We were lucky to catch up with Koiya Kensicki recently and have shared our conversation below.

Koiya, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Oh gosh, what a loaded question… this might seem off topic. But, this business really went hand and hand with my newly married self and our journey to having babies of our own. I will give you the short version…

I was married to my husband in 2015 and shortly after we knew we wanted to have kids. I was working in the medical field at the time and my husband working with the fire department pulling 24 hour shifts. With his schedule and mine, we knew we’d either need a village or new jobs to have the family life that we wanted to have. So, I picked out a camera and started offering sessions to family and friends for free. Eventually it grew into taking clients for pennies on the dollar, just to convince myself I had what it took to own a small business and to eventually be a Mom… in the midst of all of that we were trying and failing to have children… after three losses we ended up at a reproductive endocrinologist and after three more losses we had our baby girl. In 2016 I quit my full time medical field job and pursued my full time passion turned small business. In 2019 we had our baby girl and in 2021 we had our baby boy.

There was honestly never any logic of whether or not this business would work. It was just a “why” I needed to fulfill and eventually the “why” turned into a life of giving me freedom as a Mom and the family life that we always wanted.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was raised in a small town in Southeast Michigan. Dog lover, MAMA, passionate coffee drinker, striving every day to be the best human I can be. I’ve always had a passion for photography and for capturing moments that I wish could last forever. Whether it be tiny baby toes or wet doggie noses, I can guarantee I have a photo of it. I am a people person and love to make people smile. I pride myself on being compassionate, kind and dependable. I’ve been married to my husband, Brian, since 2015 and I am a Mom to two adorable fur babies, Bentley and Bernard, a beautiful little baby girl named Ellie that we were blessed with in August 2019 and a handsome baby boy named Brady in June 2021… I absolutely love being a mama and although the journey wasn’t easy, it makes me cherish it that much more.

I love all things green, black and barn wood. I am a golden light chaser for sure. I am obsessed with the beautiful colors of sunrises and sunsets. That rich warm glow just makes me melt. I love all looks of photography whether it be dark and moody or bright and airy, but my style always gravitates towards rich tones and true color when I edit my sessions. I love being with my kids. Laughing with my babies and loving on my pups are a few of my favorite things next to chips and guac. When I am not working you can find me spending time with my family, making them take too many pictures. I am a homebody. Best way to describe me would probably be an introverted extrovert.

In 2016, with the support of my loving husband, I decided to pursue my passion and begin to learn all the hard work that goes into being a photographer. In June of 2018 I quit my full time job in the medical field to be completely invested in my full time passion and I haven’t looked back since! I have the utmost respect for each and every one of you that puts themselves out there and follows their dreams! It definitely isn’t always easy, but let me tell you, it is so worth it! I absolutely love my job!

I love to laugh and play with my clients & catch those in-between moments that no one expects to be adorable. I love that I get to watch newborns and families grow throughout the years and I love meeting new people and getting to be a part of their family for a few hours while I capture their memories. I think my favorite part about it all is getting to see and hear the excitement that people get when I deliver their gallery of all of the memories that we captured together.

I provide a personalized experience that includes fully edited, high resolution galleries. Styling and personal wardrobe appointments at my studio in downtown Rochester, MI. Email, text and zoom call check ins at your request. I like to keep things relaxed and strive to make everyone feel comfortable before, during and after your session.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has definitely been word of mouth. Elevating my client experience and really niching down on not only that but also what projects I spend time on.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I will be honest, I do automate initial emails to keep in touch. I check in on my new Mama’s usually via text. I reach out before and after sessions multiple times and I really do put everything into my client experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.koiyakensickiphotography.com
• Instagram: @koiyakensickiphotography
• Facebook: @koiyakensickiphotography

Image Credits

Koiya Kensicki