Meet Carrie Anne Kelly | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carrie Anne Kelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carrie Anne, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks in both your personal life and business is extremely important. It sounds cliche, but without risk, there’s no chance for reward. Without risk, there’s no room to grow. Taking risks is for sure super scary, but the best feeling is when you come out on top. It definitely builds character.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am body-positive photographer that seeks to empower all humans through the photographic experience. I think what sets me a part is that so much of my “why” is directly tied to my own personal struggles / experiences in life, as it relates to body image. I would not be here today, or who I am today, without the things I’ve gone through, and my approach to photography is informed by that entirely. I believe all humans deserve to feel joy in their bodies, and we can learn to do that through the experience of being photographed!

I primarily shoot boudoir and I really focus on shooting through the female gaze because it is so important in the photo industry. By centering my work around the female gaze, I am able to encourage my clients to feel safe and beautiful in their own skin, as they are. My goal is to help break down the stigma that you need to look like or be like x, y, z in order to be photographed professionally. I aim to help folks living in marginalized bodies see themselves, sometimes for the very first time, and appreciate the human in the photograph.

It has not been an easy road to get to where I am at today, but it’s been an enjoyable ride! Nothing that we truly want comes easy and building and owning a business is not easy by any means, especially when it is one that comes from your heart and soul! I just opened up my very own studio and I can say that, as someone that’s been slowly building for years, the wait is worth it!

I’ve learned that trusting the flow of life is incredibly important. What’s meant for you will be yours.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, my day only begins when there is coffee in hand! I live in Oceanside, so we’ll either head to Revolution Roasters or The Cup, two of my favorite Oceanside coffee spots. If you go to Revo, you have to try their fresh baked pastries and their homemade almond milk. If you go to the cup, it’s an Iced Honey Vanilla Latte or bust.

Then, we’re gonna grab breakfast at Beach Break Cafe because, duh. If it’s truly a vacation, then we’re heading straight to the beach after that where we’ll surf, hang out, and maybe grab a late lunch at LTH.

When you’re in Oceanside, you have so many amazing and unique small business to check out and support, as well as incredible restaurants and coffee spots! Ransack, Sea Hive and Captain’s Helm are some of my favorite places to thrift, and the Rising Co. is an amazing local Co Op of local creatives and makers!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people in my life that deserve a shoutout and for different reasons. More currently I need to shoutout my husband, Nick, who has constantly gone along with every risk I’ve ever wanted to take and trusted me 100% of the way.

Website: www.carrieannekelly.com

Instagram: instagram.com/carrieannekelly

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/carrie-anne-kelly-studios-oceanside