We had the good fortune of connecting with Kylie Clarke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kylie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I love this question. The word, risk, to me, is another word for opportunity. So many times in my life, colleagues have asked me, “But what if they say no or turn you down?” The way I see it is if I try and succeed, then I’ve accomplished my goal, and if I don’t succeed, then I’ve also accomplished my goal. Even if I “fail” terribly, I still benefit because I learned where I need to improve. In other circumstances, like starting my own photography business, I never saw it as a risk because I knew that no matter what I’d be taking pictures anyway. Overall, a risk is only a risk if you feel like you could lose something. I always feel like I’m gaining and learning even if I “fail.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love all things creative! Specifically, I am drawn to photography and graphic design. I love portrait photography because you get to work with people and capture their personalities in one moment! That’s a pretty cool thing if you can show who they are visually in just one shot alone. I also love designing beautiful layouts, patterns, and more! There’s just so much you can do with graphic design. Today, I am a freelance photographer and a full-time graphic designer for ALOHA Collection. The journey to freelance and full-time was unpredictable, uncertain, and definitely challenging. When I am most worried, I take a breath and remind myself to have faith in my abilities and work hard towards my goals without any restrictions. Along the way, I’ve learned to stay positive, spread the wealth, and always pay it forward. My story is simple. I am a passionate creative who found inspiration in the outdoors. In 2014, I picked up my camera to take pictures of my friends climbing at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and dove headfirst into photography. Since then, my passion for creative outlets has only grown stronger. I take pride in creating real longlasting relationships with the people I work with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d say visit all of the beaches! But if I had to choose two, Sunset Cliffs and Coronado’s beaches are stunning to visit! While in Coronado, I’d suggest renting a bike and riding all over the island or hopping on paddleboards to explore the bay. After, enjoy the drive down the Silver Strand to Meijo Sushi for the best sushi in San Diego! They’re also super fast! For the remainder of the week, my favorite spots to hang out include South Park and North Park. South Park has the cutest boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and places to grab drinks such as the vegan cocktail bar, Kindred, and the wine bar, The Rose. In North Park, there are few places to visit as well. Stop by Polite Provisions then grab a gelato after at An’s Laundry. There’s so much to do in San Diego, it’s hard to go wrong.

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?
I’d like to recognize Kris Angel at Hopscotch Labs, one of my mentors, previous instructors, and friend, for always encouraging me to go for it all and stop for ice cream along the way. I’d like to shoutout @its.just.l for supporting my passion for photography, pushing me to shoot more, and always being a great inspiration. Big thanks to Kai Diaz the co-owner of Ironsmith Coffee Co. for recognizing my talent and for always being a helping hand. Lastly, HUGE Shoutout to the climbing community here in San Diego, specifically, to the staff at Vertical Hold for being so supportive as my talent grew over the years. There are so many people that I am thankful for, these are the first that come to mind. Also, a big thank you to Leaf Photography for shouting me out in the first place.

Website: kylieclarke.com
Email: kylieaclarke@gmail.com
Instagram: @kylieclarke_photography
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylie-a-clarke-358982140/

Image Credits
Portrait of Kylie Clarke by Elmond Davantes or @el_mundo. All other photos are my own @kylieclarke_photography.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.