Meet Kelsey Kaplan | Wedding Photographer & Videographer

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

Hi Kelsey, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve been in art classes pretty much since I could hold a pencil. After discovering that painting, drawing, and pottery weren’t my forte and the science and math route definitely wasn’t my calling, I turned my interest towards video editing and photography. I was instantly hooked, it’s something that came really naturally to me! I learned Photoshop in 7th grade and does anyone remember Windows Movie Marker? Yep. That was my middle school and early high school jam!

I picked up portrait photography in 2015 and wedding photography in 2017 and there just wasn’t a doubt in my mind, that was 100% what I wanted to do as a career. I’ve been obsessed with weddings my whole life and it just made sense to venture into the industry. I love meeting new people, traveling, and bringing out confidence in people, and there’s no better way to do those things than taking photos of them!

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?
My photography style is very timeless with a filmy/vintage touch. I like to keep things as natural as possible and I personally edit each and every photo individually. I have years of experience doing product photography, music photography (Warped Tour anyone?), photographing large groups, boudoir, and now weddings. Learning to photograph in all different situations taught me how to think on my feet, and adjust settings on the fly, all while paying attention to tiny details. These are all things that are absolutely key while photographing weddings and elopements! Learning color correction and having an artistic background has also helped a lot in the process.

I don’t believe in Instagram’s “perfect grid” look. I think all shoots/weddings/events are so different from one another. I don’t want every single photo from one photoshoot or wedding to look identical to another. Finding my own style and putting my personality into my brand is something that’s taken years to accomplish! It is a refreshing feeling to finally feel totally comfortable with my work! There was a lot of trial and error along the way, but following what you’re actually passionate about is what it’s all about!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in New York, Chicago, and Denver, there was definitely a big adjustment when I moved to Durango. Most of my favorite activities are kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, camping, backpacking, jeeping, and generally just exploring! There is a lot more to explore in the SW region of Colorado and the actual breathtaking views make up for the lack of bars and restaurants.

I would start the weekend adventuring around Silverton, depending on the season, snowshoeing is one of my favorite things to do! There are so many cool hot springs in the area too, so a stop at Orvis hot springs would be on the list! 11th Street is a cool spot for dinner with a lot of food truck options and live music!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Honestly, I have to give credit to these following people who have taught me everything I know about photography and have been the best mentors!

Sarah Lupori- https://sarahjaneboudoir.com/
Geoff Lamaze- https://instagram.com/geofflamaze_landscape?utm_medium=copy_link
Edgar Pereyra- https://instagram.com/fundauran?utm_medium=copy_link

Website: https://kelseykaplanphoto.com/

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

Facebook: facebook.com/kelseykaplanphoto