Kimberly

Directing her own self-portraits at home on a modest budget, photographer and model Kimberly has become Instagram famous in the space of just four years

I started taking my own photos three years ago, when I was 21. I had graduated college with my Associate of Arts degree and didn’t have a job, but I really wanted to be a model. I couldn’t afford a photographer to help me build up my portfolio, but, undeterred, I began shooting self-portraits.

I mainly shoot in my parent’s spare bedroom, adding different backgrounds and fabrics to get fresh and exciting looks, but I do shoot in other rooms and outside occasionally too, to give my portraits variety.

Over the years I’ve made my DIY sets more elaborate and intricate but my budgets are always very tight, so that’s where I have to be a bit creative to make $50 look like a million! This can be done with clever lighting, creative camera angles, props, smoke, water and clothing.

I find my inspiration first, whether it’s through Pinterest, a movie, editorials, or God sending me an idea while I’m taking my morning drive.

When an idea does come to mind I’ll sit on it for a few days and really think it through before I even start to build the set, which can take another two or three days to build.

I take great pride in being able to create these portraits with next to zero budget and with basic camera equipment – this allows me to focus more on the modelling and posing.

Instagram has been a fantastic way to get my pictures seen and I love that I’m able to inspire others to create great portraits at home without expensive kit too.