Meet Kelsey Berlinberg | Owner, Forevergreen Photography

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

Hi Kelsey, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is the million dollar question for everyone right now, especially in a post-quarantine world. I work full time while doing photography part time, so I struggle with this every day. Before COVID, I was a workaholic. I didn’t start my photography business until COVID hit, but even before I started my business I was consistently working full time while going to school part time, or working a part time job because I liked to stay busy. I didn’t even need the money, I just thought that’s what adults should do – work as much as possible. When the world shut down, I had so much free time on my hands and I didn’t know what to do with myself so I created a photography business. What’s interesting is after working for myself in my business, I am much more strict about my work life balance. If have a long day at my full time job, I will refrain from doing any work for my business if I don’t have to. I have found that being my own boss with my business has really empowered me to take a day off if I need it. This isn’t always possible, but I try to listen to my body and my mind to keep things as in balance as possible. I am extremely ambitious, so I tend to work myself into the ground then I am burned out for weeks on end, and get nothing done. So taking days off here and there when I normally wouldn’t helps prevent that burnout and keeps me more productive consistently over time.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I have been shooting photography for 15 years, I started out in the darkroom and learned the analog film process. I eventually moved into digital photography, and I think my experience using film photography is what sets me apart from others. When you shoot analog, you have no choice but to get the shot right the first time. Film is expensive, and your settings need to be accurate otherwise you are just throwing money down the drain. I really honed my craft in the analog world. I have taken these technical skills over to digital photography, which was a pretty easy transition but now I’m relying too much on the digital aspect of photography knowing I can retake a photo on demand. Personally, I need a good balance of film photography and digital, to keep those skills sharp. This translates really well into my business because I can focus on the client experience during a session as well as posing rather than worrying about my settings because the exposure triangle is second nature to me. I’m really focusing on providing the best client experience in my business, and creating a sense of luxury for my clients during their sessions and while working with me. Providing a high-end and crafted experience where clients needs are met every step of the way really excites me! Luckily I don’t have to worry about the basics which allows me to focus exclusively on my clients. I’m really focusing on handling everything so my clients with newborns and young children don’t have to lift a finger or worry about a thing. It’s time for me to take care of them, and for them to relax for once!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a fun question, I would start with the nature and beauty of Colorado. I grew up right near Red Rocks, so that’s where I would go first. In high school we used to stay up to watch the sun rise at Red Rocks (and also run the stairs for sports practice!) so that would be a go-to for sure. It is totally worth the early wake up call for the sunrise, maybe not for running the stairs. Then hanging out in the foothills around Red Rocks, or somewhere up in the mountains for a gorgeous view and some good hiking. My other favorite place is the Highlands and more specifically Tennyson Street, mainly because I live there and I’m biased. Tennyson Street is changing so frequently, but they have some awesome coffee shops, restaurants, and stores to explore. My favorite coffee spot is Tennyson Street Coffee, I love Hops & Pie for some great pizza, or Mas Kaos for delicious tacos. Inspyre is one of my favorite stores down there, I could spend all my money there! Some other places I love exploring are mountain towns to photograph like Idaho Springs, Breckenridge, or really anywhere with a super cute downtown and some great street photography like Downtown Louisville! I also love Olde Town Arvada, there are some great restaurants there!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Colorado photography community! But more specifically, Taylor Jones Photography and her mentorship program. I invested in a mentor early on in my business and it was the greatest decision I ever made. It connected me with other photographers who are now my biggest support system, and showed me what the possibilities are for my business along with the exact steps I need to take to get to where I want to go. Taylors coaching program was the perfect start to my business journey. She opened up the Colorado photography community to me, focusing on community over competition which is so important in our profession. After working with Taylor, I found my way to Jenni Maroney, her 1 on 1 coaching program was amazing for opening my eyes to all of the possibilities in my business to streamline my processes and make my workflows as efficient as possible. She is so knowledgeable on the fastest ways to do basically everything, and was such a great open book that took my business to the next level. Every photographer I have met along the way has been welcoming, super friendly, and a great resource which I really appreciate.

Website: www.forevergreenphotography.com

Instagram: @forevergreen_photography

Facebook: @forevergreen_photo

Image Credits
the headshot of me with the camera, credit goes to Valerie Rae Photography