Meet Kelli Janke | Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Kelli, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business was an organic process that happened when others encouraged me to do photography professionally. Last year my son played his first season of competitive baseball. Unbeknownst to us we were in the wrong league and our 7 and 8 year olds were playing larger, older (think 9-10) and more experienced boys. This was, as a mother, very hard to watch. I would pace around the sidelines and cringe as my son was called out when he didn’t make it to first base quick enough and the other team stole base after base. Watching these games was so stressful I decided that I needed a distraction. I had always enjoyed photography and had recently purchased a new camera. So, I decided to bring my camera to the games and take photos of the boys. I shared my images with the other parents and they all raved about how great the photos were and expressed an interest in me doing family photos for them. Many parents encouraged me to start my own business, and I decided why not? I love photography and it makes me feel good to make others happy with my images.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In 2015 we lost our son at 37 weeks. All that I have left of him is memories and photos. As a mother I truly understand the importance of images capturing moments in our lives and helping us remember and cherish our loved ones. To me, photography is more than hanging a photo on the wall or sending out a Christmas card. It is freezing a moment in time; capturing the joys of our families at every stage. The years fly by so quickly and we tend to get wrapped up in the daily minutiae and forget to really be present. Capturing beautiful photos of families, couples and individuals at this very moment in time feels extremely important to me. Something that truly excites and challenges me in photography is capturing true and emotional moments.

I spent years working in the corporate sector and felt very dissatisfied. I am a creative at heart and it took me many years to feel confident enough to share my gift. With the encouragement of my husband and others around me, I finally understood that I do not fit in the corporate world for a reason. I have a lot to offer with my creativity and my past experiences put me in a special position to understand the importance of capturing memories. It has been a long and hard road, but I am so thankful that it has brought me here. If I can bring people joy through my images that means the world to me.

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?
If I had a friend visiting Colorado I would definitely make sure that we spent time in the mountains. I love visiting Steamboat and in particular Strawberry Hot Springs. My things to do in Steamboat include eating at the Creekside Cafe, hiking at Fish Creek Falls and if it’s the winter hitting the slopes at Steamboat Ski Resort.

If we were sticking closer to home I would take them for a drink and dinner at The Burns Pub in Broomfield. Their British inspired food is always amazing and they have an insane amount of whiskey on their menu. I would also probably take them on trip to Boulder. The flatirons are always impressive for out-of-towners and there is so much to do there. One of my favorite places for brunch in Boulder is Lucille’s Creole Cafe. They have delicious food, my favorite is their beignets.

Lastly, I would take my friend to a concert at Red Rocks. It is such an iconic venue and everyone should see a concert there at least once in their lives. It is also one of my favorite spots for photos near Denver – with the red rock formations and foothills views it just can’t be beat.

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?
My biggest cheerleader has always been my husband, Louis. Without his support and encouragement I would not be where I am today. He is the reason I decided to be a photographer. He convinced me that I am good at photography and that I need to share my gift with others.

Website: https://www.kellijankephotography.com

Instagram: @kellijankephotography

Image Credits
All image credits are: Kelli Janke Photography