Today we’d like to introduce you to Keely Dayen.
Hi Keely, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My photography story began with my love for people and life in general. I was in high school when I bought my first digital camera. You could always find me taking pictures of my friends and our crazy adventures and decorating my walls, binders and “Myspace” with all of the evidence. This hobby of capturing life in pictures continued into my military career where I documented all of the beautiful places the Navy took me and the beautiful people I was able to experience them with. I sincerely believe you can re-live and re-feel emotion through a picture and I love the way photography has done that for me.
What started as a hobby however, truly ignited into a passion nine years ago when my daughter was born. I became inspired to capture all of the sweet candid moments and every fleeting milestone in between. Today, I am so honored and blessed to be sharing this passion with the world as I capture life’s special moments and experiences for others!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh man! The struggle has been real… but the best things in life never come easy! Being a creative mother of three, working part time and going to nursing school, all at the same time has definitely not been a walk in the park. Luckily, more and more wineries are poppin’ up all over San Diego, and there is nothing a nice glass of Pinot and a whole pizza to myself can’t fix. Just kidding…(sort of ) tacos and margaritas work too.
On a more serious note, finding the time to be creative and do what I love behind a camera has been one of my bigger challenges. I did take time this last year however, to invest in myself and my business more and I’ve loved every minute. My first real branding project is actually scheduled to be finished by the end of this month and I’m thrilled for it. I know life can be overwhelming and very busy at times, but it’s so important to make and manage our time to include the activities we thrive on. Photography has been that escape for me, and what a blessing to be able to call it my job!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a photographer specializing in wedding, couples and boudoir photography. I am well known for my wedding photography but I am BEST known for shooting boudoir. Part of what makes me so reputable and sets me apart (in boudoir photography especially) is my ability to help people feel comfortable when they would normally feel most vulnerable. Boudoir photography is such an intimate yet empowering art. My ability to use this form of artwork to help people heal, build self-confidence, appreciate their own bodies, and find love and beauty in themselves, is something I’m pretty dang proud of.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
One of my favorite past times is driving all over beautiful San Diego scouting for scenic locations to take photographs. My family and I did a lot of road tripping and camping throughout the U.S. when I was younger, which sparked my love for nature and traveling.
Growing up, I would not exactly compare my story to the ugly duckling because that would imply some sort of majestical “glow up” and I am still waiting on that part to happen. Jokes aside, I definitely was not the most photogenic child. This is the reason I feel most comfortable behind the camera. Relying primarily on personality throughout my youth, I was a complete goofball growing up. I never took life too seriously and I loved to make people laugh. Not much has changed in that department— now I just like to make them laugh in front of my camera. I have a good understanding that most people are not exactly comfortable taking pictures, so bringing out the candid silly moments with my clients are my favorite ones to capture.
Pricing:
- Wedding Packages start at – $1200
- Couples/ Engagements start at – $300
- Boudoir Photography starts at -$400
Contact Info:
- Email: keelyjeanphotography@outlook.com
- Instagram: @Keelyjeanphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/keelyjean.photos
Image Credits
Keely Jean Photography
