THE PRO INTERVIEW
Scott Kelby is one of the biggest global names in photography training, as well as an author, podcaster, editor, blogger, and designer. We find out how he balances it all and still finds the energy to connect with live audiences
IF YOU had to describe Scott Kelby’s career in one word, it would be prolific. He’s written over 100 books and is best known to many as the CEO of KelbyOne, one of the most comprehensive online training platforms for photography and image processing. And yet the qualities that stand out when speaking to Scott (or reading one of his books) are his warmth, humility and sense of humour.
In his twenties, he was making a living by playing keyboards full-time in bands and clubs, or as he puts it: “Mostly fulfilling the dream of being a starving musician.” After a brief stint in the finance industry, Scott quit to start a graphic design business with his wife. This led to him starting a local newspaper for Mac enthusiasts, which over time grew into a national magazine available on bookstands. That got him into writing, and eventually a book publishing deal, and helped him launch his first live Photoshop seminar.
01 GUILIN, CHINA
The blue hour lends a mysterious atmosphere to this cormorant fisherman
Lens Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM
Exposure 1/5 sec, f/5.6, ISO800
02 VALENSOLE, FRANCE
A single tree adds a focal point and contrast in these lavender fields
Lens Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Exposure 1/80 sec, f/7.1, ISO100
03 NORWAY’S LOFOTEN ISLANDS
A 210-second exposure renders the water and clouds silky-smooth
Lens Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
Exposure 210 seconds, f/16, ISO100
04 SANTA MADDALENA
“The village is mostly to the right of this frame, but it’s not as picturesque as this view,” says Scott
Lens Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Exposure 1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO100
“I would sound a lot more intelligent if I said it was all carefully planned,” says Scott, who believes that a lot of his career was luck, a door opening when he least expected it, or one thing leading to another. It’s easy to be carried along by Scott’s optimism and energy, and it feels like he’s been making much of his own luck all along. Here, we find out what he makes of AI photo editing, what photography worlds he wants to tackle next, and what the success of having the world’s best-selling photography book really means…
You’ve had a hugely varied career. What got you into photography?
I’d never really thought much about photography growing up, but one day, my older brother came home with some 8x10 glossy prints from a trip he took to Europe, and I was jus
