We were lucky to catch up with Kayla Czarniecki recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kayla , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

One of the first official wedding assignments I ever accepted was in Germany. A country I had only visited once, where I spoke almost no German, and where I knew even less about the local wedding traditions I was about to document. Looking back, it feels unbelievable that I said yes so quickly, but at the time it felt like one of those moments where your future self would be disappointed if you didn’t leap.

I packed the only three cameras I owned then: my Canon R6, my Contax T2, and my vintage Canon 518XL Super 8 and flew across the ocean with equal parts excitement and nerves. I had arranged transportation and a place to stay through a friend, but when I arrived, those plans turned rocky almost immediately, and as a professional with so much respect for the bride who hired me, I was determined not to fail.

The bride was warm and thoughtful, her family incredibly kind, the kind of kindness that dissolves fear you didn’t realize you were carrying. They welcomed me, trusted me, fed me, and in the most unexpected moment of generosity, an aunt even offered me a place to sleep when my transportation suddenly disappeared the night of the wedding.

The wedding itself was intimate and deeply sacred. I was learning cultural traditions in real time, paying close attention to gestures, rhythms, and rituals I had never seen before. Doing everything I could to honor their story without ever interrupting it. By the end of the day, I felt less like a stranger and more like someone who had been temporarily woven into their family tapestry.

It ended up being one of the greatest experiences of my early career, not because everything went smoothly, but because almost nothing did. I learned that bravery isn’t loud, sometimes it’s just quietly deciding to keep going. I learned how to trust myself, even far from home. And I learned that taking a risk, especially one that scares you, can lead to the most unexpected forms of connection, grace, and growth.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Kayla, the artist behind Gypsy Lemon. My journey started in 2013 in the editorial world of Miami, where I first learned the foundations of fashion, lighting, and posing. Those early years taught me how to see beauty with intention, and I continued to document beauty in North America, South America and Europe for several years, observing the natural world. It wasn’t until I picked up a camera to photograph real human connection that everything clicked into place. Capturing couples, families, weddings, children, and everyday love became the place where my creativity felt most at home.

Gypsy Lemon grew out of that passion. Today, I specialize in hybrid storytelling blending digital, 35mm, medium format film, and Super 8 to create work that feels nostalgic, soulful, and deeply human. I’m inspired by movement, emotion, and the quiet in-between moments that often go unnoticed. My goal isn’t just to take images, but to preserve the energy of the day by the way someone laughs, the way a moment breathes, the way a memory feels.

My clients come to me because they want something more than traditional wedding coverage or posed portraits. They want intentional imagery, honest storytelling, and a relaxed, guided experience that still feels natural. Whether I’m documenting a wedding in Florida, an elopement across the country, or a simple moment at home with a growing family, my approach stays rooted in compassion, curiosity, and connection.

What sets Gypsy Lemon apart is the heart behind the work, a blend of editorial influence, documentary intuition, and the nostalgia of film. I believe in capturing people as they truly are, in creating photographs and films that feel timeless and alive, and in honoring every chapter of someone’s story with care.

I’m most proud of the trust people place in me. Being invited into intimate spaces like wedding mornings, private vows, newborn snuggles, generational moments is something I will never take lightly. These are the memories that become heirlooms, and I feel honored every time someone chooses me to tell their story.

At its core, Gypsy Lemon is about connection: to people, to places, to moments, and to memories. It’s about creating art that feels lived-in, emotional, and true. And it’s about giving you images and films you’ll hold onto for the rest of your life.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

A big part of how I built my reputation in this industry came from the world I started in. Before weddings, I worked in the editorial space with Michele Pommier and DAS Model Management. Those early years connected me with runway photographers, stylists, and creatives who shaped the way I see light, movement, and storytelling. I spent time around photographers shooting Betsy Johnson runway shows, and even worked alongside teams creating imagery for Vogue through Anthony Neste’s work for a pant line. Being in those rooms taught me the standard of excellence required to create work that feels intentional, elevated, and art-driven.

At the same time, I was forming relationships with local photographers who took me under their wing. They mentored me in film, Super 8, and digital photography, pouring years of knowledge into me and helping me understand both the technical discipline and the emotional intuition behind great imagery. In the summers, I traveled to New York to assist and learn from photographers in the city, absorbing the pace, creativity, and refinement of the NYC art scene.

But above anything else, what solidified my place in this industry was developing a visual language that people recognized immediately as mine. I leaned into nostalgia, editorial influence, and cinematic movement. Blending digital, 35mm, medium format, and Super 8 in a way that felt true to who I was. Over time, clients, planners, and other creatives began to associate that look with Gypsy Lemon. They could see one frame and know exactly who shot it.

That combination, early editorial connections, mentorship from seasoned photographers, exposure to high-level creative environments, and building a recognizable style is what grounded my reputation. It allowed me to enter the wedding and lifestyle world with a strong foundation, a clear artistic voice, and a network of people who believed in my work before I fully believed in it myself.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

A big part of my leadership style comes from the same place my work does — connection, empathy, and storytelling. When I’m working with my team or fellow artists, I try to hone in on the things that are emotionally meaningful to them. Not everyone still has their grandparents, not everyone comes from a family with stability, and not everyone feels seen in the same ways. So I share pieces of my own story too, the emotional moments, the family hardships, the health struggles not to center myself, but to remind everyone that we all carry something.

Those conversations open people up. They help my team remember why our work matters: because we’re preserving fleeting moments for people who may never have them again. That perspective keeps us grounded and makes us show up with more intention, patience, and compassion.

I also make a point to encourage my artists to acknowledge each other’s strengths, to lift each other up, and to work collaboratively instead of competitively. We talk about communication, emotional awareness, and treating each wedding or session not just as a job, but as a space we’re invited into. Over time, that’s built a team culture that feels supportive, connected, and rooted in purpose the same values that shape Gypsy Lemon.

At the end of the day, I want my team to feel what I want my clients to feel: seen, supported, and understood.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://GypsyLemon.com
• Instagram: Gypsy.Lemon

Image Credits

All shot by Kayla Czarniecki