Today we’d like to introduce you to Kay Anders.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Kay Anders.
Hi Kay, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a photographer, retoucher, designer, milliner, writer, author, and businesswoman. I’ve always loved fashion, and anything remotely related to fashion and beauty. As a child, I knew that I wanted to be a fashion model. I started modeling in Dallas while in college, but I always knew that I was too short to ever be a runway model, which was always my dream. So, I turned my attention to fashion. I studied Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Design in school. With a degree in Merchandising, I thought I’d pursue a career as a Buyer, but once I started working in a Buying office, I remembered how much I hated math, and that was the end of that pursuit. Houston didn’t really offer the type of opportunities in fashion that I was looking for. I designed clothes and worked as a seamstress for a few years, but just couldn’t find contentment. I had studied photography in high school and had worked in a professional photography studio for a major retailer in Houston, so I began to pick up my camera and photograph local musicians in Houston, which eventually led to me creating and publishing JUST Magazine. JUST Magazine is a publication that spotlighted the lifestyle of Christians, with a strong focus on music and fashion, and with me writing many of the articles. I published the magazine from 2002 to 2008, but when the market crashed in 2008, so did JUST. However, I feel that JUST Magazine was one of my greatest accomplishments to date. In 2009, I had had enough of my limited opportunities in Houston, so I moved to New York City. My thought was that I would continue to work in the fashion industry, but shortly after my arrival, I realized that my true passion was fashion and beauty photography all along. I enrolled in school and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in photography. I was released from my job in the fashion industry and immediately offered a job at Hearst Magazines, coordinating and producing photo shoots in their in-house digital photo studio. Although I wasn’t working as a photographer, working in that studio taught me a lot about the industry, and I got to meet and network with a lot of amazing photographers, stylists, editors, and celebrities. In 2019, I began working as a freelance photo retoucher for companies like Ralph Lauren, Coach, Kate Spade, and others. I also began working as a photographer, shooting for companies like The RealReal and Flight Club. In 2020, covid-19 changed everything! All the companies that I had been working with didn’t seek outside help anymore since their budgets were being affected by the pandemic. In order to save money, I moved back home to Houston in late 2020. However, that didn’t last long. In May of 2021, a New York agency contacted me and asked if I would be willing to work remotely for a beauty company. I had nothing else going on, so I immediately said yes. Three months later, that same company offered me a full-time position in post-production, but I had to return to NYC. Happy to oblige, I hopped on a plane and was back home in NYC by September 2021. Today, I still work full-time for that company, but I now work remotely with them, which allows me to fly back and forth between Houston and New York. The 2020 pandemic taught me a lot about having a backup plan and various sources of income to rely on. As a result, I’ve started a business in Texas outside of my creative endeavors. Although I’ve accepted a few photography assignments in Houston, I haven’t been creating as I want to. I usually have to be inspired to create. I haven’t been inspired lately. That camera is like my third eye. It’s an extension of who I am because it allows me to see beauty in a way that isn’t seen by the naked eye. Once I’m done establishing this new business venture, I’ll start creating again. Creating is not just what I do. It’s who I am. I’m a creator.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Most of the struggles for me have been within myself, trying to figure out what to do with all my interests. It wasn’t until I left my comfort zone, Houston, and moved to New York City that I was able to figure that out. Once I did that, I struggled with figuring out what my niche would be in such a large, diverse industry.
Another challenge for me was the fact that I was starting late in the game. Most of the professionals that I worked with in New York were much younger than me.
Many of them were in their early to mid-twenties or coming straight out of college.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
If I had to narrow it down to one thing to focus on, it would be photography. I am a professional photographer and retoucher. I specialize in fashion and beauty photography, but often use my skills to create images as art.
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to do multiple tasks within the photography industry. Throughout my career, I have been a stylist, a photo assistant, a producer, a digital technician, a retoucher, and a photographer.
I am very grateful that I found a way to turn my passions into a career. Even before I moved to NYC, my passions produced JUST Magazine, and I was able to use every skill I possess for that magazine. I’m also grateful that I was able to leave my comfort zone to pursue my career at an age when most people are settling in, and I’m proud of myself for being fearless and for walking by faith.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My faith is the most important characteristic to my success. The ability to trust YAH for guidance and direction and to pick me up every time I fall is key to everything I do.
You have to be tenacious to pursue any dream or goal. You have to be fearless and able to take risks when starting your own business. I think a certain level of maturity is also important to success, as well as good character. Your skills or talents may be able to get you in the room, but it’s your integrity that will keep you there.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.kayanders.com
- Instagram: @kayandersphoto
Image Credits
Kay Anders
Mark D. Matthews
