Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin DeLeon.
Hi Kristin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I decided to move back home and finish up my Advertising degree online at the University of Houston. I had always struggled with self-esteem issues and lacked true confidence in my appearance and personality, which was heightened coming into adulthood and especially during college. Seeing that I had time within classes and my social media management internship at home, I couldn’t let my camera collect dust in my closet! I had bought my camera back in high school and had the intention of making YouTube videos, but I was too shy to do that back then. My self-portraiture journey was born in my bedroom, and I was practically forced to edit myself almost daily, which allowed me to truly see the confidence I had all along—self-love came from me, not anyone else. As senior year came to a close and I was set to graduate in 2021, I told myself that I had built up all this confidence within my abilities, and I wasn’t truly meant for a 9-5—creativity was calling, and I couldn’t ignore the conversation. After talking with myself, I decided to officially start my photography business. I was 23 years old, freshly graduated, and was ready to do what I was meant to do, which was to inspire others and help them on their own paths to love themselves–just as I had.
Creating my rates, practicing my craft, and managing bookings were not easy tasks, especially without a team. I slowly fell out of love with creating photoshoots for myself and focused on what clients wanted instead. My personal life greatly affected this as well, and in the blink of an eye, the passion faded. From 2022-2024, I shot a few clients and friends, but my heart wasn’t truly in it at all, even if I crafted my own concepts to pitch to them. One day last year, as I was healing from external problems in my personal life, it all clicked for me. It was either I get back into creating for myself or opt for a regular job, ditching my dream completely. I had to give it my all, period. There were no options.
Now in 2026, I have an extensive clientele consisting of upcoming musical artists and those who want to build their confidence with any type of shoot they desire. Although client work brings in new relationships and also supplements my income, the intention and personal mission of inspiring others was and forever will be at the forefront.
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?
Absolutely not—there are obvious bumps in the road with ANY career path. My problem was placing too much emphasis on my personal life, which affected my work. How was I supposed to live in my truth and create if my mind was clouded with opinions that weren’t my own, and also ruminating about situations that affected me mentally and physically? It was impossible to do during this period. I would always ask the universe to give me a sign, give me a switch, something, anything, to pull me back in. When I worked as a barista in college, one of my co-workers told me, after I dealt with an awful customer, to “put [my] blinders on” and push through the shift. I took that advice and applied it to anything that was thrown at me. I also consumed a lot of music and podcasts to inspire me, seeing that if musical artists struggled in their journeys and made it out on the other side, I could too. I see life right now as part of a documentary that leads to something great.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photographer and social media manager on the side. I specialize in mainly in conceptual portraiture and know I can do anything else! I’m known for my work being cohesive in media planning—clients deserve to have structure to ease into shooting with me, and it helps us both to see what we can do. I’m also known for my work being colorful and conveying a story I crafted and pitched to a client or collaborator. I’m proud of the fact that I’m able to share my journey with others openly and help them get what they want out of a shoot with me. Being a female photographer, I’ve heard horror stories of working with predatory or disrespectful photographers, so to provide a safe, fun, and comfortable service means the world to me. What sets me apart from others is breathing life into the shyest of clients or collaborators; shooting with me is like working with a close friend who wants to bring out the best in you!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Likes include: The diversity in people and culture—being a child of Filipino immigrants means finding our chosen family and community, we don’t enclose our circle, we share! I find that besides my community, every community out in the city is also welcoming and ready to share their experiences. There’s always something special going on in Houston; it’s never boring, and now it’s a destination city! Also, we have the best food in America, sorry to every other city in the country. You can always tell someone is from Houston—everyone is hospitable and real, and if they’re not…bless your heart.
Dislikes include: Traffic and construction. Point A to Point B doesn’t exist from the hours of 6AM-9AM and then 4PM-6PM. The weather can’t make up her mind. Hurricane season makes everybody anxious. That’s all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://krembrilay.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krembrilay
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@krembrilay
