Kelli Smith met her future husband, Neal, while boating with friends. They stopped at a sandbar, and another boat pulled up. Kelli describes it as love at first sight—but the two would not get together until much later. Little did she know that this chance meeting would eventually lead to marriage, a shared life, and ownership of a successful real estate photography business, ECVT Real Estate Photography, Northeast Florida’s most experienced real estate photography team, which has photographed more than 40,000 homes since 2013.
But the road to success took an unimaginable turn in 2021, when Neal died suddenly of a massive heart attack. “I don’t know that there are words to describe the horror of watching the love of your life die suddenly in front of you,” shares Kelli. “One moment Neal was there, and the next, the life I knew had completely changed, as well as my family’s and the ECVT team.”
Kelli graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in accounting. After graduation, she worked for Ralph and Lou Simmons, well-known Amelia Island Plantation entrepreneurs, doing accounting for their businesses, which included the Paddle Loft and the Village Store, now the Falcon’s Nest. She later worked for Rayonier on the real estate and timberland side for 14 years, and then spent another 14 years with a private equity investment firm.
Neal graduated from Appalachian State University and began his career in sales and marketing. He genuinely loved people, and people were naturally drawn to him. His warm, charismatic personality and exceptional communication skills allowed him to connect with just about anyone. Eventually, Neal decided it was time to own his own business.
Combining his interest in photography with his many friendships in the real estate community, he saw an opportunity. He was ahead of his time, recognizing the growing importance of professional photography and visual marketing in selling homes.
The first step was learning how to use a DSLR – Digital Single-Lens Reflex – camera, which allows a photographer to control light, perspective, and image quality. He turned to Dawna Moore to teach him the craft. A year and a half later, Dawna became his first employee. Today, she is ECVT’s office administrator, lead editor, and photographer.
Neal began consulting with real estate agents to understand exactly what they needed and formally launched ECVT in 2013. The company evolved into a full-service real estate media company serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, offering professional photography, aerial imagery, video, floor plans, 3D tours, virtual staging, and other marketing tools.
When Neal died, ECVT had 11 employees, including eight photographers. Kelli never doubted that the business would survive. She knew the employees would join her in keeping Neal’s dream alive. She had done the accounting for the business from the beginning while continuing to work at her regular job, so she understood the company and its operations. Grief left her in a fog, and she needed the support of those around her to help manage the business and make important decisions.
Her three daughters were her rocks, making sure she was never alone during those first difficult months and remaining steadfastly by her side as she learned how to move forward. Neal had no children of his own, but he had completely embraced Kelli’s three daughters and five grandchildren. Her son-in-law, Ed McKernan, joined ECVT and became Kelli’s right-hand person, helping her learn the business, taking over Neal’s photography responsibilities, and managing day-to-day operations. He put his own career on hold for three-and-a-half years to be there for Kelli every step of the way.
And then there was the ECVT team. The employees were determined to keep the company going and help Kelli succeed. No one on staff was more loyal and supportive than Dawna Moore and Lee Benson. Dawna Moore shared, “Watching Kelli navigate that loss while also learning how to lead and grow the business has given me an even deeper appreciation for her strength, determination, and commitment.” Kelli also remembers the tremendous support of ECVT’s clients, many of whom had known and worked with Neal for years. Slowly, Kelli found her way forward.
Today, she has not only kept Neal’s business alive but has helped it continue to grow. Her determination has inspired everyone who knows her and works with her. When asked what advice she would give to someone facing a similar tragedy, Kelli offers words that come from experience: “Give yourself grace. Grief is not something you get through; it changes shape over time, and giving yourself grace means making room for the sadness, the anger, the exhaustion, the memories, and even the moments of happiness without feeling guilty for any of them.”
Kelli’s story is one of heartbreak, courage, loyalty, and love. She lost her husband and best friend, but she refused to let the business they built together disappear. Neal is still very much a part of ECVT. When difficult decisions arise, Kelli and her employees sometimes find themselves asking the same question:
“What would Neal do?”