as far as
shopping goes, I haven’t adventured out that much past the mall.
Tell us about your career.
I am a photographer. My company is called Mason James
Photography after my first son.
My husband is pretty techy so before Mason was born he bought a
decent camera. Before that I was using a small point and shoot and
sometime a disposable
When Mason was about 18 months old I started teaching myself how
to use this fancy camera, I took a few photography classes and
practiced a lot on my son. I was so fortunate that I had a lot of friends
who trusted me and allowed me to photography and practice on their
families and from there it just took off growing past my wildest
dreams.
What do you love about your career?
I love meeting new families and the relationships I have grown with
the families I see every year. Photography also allowed me to catch
up with friends as I was taking their photos that I didn’t see as often
as I would have liked to.
I love that I am capturing special moments these families will treasure
for years and be able to look back on and remember these times in
their kids lives. They grow up way too fast so the fact that a photo I
have taken can “freeze” time for someone excites me.
What are some of your hobbies?
I workout regularly for my mental, love shopping , date nights and
girls nights.
How do you juggle work and motherhood?
This is something I have struggled with since starting my business. It
is hard! I always know that the fall months are going to be my
craziest, and my family knows during those months I am either at a
photoshoot or editing most of my days.
I will say, as the years have gone by, I have gotten my process down
and everything goes a little more quickly than it did in the beginning,
but for the most part if kids are sleeping or in school I am at my
computer. I struggle with “slowing down” or “taking in the moments”
so I have had to force myself to slow down at bed time, take some
deep breaths, read to my kids, talk about their days, and try to put out
of my mind what is waiting for me at the computer when I am done.
Just relaxing and not rushing through the bedtime routine gives me
piece of mind that even in my craziest of days I have connected with
my kids.
Photography is sooo word of mouth, so since moving here, where I
don’t know that many people, it has forced me to show down and find
a little more balance.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received from another mom?
Not to feel guilty for trying to fill my bucket. If momma is happy the
whole house is happier!
Learn more or book a session with Kelly here!
