New to Duluth, Not New to Photography: What My Wisconsin Clients Say About Working With Me
If you’re new to Kelly Jacobi Photography, you might be wondering who this photographer is who recently moved to Duluth, Minnesota.
Fair question.
I’m Kelly, and while I’m new to Duluth, I’m definitely not new to photography.
For more than ten years, I’ve been photographing people throughout Wisconsin and beyond. I’ve worked with seniors, families, couples, maternity and newborn clients, and boudoir clients. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with some pretty incredible people.
So before I start filling this blog with my new Duluth adventures and all the places I’m excited to photograph, I thought I’d let some of my past clients introduce me instead.
Because I can tell you what I think makes my photography different.
But I’d much rather let the people who have actually experienced it tell you.
More than just taking pictures
When you book a photography session, you’re trusting someone to capture something important to you.
Maybe it’s your engagement and the beginning of a new chapter together.
Maybe it’s your family, exactly as they are right now.
Maybe it’s a personal experience that pushes you outside your comfort zone for a boudoir session.
Whatever brings you in front of my camera, I want you to feel like you’re in good hands.
And I want the photographs to be more than just pretty.
I want them to feel like you.
That means creating an experience where you can relax, enjoy the people you’re with, and trust me to guide you through the process.
Here’s what some of my past clients have had to say about that experience.
1. Natural photographs that feel like you
One of the things I hear most often from clients is that they love how natural their photographs feel.
They want beautiful images, of course. But they also want to recognize themselves in them.
They want to see their connection, their personalities, and the little moments that make their relationships special.
Danna, who booked an engagement session with me, said:
“We are so in love with our engagement photos! ❤️ Kelly did an amazing job capturing our love into these timeless moments! She was so wonderful to work with and made us feel comfortable with being our natural selves! I can't wait to hang these in our home!”
— Danna V.
That idea of being comfortable enough to be your natural self is a huge part of my approach.
I’ll guide you through your session, but I don’t want every photograph to feel like you’re performing for the camera.
I want room for the real stuff to happen.
The laughter.
The connection.
The little gestures.
The moments that feel like you.
Sue shared a similar experience:
“Kelly is amazing! She put us at ease so we had very natural pictures that captured us perfectly! The photos are beautiful!!!”
— Sue R.
That’s exactly what I hope for when you step in front of my camera.
Beautiful photographs that still feel like home.
2. A photography experience that feels like fun
Family photos don’t always go according to plan.
Sometimes the kids are full of energy.
Sometimes someone isn’t in the mood.
Sometimes getting everyone out the door feels like an accomplishment all by itself.
And honestly? That’s real life.
I don’t expect your family to arrive perfectly composed and ready to follow a script. I want to meet you where you are and create a session that allows your family’s personality to show up.
Erin described her family session this way:
“It felt more than a family hang-out than a photo session. We laughed and joked, and Kelly joined right in! The awesome thing was: she captured all of that in the photos. I've never had pictures of our family that better show our love for each other, our goofiness, and our individual personalities!”
— Erin L.
That makes me so happy to read.
Because yes, I want to create beautiful family photographs.
But I also want you to have a genuinely enjoyable experience while we’re creating them.
And if that means laughing, joking, being a little goofy, and letting your family’s personality take up some space, I’m all for it.
3. Calm, flexible direction; even when things get chaotic
One of the biggest misconceptions about family photography is that everything needs to go perfectly for the photographs to turn out beautifully.
It doesn’t.
Kids have big feelings.
Toddlers change their minds.
Sometimes the family needs a break, a reset, or a little room to be themselves.
That’s okay.
Wasana has worked with me for multiple family sessions and shared:
“Every session that we have had with Kelly has been memorable not only due to the photos that she brings to life but by the experience that we have with her. As a mom trying to hassle the husband and children together for family photos the scene is always chaos but Kelly truly brings a sense of calm and understanding. She cultivates the session to meet us where we are at and with young children, the emotions are ever changing.”
— Wasana M.
That sense of calm is something I intentionally bring into my sessions.
I’m not there to make you feel like your children need to behave perfectly or that you’ve somehow failed if the session gets a little chaotic.
I’m there to help you navigate it.
Sometimes we’ll keep moving.
Sometimes we’ll slow down.
Sometimes the best photographs come from the moments you didn’t expect.
And that’s part of what makes photographing families so special.
4. Guidance that makes the whole process easier
Your photography experience starts long before you arrive at your session.
There are decisions to make.
What should we wear for our photo session?
What locations are best for photos?
What should we expect from our photo session?
What if we’re awkward in front of the camera?
What if we have no idea what we’re doing?
I believe you should have support with those things, not be left to figure them out on your own.
Erin also highlighted the planning side of her experience:
“Kelly also made everything so easy! She communicated often, responded quickly, walking us through the steps, and even had guides and handouts to make decision-making and planning easy.”
— Erin L.
That is exactly the kind of experience I want to provide.
I’ll help you with location ideas, outfit planning, session preparation, and what to expect along the way. I also have a client closet with more than 300 pieces in sizes XS–4X, so you have another option if you’re looking for something special to wear.
And when it comes to the actual session, I’ll guide you through posing and movement so you aren’t left wondering what to do next.
You don’t need to know how to pose before you book with me.
That’s my job.
5. Helping you feel comfortable in front of the camera
Not everyone loves having their photograph taken.
Some people feel awkward.
Some people are nervous.
Some people would rather be behind the camera than in front of it.
I get it.
You don’t have to arrive feeling confident or knowing exactly what to do. My goal is to help you feel comfortable enough to relax and enjoy the experience.
Katie shared this about her session:
“When it came to couple photos, Kelly knew exactly how to pose us, yet make it look + feel so natural. I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Kelly Jacobi Photography + will definitely recommend to our family + Friends!”
— Katie H.
And Kymra said:
“Kelly is absolutely phenomenal! She can make every single picture she sends your favorite. Our session was laid-back and go with the flow, perfect for my husband who is sometimes awkward in pictures, there was no pressure.”
— Kymra K.
That combination of direction and ease is something I care about a lot.
I want you to have guidance when you need it, without feeling like you have to perform or get everything right.
6. Creating an experience that leaves an impression
The photographs matter.
Of course they do.
But I also want you to remember how you felt during your session.
Christina shared:
“Kelly was amazing! She made me feel so comfortable and made the whole experience so much fun! Anyone looking for something different in photography look no further. Thank you Kelly for making this experience one I will never forget!”
— Christina D.
That’s the kind of experience I want to create for every client.
Something personal.
Something relaxed.
Something that feels like it was made for you—not pulled from a standard formula.
And Lauren captured another part of that experience after her session:
“I had an amazing experience working with Kelly! She followed up with me every step of the way and walked me through the entire process of what would be going on in the session. She is very personable and made me feel comfortable during the entire session. I will definitely be using her for future sessions!”
— Amber C.
Whether you’re booking a family session, engagement photos, senior portraits, maternity photographs, or a boudoir experience, I want you to feel supported from the first conversation through the final images.
So, what does this mean for you if you’re in Duluth?
It means that while I’m new to the Duluth photography community, I’m bringing years of experience with me.
I’m bringing everything I’ve learned from working with people who are nervous, excited, energetic, emotional, awkward, goofy, and wonderfully themselves.
I’m bringing my love of natural photographs, thoughtful planning, gentle posing, and creating an experience that feels comfortable and personal.
I’m also bringing my client closet, my guides, and my commitment to helping you through the process from start to finish.
And now I get to explore a whole new area while doing what I love.
I’m excited to discover Duluth’s locations, the North Shore, the changing seasons, and all the possibilities this area offers for creating beautiful photographs.
I’m not going to pretend I’ve been photographing Duluth for years.
I’m new here.
But I’m bringing more than ten years of experience, and I’m excited to put that experience to work for you.
Ready to create something together?
If you’re looking for a Duluth photographer who will help you plan your session, guide you through the experience, and create photographs that feel like you, I’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re celebrating your senior year, documenting your growing family, planning an engagement session, welcoming a new baby, or wanting photographs that are just for you, we can start with a conversation.
You don’t have to have everything figured out.
You just have to reach out.
[Inquire about your session →]
And to all of my Wisconsin clients who trusted me with your memories over the years:
Thank you.
You helped build this business, and I’m incredibly grateful for every session, every laugh, every conversation, and every photograph we created together.
Now I’m taking everything I’ve learned and bringing it with me to Minnesota.
I can’t wait to see what comes next!
