Meet Kinsey Gibson | Creative Branding Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kinsey Gibson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kinsey, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor in my success is prioritizing staying true to myself and listening to my intuition above all else.

I used to be a wedding photographer, but I experienced immense burnout. As an ambitious 19-year-old, I simply tried to do too much. I offered photography, video, film, and physical products, all while trying to balance family portraits alongside engagement sessions. I realized that you could make significant money in the industry, and that I didn’t have to live with the scarcity mindset I had grown up with.

I started making friends who were on a similar journey to me. We were chasing success and creativity together, but I started to feel lost. I didn’t know where I was going or where this career would take me. After experiencing a scary moment where I got sick and wasn’t sure if I would be able to photograph the biggest wedding of the year, I decided to prioritize my creativity, work-life balance, and mental health in a way I had never done before.

My search led me to pick up the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. It was life-changing. While working through it, I discovered the hidden dream of moving to NYC. Which was crazy because I had never even visited. But I knew the first time I went there, my perspective would change, and I would want to move there. And of course that happened. In efforts to work towards that goal, I hired a business mentor who had moved from TX to NYC and was an inspiration to me. I was so excited to invest in myself. I had officially spent the most money on myself that anyone ever had.

The process was exciting to begin with, but it ultimately broke me. While I did gain some valuable advice, this mentor was not who I had expected them to be. I left the experience feeling more lost than I was to begin with. I had wished I had used that money for survival in NYC instead of using it to feed the ego of a money-hungry NYC photographer who had no business offering this service. Even so, I still chased my dreams of being a wedding photographer. I networked my ass off and met so many cool people.

One of the people I met was a wedding florist. (I met her through this mentor, which is important to the story) I reached out to her in an effort to network. We collaborated on a branding session! It was a level of creativity I had never achieved, and I felt it.

Most of my sessions at the time were 1-2 hours. This session ended up being five hours long. We shot in multiple locations and documented the heart behind her artistry and business. This session sparked joy in me that I hadn’t felt in a while. I called two of my best friends, telling them about the most wonderful session I had ever photographed. And when I ended up sharing the photos, people noticed and saw something new in my art.

Fast forward a few months… I had achieved my goal of living in the big city, even if it was just for 8 months. But I ended up moving home to Fort Worth, TX. I was so happy to be back home with my friends and family, but I still had to deal with the traumas that NYC had brought me. I continued to chase weddings while simultaneously building my creative branding business. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if people in Texas would even value this type of session. It took me three months of giving it thought and seeking the advice of friends and trusted mentors before I started offering my services here. I am proud to say that I found success instantly. I fully attribute this to being true to myself and listening to my intuition when it said it was time to leave behind full-time weddings. (I still am taking on limited weddings with clients who trust my artistic process and align with my personality!)

But in January of this year, I decided to make the leap to be a full-time branding photographer and opened up to my clients and followers. I have never been happier and felt more fulfilled in what I do. Where traditional weddings brought me stress, anxiety, and restrictions, branding has brought me joy, freedom, and creativity. I went through so much pain and hurt to get to where I am now, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because I have found a path that brings me so much joy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a creative branding photographer who specializes in storytelling and outside-of-the-box photos. I’ve always believed that images should feel like you—not cookie-cutter, not generic, but something that makes your personality and brand stand out. That’s why I curate each session uniquely. My motto has always been: no two of my sessions will ever look the same.
As a fellow creative, I know how important it is to feel seen and represented. Before every shoot, I take the time to really get to know my clients by asking questions like:

What inspires you?
What are your hobbies outside of work?
What do you want your clients to feel when they see these photos?

Those answers inspire the direction of the shoot and allow me to create photos that feel intentional, playful, and authentic to each person.

Getting to where I am today was not easy. I had to completely start over and build a new client base. I had people doubt my process and tell me that my ideas are too niche, but I’ve had to learn how to trust my creative instincts, lean into what makes my work different, and embrace the fact that “different” is actually my strength.

I’m most proud that I’ve built a brand around celebrating individuality because I truly believe there’s no one else like you, and your photos should reflect that.
At the heart of it, what I want the world to know about me and my work is this: I’m here to photograph you in a way that makes you feel empowered, seen, and celebrated, no matter who you are.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A few of my favorite spots!

Coffee:
Crude in Fort Worth
Desert:
Melt Ice Cream – Magnolia
Bar:
The Usual- Magnolia
The Amber Room- South Main

Food:
Chuys -Fort Worth

Other:
Trinity Park in Fort Worth
Squoze- Juice at the Fort Worth Farmers Market

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
DEDICATED TO THE GIRLIES

I wouldn’t be where I’m at with the support of my best friends. They have encouraged me and been a mirror for me when I felt lost. They have supported me when I was chasing the dream of being a wedding photographer and when I stepped out of the industry. When I moved to New York, and when I moved back.

Hours and hours of phone calls. Visits to NYC, paying for my meals when I ran out of money. Welcoming me back home with the warmest hugs.

I owe my growth to their support, and I have all the love in the world for them!

More specifically: Miranda Pyeatt (Wedding Photographer) Abbie Turner (About August films- Wedding Videographer), and Amilia Wiley (long-time best friend, fellow creative, and psychology major)

Website: https://kinseylinnae.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandingbykinseylinnae/

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/kinseylinnae/
https://www.tiktok.com/@kinseylinnae?_t=ZP-8zEnpofLL7m&_r=1

Image Credits
Photo of Me is by Alyse Stiles – https://www.stilesalyse.com/