We had the good fortune of connecting with Willie & Kim Howard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Willie & Kim, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We’ve all been there. You’re telling a story and then your friend has to interject with their version. Since we can never tell this story without the other “correcting” or adding their two cents, here we go…but we’ll tell you the short version!

K: In 2010, the only gift under the Christmas tree was a shiny new camera. We both had an interest in photography for different reasons and decided to forgo individual gifts that year.

W: I started taking photos and what I initially planned as a hobby quickly took a turn as friends started asking me to capture their families and events. This Christmas present to ourselves ended up giving us a gift, a business.

K: We’re a team in all we do. Our wedding bands are engraved with “Team Howard” and it only seemed fitting to do this business thing together as Team Howard Photography. W: I was doing the photography and Kim was a part of the team in the administrative part, helping with editing, etc, but I wanted to show up to photograph events as a team…both of us. I was showing up to photo shoots and clients would ask “Where is your wife? Where is the team?”

K: But…kids happened. And I know the ladies feel me when I say that working full-time, being a wife, and a new mom is exhausting.

W: So, the business I imagined as a husband and wife team got put on the back burner…for six years…SIX WHOLE YEARS, Y’all!

K: We’ve finally found a rhythm in this marriage, parenting, working, side hustle life. And while I love photography, I’ve taken more interest in film.

W: FINALLY! I’m often asked about film and referring clients out for video service, but not anymore. Team Howard Photography has evolved into Willie, the photographer + Kim, the filmmaker.

K: And to think it all started with a Christmas gift!
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
W: Photography offers an opportunity to meet new people and develop long lasting relationships. It has the ability to bring people together. I’m a people person and can connect with anyone in a single conversation. I love working with people to create beautiful images they will remember for a lifetime. I don’t just capture great photos, I capture memories.

K: I love stories, whether books or movies, fact or fiction, love or comedy…stories are everywhere. With the power of video, we all have the ability to tell our story. I love the video shoot, but the magic is in the edit. The edit is where I create the story…YOUR story, and I’m here to help you tell it with dynamic videos. 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.
We would definitely take them to Deep Ellum, the Arts District, and Klyde Warren Park. Great spots for shopping, eating and entertainment. Deep Ellum has a lot of small business’ where you can shop, get a tattoo, listen to live music from up and coming new artist, and eat. Deep Ellum is the live music capital of North Texas as well as a hub for the performing arts from theater to comedy. Every night of the week presents an opportunity to experience local music, performances, art shows, and more. Dallas Arts District is boasting the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation and an array of vibrant and breathtaking visual and performing arts experiences across the city, Dallas offers world-class exhibits and adventures for culture lovers. One block over is Kylde Warren Park is a 5.2-acre park that delivers a comprehensive activities calendar for locals and visitors, including daily food trucks and fitness classes, a dog park, a children’s center, games and live music. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely need to give a shout out to Teshorn Jackson of Teshorn Jackson Photography. We met about 6 years ago. He saw some wedding images I took of a mutual friend and reached out to give me props on the images I captured. Little did I know he was an international/published wedding photographer himeself. He took me in as a mentee and has been a mentor ever since. I owe a lot of my growth to him. From the hard criticism to the job well done’s, he’s never let me stunt my growth as a photographer. Always pushing me to be better and go to the next level. He’s someone every photographer needs in their life as a creative.

Website: https://willieandkim.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/willieandkim

Linkedin: https://linkendin.com/willieandkim

Facebook: https://facebook.com/willieandkimphoto

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoksOhZBg4hN2rRow9hWnHQ

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