Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Lorenz.
Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
While I was in grad school working toward my Master’s in Occupational Therapy almost 20 years ago, I photographed my first wedding. The very next year, during class (shhh…don’t tell the professors), I named my business and officially started Creative Visions Photography in 2007.
After I officially became an occupational therapist, I went to work full-time in a pre-school for 10 years. During this time I continued to pursue photography in the evenings and on the weekends.
In 2013, I went to my first national photography conference through the Professional Photographers of America and my eyes were opened to many possibilities. Up until that point I really hadn’t treated photography as a business, I just loved taking pretty pictures. After the conference, I committed to growing professionally. I became a Certified Professional Photographer in 2017, a huge step in truly owning my identity as a professional photographer, even while still working full-time as a therapist. I had discovered print competition and began intentionally refining my craft through competition.
In 2018, I got the opportunity to shift to a part-time OT position. The opportunity allowed me to focus more on two things that I felt passionate about: growing my photography business and helping kids and families, especially with feeding. Funny enough, during grad school my goal was always to work part-time as an OT…maybe somehow I always knew I was meant to be a multi-business owner.
Since going part-time, I have been able to invest more in my community by joining the Cottleville Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce (and now serving on their board), connecting with fellow women entrepreneurs through Little Black Book, and completing the Vision leadership program through Saint Charles County.
Late in 2023, I made a career move that I hoped would lead to meeting a long-time goal: working in the NICU. It only took a few months to find out that was not going to happen due to hospital policy and red tape. This disappointment was difficult to accept, but it was also eye-opening to the fact that I had basically been kept in a box for the past six years by big healthcare. I had been forced to “stay in my lane”…limited in the trainings and treatments I could offer, even when my skills and passions aligned with other disciplines and were within my OT scope. The final blow was when the box got even smaller and I was told I could no longer work with babies under three months per their regulations.
So, in May of 2024 I took the leap of faith to start my own private practice, Grow Well with a mission to support babies and their families in the first year of life in a holistic manner. I am especially passionate about feeding, developmental milestones, and empowering parents to feel confident and supported during such a crucial time.
The past year has been a whirlwind of growth and lots of juggling. While continuing to serve clients through Creative Visions (and earning my Master of Wedding Photography degree through PPA!), I’ve also been working hard to launch Grow Well in a completely different field. And because I like to really keep things interesting, I also started a third LLC to organize luxury wedding shows, and successfully hosted two events already.
It’s been a wild ride of growing my clinical skills to better serve families through Grow Well, helping those in the community who have known me for years as “the photographer” to understand this other side of my life, and continuing to elevate the client experience for Creative Visions Photography. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Is running a business ever a smooth road?! LOL
Some of the biggest challenges with Creative Visions Photography have been overcoming my feeling of not being a “real” photographer when I was still working full-time as an OT, charging what I needed to actually run a successful business, and now continuing to serve at a high level for Creative Visions while also juggling new business(es).
For Grow Well, some of the biggest struggles have been continuing to work in big healthcare while having my hands tied in regards to working with babies, educating people who have known me for years about this other side of my professional life, and staying patient as I work on building a brand new business.
I know that through all the challenges, I’m becoming a stronger business owner and I wouldn’t trade this journey for a perfectly smooth road. Every obstacle is shaping me into the kind of person and service provider I want to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a bit of an anomaly…part healthcare practitioner and part creative entrepreneur. I love that I get to do meaningful work in two very different fields, but they work together so beautifully in my opinion! I’m both a Certified Professional Photographer and a Pediatric Occupational Therapist specializing in infant feeding and development.
Through my photography business, Creative Visions Photography, I specialize in weddings and portraits with a timeless, joy-filled style. I’m known for capturing the real personality of a person or event and creating an experience that helps people feel confident and truly seen, whether it’s on a wedding day, celebrating pregnancy, or during a family session. I’m also known for my holiday themed outfits and my love of coffee, wine, and supporting other local businesses.
To keep life interesting, last year I started Grow Well, a private OT practice. In my practice I am focused on helping babies and their parents thrive in the first year, especially when it comes to feeding, bodywork, and reaching developmental milestones. My passion lies in empowering families with support, skills, and reassurance during what can be a very wonderful but overwhelming time.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built two businesses to reflect who I am: someone who deeply values connection, integrity, and helping people feel more confident. Whether the person I am working with is a bride in front of the camera or a mom learning how to help her baby with feeding and development. I want to serve that person to the best of my ability.
What I feel sets me apart is my ability to bring both warmth and professionalism into every setting. I wear a lot of hats (photographer, OT, business owner, wedding show organizer…), but the common thread in everything I do is helping people. I want my clients to always feel supported and celebrated.
How do you think about happiness?
Helping other people makes me happy. It’s the little moments where I see someone feel truly happy, supported, or celebrated and knowing that I helped them to feel that. Whether that’s a new mom finally being able to enjoy feeding her baby, a couple seeing themselves and reminiscing in a wedding photo, or a client gaining confidence from a headshot that feels like them…it all makes me happy.
I find so much joy in helping people through transitions and milestones in life. No matter if I’m helping parents guide a baby from bottle to solids, helping nervous new parents learn massage to help deepen their bond with their new baby, or capturing one of the many milestones in life with photographic memories (first birthday, a senior graduating high school, engagement, marriage…). I love encouraging others and using my skills to make their journey feel just a little easier and more joyful. And yes, the silly, lighthearted parts of life—the holiday themed outfits, the wine with friends, the laughter—those matter too. They’re the glue that holds all the big things together.
I think it all comes down to connection. I always say that “I am as people-y a person” as you can find (meaning super extroverted!)…I just love people. Helping others feel confident, comfortable, and celebrated makes me deeply happy. It’s what drives everything I do, regardless of if I’m holding a camera, offering feeding support, or just having a conversation with someone I just met.
Contact Info:
- Website: growWellSTL.com and creativevisionsphotos.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/growWellSTL and instagram.com/creativevisionsphotos
- Facebook: facebook.com/GrowWellSTL24 and facebook.com/creativevisionsphotos
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimlorenz/
Image Credits
Creative Visions Photography
