Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Cook
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
While I wasn’t exactly born with a camera in my hands, photography began as a hobby for me as a child. I never considered myself an artist, but documenting my life and the people and things around me just felt right. While in school at Mizzou and changing majors every semester, I learned to process and print my film in the darkroom and knew that I found my dream job. I transferred to the photo program at Webster University, which started me on my path to where I am now.
It’s been a long road, with years spent in the restaurant industry while I honed my skills and tried to figure out the ins and outs of how the hell to earn money as a photographer and build a business. I photographed my first wedding in 2010 and realized that photography, for me, is all about the story and the people in front of my camera. I began photographing boudoir photography in 2016 and began working full-time as a photographer in 2018.
My life is now full of celebrating the amazing and beautiful women of St. Louis with Boudie City, my boudoir and women’s portrait studio in Maplewood, and I just launched my lingerie boutique, Pêches, to further my mission of empowerment!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is there such a thing as a smooth road in business ownership? No, the road has been full of twists and turns and bumps, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without them! I loved my time at Webster, but I have spent more time educating myself on photography and entrepreneurship since opening my studio than I ever could have dreamt of studying in school.
Shutting down my studio for months during Covid and then returning to photograph weddings during a pandemic was nothing short of a challenge. Being a “solopreneur” is lonely enough, but when bookings or down or things go awry, it’s entirely my fault and entirely up to me to fix. I love problem-solving, so ultimately, my biggest struggle is keeping myself on track and not just jumping to the next fun, shiny idea when things get tough.
We’ve been impressed with Boudie City & Pêches Intimates & Lingerie, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Boudie City is my photo studio, and we’re located in Maplewood, MO. We specialize in editorial-style boudoir photography and women’s portraiture, and our focus is on helping women reconnect with themselves and celebrate their beauty! Every photoshoot is custom-designed for each client so that her goals are met and she sees herself exactly how she wants to be seen. While our studio handles hair and makeup, styling, posing, and direction, I want whoever is in front of my camera to feel like she can express herself and know that she is worthy of being celebrated for the incredible woman she is!
The guidance we provide to Boudie City’s clients is a lot of why Pêches now exists.
Pêches is my new lingerie and intimates boutique, and we offer lingerie for everybody and every body. One of the biggest concerns all of my photo clients have is finding stuff to wear: they don’t have any lingerie or they don’t know where to shop or they struggle with finding pieces that fit and make them feel good. With Boudie City, I always provide clients a list of places to shop, but the local options for shopping in person are really limited, and shopping online can be so stressful not knowing how things will look or fit.
So, I decided to open Pêches. Our focus is on providing lingerie and intimates from independent brands and designers who value inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical business practices. We carry pieces that are size, gender, and color-inclusive, because we believe that EVERYONE should feel empowered in their undergarments! We currently sell online and in-person at markets or with private shopping appointments in my studio, but I’m looking to open a brick-and-mortar location here in St. Louis in the very near future!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am constantly learning and looking for inspiration outside of my industry! I love reading, and I try to start every day by reading something educational or motivational. “The Pivot Year” by Brianna Wiest has been helpful for me, especially on the days that I struggle to get out of bed.
I love the Asana app to stay organized and on track with my goals, but I’m honestly a classic pen & paper gal, writing things down just makes them stick in my brain better!
Pricing:
- Boudie City Photoshoots from $450
- Average session investment $3000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://boudiecity.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boudiecity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boudiecity
- Other: https://pechesintimates.com/
