Kelly Heck Photography

06/19/2026

Earlier this week, I photographed a real estate listing for the first time in several years.

I don't do much real estate photography anymore. In fact, Phil is the only realtor I still work with, and it's been quite a while since we've had a property to photograph together.

And friends, you know I'm not cheap. 😂

If you're looking for a realtor who's willing to invest in his clients and put their best foot forward, Phil is your guy.

This charming home on the east side of Westminster officially hit the market today, and it was such a fun property to photograph. The house is full of character—beautiful woodwork, vintage door k***s, original details, and the kinds of craftsmanship you just don't find in many newer homes.

The homeowner was wonderful, too. He had the house ready when I arrived, welcomed me in, and let me do my thing. We chatted briefly about the next chapter of his life, and as always, I found myself enjoying the story behind the home as much as the home itself.

When people think about real estate photography, they often imagine taking a photo from every corner of every room—and yes, that's part of the job. My goal is always to make spaces feel bright, inviting, and true to life. (And maybe just a little bit bigger.)

But what keeps it interesting for me is looking beyond the expected. I'm always searching for the details, the light, the lines, and the little moments of composition that help a property stand out from the dozens of listings buyers scroll past every day.

Going into this assignment, I thought, "I'll get it done, put a little money in my pocket, and move on with my week."

Instead, I was reminded that I genuinely enjoy finding the creativity in almost any subject.

At the end of the session, both Phil and the homeowner were thrilled with the images.

And really, that's the goal: that the images lead to more eyes on the listing, more people through the front door, and hopefully a stronger sale when it's all said and done.

I'd call that a pretty good day's work.

This 1344 square feet Single Family home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It is located at 515 Locust Ave, Westminster, MD.

06/17/2026

Sunday's photo session was an extended family of 28 people spanning four generations.

It had been so long since they had gathered for a family portrait that they brought large printouts of Sears style portraits from decades ago. I couldn't help but photograph those too. Family photographs become treasures in a way few other things do, and these portraits had clearly stood the test of time.

Blake is the family member who hired me. Blake and I first met a few years ago when I provided event coverage for his nonprofit's inaugural event at Outtatherabbithole.

I approach extended family sessions differently than any other type of photography job.

As families were arriving, I noticed a young boy named Ryan walking toward us with his parents. Something had clearly happened. Mom and Dad were trying to talk him through it, but you could tell he was upset. You could tell he was heading toward a full-on sulk for the photo session.

So I snatched that kid up.

"Hey Ryan, can you help me out?"

I told him I needed a model.

Truthfully, I didn't need a test shot. I was ready to go. What I needed was an excuse to get him out of that headspace for a few minutes.

Once we were away from the crowd, Ryan filled me in. He wanted to play a game with JUST his cousin, but his dad had insisted that his little brother be included too.

If you've ever been six years old, you know that's a legitimate tragedy.

I told him how much his little brother must love him if he wanted to do everything alongside him. But I also told him that it's really hard when you have a plan and someone changes it.

I sat him in a chair right where the family would eventually gather and asked if he'd rather be photographed or if he'd rather take a picture of me.

To my surprise, he chose to be photographed.

Most kids want the camera.

Ryan wanted to be in front of it.

We took a nice portrait. Then a goofy one. And from that point forward, he was all in.

His was one of the few names I remembered throughout the entire session. I called him out constantly. Gave him thumbs-ups. High fives. Took photos he specifically requested. By the end of the evening, the boy who arrived looking like he planned to sulk through family pictures was smiling from ear to ear. And his Mom thanked me.

That chair would later have another important job.

The matriarch of the family, Marilyn (also dubbed "Grandma-2"), became the center of everything that followed. I had brought a simple lawn chair specifically for her. We placed her in the middle of a beautiful shady spot, and around her we built the family tree. Adult children near their parents. Grandchildren nearby. Great-grandchildren close enough to be scooped into loving arms.

The oldest and youngest family members are always taken care of first, including two infants named Ellie and Sally, and five children ages six and younger.

So we started with what mattered most: the full family photograph of all 28 people, Grandma-2 with all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the individual households with their young children. I made sure every child had their own photograph.

These are the images that we prioritize.

Everything else can happen afterward.

There wasn't a moment where I wasn't having fun.

Everyone was patient and kind. Family members enjoyed watching the process unfold. The children were wonderful. Ellie was not having it, but despite that, the adults were relaxed.

By the end of the session, some of the kids had run off to the playground on the other side of the park. Other family members headed back to the house where everyone was staying and enjoying leftovers.

As I packed up, Blake, his wife Nancy, and Ryan's Mom stayed behind to chat.

Without prompting, they began telling me how much they enjoyed the experience. They mentioned that friends and family had suggested all kinds of photographers while they were planning this gathering.

But Blake and Nancy kept giving the same answer:

"We already found our photographer."

As someone who gets invited into people's milestones, celebrations, businesses, and family histories, that's about the highest compliment I can receive.

And now, somewhere alongside those Sears portraits from decades ago, this family will have a new set of photographs to carry forward.

06/05/2026

Another day. Another law firm. Another client relationship that's nearing the 10-year mark.

Yesterday I photographed a local Carroll County law firm, and once again I found myself thinking about a word that's been coming up a lot lately:

Comfort.

Not the kind of comfort that leads to complacency.

The kind that creates room for creativity.

When you've worked together long enough, everyone relaxes a little. The team trusts the process. They know they're in good hands. I know their personalities. We spend less energy figuring each other out and more energy making something better than last time.

This year, we gave ourselves permission to play a bit.

Of course they'll receive the professional team photos and headshots they need, but we also created some images with a little more personality, movement, and lightness than we've done in years past. And honestly? It was a lot of fun.

We were fortunate to work once again at the Historical Society of Carroll County, making use of their beautiful grounds, gardens, and new library space. They've now hosted two client photo sessions for me this year, and they couldn't be more accommodating.

As I wrapped up and watched the team walk back to their office down the block, I stopped for a quick selfie in one of our outdoor locations and found myself feeling grateful.

Grateful for clients who keep coming back.

Grateful for organizations that open their doors and make creative work possible.

And grateful that after all these years, photography still feels like one of the best jobs in the world.

💛 📸 💛

(Even grateful for the intervalometer timer in the Canon R6 Mark II so I can do a little selfie magic!)

06/04/2026

One of my favorite things about this career isn't photographing someone for the first time.

It's photographing them for the tenth.

This morning I was back with Saiontz & Kirk in downtown Baltimore for another round of staff headshots. We set up in the same spot we've used for years, a simple corner of their waiting area. Same lighting. Same process. Same tile wall backdrop.

Nothing fancy.

And honestly? That's kind of the point.

When you've worked with a client long enough, you stop worrying about the logistics. You already know where to park. You know which elevator to take. You know where the water cooler is. You know how the day will flow.

More importantly, you know each other.

The team knows what to expect from me, and I know what they need from me.

There's a comfort that develops.

Comfort for the people being photographed.
Comfort with the process.
Comfort speaking up if something needs adjusted.
Comfort knowing the job is going to get done well.

Today's assignment even changed on the fly. We started with three headshots, grew to ten, then settled at nine after one team member couldn't make it. No stress. Just a quick adjustment and we kept moving.

My point of contact, who was helping coordinate the day, even offered me half his lunch.

Don't worry, I didn't eat his lunch. 😂

But it's a good example of the kind of people they are. Kind. Thoughtful. Genuine.

That's one of the gifts of long-term client relationships. The trust is already there.

I've been noticing more and more of my clients crossing the 10-year mark with me, and that feels incredibly special. In a world where everything seems temporary, there's something meaningful about working with good people year after year after year.

I'm grateful for every one of those relationships.

And yes, one of my contacts called me "sweetheart" today.

Which made me laugh because I definitely thought I had aged out of that title by now. 💛📸💛

05/30/2026

Six years.

That's how long I've had the privilege of working with the incredible team at LMW Auto Repair.

Every time I walk into their shops, I leave with two things: great images and a reminder of why I love what I do.

Photography has always been more than a camera to me. It's people. It's relationships. It's learning businesses from the inside out and helping tell their story in a way that feels authentic.

LaScuola Auto Repair has trusted me with that story for six years now, and I don't take that lightly.

This selfie was taken during my most recent visit, and when I looked at it later, I noticed something I hadn't seen in a while.

The spark is back.

The excitement.
The creativity.
The energy.

I love this work.

I love getting to spend my days with business owners and teams who are passionate about what they do, whether that's repairing vehicles, serving clients, building products, or changing their communities.

And if you're looking for an honest, knowledgeable auto repair team that genuinely cares about their customers, LMW absolutely deserves the shoutout.

Thank you, John & Lonnie & team, for six wonderful years. Here's to many more.

05/21/2026

Today I worked with a new client, one of the largest engineering firms on the East Coast. It was essentially a trial run to see if they liked working with me, and together we tackled about 30 staff headshots.

Ironically, I was so swept up in the good energy by the end of the session that I completely forgot to take a photo of the setup itself. So here I am instead, standing in the raw office space across from theirs where all the magic happened - bare subfloors, patched walls, construction in progress - but honestly, it ended up being the perfect quiet little corner for team members to rotate in and out throughout the afternoon.

Not even 10 headshots in, my point of contact was already texting a colleague: “Kelly’s the right photographer.”

And no, that wasn’t because of the gear I brought or even the photos on the back of the camera yet. It was because of the experience.

Making people feel at ease. Paying attention to every little detail. Knowing how to quickly connect with someone so the camera stops feeling intimidating.

Tidying hair, tightening ties, fixing collars, brushing lint and pet hair off jackets, tucking dress shirts so people looked polished on camera. Tiny things most people don’t consciously notice, but together they completely change how someone feels in front of the lens.

I’ve really come into my strength as a photographer over the years, and honestly, it boils down to connection.

If someone feels awkward or tense, the camera sees it immediately. And on fast-paced headshot days like this, sometimes you only have 5 minutes to build trust, make someone laugh, pose them aesthetically, and help them feel like themselves.

This wasn’t some wildly creative shoot with dramatic lighting setups or elaborate concepts. It was classic, consistent staff headshots on a gray background - exactly what this company needed.

And honestly? I love this kind of work.

Because even in a quick corporate session, I get the opportunity to connect one-on-one with dozens of people throughout the day. To help someone walk out feeling more confident than they did walking in.

That part never gets old to me.

We had great conversations throughout the day, the client treated us to lunch, and by the end of it we were already talking about next time.

A brand new client, a smooth day, good people, and work that genuinely fills my cup a little. Hard to ask for much better than that.

03/18/2026

Hi, I’m Kelly — and if we haven’t connected in a while, here’s a more complete version of who I am.

I’m a SCAD-trained photographer, and I’ve been doing this for over 25 years — starting back when I was still in high school chasing any photography opportunity I could get.

For the past 15+ years, I’ve been running my own business, working primarily with other businesses to create images that actually help them show up better — on their websites, in their marketing, and in how people perceive them.

This isn’t just about “getting photos taken.”

It’s about helping people feel confident being seen, and making sure what they’re putting out into the world actually reflects the level they’re operating at.

If you’ve worked with me before, you probably know a few things I hear all the time:

• “You made that way easier than I expected.”
• “I actually felt comfortable in front of the camera.”
• “These finally feel like us.”

That’s always the goal.

Outside of work, I’m a mom of two little ones, building my business in a very full and very real season of life. It’s changed me in the best ways — I’m more efficient, more grounded, and more focused on doing meaningful work with people I genuinely enjoy.

If you’re a business owner, part of a growing team, or someone who knows your visuals need to catch up to where you are — I’d love to connect. [email protected]

And if you’ve been here for a while, supporting, referring, or working with me — thank you. It truly means a lot.

03/18/2026

This weekend a friend asked, “What kind of photography are you looking for right now?”

Honestly… fair question. If you’re not in my world every day, you probably don’t know. And to be overly transparent, I haven't had time to market outside of my monthly email newsletter.

So here it is — this is the work I LOVE and am actively looking for:

👉 LOCAL BUSINESSES that need a strong, cohesive set of images for their website, social media, and internet marketing

👉 TEAMS that want updated headshots and leadership portraits that don’t feel stiff or outdated

👉 SHOPS, SERVICE COMPANIES, and ORGANIZATIONS that want real, behind-the-scenes imagery of their people actually doing what they do

👉 BUSINESS OWNERS who are growing and need their visuals to finally match the level they’re operating at

Basically — if someone’s business depends on trust, personality, or showing their work… that’s where I come in.

If you know:

👍 a company redoing their website
👍 a business that’s growing or rebranding
👍 a team that still has those very 2008 headshots 😅

Send them my way. I take really good care of the people you refer. [email protected]

I'm local to Carroll County, Maryland, frequenting Westminster, Sykesville, Baltimore, Ellicott City, Frederick, Southern Pennsylvania, etc. But I travel too - I've served clients from Ohio all the way to the toasty coats of Florida. I serve small independent businesses and I serve national and international organizations.

And if you’ve ever thought “we should probably get photos done…” — you’re probably right. Let’s talk. 😉📸

04/18/2024

In the April KHP Email Newsletter (which hits inboxes this afternoon), this month's featured educational piece is Episode 005 of Photo ROI (a podcast created by me, Kelly Heck, all about getting the most Return On Investment from your photo sessions) with special KHP Client Guests ⁠Stefani Pautz Stephenson⁠ and ⁠Jessica Walter. Together we dive into The Transformative Power of the Photograph in Shaping Self-Image & Confidence. You won't want to miss this conversation, it was so fun to host and inspiring to listen to again as I edited the audio.

Click here to select from my preferred podcast platforms and have a listen! https://www.kellyheckphotography.com/podcast-photo-roi/

Not on the monthly KHP email list? Click here to subscribe: https://www.kellyheckphotography.com/subscribe/

04/14/2024

My poor little guy is really sick, so I'll probably be out of the office most of this week. Email or text will be the best way to get in touch. Thank you!!