Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylene Cleaver.
Hi Kylene, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a former ballet dancer, I had always been photographed, but when I career ending injury happened, I needed to pivot. Something where I was able to let my creative side soar. Enter my first dslr camera after the birth of my son. It became and extension of me. Always with me, always up to my eye looking for the moments, the light, the sense of quiet beauty in a busy world.
Friends quickly became clients when they saw the work I was producing. With boudoir you need to be someone people feel comfortable with and that’s just how this part of my business took off. My hairstylist at the time wanted images for her husband that was deployed. When she saw the finished product it was like word of mouth wildfire.
And that’s how my boudoir photography journey began 17yrs ago.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish I could say it has always been smooth sailing, but a move early on in my career meant having to start over with a new clients base and over coming the hurdles of the Philadelphia Market 15yrs ago. Luckily I was able to surround myself with an incredible network of photographers and like minded local business owners.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a photographer that specializes in photographing and empowering clients through boudoir photography. My clients range from brides wanting to give an extra special gift to their partner to female identifying clients looking to capture their bodies.
Recently I have added session options for my clients that deep dive into the release they are looking for. Be it coming out of an awful divorce, overcoming a major health issue or about working through difficult person struggles. We work together to plan and create a session that honors where they are in their journey at the time I capture them.
I have traveled far and wide for these sessions. These sessions tend to take place somewhere inside and personal to my client or they take place outside somewhere private that holds special significance. I find that this gives a true feeling of surrender to letting go and moving forward.
The session truly ends up being for them and transformations I have been witness to is something I never take for granted. There is something magical about knowing that I have helped them accept themselves and the body they are in.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
HAHAHA… Well…. I am the first born daughter of a first born daughter of a first born daughter, but also the second child. Basically, I gave my mother a permanent twitch.
School was just something I had to do. Luckily I went to a high school that valued art and other creative classes at the time. So I was able to take as many of those classes as I could fit into my schedule. Which kept me engaged.
I was and had to be incredibly disciplined with my ballet training while still going to school full time. My teachers loved me because I was curious yet respectful, but I didn’t take myself to seriously.
Laughing has always been a huge part of who I am. I have always loved a good joke that makes laugh way louder than I should.
I probably shouldn’t say this, but I am known for scaring people. My moms eldest brother was famous for this too. Be it on accident or in my poor mother’s case, on purpose. I would hide an jump out and scare her. HAHA.. I told you I gave her a permanent twitch.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplybeautifulboudoir.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylene_simplybeautifulboudoir
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyBeautifulBoudoir
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylene-cleaver
- Other: https://leaveittomephotography.com/
