Meet Phyllis Keenan | Photographer, Writer and Multimedia Artist

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

Hi Phyllis, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I was in my late twenties and early thirties, I remember trying to cover up the fact that I had children when I was interviewing for a job. I kept them in the “closet” so to speak, believing that having kids would impede my chances of getting hired or of being taken seriously. How sad is that?

When I was 28 years old, a year after my last child was born, I started my own freelance photography business. It offered me the ability to make my own schedule, work on weekends and care for the kids during the week. I called the shots, and it enabled me to take my girls to school events, piano lessons and playdates. I operated my studio out of a tiny little house and when clients came over to interview me, my family hid upstairs. Often, you could hear the children thumping around or jumping on the beds. Needless to say, I had some pretty understanding clients!

When I entered the corporate world years later, I observed female employees who were beginning their families and trying to keep up with the work demands of the corporate machine. Many of these women were high level scientists with demanding positions. I felt so grateful that I had some flexible years with my young children. I was able to work, build my skills and run a business, which eventually sustained us when I went through a divorce.

Thankfully, times have changed, and many companies work hard to retain women by enacting better HR policies. I worked on the “Best Places to Work for Women” initiative in my corporate job and witnessed this evolution. We were ahead of the curve and were listening to what women had to say about balancing their real life with demanding careers.

Recently, Covid upended the status quo and changed the world. Gone were the long commutes, dress codes and outside office activities. These days, we can throw in a load of laundry and jump on a Teams call while the wash cycles.

With that said, work life balance is a matter of weighing your values and priorities if you have that privilege. I have two college degrees and have worked two jobs simultaneously while raising my children alone.

Did I do it all at once? Of course not! You can have it all, but not all at once. There are seasons of life, and you make choices. If you chase perfection, you’ll spin on the hamster wheel. My real life is not always balanced, but I have learned to embrace the crazy and unknown. Most days, I move towards my goals one baby step at a time. At the end of the day, at the end of a life, the seasons and baby steps emerge, and something has wonderful has been accomplished.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a storyteller, photographer, writer and multimedia artist. I am proud that I have been able to capture so many memories for people to treasure. When I go into someones home and see my artwork, be it a sculpture or a photograph, I know I have made a difference in their everyday lives.

Being a creative is not easy, but I have always been a good business woman. I kept very high standards and learned not to sell myself short or give away my photography for free. More value is put on something we have to pay a fair price for. I always went for clients who understand the creative process and what it entails.

For the most part, you have to follow your heart and chase your passions. What would life be without these dreams?

To know me is to know that I think very visually. There is a image around every corner. You just have to look for it.

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 love having Colorado as my home base. The beauty and terrain of Colorado offers limitless adventures. From the exciting city of Denver to the quintessential small mountain towns, we have it all.

My guest and I would start our adventures in Mile High City while she/he is plumping up their red blood cells. The music and art scenes in Denver are lively and diverse. I would get tickets to the Mission Ballroom, Dazzle, The Clifford Still Museum and another one of my favorite places, Goosetown Station in Golden. Then, for a finale, we would catch a show at Red Rocks, where we would spend a glorious evening tailgating, making new friends, enjoying the geography and taking in the amazing acoustics that mother nature provides. If she were feeling generous, she would grace us with a rainbow or a full moon over the Front Range. Any night at Red Rocks is a good night!

We might also meander up to Boulder for a day trip, a hike at Chautauqua, or hit up the Boulder Farmers Market followed by sipping mint tea at the Dushanbe Teahouse.

As the weekend approaches, we would be packing up the car and taking off for our mountain adventure. While driving and chatting, we would take in spectacular scenery, curve along winding roads and treat ourselves to a relaxing stay at one of the many hot springs’ resorts. What comes to mind is staying in a sheepherder’s wagon at Strawberry Hot Springs, a cabin at Mt. Princeton, or at the Oak house at the Orient Land Trust.

A road trip in Colorado would not be complete without a little magical river camping, a bonfire and some music. Snaking down the rapids of the Colorado River out of Rancho del Rio or the Arkansas River on a raft would be an unforgettable experience.

A couple of my other favorite places are Carbondale and the sweet little town of Redstone, nestled in a pine forest. The Carbondale Mountain Fair in July is authentic Colorado!

My guests are in for a ride!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I was fortunate when in my early 20’s, I lived in San Francisco and I met a photographer and writer named Betsy O’Hara, who was publishing a photo book about living in post War Japan. She mentored, supported me and taught me about ethics. She influenced my creative spirit, and I affectionately named my daughter after her.

My father, who was a freelance photojournalist, was a huge influence on my photography and passion for storytelling. He exposed me to the work of great Life magazine photojournalists. He encouraged me to study the technical aspects of photography on my own and to focus on liberal arts in college because it would give me a broad view of the world. When I went off to college on the west coast (before the advent of personal computers and the internet), he made me learn Morse Code so we could communicate. He was brilliant and had varied interests. How he found time for his interests while raising ten children is beyond me. Yes, I have nine siblings which leads me to my next important influence.

I am from a big close-knit family of ten children. There was a lot of implicit competition to succeed, so we were all quite ambitious. My home life taught me the people and conflict management skills I have today. We were and still are a big Irish Klan.

Marie Gibbons, a former clay artist who had a gallery in the Tennyson Art District in Denver, was also a profound influence on me during the past ten years. She invited me to join her Wednesday night Mudd Club and taught me about clay sculpture. I enjoy the three-dimensional aspect of the medium and met many local artists through Marie.

One more shout out goes to my friends and mentors, Mark Savoia and Catherine Vaneria, who own Still River Editions in Danbury, Connecticut. They were an unwavering source of support for me during my east coast photo career. They answered countless questions, professionally printed my work and held space for me and many other photographers.

Website: https://phylliskeenanphotographer.com

Instagram: phylliskeenan

Facebook: Phyllis Keenan

Image Credits
Credit all images Phyllis Keenan