Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendell Ball.
Hi Kendell, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Every journey has an origin story — mine began not with a camera in hand, but with pain.
A workplace injury set off a chain of physical complications I never anticipated. What started as a single incident gradually snowballed into chronic issues that took a real toll on my body — and eventually, my mind. Depression moved in quietly, the way it does, and suddenly the things that once felt effortless felt impossible.
I wasn’t looking for a calling. I stumbled onto one.
A camera found its way into my life at just the right moment. I picked it up out of curiosity, maybe desperation — and something shifted. Through the lens, I found a reason to focus again — literally and figuratively. Photography gave me purpose when I needed it most. It became my therapy, my craft, and my comeback story all at once.
I didn’t stop there. I dove headfirst into the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem, teaching myself Lightroom and Illustrator. I wasn’t just taking pictures — I was building something. From those late nights studying design and editing techniques, I developed a logo and established Labnek LLC, turning a personal passion born out of hardship into a legitimate creative business.
What started as a way to survive became a way to thrive.
Today, Labnek LLC represents more than photography — it represents resilience. Every frame I capture carries the weight of where I came from and the vision of where I’m going. My lens doesn’t just document moments; it reflects a journey that almost didn’t happen.
Now we’re starting to some positive success
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Resiliency, being a leader not a follower. Through all of it — the injury, the depression, the theft, the doubters, and the financial grind — I kept studying. I kept learning Lightroom, Illustrator, every tool I could get my hands on. I built my skills in the dark, when nobody was watching and nobody was clapping. I designed a logo. I formed Labnek LLC — a real company, built on a real foundation of struggle and survival.
What started as a way to cope became a craft. What became a craft became a brand. What became a brand is now becoming a legacy.
The people who laughed? They’re watching now.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What truly sets me apart is perspective, I know what it feels like to be overlooked, laughed at, and counted out. So when I show up to photograph someone’s event, their brand — I show up with intention. I understand that these moments matter. I treat every job like it could be the one that changes everything, because for me, every opportunity once felt like survival.
I also carry Philadelphia in everything I do. I’m not just based here — I’m rooted here. This city shaped my hustle, my eye, and my resilience. When I document Philadelphia’s people and moments, I’m not an outsider pointing a camera at a community. I am the community, telling its story from the inside.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Wow. Great question!.
The photography industry is at one of the most significant turning points in its history. Over the next 5 to 10 years, the game will change dramatically — and the photographers who understand what’s coming will separate themselves from those who don’t. God willing I’m positioning Labnek llc under the correct circumstances.
Authenticity/Originality Is the New Currency
The era of over-edited, hyper-polished, filter-heavy imagery is fading fast. The industry is undergoing a quiet but meaningful shift — after a long period shaped by highly polished aesthetics and algorithm-influenced visuals, photographers and clients alike are craving something more human. In 2026 and beyond, imperfection becomes a feature, not a flaw.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Labnek215
