We recently connected with Kyla Chambers and have shared our conversation below.

Kyla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

After graduating college, I started as a designer in the Architecture & Design Industry. During that time, I was first exposed to how many people it takes to deliver a successful project in the built environment. That was parallel to the start of my passion for photography. Early on, I knew at that I did not want to be a designer but I loved the design industry and it introduced me to some important networks and it was instrumental in introducing me to the craft of architectural + interior photography.

After design, I pivoted to the sales world – leveraging those connections from my early career – and learned how to market myself, deepen my connections with existing networks while also building brand new ones, and it further influenced my passion to do photography full time.

In my full-time career sales, I leaned fully into commercial photography – deepening my portfolio and client base – before making it a full time commitment. Ultimately, the early career years I had were absolutely pivotal to my current journey. I could not have launched outright and needed the networks and business acumen from those early jobs. Now, I have been able to fully invest in my passion and make that my career. I am still growing and setting new milestones every month; however, I have never been more inspired and dedicated to my career as an interior & architectural photographer as I am now.

Kyla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My background is interior design and it was from that education where I learned the beautiful balance between form and function. As an architectural + interior photographer, I am able to collaborate effectively with all business functions within a firm. My joke is that I ‘speak design’ and can help give knowledge and opinions on site to capture + create the most functional set of imagery and content.

With both the design + sales background, I can hear and understand clients in a unique and solution-focused way. From the photography scout + pre-production, to the shoot day and in post-production, I’m able to set expectations, define production schedules, and ultimately deliver architectural imagery that is effective for every business unit from marketing and interiors to architecture and lighting.

I am also very proud of my particular skillset. With my background, I’m able to combine the technical aspects of photographer with the designer eye. I can stage any environment to capture the “can’t miss” shots. My background in sales has made me an expert collaborator and am happy to consistently iterate to deliver exactly what my clients are looking for in their photos.

I am so proud of the growth that I have had over the past few years; the relationships that I have built, the technical conferences and workshops that I have attended, and the scale at which I’ve been able to make my side-hustle during my early career years into something that truly scales. Coming from sales and design, I prioritize customer service and that is a huge asset to the photography – and drone – services that I offer.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My passion and love for architecture and design is what brought me to this industry. While initially pursuing the route of design, I was introduced to the profession of architectural + interior photography. My mission is beyond the technicality of cameras, tripods, and lighting; it is because I fell in love with the storytelling. The ability of the built environment to have impacts on our ever aspect of our lives, the work that my clients do – often over years and with many obstacles – are what inspire me.

The other, more personal reason that sustains my on my creative journey, is the support and love of my dad. My dad worked throughout the years as a roofer and later a commercial millwork estimator. We connected by looking over projects and pouring over plans. When I started to get really excited about commercial photography and how I could really dedicate my efforts to transitioning to photography full-time, he asked questions, learned about the process, and supported my need for new photography gear. He supported me in all the ways a parent could. There was not a singular person that was as interested in what I was doing as my dad.

I lost my dad in October 2021. In the wake of this loss, I decided that working toward self-employment and entrepreneurship was not going to happen while also working a full-time job. I do regret that he did not get to see this part of my journey. I know how proud he was and is my continued source of motivation on this creative journey. It’s his legacy balanced with my passions that drives me every day. It’s also his hard work, his determinism and his care that shaped who I am and I hope that a part of him lives on through what I get to do for my clients – and myself – every day.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

My first photography job was in a hospital photographing newborn babies. When I purchased my first camera in college, I had no idea or plan for this hobby becoming a career. So early on, I experimented. From photographing weddings and families, to products and real estate, I have effectively tried out so many niches of photography when it was a side-hustle which has, ultimately, made it sustainable. It let me try, fail, and try again and cultivate my areas of passion, interest and skill. Because I was fully employed during this time, I was allowed to take all earned photography money from this experimental phase and reinvest. Any and all money made was poured right back into getting new gear or online courses. I rented lenses and equipment before larger shoots. It was guerilla photography.

When I was ready to upgrade to a full-frame system and really invest in building to be an architectural photographer, my dad loaned me $6,000 with a very flexible re-payment timeline. That, alongside my early earnings was the springboard to making this a full time career.

Photography is not a low-cost endeavor but between support from my family and working a full-time job while building my client base, I’ve been able to remain sustainable. With constant budgeting, I have been able to realize meaningful growth and remain committed to my vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kylachambers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyla_chambers/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyla-chambers-1ab6a42b/