Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kindness.
David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
David grew up in Seattle, Washington, and moved to San Diego to attend college at Point Loma Nazarene University. After graduating with a degree in accounting in 2016, he built a successful career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), helping individuals and businesses manage their accounting, finances, and taxes. During this time, he developed a deep understanding of the world of finance, but he always had an interest in another career: photography.
Photography has been a passion of David’s since he picked up his first real camera in 2016. Over time, he realized he wanted more than the stability of his accounting career—he wanted to build a life that combined his analytical mind with his artistic spirit. So in mid-2020, he took a bold step, transitioning from senior accountant to professional photographer and videographer, while also using his CPA experience to carve out a niche as a personal finance writer and editor. Today, he thrives at the intersection of creativity and practicality, offering a unique blend of services that reflect his diverse skill set.
As a photographer and videographer, David specializes in storytelling through visuals. Through his photography brand, Type1wild (www.type1wild.com), he creates captivating lifestyle imagery that tells the stories of businesses changing the world every day. He creates compelling branding content, lifestyle imagery, product photos, videos that tell stories, and more, helping small businesses connect with their audiences.
Alongside his creative work, David writes and edits personal finance content for online publications including Investopedia, The Balance, OnPay, Best Money, Techopedia, Expert Market, and more. He also runs his own financial publication called Your Creative CPA (www.yourcreativecpa.co), designed to help creatives navigate the world of finance, business, taxes, accounting, budgeting, and more. David’s writing draws on his accounting expertise to provide clear, actionable financial advice that resonates with readers because it’s both practical and relatable, offering guidance on a wide range of topics. If you’ve searched for answers to financial questions, you’ve probably read his work.
David’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 15, he learned early on to approach life with calmness and adaptability—qualities that have served him well in his entrepreneurial career. While his condition is a part of his story, it’s his personal and professional accomplishments that define him today. Whether he’s behind the camera, at his desk crafting an article, or consulting with a client on their financial goals, David brings a rare combination of creativity and practicality to everything he does. His career is a testament to the power of reinvention and the beauty of building a life that embraces all of one’s passions. Through his work, he inspires others to pursue their own unique paths, proving that it’s possible to create a career as dynamic and multifaceted as the life you dream of living.
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?
David has faced his share of challenges. At age 15, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes seemingly out of nowhere. The lessons he learned from this diagnosis shaped both his personal and professional life. Similarly, starting a business is never a completely smooth process. From developing your unique style, to branding, to social media, to finding clients, to negotiating payments, to collecting accounts receivable, there is a lot to get right – and a lot that can go wrong. Income can fluctuate, clients can come and go, and your brand will change over time. While building both Type1wild and Your Creative CPA, David experienced many of these challenges and worked hard to overcome them while building successful and meaningful brands.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Type1wild and Your Creative CPA?
I’m grateful to run two small businesses: Type1wild and Your Creative CPA. I founded Type1wild in 2020 and it specializes in creating captivating stories through photography and videography for business clients. I founded Your Creative CPA in 2024 and it focuses on providing financial wisdom for creatives, by creatives.
I’m very proud of both businesses – I love creating high-quality photos and videos for clients with Type1wild – but I’m most excited about Your Creative CPA for its ability to support creatives around the world. There are a number of financial publications on the market, but Your Creative CPA is different because its content is designed to share business, tax, accounting, investing, budgeting, and other similar advice that is specifically relevant to artists of all kinds: painters, musicians, photographers, videographers, designers, architects, Youtubers, and more.
Not only am I proud of Your Creative CPA’s mission, but I am also proud of the brand itself – the logo, colors, design elements, and website. It took a ton of time, energy, and love to create, and I feel that the name, website, and branding fully represent the artists it’s meant to support. I’m excited to continue producing valuable content that helps creatives build their businesses and achieve financial success from their art and creativity. Articles, guides, and resources for creatives are available on the www.yourcreativecpa.co website, and helpful content is being shared on Instagram @yourcreativecpa as well.
As a photographer and videographer for the last 5 years, Your Creative CPA is the financial publication I would need while building a creative business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yourcreativecpa.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/type1wild/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkindness/
- Other: https://www.type1wild.com/
