Lending a Helping Hand this Season

This is kelly. She is a photographer I did a little Q & A with Kelly earlier this week to help you get to know her better. Enjoy!

Me: What prompted you to start your own photography business?

Kelly: Ever since I was a little girl, art has been my passion. I was always saying I would be an artist when I grew up…little did I know that would actually happen. I took a photography class in high school and instantly fell in love with the medium. To be honest, photography is the only thing that got me into college. I had no plans of going to college or what I would study until my mom told me I could go and study photography. Perfect I thought! I originally planned on going to Antonelli College, but my mom found out about the University of Cincinnati’s Design Architecture, Art, & Planning (DAAP) and urged me to apply. I didn’t think there was any chance I would make it in because I was late getting in my application and I didn’t have a portfolio to turn in at all. When I received my acceptance letter I knew it must be meant to be. Going through DAAP only deepened my love for photography, but when I graduated, I wasn’t quite sure how my passion would play out into a career.

I spent a couple of years after college working with individuals with special needs. During that time, I did a photo shoot with Julie (one of the girls I used to work with who has down syndrome). Julie’s mom loved the pictures so much and she was actually the one who put the idea of staring my own photography business into my head. She said I would have such a niche photographing individuals with special needs because not only do I have the photography experience, I also have personal and professional experience working with special needs individuals. I researched and planned and about 6 months later Daphne Photo Studio was launched.

Me: Its cool that you are donating your talent to a worthy cause. What else do you plan on doing to lend a helping hand in the future?

Kelly: Well as I mentioned before, I used to work with individuals with special needs and that is another one of my passions. I would love to somehow turn my business into a non profit organization devoted solely to photographing special needs individuals & raising awareness for the different diseases & challenges in the field. I also would love to give away photo shoots all throughout the year – not just at Christmas.

Me: What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Kelly: One thing that I have always enjoyed happens on Christmas Eve. My dad’s side of the family is Norwegian and my grandparents take a lot of pride in that. My grandpa always brings Lefse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefse) for Christmas Eve dinner and it is delicious! I will also say that I love the additional family gatherings that I get to go to now that I’m married. I am very blessed to have married into such a wonderful family and I have really enjoyed creating new traditions over the last couple of years.

Me: Am I your favorite friend???

Kelly: Sorry to let you down dude, but I have to say that Opie is my favorite friend 😉

Me: Dang… well I have to admit Opie is pretty cool. Ok last question,
What is your favorite kind of cookie?

Kelly: I am honestly not much of a cookie person. I do enjoy chocolate chip cookies (only if they are soft) & Oreos are always good.

Me: Thanks for doing the interview and if you ever want to invite me over for homemade cookies… I will be there!

Kelly: Your welcome… and as far as inviting you over for cookies, I will have to think about it. 😉

The pictures below are taken by Kelly when we went to the freestore foodbank

This is Jen Emerson… she is the most organized person I know, so its natural that she would love this job!

Kelly Firesheets, taken a break to pose for the camera. She also has the coolest last name around.

I have worked in warehouses all my life so I felt right at home.

Mike Firesheets and Josh Emerson sorting the bad food out.

Bill Folop the coolest guy around!

Check out the freestore foodbank and read about what they are doing to make difference. The reason I liked them is because they just don’t care about feeding people and sending them out the door. If they see repeat people they will sit down and talk with them and try to figure out what is really going on with that person/family.

One of the programs they do is they train people who don’t have jobs on how to cook. For the class they have to make meals to practice what they are learning. Those meals go to needy kids who often times go to bed hungry. Pretty cool if you ask me.

The End