Meet Kennedi Dutson | Photographer & University Student

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

Hi Kennedi, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Oh my, I think the idea of “risk” is so insanely important to talk about when it comes to your career, especially when you are your own boss. The whole idea of creating a business is a risk, and its scary, but oh boy, is it so worth it. I am currently finishing up my second year at Southern Utah University. During my first year here I went on to pursue a music education degree, wanting to give back and show band kids what it is like to have a safe place and home away from home during high school. However, my first year of university was also my first year of pursuing photography, so I didn’t know that I was going to fall in love with it like I did. Throughout the year I was pursuing music, I was extremely unhappy. I slowly started to realize that music wasn’t meant to be my life anymore, and this feeling changed, and photography started to replace it. I fell in love with photography quickly, but going from one degree that had a for sure job in the future to a degree that I was rather new to and wouldn’t give me a stable job is a bit tricky. However, I kept on battling it back and forth throughout the school year; my peers, friends, and family kept on telling me to do what made me happy. But since music was such a huge part of my life up until that point, they were all steering me in the direction of pursuing a music career, especially my father. Fast forward to the beginning of my second year at my university, I decided to ignore everyone and just full send the jump and switch degrees, where I switched into something that I had only been pursuing for a year and a half. When my father passed away that summer, I realized that life is way too short to not take that risk for something that you know deep down in your heart is the right choice. If it is meant to be, your mind, body, and soul will show and tell you that you need to take that risk.

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.
Being a creative isn’t easy—it takes hard work, countless hours outside an already busy schedule, dedication, and sometimes sacrificing time with friends to finish a project. People often don’t realize the amount of time and money it takes to be a photographer. It’s an investment in gear, education, and experience, but it’s also an investment in figuring out the best way to tell a story and capture a moment and freeze it in time.

I’m a photographer who prioritizes collaboration with my clients. My goal is to create an experience they will remember forever while bringing their dream vision to life—only better than they ever imagined. It’s not just about taking photos; it’s about crafting memories, ensuring comfort, and building a connection that allows their personality to shine through in every image.

I’ve only been in the industry for two years, so I’m still relatively new. Currently, I’m a photography student at Southern Utah University, where the focus is on traditional methods of photography. Through my studies, I’ve developed a deep love for film, especially the intricate, chaotic beauty of darkroom processing. There’s something special about experimenting with exposure techniques, embracing the unpredictability, and slowing down to truly think through each shot. While I love the creative flexibility of digital photography, I’m obsessed with the patience, thought process, and outside-the-box thinking required in the darkroom. I hope to eventually have my own darkroom where I can create prints for my clients as well as sell these chaotic scrapbook styled images.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a photographer is that not everyone will love your work—and that’s okay. There will always be that one person out there who has been searching for someone with your unique photographic style and personality. Photography is about connection, and finding the right clients who truly appreciate your vision makes all the difference.

Another important lesson is that it’s all about **community over competition**. The art world can feel overwhelming, making you think you have to outshine everyone else to succeed. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Building friendships within the creative community leads to inspiration, collaboration, and growth—not just as an artist, but as a person. The connections you make will push you to become better, open new opportunities, and remind you why you fell in love with photography in the first place.

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 currently live in Southern Utah so I would say that you need to drive over to torrey and experience captiol reef. From a recent adventure out to captiol reef i have realized that everyone has been gatekeeping how extraordinary the place is, its like stepping foot onto another planet. However, places to eat and much at would be Bunnisas, Mixers for a good utah beverage, Pizza Lemonion, any Pho place in st George, and super chicks. We would go explore pine valley, chill and see the views at dixie rock, have a good little bonfire out in the desert, a picnic at sand hollow, and just drive and frolic through the Cedar City Mountains.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The reason I even jumped into the photography world is because of my cousin Althea Shamo. Althea was a wedding photographer when I started my business, and she told me that I had an eye for it and that I should consider trying it out. However, I wouldn’t be where I am today with my family and close friends, as well as all of the amazing photographers that I have met throughout this past year, you are all truly amazing. My peers and professors have helped shape the trajectory of where I want to take my business moving forward, and I am extremely grateful for that and all of these beautiful opportunities I have been granted in this life. Finally, I would also like to shout out everybody in my life who has continued to show their support in pursuing my dream.

Website: currently in the works of being finished

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennedibrookephotography/

Other: tik tok: @kennedi.brooke

Image Credits
all of the images are photographed and edited by me, kennedi dutson (kennedibrookephotography)