Images, noises and movement everywhere. Sometimes there is so much that it’s hard to focus.
But St. Joseph’s Kendra Pence learned the heart of focus at a young age.
“Growing up, I watched my parents and grandparents work hard at everything they did and show generosity and kindness to people,” Pence said. “I was incredibly lucky to have their example.”
It was a snapshot that Pence brought into everything she did as an adult.
“Todd and I have always tried our best to follow the lead of both my parents and his to pass the importance of those things onto our children,” she said. “I hope our kids have seen and understood the value of working hard and making sacrifices, of developing genuine relationships and finding ways to give back and of learning from mistakes made and sticking with it, no matter how hard it sometimes seems.”
Pence said that today, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lot of “hard” all around. She has experienced it, too. With a compromised immune system and a photography business, Pence was poised to go into the spring and summer months with her camera ready to capture all of the joys associated with seniors and families capturing their family’s bond.
As March came to a close, Pence saw that the likelihood of ceremonies and rites of passage that Americans know so well were blurred. Following social distancing guidelines, Pence saw that she could use the tool she’d relied on to build her business to help other focus on the goodness in the here and now.
For families who live in her neighborhood, or those who live in more rural areas, Pence asked those who wanted a picture to step onto their front porch for a photo.
Photographers all over the country were participating in the “Front Porch Project” as stay-at-home orders came down state-to-state.
“I loved the concept and what I was seeing,” she said.
“I wanted to do something unique and special for my neighbors, and at the same time, still be able to follow all the guidelines that were being put forth.
“It was important to me to start a project to give back and to give me something fun and positive to focus on, but to stay on my own street or out in the country, where I was comfortable.
“It’s been such a fulfilling project for me, for those five minutes I’m with a family, standing out in the street taking pictures of them on their porch and watching them snuggle and laugh, it’s like my world is normal again for a few minutes!”
“And I love that many years from now, they’ll have those images to help tell their story of this time as it’s something no one will ever forget.”
Senior proms and graduations are also supposed to be an unforgettable memory. While St. Joseph-Ogden continues to work on plans to honor the Class of 2020 graduates, Pence wanted to capture them in the formal wear they planned to wear during last weekend’s prom.
“I feel so bad for the high school seniors, they’re missing some big events, so it was important to me to find some ways to help celebrate them,” she said.
“I have a son in high school so I’ve gotten to know so many of my seniors personally through being involved with events and activities at the high school, and honestly, there are some pretty incredible high school seniors out there and we all need to make sure they feel all the love we can throw their way.
“Just think of the stories they’ll be able to tell their kids one day…and I’m hopefully giving them images that can help tell that story!”
Pence’s photography story began when she was a bit younger than a graduating senior.
“I got into photography almost 16 years ago,” she said. “I’d never really done photography before that point because we didn’t really have access to cameras then like we do now, but I knew I wanted something where I could be around people and have something more flexible than teaching and coaching with our increasingly busy schedule.”
When her youngest son, Ty, now a freshmen at St. Joseph-Ogden was born, she reached out to a college teammate who had started a photography business.
Pence was immediately hooked.
“I got in the car and told my hubby, ‘Umm, I’m doing that!’ I still remember that moment and the chuckle he gave me.
“He knows how determined I am. In typical Todd form, always supportive, he said, ‘Well go for it!’”
A young couple with three young children at home, finances were tight. As Pence looked for a camera online, her husband asked her if she thought she might be able to make the money back through work.
“Hard work for me is never an issue, so I went for it,” Pence said. “I knew nothing about it, so one of the first things I did when I got my camera was grab everyone I could to practice.”
Later on, the Pence’s made an investment in a 3-day training that changed the way that she operated.
“I still try to invest in my business by training with the best,” Pence said.
The role of mom and business owner wasn’t always an easy ride, though. Pence admits that she struggled finding the work-life balance, but, a new neighbor helped make an impact in the trajectory of her success.
A few years after kicking off Kendra Pence Photography, Michelle Jacob ended up at Pence’s door, saying that she had worked for another photographer before moving to St. Joseph.
“At that moment, I was about to drown in all the work I was taking on with my business, so I think I told her she was hired that very minute as she stood on my front porch. Then I invited her in. I instantly adored her, and the balance she helped me find helped save me from complete and total burnout in those early years.”
In a decade’s time, the role of the photographer also came into focus. Instead of taking photos of any client, photographers honed in on a niche.
“I love the new niche concept, because then you can put all your focus into being the best you can be in that specific area,” she said. “I love seniors and families with little ones, so I try to specialize and really study and learn those two types of sessions.
“Right now, I still enjoy doing a few newborns a year though, although I keep those much more limited.”
Being behind the lens is where Pence feels most comfortable. For those on the other end, she wants the process of having your photo taken to feel more relaxed.
“We truly have fun and I just happen to be capturing real moments during that time,” she said. “Because we all know that life flies by. When a client ends a session with, ‘well that was actually fun’, I know I’ve accomplished what I wanted to, that’s the best compliment.
“Having a camera in my hand and being around people is so natural to me now that I sometimes have to pinch myself that this is really my job.”
Pence hopes that her children, too, will find a profession that they are passionate about, too.
“I hope our children never give up in whatever direction life takes them and I hope as they raise families of their own one day, they’ll feel like the examples they’ve seen from their parents and grandparents will be important enough for them to continue on with their own family,” she said.
Right now the Pence’s are focused on staying together, as a family and as a community.
“I know that is really hard because it affects us all so differently,” she said. “I think if we always keep trying to point out our own side, try to police people who view things differently than us, or we make fun of others for the measures they’re taking, then we ultimately just turn people more against each other.
“Right now, we need all the support & kindness we can get to make it through this, we need to stick together as a community and as a country. This is tough.
“So do something kind to help someone out, share a talent or call or text someone to check on them or cheer them up. As I mentioned before, I’ve had some anxiety with all of this but I’ve been so moved by all the kindness I’ve seen around me, my family and others in our community.
“There is still a lot of kindness going on out there in the midst of all the sadness and uncertainty. It’s meant more to me than they will ever know, so I hope I can do my part to pay that kindness forward to others!”
