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910-367-5720
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WILMINGTON, NC
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC

© 2003 - 2025
KELLY STARBUCK Photography

Category Archives: Headshots

Abstract Art, Abstract Photography, Architecture and Interiors, art, Art gallery, Editorial, Headshots, Live Music, Musician photography, musician portrait, musician portraits, News, portrait |

September 24, 2021

| Kelly Starbuck

Kelly Starbuck Artist Profile in Wilmington Magazine

Reaching for Her Stars!

September 7, 2021

Talented, local photographer Kelly Starbuck showcases traditional wall prints and textile pieces in her latest exhibition.

By KIM HENRY

Photography by KELLY STARBUCK

Photo by Dan Pierce
Starbuck with sister and nieces in front of artist & musician portraits at her previous fine art photography gallery, Salt Studio

Like so many artists before her, local photographer Kelly Starbuck arrived at the crossroads where she had to decide whether to continue on her secure but crushing career path, or take the leap and follow her true calling. It’s never easy to make that shift when the road is less traveled, and there’s no obvious map to follow, but it’s never easy living with regret either. Well, certainly not for this courageous photographer. Starbuck seized the moment and has since navigated her way to a more deeply fulfilling creative life as a full time working photographer. September sees Wilmington Magazine’s very own freelance photographer of eight years, hosting an exhibit of her personal work at Art in Bloom, and we’re excited to celebrate her accomplishments.

Having moved from Wilmington, NC at 26 to take her own bite of the Big Apple, Starbuck began producing major corporate events and was thriving on the adrenaline of the fast pace and glamorous veneer. “I loved it for a while, and then one morning after another 18 hour work day, I realized I had surrounded myself with people who were actually doing what I wanted to be doing, while I managed budgets and logistics,” remembers Starbuck. Listening to her ‘inner voice’ and drawing on her innate resourcefulness, her aim was to become a full time photographer, crafting professional shoots and exploring her own fine art projects, without going into a ton of debt.

Consequently in 2003, Starbuck began her transition into the photographic industry. Her singular focus led her to being a photo assistant and studio manager to the iconic Fernando Bengoechea and simultaneously working as a teaching assistant at the International Center of Photography in NYC. “I threw myself into the fire in all the areas I was interested in and learnt that way. I was helping teachers and gaining knowledge at the same time,” smiles Starbuck, surrounded by her eclectic body of photographic work. Abstract prints exploring light and dark sit next to assignment based headshots and editorial shoots.

Deeply inspired by memories, documentation and the feeling of a specific moment, Starbuck’s personal work seeks to capture a sense of time and space by playing with light and shadow. Growing up in Wrightsville Beach, then experiencing the intensity of New York City, her latest collection honors her relationship with both nature and city life. “New York is where I became a photographer. This exhibit is all about utilizing the energy of the city, the bright lights and connecting it to where I am now, back at my roots, back at the beach,” explains Starbuck.

Seapath, new Full Circle abstract photography series

In an age of endless filters and infinite editing possibilities, what does Starbuck’s creative process involve? “I started photography with film, so it’s ingrained in me to get the picture right with the camera. I don’t do a whole lot of manipulation in post-production. I don’t want to sit at a desk editing for endless hours, I want to work with what’s there in terms of location and light and create something unique,” says Starbuck.

Abstract photography of Water Street

Revisiting her childhood and finding ways to express the memories with soft focus and blurred edges, Starbuck refers to her first creative outlet, which was music. Unable to have music lessons, Starbuck always loved to sing and was in multiple choirs, ensembles and even had a few solo parts during high school. “This is why I have been building a portrait series of musicians that I connect with and who inspired me for the last ten years,” says Starbuck about a vast body of work dedicated to visually recording the spirit of music and the musicians who make it.

A Place to Bury Strangers, Brooklyn, NY

In addition to her own creative process, Starbuck has a vibrant assignment based aspect to her work, shooting for commercial and private clients and specializing in headshots, particularly for women. “I love helping my clients feel comfortable. I don’t stop until we get the image that they love,” smiles Starbuck who can roll between the immediacy of the moment and the precision of a more controlled photographic experience with ease.

Amanda Kramer of The Psychedelic Furs

Ever prolific, Starbuck’s photography has been displayed in countless magazines, galleries and even on Larry King Live, The Sundance Channel and in The New York Times. Starbuck had her own gallery between 2013-2015, SALT Studio Photography featured both national and local photographers during countless Fourth Friday Gallery nights and partnered with The Brooklyn Arts Center to produce and curate Wilmington’s first large-scale photography show featuring over 35 artists. She is thrilled to be exhibiting a collection of abstract pieces for the first time in her upcoming exhibit at Art in Bloom Gallery, which opens on September 24th. Delving into various themes of nostalgia, memory, beauty and dreams, through land and seascapes, Starbuck’s creativity is fueled from a deep place within herself. Blending different photography techniques and formats, the exhibit will showcase traditional wall prints and a limited edition of textile pieces. Wilmington is just as excited to receive this new work as Starbuck is to present it.

Custom printed home goods with Starbuck’s photography

+++

“FULL CIRCLE” Abstract Photography Exhibition
Opening Reception – Friday, September 24, 2021 from 6-9pm
Fourth Friday – Friday, October 22, 2021 from 6-9pm
Showing through – November 7, 2021

Art in Bloom Gallery
210 Princess Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
https://aibgallery.com

Appointments available upon request.
I’d love to meet you and talk about the work. Please reach out and we can set a time by calling 910-367-5720.

2004 Indonesian Tsunami, abstract art, abstract photography, art event, Bokeh Nights, Fernando Bengoechea, fine art photographer, Full Circle Series, ICP, Indonesian Tsunami, International Center of Photography, Kelly Starbuck, kelly starbuck photography, NYC, portrait photographer, Wilmington NC, Wrightsville Beach
art, Art gallery, Editorial, Headshots, News |

January 28, 2015

| Kelly Starbuck

Kelly Starbuck “SALT Studio: Year 1” Photography Exhibition in Encore Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHIC REFLECTIONS: KELLY STARBUCK’S NEW EXHIBIT LOOKS BACK AT SALT STUDIO’S FIRST YEAR

Jan 27 • Art, ARTSY SMARTSY, FEATURE MAIN

What’s in an image? It’s a quandary every photographer must ask herself. For local photographer Kelly Starbuck, nostalgia and family (of any degree) have emerged as recurring themes in her work. Turn back the hands of time to one year ago, and she unveiled not only her fresh, new photography studio and gallery, SALT (805 North 4th Street), she also debuted her exhibit “Family Shrine.” The fine-art photo series captured her longing for home (Starbuck is a Wilmington native and graduate of New Hanover High School) while she lived and worked in NYC.

web.DanWitz_MG_7996

 

Now, 12 months into business, Starbuck’s work has come full circle. She has premiered a new series, dubbed “SALT STUDIO: Year One,” just last Friday—to a turnout of 100-plus people. The collection celebrates her first year in operation and even harkens back to her NYC days.

Starbuck’s love of photography began at an early age. A visually geared mind, combined with her grandfather’s propensity for being a “shutterbug,” led her to make an interesting request on her Christmas list at age 10: a Polaroid camera.

“All of the film was used up by lunch,” Starbuck says with a laugh. “I had various cameras and took snapshots throughout life as a passion, but didn’t really consider photography as a profession until I realized that if I didn’t make a go of it, I would regret it later in life.”

After working as a corporate events producer, Starbuck made the transition to the photo industry in 2003. Her first job was as a studio manager for Fernando Bengoechea. It wasn’t long before she also began working as a teaching assistant at the International Center of Photography.

Having worked in the industry for over 10 years and moving back to Wilmington in 2009, SALT Studio truly has become Starbuck’s home. “I was ready for my photography business to move to another level and to have a studio where I could offer clients the option of studio- or location-based photography services,” Starbuck details. “When I found the space, it easily lent itself to have a small gallery, and I always wanted to curate photography shows. So it was a perfect fit. The first year has been great and I have learned a lot.”

Starbuck beams over her accomplishments: SALT Studio has hosted the likes of husband-and-wife duo Scott Irvine and Kim Meinelt for their “Waxenvine” exhibit (Irvine is even depicted in a New York-minded photo from “SALT STUDIO: Year One.” The “Secrets & Lies” production team bought the prints for set decoration. As well, SALT has hosted international photographer Leeta Harding.

“Probably the biggest name was Christopher Rauschenberg, son of famed painter Robert Rauschenberg,” Starbuck comments. “His ‘Studio’ exhibition was a great draw for artists of all mediums.”

The real standout from SALT has been the sense of community that’s blossomed. More so, Starbuck’s evolution as a photographer, is evident in “SALT STUDIO: Year One.” “Mostly, [it’s] the theme of relationships,” she says. “My artist, musician and actor portraits was the biggie. These were ideas I had for a while and finally pushed myself to work on this body of images. Many of these people are great friends, and the feeling I got after putting that wall of images up was, ‘Wow! I love having these awesome people here with me (many live in NYC) and I don’t want to take this wall down in a month because I will miss them.’”

Starbuck’s work covers an array of editorial, commercial, private client, portrait and fine-art photography (“Bokeh Nights”) that she has amassed since conceptualizing SALT. With each photo she passes, she exudes a distinct sense of familial love. She can recall how she knows each person, their story and even how the depicted individuals know each other.

One of her favorites is a portrait of artist Dan Witz, who has showcased his photo realism internationally and was the cover artist for this month’s Juxtapoz Magazine. It comes as part of a collection that features artists in their workspace.

“I love how he is nestled between his paint brushes and a large-scale painting he created for his ‘NY Hardcore’ exhibition,” Starbuck describes of the Brooklyn-based painter.

The show also boasts a sweaty, hard-rocking image of pop-rock band GROUPLOVE that she took after a concert they performed at the Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill. She’s known the band members since her time in New York. “Bokeh Nights” fine-art photography collection also reminisces of her New York days. Comprising blurred neon lights that epitomize the larger-than-life brightness of the city, the photographs were captured locally through light reflected off the Cape Fear River and the USS Battleship when it was lit over Christmas.

Her editorial work consists of photos taken for Wilmington and Focus on the Coast magazines in 2014. “My favorite has to be the fashion cover shoot I did for Focus on the Coast,” Starbuck says.

The story examined three pairs of jeans that could be worn both uptown and downtown. The cover image, which features Kelly Tada, was shot with natural lighting to add accent to the minimal cement wall behind her. “She just looks awesome!” Starbuck adds.

A series of black-and-white photos Starbuck did for Oliver Earney’s CPA firm, as part of an interior-design project, are also on display. “One of my favorites is a group of trees at Fort Fisher. The trees don’t look like they are here at all—more like Africa,” Starbuck says.

DETAILS:

SALT STUDIO: Year One

Photography by Kelly Starbuck
SALT Studio, 805 North 4th St.
On display through February 23
www.saltstudionc.com

+++

KELLY STARBUCK “SALT Studio: Year 1” Photography Exhibition
The show hangs through Feb 23, 2015.

SALT Studio Photography
805 N 4th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
http://saltstudionc.com
910 367 5720

Photographer, Owner, Curator: Kelly Starbuck

Monday – Friday   12:00pm – 5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday by appointment
SALT Studio is a working photography studio and business. Please call ahead (910.367.5720) to confirm the gallery is open and that we are not on location for a photo shoot. Appointments welcome!

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