The Story

I am originally from Denver, Colorado where I began practicing photography as a sophomore in high school using a handcrafted pinhole made from an empty tin can and some electrical tape. I experimented with various film cameras, developed my own film, and enlarged my own images in the darkroom. I continued to shoot exclusively with film through high school and into college. My years of working with film taught me the inner workings of the camera.

I attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. I majored in psychology, minored in education, and enrolled in photography electives. In 2014, I purchased my first digital camera and began working as a product photographer at Into The Wind, a local kite and toy store in downtown Boulder. In December of 2016, I graduated with a bachelors degree and booked a one way ticket to Thailand.

That February, I quit my serving job and traveled around Southeast Asia for a few months. I visited Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Taiwan, and Indonesia. I literally flew around the world. I did a lot of soul searching and there is no doubt in my mind that it was the right move for me at the time, despite the challenges I faced. I met new people, reconnected with old friends, experienced different cultures, and took A LOT of pictures. My camera became a tool to tell my story, not just used to complete assignments. When I returned home to Colorado, I created Mallory Kessel Photography.

The next year, I decided to relocated to San Diego, California without a job or a place to live. I got my real estate license and built my photography business simultaneously. I began posting ads on Craigslist for $50 photo shoots and worked with my first few clients. I integrated myself into the San Diego photography community and realized that this is what I wanted to work towards. I wanted to capture beautiful memories for people to look back on. I shot every day, worked various serving and real estate jobs to pay the bills, and built my client base. I attended photography meetups and eventually shot my first wedding, concert, marriage proposal, etc.

Then came a sudden halt - the pandemic. It was no longer safe to socialize and people’s priorities changed. I used that time to explore other aspects of photography, like landscapes and self portraits. I was working as an escrow assistant but needed a creative outlet more than ever. I went into the office every weekday and pursued photography nights and weekends. I was eventually laid off from my job which proved to be a blessing in disguise. I became a full-time photographer that day and devoted all of my time to my passion!