Meet Kelsey Bauchle | Photographer + Creative

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

Hi Kelsey, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I’ve owned my business through so many different stages of life and I’ve come to find how I view my work life balance changes depending on what season I’m in.

I started my business the same year I graduated college (2010) without knowing a single thing about what it meant to be an entrepreneur. I had taken a Photoshop course my Senior year of college right after I bought my first camera and instantly fell in love with the creative process of taking photos. I had a professor who let me tag along to a wedding they were shooting just to get a feel for what it was like and everything clicked. I knew I had to keep shooting and the obvious first step was creating my business.

As a 22 year old single woman, I considered a healthy work life balance to look like weekdays spent at my corporate job, evenings spent editing at my computer and weekends photographing as many shoots as I could as well as keeping up a very outgoing social life. I was very satisfied with how I was balancing it all.

As I got older, I began to notice a shift. I was in a serious relationship and was still working full time for my corporate job as well as my photo business. I found myself constantly daydreaming at my corporate job. I’d plan photoshoots and secretly try to create my website when the boss wasn’t around. I started to lose the happy balance I could keep up in my early 20’s and began to wonder if it was time to go full time with photography.

After my husband and I got married, we made the decision pretty quickly that I would leave the corporate world and try my hand at full time entrepreneurship. A healthy work life balance looked a lot different than it did in my early 20’s. I was more focused on my marriage than I was on a social life and got to dig deep into my photography business without the restraints of a corporate job. I considered my work life balance healthy if I got to work for at least 8 hours a day and then spend my nights cooking and eating with my husband and enjoying our nights out with friends.

I’m nearly 37 now and I have two children and still do photography full time. My version of a healthy work life balance, once again, looks completely different than it did in my early 30’s. I consider my work life balanced when I can get 2-3 hours of work in a day and then spend as much time with my 3 and 2 year old as I can.

In a few years, they’ll both be in school and I can dedicate much more time to my photography business and I know a healthy work life balance will look completely different than it does right now.

The most important thing to remember is that it’s ok for the definition of healthy work life balance to change over time because life changes and priorities shift. I definitely get it wrong and have days where the balance feels completely off, but reminding myself that it’s just a season helps me to push through and find that happy balance once again.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Hot take: I’m not sure there is anything dramatic that sets me apart from others. I am not unique or special and am certainly not doing something that someone else isn’t already doing. In the photography world, we’re mostly copycats. Not so say we rip off other photographers poses or websites or verbiage verbatim, but there is always overlap. We are inspired by one another and our work, however beautiful or poetic, has been done before.

I have been in business for nearly 14 years and it has been anything but linear. Pinterest had just come out and there really wasn’t any social media to promote creative work (at least not like there is today) when I started. I’ve run my business part-time and full-time and sometimes not-at-all-time because of the different priorities in life (hello, small children). I’ve learned to lean on my “Why” in difficult times and remind myself that the current season of life is just that – a season.

When it comes to my photography, I am a collector, not a director. I am not shouting out poses or trying to force an epic scene to happen. I’m merely collecting motions that happen naturally while guiding my clients into a place that is going to look so beautiful on camera. I open myself up to accidental moments, keeping myself in the flow of how a family or couple interacts with one another. I trust my intuition and that translates to my clients trusting 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?
I currently live in Indianapolis, IN and absolutely love it here. It has quintessential Midwest vibes with a small flare of big city living. The entire downtown area is walkable – you can get from Lucas Oil to Victory Field to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in mere minutes, even faster if you’re on a scooter.

If my best friend was visiting this summer, we’d absolutely have to go to an Indians baseball game. They have these nights called “Bark in the Park” where you get to bring your dog to the game and I honestly can’t think of anything more wholesome.

We would have to hit up my favorite coffee shop, Calvin Fletcher Coffee. The Dirty Iced Chai is hands down the greatest drink in the city.

A walk along the canal is always a great idea. It’s nearly 3 miles around and covers so many great parts of the city. There are cafes along the way and paddle boats to rent, making it a must-do!

Mass Ave is great for a day of drinking and eating and shopping. Garden Table would be the first stop for brunch and then dinner at Livery on their rooftop patio. We’d make sure to get the cauliflower dish and the carriage house margarita!

I really love hanging out at The Dugout in Fountain Square, especially if the Pacers are playing! If the Colts are playing, we’re absolutely going to the Hangar downtown for drinks and pizza before the game.

The city is filled with a ton of family friendly places too, like the Children’s Museum and the Indy Zoo! We get passes every year and never regret it. There are also a few splash pads around town for the kids.

If we’re feeling athletic, we can ride our bikes up the Monon up to Broad Ripple for some incredible food at Public Greens.

We could end the week going to a concert at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park and maybe be able to catch the fireworks at the end of the Indians Game across the street!

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 would like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband and my mom. To Chris – your daily support and encouragement pushes me to work harder and fight for my dreams. I would not be able to do what I love if it weren’t for your unwavering faith in me. To mom – seeing you pursuing your artistic career at this point in your life is the most inspiring thing. You had a dream and went for it full steam ahead. You are the definition of a dream-chaser and I can’t wait to be like you someday.

Website: https://www.kelseybauchle.com

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Image Credits
Kelsey Bauchle Photo