Life & Work with Keara Pinkley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keara Pinkley. 

Hi Keara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Towards the end of 2019, I was scrolling through Instagram and found Cheyenne Gil, an incredible body and fat positive boudoir photographer out of Philadelphia. She was hosting a workshop for other boudoir photographers with an emphasis on highlighting marginalized bodies and how to provide a safe space for those in front of her lens. 

I was enamored by all of the women at this workshop because for the first time in a very long time, I was seeing bodies that looked like mine being represented in a desirable light. They were celebrating their bodies and looked like they felt free; free of judgment by society loved ones, or even themselves. I knew I this was a feeling I also wanted to experience, especially as I was working hard to make peace with a newer version of my body after birthing 4 children over the course of 2 years (I have a set of spontaneous triplets + a baby girl). 

After doing a deep dive of boudoir photographers in area, I quickly found that there weren’t many that actually had images of women of color or those who were plus-size in their portfolio. And what started out as a potentially exciting venture, quickly became a very discouraging one. That’s when my husband sat me down and said that if I’m feeling this way, there’s a strong possibility that others in the community probably do too. So that’s when I made the wild choice to change the narrative of what is deemed beautiful by folks in West Michigan and beyond. I bought my first camera in the middle of 2020 and asked my best friend, who recently had a feeding tube placed if she’d be willing to model for me. 

After a little bit of trial and error with learning my camera, I officially launched what is now Head to Curve in February 2021 and here we are. I’ve helped heal and celebrate over 40 different people during my first-year business and was listed as one of the top boudoir photographers in Grand Rapids by Peerspace and Giggster blog that same year. I’ve always been a creative individual and I’ve always loved being a point of support for others, so being able to merge the two when I created Head to Curve has been everything I could’ve hoped and wished for. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’d be lying if I said that this journey has been smooth. I think that most people, myself included, assume that starting a photography business would be a piece of cake. I quickly realized how much work goes into not only creating a business that is going to thrive, but also be unique and true to myself/my mission all while juggling being mom and wife. I also didn’t realize what imposter syndrome was and how the comparison to others around you can genuinely mess with your mental health, confidence, and workflow. Thankfully, I’ve got a few points of solid support in the creative space and in my personal life who genuinely believe in me and in the work I’m doing and that has made the lower points in this journey a lot easier to navigate through.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Head to Curve is a black, woman-owned business dedicated to celebrating the beauty and uniqueness of everyday humans through the art of boudoir. I genuinely strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for every single person who walks through the door of my studio. My approach to boudoir is a bit different than most. From how I pose someone to how I edit my images; I’m committed to helping clients enjoy this experience and see themselves as they are, not an overly edited or concealed version of themselves. Because I firmly believe that beauty knows no size, age, color, gender, status, or ethnicity, anyone who chooses to work with me can find comfort in knowing that all of them is always welcomed here. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
When I first started, I spent a lot of time worrying about what other creatives around me were doing or wondering how they were fully booked when it’s been crickets for me, etc. I learned rather quickly is that comparison is a thief of joy. And I was doing myself a disservice by comparing myself to people who have been in the industry for 5, 10, or 15+ years. The right people who align with you and your brand WILL find you and support you with time. 

Pricing:

• Packages start at $375 with payment plans available

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.headtocurve.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headtocurve/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/headtocurve/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/headtocurve/