Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Stickelmaier.
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It really started with a love for preserving moments. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, and when I became a mom, that pull grew even stronger. I wanted to freeze time—those little hands, the wild giggles, the everyday magic that was flying by way too fast.
I picked up a camera to capture my own kids and quickly realized how deeply I loved it. It wasn’t just about getting the perfect photo—it was about the feeling behind it. The way a photo can instantly take you back to a season, a smell, a sound, a moment you didn’t want to forget.
From there, it slowly grew. Friends asked for photos, then friends of friends, and it just evolved. I invested in education, practiced every chance I could, and eventually turned what started as a creative outlet into a business that feels like such a natural extension of who I am.
Now, getting to capture that same magic for other families is the most fulfilling part of what I do. Every session is a new story, and I feel so honored to be trusted with telling it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the most part, I’d say the road into photography itself was pretty smooth for me. The creative side came naturally. I fell in love with capturing connection and emotion, and I picked up the technical side fairly quickly. I was always eager to learn, evolve, and refine my style, so that part of the journey flowed well.
The real challenge for me was figuring out how to run a business. Suddenly, I wasn’t just the photographer I had to become HR, payroll, marketing, customer care… all the things. Learning how to wear every hat and still keep the heart of my work at the center was definitely a learning curve.
Finding the balance, especially as a mom, and figuring out how to consistently reach new clients was tough at first. But over time, I discovered that the most powerful tool was simply sharing my work and focusing on the experience I was giving my clients.
Word of mouth became everything. When people not only love their photos but also how they felt during the session, they naturally want to tell their friends. And that has been my biggest driver of growth, staying true to my art, showing up authentically, and creating a client experience that’s personal and memorable.
So while there were bumps, especially on the business side, the passion and connection always kept me grounded and moving forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a family photographer specializing in lifestyle sessions that are full of movement, emotion, and connection. I’m known for my moody yet colorful edits and the way I capture joyful, love-filled moments that feel as real as they were when they happened.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve stayed true to what makes me me as an artist. I don’t follow trends, I shoot what I love: families being themselves, fully and unapologetically. My goal is always to capture the love that ties them together, the playful chaos, the quiet in-between glances, the real stuff that lasts.
What sets me apart is the full experience I offer my clients. From the moment they book to the moment they receive their gallery, I guide them every step of the way. I take the stress out of planning by offering a carefully curated client closet and styling assistance, so everyone shows up feeling confident and coordinated without the overwhelm of shopping for the whole family.
And of course, my editing style. People often say, “I knew that photo was yours the second I saw it,” and that’s the biggest compliment. My work is moody, bold, colorful, creamy, and sharp all wrapped in golden hour magic. It’s a look and feel I’ve created over the years, and it’s something I’m really proud of.
This work means the world to me, and getting to freeze these seasons of life for families is the greatest honor.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is creating moments that are forever frozen in time for the families I photograph. I don’t just see these as pictures, I see them as artifacts of someone’s story, pieces of love and connection that will live on long after the moment has passed.
It’s about more than a beautiful image. It’s about knowing that a photo I took will be hung on a wall, flipped through in an album, or pulled out years from now by grown children remembering the way their parents looked at them, the way they laughed together, the way it felt to be home.
That kind of legacy, art that gets passed down through generations means everything to me. And because I know firsthand how precious these memories are for my own family, it’s truly an honor to be the one who gets to provide that for others.
Every time I deliver a gallery, I’m giving families a little piece of their love story, preserved forever. That’s what keeps me inspired, and that’s what matters most.
Pricing:
- Golden Hour Sessions | $675 | Includes 40+ digital images
- Book with a Friend Mini | $400 | Includes 10 digital images with upgrades available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sessionl.ink/photosbykellylynn
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosbykellylynn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosbykellylynntn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Photosbykellylynn
