About Me

Hello there! I’m your lady behind the camera! My name is Kelly Brown, owner of Kelly Dear Photography, LLC. My passion for photography started in my school years, way back when we used only film cameras with a crank and a darkroom to develop images. As a custom portrait and family photographer, it’s important to me to make a connection with my clients, so that we can create and showcase those moments that you’ll love and that will continue to bring smiles and joy to you and whomever you share them with for generations. 

Some notable things about my photography journey is that I’ve was voted top 25 photographers in my area from 2018 to 2020 by Hulafrog, which was an online community resource that helped bring people and families together for local events and small businesses. They  were in over 250 markets that stretch over 37 states, so to be voted top 25 in my area  was an honor. 

In 2019, I decided to enter an international photography competition. At the end of this contest, it spanned 144 different countries. There were over HALF A MILLION photos entered and almost 100 MILLION votes casted. And I not only got one image in the finalist category, but TWO! In 2023, I entered the competition again, and received SIX images in the Finalist category, AND FOUR images in the top 100!

In 2022, I was awarded Best Of Business in the Baltimore area for Family, Maternity, and Newborn from Expertise, for being one of the best businesses to work with. Expertise.com does extensive research on the businesses they recommend, from validating business qualifications, scouring public databases on the business reputation, and analyzing multiple sources of reviews. Needless to say, to be recommended by them for all 3 types of genre of photography has been a huge source of pride and honor. 

In 2025, I was featured in the online magazine, Voyage Baltimore, which showcases “Baltimore’s Most Inspiring Stories.

In early 2026, I attended NAHBE in Louisville, Kentucky, and won a National Award for best Macro Photography. It was an incredible experience, and I’m not sure I’ll ever top it! I was also featured in another online magazine, CanvasRebel, who’s “mission is to create a space for artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to be able to learn from their peers through the magic and power of storytelling.”

I am ALWAYS continuing to further my education in photography, always.

Peep the awards below and Publications below!

On a personal note:

I’m a mom of two wonderfully curious little boys. On top of running my photography business, I am CEO of Domestic Operations. Which is basically just a fancy way of saying that I keep our little family life running. I am homebase. I’m married to a loving and supportive husband, who believes I can do and accomplish anything I put my mind to. I’m so proud of the perfectly-imperfect incredible life God has allowed us to build. As a family, we love to be outside, going for hikes and having adventures. In my free time, which isn’t much, you can find me reading a good book, outside practicing my archery, foraging for wild goodies and herbs for creating natural remedies such as teas, lotions, or balms, or beekeeping, of which, I am currently working on my higher education and pursuing Journeyman Level in beekeeping. And I can’t decide which is better, coffee or tea, so I guess I’ll drink both.