This week’s ambassador spotlight shines a light on Kim Hoover of Apple of Our Eye Photography. Read on to find out more about Kim, see some of her work, and find out which bluebird chic strap is her personal favorite!
I’m Kim Hoover. Photographer, wife and mom to 3 little girls who continually inspire me to see life differently. If I’m not lying on the floor or hiding behind furniture capturing their moments, then I’m probably on the lookout for new ideas for capturing others. It’s with each one of these encounters that I get to live my dream and I am so incredibly grateful for that. You can find more of my work here: www.appleofoureye.com
How long have you been a photographer?
I picked up my first Canon DSLR in 2010 after my second child was born. I quickly fell in love learning all things related to capture memories and began taking classes. I have been doing it professionally since 2013.
What made you decide to pursue photography?
What started out as just a hobby for me, quickly developed into something more as our family grew. I was determined to try to capture every moment and milestone as I felt it was a way for me to freeze time in the only way I knew how.
What is the best part of being a photographer?
My most enjoyable experiences include those moments when you deliver a client’s gallery and they are in tears. Those are the moments I never forget.
How has your photography evolved over the years?
Candid, lifestyle in-home sessions have my heart and I’ve been doing those types of sessions more and more. I find that capturing those real authentic emotions and moments between family members is so important. I really push to incorporate both posed and candid moments in every session.
What advice do you have for other women who are thinking of starting their own businesses?
Many days you are going to feel like you are failing or falling short of your goals. You may actually feel like you are failing more than you feel like you are succeeding. Especially in the beginning. It’s a mind game. There were so many days as a business owner I felt defeated. The clients weren’t there. No one was calling. You eventually learn the trends in your area and target market. Right after the holidays when you come off of such a rush and you are the busiest you’ve been all year, it goes silent for almost a whole month. Each year I feel like I’ve done something wrong. Completely normal. You need to keep pushing. I’ve learned to use those weeks after the holidays for growth, creativity, goal setting and learning.
What impact do you want your business to have on others?
It’s important for me to capture moments for families they can hang onto for a lifetime. My biggest compliment I’ve ever received was from a client who told me that that scheduling a session with me feels like catching up with an old friend.
Which of your business achievements are you most proud of and why?
We moved from Arizona to Michigan almost 2 years ago for my husband’s job. I thought for sure I’d lose the business I had worked so hard for in Arizona. I’ve been able to keep my business going strong here and have been just as busy here as I was in Arizona. I am pretty proud of that.
What type of camera do you own, and what role does it play in your life?
I have a couple of Canon 6Ds and find that for my own use and for those in-home lifestyle sessions, the low light capabilities of the 6D help me capture the feeling every time.
What’s your favorite thing about your bluebird chic strap?
I wear a lot of black on the job (because let’s just be honest, black is slimming) and I just feel that my Flowering Magnolia strap brightens me up a bit for spring. Yellow is such a happy color!
I love that my bluebird chic strap is lightweight and fashionable, and yet strong enough to hold my heavy lenses without neck strain.
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Kim’s ambassador pick, the all-new Flowering Magnolia Yellow, is coming to our shops soon!
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Thanks for sharing with us today Kim and for supporting the bluebird chic brand!
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