A New Season, A Big Refresh

A Big Kenzi Shipley Photography Rebrand

Wow, wow, wow. I cannot believe this. I have not updated Kenzi Shipley Photography’s branding for five — going on six — years! So much has changed in that time.

I’ve gone from being a wedding photographer to shifting my focus to being a Salem, Oregon–based newborn and family photographer, and I’ve really established myself there. I’ve owned a studio, set it aside, and moved through seasons of feeling stuck in a rut, then pressing forward again with new inspiration, drive, and purpose.

And even more significantly, since my last website launch, I’ve had kids. The last version of my branding reflected a kid-free version of myself. Since then, I had a daughter in 2021, a son in 2023, and another son in 2025 — three kids in four years. And I’ll tell you what, having kids has only made me a better photographer, business owner and person. Kids change you in the best ways.

A Little Reflection

When this site first launched in 2020, my husband was joining me in the business with the intention of adding video to my wedding photography packages. We quickly realized that wouldn’t work for us. I shifted my business toward what I truly love — families and newborn sessions.

There has been so much beautiful refinement in my work over the last five years. It’s been really fun to land in something I feel so confident is a fit for me. Right before my daughter was born, I stepped forward and opened the KSP Studio, a space exclusively available to my clients. That season was incredibly special.

It’s also a season I set aside in January of last year. I wish I had a clear reason why — the Studio wasn’t struggling by any means — but the Lord prompted it on my heart, and I wanted to be the kind of person who responds to those promptings. And honestly? It was so good. Over the last year, I’ve felt more inspired doing newborn sessions in rented studios and in clients’ homes than I had in years. I knew in hindsight that my heart needed that shift to avoid burnout, and I am so glad I obeyed that calling to set it aside.

During this same time I opened the KSP Studio, my husband and I experienced one of the hardest seasons imaginable — and the Lord walked with us through it. We discovered things we didn’t know before: how incredible counseling is (and how it will always be a rhythm in our lives), the holy work of parenting, and the wildness of God’s overwhelming grace for us as we walked through so much healing.

In this season He gave us a church home where we could truly be known, a community to do life along side, through buying our house and where Justin remained in a stable job for exactly the season of life we were in. Throughout all of this, I was able to work a little less while I had my babies. The Lord created such a safe space for our family — for healing, rest, and growth.

But life keeps moving, and there is always more to learn. We’re stepping into new adventures in my husband’s career, and while they’re exciting, they’re also scary and uncertain. I’m continually taking my thoughts captive and laying them before the Lord, trusting the same God who has carried us through so much already. As I write this, I see it even more clearly than before — He has walked with us through it all. And He will continue to lead us into spaces where we’ll one day look back and see all the good He was doing, even in the hard seasons.

So Here We Are — The 2026 Version Of Kenzi Shipley Photography

It’s wildly different, because I’m wildly different. The Kenzi of a few years ago is not the same person — and thank Jesus for that. I’m a mom, a believer, a wife, a friend, and so many other things. And I’m also a photographer. A small business owner who deeply cares for her clients and the heirloom value of the images I create.

After so many years in this work, I’ve seen just how special these photographs become. Time moves so quickly, and moments are gone before we realize it. I’ve seen images mark really hard seasons, and I’ve seen them document beautiful new beginnings — and both matter. A rebrand is necessary because it tells you who I am now and why I value what I do. My “why” has so much more depth than it once did, shaped by life and experience.

I hope in the work on this website and the words on the page, you see my heart. If you have been here since the beginning, I hope you see how far this beautiful business has come. In an industry filled with photographers that come and go, I hope you see my commitment and steadfastness in what I do and what I offer my clients. Through all of life’s ups and downs, I have remained solid. And now I hope I have a website and brand that shows that to you a little better.

The Why

People often ask me what my favorite part of photography is. I sense they’re really asking why I fell in love with taking pictures — but that was never the reason. I love photography because I love spending an hour with you, the client. I love getting to know people, and I love creating images I know will carry weight and value for years to come. At the very heart of all that I do, I simply love connecting with people and providing them with something beautiful and timeless.

Maybe that’s an unpopular answer — but it’s mine.

I hope you have time to flip through this website and see a little bit of my heart on these pages.

Link: Family Photography

Link: Newborn Photography

Link: Maternity Photography

Thank you for being here, truly.

Kenzi

PS: Enjoy a self portrait and some landscapes I took after a session at one of my all time favorite photo spots.

Contact me HERE to work together.