About Us

The origin of the red rooster for our logo: 

A cockerel is a young rooster, often pictured as bright, bold, watchful, and full of spirited energy. The surname Cockrell comes from medieval England, where it developed from this Middle English word cokerel. Like many medieval surnames, it may have begun as a vivid nickname. In this case, the person whom it was first assigned to most likely was proud, lively, confident, incredibly good-looking, and humble.

Cockrell Photography is a family‑owned, on‑location studio that thrives on big milestones and everyday moments, crafting historical images of happenings you’ll be able to leave for your grandkids, your great grandkids, and so-on. Sometimes, those moments can be as simple as a gathering at a food-truck, or, it can be a large event such as that of a first marathon, a swearing into the state bar, the birth of child, a graduation, a protest, a party, a wedding, an old pet.

Our inception took root when founder and owner Kelly Cockrell first discovered photography as a means of expression in the high school darkroom where she spent hours breathing in the chemicals during her sophomore year. After a multitude of detours, she finally earned her BA in Fine Arts with a focus (no pun intended) in photography from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Her creative inspirations leading up to this moment have included freelancing for the Daily Lobo, interning with the Santa Fe Reporter, teaching street photography workshops and camps to middle school and college students, and designing websites and print advertising campaigns in academia (See her design portfolio here.) But when asked what her most life -changing experience has been, without pause, Kelly will tell you that racing through the streets of San Francisco delivering packages as a bicycle messenger was, without a doubt, the adventure – the pinnacle- that put it all into creative perspective.

Ryder Cockrell who recently graduated with a BA in Economics from UNM, adds his expertise in video production and editing from the years he spent studying at the Public Academy for Performing Arts (PAPA) in Albuquerque. Ryder loves to travel to foreign countries, woodwork, and play with his dog.