Meet KB of Poisoned Co. in North Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to KB.

KB, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Oh man. I guess I started when I was very little. I had to be about four or five. I had a little 101Dalmations film camera that someone in my family got for me. Of course, at that age, I was just excited that it was 101Dalmations and they only let me put film in it every once and a while. As I got older, I would take disposables to school. I wanted to capture my friends, everything that was happening. I had a small box full of disposable cameras that I got to choose one camera every few weeks to go get developed.

High School is when things changed.

It was the MySpace age. Everyone needed selfies and needed post themselves all over the internet. I being the little Scene/Emo kid that I was needed all the photos of myself. I got a little Canon point and shoot digital camera. Don’t even remember what it was called. Took photos of everything in sight.

Finally, for my 16th birthday, my parents bought me my first DSLR. I was so excited. I took that Nikon D40 with me EVERYWHERE.

I eventually broke it… dropped it out of one of my best friends treehouse. I was devastated but it led to something better. I got my first Canon DSLR. The Canon Rebel T3 when I was 19. I used that T3 until last year in August when I sold it. (I had given up photography. A story for another time) But that was six years of using that camera. Obviously, I am back doing photography and that is thanks to a very amazing person in my life. They bought me a Canon Eos Rebel T5i and I got myself a 50mm f/1.8.

In my career, I have gone through so much. To this day I am still working through it. But photography makes me happier than anything.

I left a lot out but that is the basics of the story.

Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth? Not at all. I don’t think any photographer will ever tell you that their journey has been a smooth one. Photography is all about evolution. You keep growing, keep evolving through time. You never stop learning. And one of the biggest ways you learn is by making mistakes. I will only tell you my most recent mistake…

I quit photography.

A year ago in August 2017. I decided to leave my job and pursue photography full time. I had just branded myself as Poisoned Co. instead of my previous name.

I didn’t take a deposit to book clients. I had cancellations left and right. All for good reasons but when you depend on that money to eat, pay bills, or just live…cancellations(without taking deposits) can ruin you and leave you broke and defeated.

I had friends and family that would only call me when they wanted to shoot. They didn’t want to pay for the photos but they wanted to me to work for free. And when I told them, they had to pay they were angry and I lost friendships.

I had other photographers talking down on me like I knew nothing. Even though I had been shooting for over seven years at that point.

I couldn’t even do my own art because I was so broke and depressed that I could barely pick up my camera. So I gave up. Took a normal job. Sold my camera and I gave up. I thought it would be forever.

After three months of complete and utter defeat, I had another camera in my hands. It has almost been a year since I was reunited with photography and I am not giving up this time.

Even though some of those problems I had last year are still happening, I am standing my ground and I am happier than I have ever been.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Poisoned Co. – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Poisoned Co. was a long time coming for me.

I always was so focused on the normal things photographers do. Weddings, families, couples, kids. That I didn’t really think about what I enjoyed. So when I created this company, I took a lot of time to think about where I wanted to go with it.

I wanted to be anonymous. Not fully. Once people knew who I was, it wasn’t a big deal. But this company wasn’t about my name and my face. I wanted people to see this company and look at the ART, not the artist.

I guess I specialize in content creation. I work with different companies and models to create content for them and their sites.

I asked a couple of people and I guess I am known for my moody photos and concepts(when it comes to my personal art). I like things to be dark. I want you to feel something when you look at it.

I am proud of how far I’ve come. I never took anything seriously and I’ve pushed myself further and further and I continue to grow.

I don’t know what sets me apart from others. Everything has been done before. Every concept has been shot. Every location. Every model. Everyone has a different eye for things. So maybe just my eye?

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Best: We have some of the weirdest spots that can be beautiful. Around every corner is another interesting place. You just have to have the eye to see it.

Least: That’s obvious…. the HEAT. During the summer when we have the most light to shoot during the day, we are also sweating and dying in over 105-degree heat.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 623-866-9763
• Email: poisonedco@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poisoned_co/

Image Credit:
Poisoned Co.

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