Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsie Carlson.
Hi Kelsie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved taking photos. Growing up, I was constantly documenting life-snapping photos of my pets, my siblings, and anything that caught my eye. In high school, I joined the yearbook staff as a photographer, which naturally led to me photographing for a magazine publication on my college campus. That’s really where things started to shift. I began freelancing, working with local models, and just hustling with my camera every chance I got. We were constantly shooting-sometimes for almost nothing-but we were all so passionate about learning and creating. It was such a formative time.
After college, I went straight into photographing anything and everything-events, portraits, brands, products. Over the last 10 years, I’ve realized that what I love most is bringing a vision to life. Whether it’s a personal milestone or a brand’s story, I love collaborating with people to create images that feel intentional, beautiful, and true to them. Every shoot is a new opportunity to create something meaningful-and that’s what keeps me inspired.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road-but that’s part of the story, and I’m proud of it. In the first few years after college, I had to take on other jobs to help support myself while I built up my clientele. I worked as a waitress, a swim teacher, a nanny, and even in retail. It was a lot, and honestly, it was draining. Juggling those roles while trying to pour my energy into photography was tough-especially when all I wanted to do was shoot, talk about photos, and plan creative projects.
There were moments when it felt really far away, like turning this into a full-time career might never happen. But I stayed consistent, kept showing up, and kept creating. And now, I can proudly say I’ve been full-time for five years-and I truly love what I do. The hard seasons made this chapter even more meaningful.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a lifestyle marketing & portrait photographer, and I specialize in creating warm, vibrant, and intentional imagery for brands, businesses, and everyday people. From product shoots to personal milestones, I love collaborating with clients to bring their ideas to life in a way that feels authentic and elevated.
I think what sets me apart is how much I care about the full experience. I’m not just showing up with a camera-I’m involved in the vision, the styling, the location, and making sure my clients feel confident and seen every step of the way. My work blends artistic direction with real-life storytelling, and I think that mix of polish and personality is something clients really connect with.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve built a business that feels true to me-and that my clients trust me to capture what matters most to them. Whether it’s a brand’s launch campaign or someone’s 30th birthday portraits, I pour my heart into it. And the best part is, I genuinely love doing it.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Making up dances with my sister and friends-truly a girlhood experience. We did it all the time, choreographing routines to Hannah Montana, Justin Bieber, High School Musical… all the iconic early 2000s hits. It was so of the times and insanely fun. We’d spend hours perfecting our moves and then make our parents watch our “shows.” It’s one of those core memories that still makes me smile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kelsiecarlson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsieecarlson/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelsieecarlsonphotos
Image Credits
Key Image- photo takem by Crista Ekstrand
Photo of me in Ocean taken by Jessica A.H. Pine
1 photo of me whipping my hair, golding camera wearing brown skirt & 2 photos of me in desert backyard ( one me taking pics & one of me sitting in lounge chair, looking @ canmera): taken by Mallory Thomas
