Life & Work with Kent Searle of Perrysburg, Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kent Searle.

Hi Kent, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was adopted from Paraguay and grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio. Honestly, growing up I was a completely different person than I am now. I loved football and rugby, and if I’m being real… I was definitely a little turd that thought he was the coolest guy in the room most of the time. Haha. But even back then, I still loved art classes in middle school and high school. I just never imagined creativity would eventually become my career.
Photography didn’t really enter my life until 2016 when my girlfriend Samantha, who is now my wife, and I moved out to Colorado. In 2018 we got married in Colorado Springs in the shadow of Pikes Peak, and to this day that was probably the best night of my life.
Living in Colorado is really where photography started for me. I loved taking landscape photos of the mountains, sunsets, and everything around us. That’s also where we had our first daughter and added our first two dogs to the family.
Then in 2020 we moved to the Tampa area in Florida. At the time I was obsessed with fishing, so naturally my camera started following me there too. I would take photos of the fish I caught, the water, the boats, and the places I explored while fishing. During that chapter of our life we also welcomed our second daughter.
Throughout all of this, my actual career was working in kitchens. I cooked professionally for around 15 years, and honestly I could throw down in a kitchen. I worked alongside some amazing chefs and cooks over the years and learned a lot from that industry. The kitchen life taught me work ethic, pressure, creativity, and how to grind even when you’re exhausted.
At the end of 2021, we moved back to Perrysburg to be closer to family again. I went back to cooking at Benchmark and Claude’s. While working there, I slowly started helping out with photos and social media here and there. Eventually though, I lost track of the fact that I was hired to be a cook first and not a photographer. I ended up getting let go, and at the time it felt terrible.
After that, I worked landscaping for about a year. Honestly… I didn’t take the landscaping job very seriously because all I could think about was photography. That was the first time I truly made space to focus on building my craft.
I started doing free shoots, walking around local markets taking photos of vendors and people, building relationships, and just shooting absolutely anything I could. During that time I picked up random paid shoots like maternity sessions, family photos, and even a couple weddings. Looking back, none of it was my best work, but that wasn’t the point. I was grinding nonstop trying to improve and eventually land bigger clients.
At the same time, life kept moving fast. We added another daughter, another dog, and with the help of my amazing parents we bought our first house. Things were chaotic in the best possible way.
Then in 2024, after finally building some momentum with smaller shoots, I officially started Kent Searle Photography LLC.
Soon after that I started getting opportunities from businesses like Bamblewood Mobile Bar and Deseo Mexican Restaurant. I’ll always appreciate those two for taking a chance on me early on before I really had a huge portfolio or reputation built yet.
Then one day Benchmark heard I was stepping my game up with photography and social media work. Around that same time they were looking to make changes creatively, so I got another opportunity to get my foot back in the door.
I had to interview with the owner Ed Harmon and Anna Gonzalez twice, and I can honestly say those were the sweatiest interviews of my life because for the first time I truly cared about getting the job. I wanted it badly. I loved photography so much and knew this was the opportunity I had been chasing.
At one point Ed even asked if I’d cut my long hair, and if you know me… you know how much I love my long hair. But hey, anything for photography right? Haha.
Thankfully I got the job.
Since Benchmark Restaurant Group owns both Benchmark Restaurant and what was then Claude’s Prime Seafood, I became the creative lead for both restaurants. Eventually Claude’s evolved into Claude’s Bistro & Bar, and I got to help shape the creative direction through photography, social media, branding, videos, and overall marketing.
It honestly became my dream job. I was trusted to handle the creative side from top to bottom and fully use my creativity every single day.
Huge shoutout to Ed and Anna for trusting me then and continuing to trust me now. I’ve now been managing creative and social media for them for around two years.
Around this same time, my wife and I welcomed our fourth daughter… and yes, another dog too. Haha.
So while managing restaurant shoots, client work, weddings, events, and building my business, I was also managing a house with four daughters under six years old, four dogs, and nonstop chaos. But honestly? No complaints. This is the life I always dreamed about building a big family while also building something meaningful for myself creatively.
Fast forward to today, and I still work with Benchmark Restaurant Group while continuing to grow Kent Searle Photography with clients like Shake Shack, the Toledo city paper, Rare Savory Taste Kitchen, Original Pancake House, and Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions. Huge shoutout to Chef Sierra, Ryan, David, and Andrew as well for believing in me and giving me opportunities to grow.
I still shoot weddings, events, family sessions, and honestly whatever people need because I genuinely love what I do.
As I’m writing this, I’m actually getting ready for a fully paid trip to Las Vegas to shoot a wedding, which is pretty surreal when I think about it. I can definitely say cooking probably never would’ve taken me to Vegas for something like that.
At the end of the day, I just hope to keep growing as a photographer, business owner, husband, and dad. And who knows… maybe someday we’ll finally get a boy in the mix. I know everybody reading this is probably thinking the same thing by now. Haha.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Lol no… What I didn’t add in the story was in highschool I was arrested twice in two weeks for marijuana possession… That put me behind everyone I got expelled from school and ended up just getting g.e.d. sooo yea from there I was always feeling bad for myself and always felt behind all my friends. But yea I got out that funk eventually. But Before I started my business I used to break down after some kitchen shifts after doing it for 15 years, just knowing it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing. And now it’s just a crazy to maintain all of it.. but it’s all I asked for and I want more and more so I do it because I love it. I love the late nights the early mornings waking up with purpose.a purpose to be a great dad husband business owner and PHOTOGRAPHER!!!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would say when it comes to me as a photographer I am best known for Food Photography. Since that’s kinda how my business first started and that is what most of my clients are when it is companies that are hiring me. Honestly, I think what sets me apart is that I didn’t come from a traditional photography background. Before this, I spent about 15 years working in kitchens, so I understand pressure, timing, movement, and atmosphere in a way that really helps with the work I create today especially with restaurants and hospitality.
I also think people connect with me because I’m real and approachable. I’m not trying to be overly polished or pretend I have it all figured out. I built this business through a lot of grinding, learning, failing, and improving over time.
Most importantly, I care a lot about storytelling and making people feel something through my work. Whether it’s food, events, branding, or people, I want the photos and videos to feel alive and authentic instead of staged or forced.
At the end of the day, I just love what I do, and I think people can feel that.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I question like this is tough for me. I don’t feel as though I am successful enough to be a mentor or share advice yet. Other than just keep learning, keep listening to those who are trying to help and just don’t give up.

Pricing:

• Contact me directly for pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kentsearle.photography/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contentby.kent