We recently had the chance to connect with Kimberly Baltimore and have shared our conversation below.
Kimberly, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Im in a season where I feel spiritually led to say yes to things that used to scare me. I’m pushing myself to create bolder, more meaningful work- photoshoots that stretch me and allow me to channel something bigger than myself. It’s a journey of trusting the process, surrendering the fear, and letting my creativity be guided rather than controlled. Iv’e been afraid to fully surrender in fear of failure, but without failure there is no success. It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to not be perfect. It’s okay to not be perfect and know it all!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kimberly Baltimore, and photography is the way I connect with people on a deeper level. I’m drawn to capturing women in their most honest, vulnerable, and powerful moments, and I only take on photoshoots and clients whose energy aligns with that purpose. My work is built on empowerment, spirituality, and creating a space where women feel safe enough to show their true selves. Those genuine moments- raw laughter, quiet confidence, soft strength- are what make my art special. Right now I am stepping into a new chapter: traveling more, pursuing high-profile photoshoots, and working toward more published work. I’m excited to keep expanding, shooting concerts and shows, and collaborating with models and artists whose stories deserve to be captured with intention and love. In the near future I will be doing my first virtual masterclass teaching photography from MY point of view. The future is limitless!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful came during one of my first pubic lingerie fashion photoshoots over 6 years ago. This is when photography was a male dominated industry. I walked into the room of nearly 30 male photographers, and I was the only woman there. As soon as I stepped in, I could feel their eyes on me. Some of them started testing me- asking what lens I use, what lighting setup I preferred, telling me what I “should” be doing. It was clear they expected me to shrink or feel intimidated. But, instead, something in me rose. I felt grounded, protected, and completely unshaken. In that moment, I realized my presence had purpose. I wasn’t there to prove myself to anyone- I was there to show that my eye, intuition, and artistry belong in this space. The experience awakened a deeper calling in me: to stand firm in my craft, to trust my vision, and to claim my place in a male dominated industry with confidence, spirit, creativity, and grace.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me what success never could: how to truly see people. My passion for photography was born from that space. When someone steps in front of my camera, it becomes an intimate exchange of energy- one where they let their guard down, share pieces of themselves they don’t show the world. Many of my clients have opened up to me about their pain, their insecurities, their healing journeys, and somehow, while carrying my own struggles, iv’e learned how to hold theirs with care behind my lens. Suffering has taught me empathy, patience, and presence. It taught me to listen without judgment, to feel beyond what’s spoken, and to capture the emotion behind the image. It showed me that vulnerability is a form of power and that art becomes more meaningful when it’s created from a place of understanding, resilience, and share humanity. My success didn’t teach me that- my suffering did.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
The important truth I hold- one that very few people fully agree with- is that women/people deserve to live in their most authentic, unapologetic selves, no matter how it looks, how much skin it shows, or how much it challenges society’s expectations. My boudoir work often places women in their most vulnerable, intimate moments, and while some outsiders may label it as attention seeking or sexual, they completely miss the deeper purpose. To me, and to the women I photograph, it’s an act of liberation, freedom, and taboo. It’s healing. It’s reclaiming the body, the narrative, and the power that the world constantly tries to police or shame. I believe that authenticity in it’s rawest, boldest, “unladylike” forms- is sacred. Few people agree or are blinded by that truth, but Iv’e seen firsthand how transformative it is when a woman finally sees herself without the filters of judgement or fear. That is why I continue to create the kind of art that push the boundaries of society: because I know the empowerment it gives is raw, real, and invigorating.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When my time here is done, I want people to remember me as a woman who refused to live small. A woman who stood in her truth with fire in her chest and conviction in her voice. Someone who spoke up when silence was easier, who fought when others backed down, and who protected people with a loyalty that couldn’t be shaken. I hope they say I was the kind of person who walked into a room and lifted the energy and vibe- who poured strength, love, and empowerment into others even when I was fighting my own storms. I want to be remembered for my heart: for giving without hesitation, for uplifting without limits, for choosing courage over comfort every single time. My story, I hope will be told as one of resilience, fearlessness, and generosity- a woman who wasn’t afraid to challenge the world, and who made others feel braver simply by being her true authentic self unapologetically.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kimbaltimorephotog.wixsite.com
- Instagram: kbphotography_2020
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/kimberly.gates.3975
- Other: tik tok- kbphotography_2020
Image Credits
Taylor Tatum
Self Portrait
Florida Rapper Caskey
Me behind the scenes of a Caskey concert
Harlem rapper Dave East
Detroit producer Helluva
Lousiana rapper Curren$y
Mel Brooks
