INNER PORTRAIT (https://kdiphotography.com/innerportraitpodcast/) is a podcast about seeing people - really seeing them.
Hosted by Kristen Dacey Iwai, Flagstaff family portrait photographer and owner of KDI Photography (https://kdiphotography.com/), each episode features intimate conversations with the individuals in front of the lens.
Blending photography, psychology, and thoughtful storytelling, INNER PORTRAIT (https://kdiphotography.com/innerportraitpodcast/) creates a space where guests feel seen, heard, and celebrated - where listeners may recognize parts of their own story too.
Together, we explore themes of identity, parenting, life experiences, vulnerability, resilience, and the moments that shape who we are.
Because there’s always more to the story than meets the eye.
How Small Actions Create An Amazing Community Impact
I started my personal project, THE HELPERS, because I felt called to showcase and celebrate people in our community who are making a positive contribution.
(Want to hear more about our HELPERS project? Please check out my little intro on our INNER PORTRAIT podcast page (https://kdiphotography.com/innerportraitpodcast).)
I wanted to feature Katie because, not only is she making a huge, beautiful contribution, but her organization does a great job of doing the same thing our HELPERS project aims to do - it highlights people and organizations that are doing good work for others.
In 2014, Katie came upon a really unique and simple idea.
She reached out to a few friends, and grew that spark of inspiration into a highly impactful force for good.
Since then, I’ve had the good fortune to witness firsthand the ripple effects of connection and community that WOMEN EMPOWERING NORTHERN ARIZONA (https://wenaflagstaff.wixsite.com/wena) has manifested.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Katie.
1 Jun 2026
A Heartfelt Conversation About a Beautiful Father-Son Relationship
I’ve photographed this wonderful family many times but this time was unique.
For a personal project to celebrate of Father’s Day, we asked Nick and Luke to come back into the portrait studio (http://flagstaffportraits.com) and the podcast studio (https://kdiphotography.com/innerportraitpodcast) to pay tribute not only to their first real portrait together, but to their father son relationship over time.
Wow. We absolutely loved what they had to share.
12 May 2026
How to Enjoy the Lasts & Firsts of Senior Year
Mayla was just a toddler when I first met her but she was, as she is today, ready to grab onto life and do ALL the things!
She was sweet and smiley and full of energy. So it makes sense that her mother describes her now as someone who “has so many patches on her letterman jacket that she looks like a NASCAR driver.” She is a busy lady.
I get the sense that she doesn’t want to waste her time. She wants to get everything out of life that she can, and not miss a thing.
Several months after her (https://kdiphotography.com/senior-portrait-photos-in-flagstaff/)senior portrait session (https://kdiphotography.com/senior-portrait-photos-in-flagstaff), we sat down to talk about this transformative year.
1 May 2026
Mother's Day Part 2 - Hannah
In Celebration of Mothers and Love Shaped Over Time
More than two decades ago, we made a studio family portrait of Kelly holding her newborn daughter tenderly in her arms.
This year, we did a personal project in celebration of Mother’s Day.
Kelly and Hannah came back into the portrait (https://kdiphotography.com/family-portraits-flagstaff) studio AND the podcast (https://kdiphotography.com/innerportraitpodcast) studio to pay tribute not only to that first real portrait together, but to their relationship over time.
Hearing what they had to say about their mother-daughter bond over this 21-year span warmed my heart.
Part 2 - Hannah
1 May 2026
Mother's Day Part 1 - Kelly
In Celebration of Mothers and Love Shaped Over Time
More than two decades ago, we made a studio family portrait of Kelly holding her newborn daughter tenderly in her arms.
This year, we did a personal project in celebration of Mother’s Day.
Kelly and Hannah came back into the portrait (https://kdiphotography.com/family-portraits-flagstaff) studio AND the podcast (https://kdiphotography.com/innerportraitpodcast) studio to pay tribute not only to that first real portrait together, but to their relationship over time.
Hearing what they had to say about their mother-daughter bond over this 21-year span warmed my heart.
Part 1 - Kelly
18 Apr 2026
Being Present - Part 2
In our earlier episode, I talked with Alex and Charlie about Addie's senior session. Here in part two, I sat down with Addie herself to have a lighthearted conversation about senior year, sibling differences, piggyback rides, creativity, her advice for enjoying high school, and even a dose or two of ASMR (https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/asmr-what-it-and-how-it-could-help-you-relax). Hope it makes you smile.
To see the portraits and behind the scenes for this session, visit
https://kdiphotography.com/podcast/being-present-conversations-about-time-parenting-and-high-school/ (https://kdiphotography.com/podcast/being-present-conversations-about-time-parenting-and-high-school/)
18 Apr 2026
Being Present - Part 1
For Addie's senior portraits, we did something we'd done at her brother's senior session two years ago. We made sibling portraits at the end.
We also laughed until our stomachs hurt, and you can read about why and see the behind the scenes on the episode page on our website. Their dad, Alex, was on hand to help and witnessed the shenanigans for the first session, and their mom, Charlie, at the second.
I sat down with Alex and Charlie to talk parenting, the difference between their two awesome kids, and what these bittersweet family milestones mean to them.
To see the portraits and behind the scenes for this session, visit
https://kdiphotography.com/podcast/being-present-conversations-about-time-parenting-and-high-school/ (https://kdiphotography.com/podcast/being-present-conversations-about-time-parenting-and-high-school/)
2 Apr 2026
John's Path Forward
After a catastrophic rock climbing accident, my friend and fellow photographer John Burcham’s life was radically changed. We’re incredibly grateful that he survived, but there is a long road of healing ahead as he works to regain his eyesight, strength, and mobility.
We sat down to have a conversation about recovery, photography, patience, continuous learning, and surprisingly... crumpets.
If you’d like to follow John and see his beautiful work, please visit:
https://www.johnburcham.com (https://www.johnburcham.com)
https://www.instagram.com/burchamphoto (https://www.instagram.com/burchamphoto)
To continue to help support the Burcham family with medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, and the loss of income, please visit:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/johnburchamcare (https://www.gofundme.com/f/johnburchamcare)
That is also a good place to visit to read more about the accident and see updates about John’s recovery status.
Topics we touched on in our conversation:
The support offered by ARIZONA HIGHWAYS:
https://www.instagram.com/arizonahighways (https://www.instagram.com/arizonahighways)
Richard Avedon’s self criticism:
https://agnautacouture.com/2014/03/23/photographs-with-or-without-a-story-like-the-critic-dovima-with-elephants-mainbocher-corset (https://agnautacouture.com/2014/03/23/photographs-with-or-without-a-story-like-the-critic-dovima-with-elephants-mainbocher-corset)
30 Mar 2026
A Dream Come True
It was 13 years in the making.
It all started in 2012 when my dear friend Kristen Dick was diagnosed with cancer. As the mom of 5-year-old and 2-year-old boys, she feared she might leave them motherless.
Over lunch one day, I asked her to picture something in the future, when her oldest graduated high school, where everything was OK. I asked her to describe it in detail – something she could visualize for a minute every day.
Her answer?
You need to hear about it in her own words, because it was her dream, her manifested miracle.
Get ready to laugh, cry, and be inspired. Listen to the KDI PODCAST interview here.
To see the portraits we talk about in this episode and the behind-the-scenes from Kristen's story, please visit
https://kdiphotography.com/a-dream-come-true-13-years-in-the-making (https://kdiphotography.com/a-dream-come-true-13-years-in-the-making)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
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