We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kayla Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I have always said, “The more you help others succeed, the more you will succeed personally and professionally yourself”. Legacy is different for each of us, but to me it means leaving an impression in the hearts of others.

I live life to the fullest at all times and I just love to spread happiness wherever I go. I want to be known for inspiring others, encouragement, and giving others hope that no matter your struggles life is full of so much more. When I meet you for that first time, I want to hear what you do, what encourages you to wake each day. I want to learn your strengths, weaknesses, and get to know you really are. Life is full of speed bump, journeys, mountains to climb and it is all about how we choose to get over them. There is someone around us with a powerful voice we just need to listen.

I hope my legacy leaves this, the words of wisdom. A feeling that someone was in your corner through it all. I hope that you remember the hour conversation that started from a “hello” and ended with a powerful message that left you knowing you can rock anything coming your way.

I am a mother of three beautiful children, a wife, a photographer, an author, a motivational speaker and a friend. I am that one person that will tell you like it is, give you advice on how you can fix it, or just lend an ear to hear about your week. I want my family and friends to keep learning, keep making mistakes, keep trying to figure out what comes next.

Life is about the journey and one day the journey for me will be left to my children. In hopes that I have shown them that it takes grit to accomplish your dreams, but it also takes those mistakes to build your strength for what your next chapter holds.

Kayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began my photography journey in college as a Graphic Design student after attending Wade College in Dallas. While attending college in San Antonio I took a night photography class that allowed me to learn about a darkroom and developing. I was intrigued from that very moment. Fast forward several years and I still love photography. I love capturing the smallest details with my Nikon D7500. One of my fav subjects is macro, very close up images. I get very excited when I see the image develop from my lens to the finished print that a client takes home.

I have readjusted my focus in the past few months. I just revamped my business branding sessions and book #2 “Beauty in the Details”. I am a true artist at heart with images in a local gallery, Cool Creek Art Gallery in Bridgeport, Texas. I published my first coffee table book Unique Vision last Fall. This will be the first of five coffee table books to be released. I designed my books to encourage, inspire and teach. Creating a diverse audience allows me to reach more readers and give them a taste of the beauty that surrounds us all.

The moment I am most proud of is when I learn from each conversation I have with another woman. I am proud of the continued strive to succeed. I am proud of just the idea that I will leave a legacy my family and friends will continue to talk about for years to come. I want my clients to know this, I take pride in my work. I believe in faith and that faith gives me strength to imagine beautiful sessions before they take place. I want a future client to know investing with me, with the Kayla’s Unique Eye brand encourages family. We would enjoy adding you to the KUE family.

I am a mother, a wife, a photographer, an author and a friend. I want you to know it is okay to take care of yourself. I want you to give yourself the permission to be intentional in taking care of you mentally and physically. As you continue to grow professionally and personally our powerful voice makes us blossom into this amazing wildflower. Just remember with each failure comes a successful journey that leads to the next chapter in our lives. Rock it and I look forward to having a cup of coffee or tea very soon.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Lately I feel like this is very much in motion for me professionally and personally. This year it is as if my business is moving in a new direction. I am now an author not just a photographer. I actually have printed images in a physical gallery. One of my images was just accepted into the Distinguished Artist Veterans exhibition November 5 – December 22 at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art. You might also see another image Autumn Reflections which was photographed in Brunswick, Ohio was chosen by the National Wildlife Federation for their holiday card series, which is now live on their website. Life has a funny way at times to slow us down and allow us to ravel in the positives.

This pivot in my life has given me lots of time to rethink my focus. It has given me a tiny moment to take care of me and each time I take care of myself personally, it helps build another brick in my career chapter. What better way to enjoy change than as a published author who uses her talents to help others.

In each conversation I learn from others on how to better myself. I also, share my journey with others. The best way to be a strong business owner is to share your struggles, your fears, your accomplishments which has allowed me to gain a new client base and new followers. As the journey continues to evolve so does my mindset for what is to come. I anticipate there is more just over the horizon. I know this is just the beginning for me and soon you will all know the next chapter in my life book. So, hold on to your seatbelts, it is going to be an amazing ride.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my favorite marketing stories just took place the other day. I had just completed my third red light therapy at this wonderful business called Wise Body Sculpt. After, while trying to figure out what membership I would like to invest in, we got to talking about the artwork on her walls. This conversation left me feeling powerful.

All I did was a take a minute to breath and have a conversation. I knew my day was totally full of preparing for my Artist Reception that evening at Cool Creek Art Gallery, but one thing I knew, everything happens for a reason. It was meant for me to share my story and learn how to help another woman in business. It was meant for our paths to cross. If in Bridgeport, Texas stop in and say hello to my wonderful friend Susan. Tell her I sent you.

I love to market on social media, create an ad in a local advertising, but the best marketing is over a cup of coffee while learning from another business owner. Sometimes it can be a challenge from time to time, but it can also be the most rewarding all wrapped in one.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kaylasuniqueeye.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kaylasuniqueeye
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kaylasuniqueeye
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-jones-18701154

Image Credits
Credit: Kayla’s Unique Eye Photography