We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kayla Aspen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kayla below.
Kayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.
Thanks for having me! I am a documentary style wedding photographer and my approach is a bit different than the industry standard because I focus on the “in-between” moments during every wedding. It’s a goal of mine to authentically capture my couple’s natural connection not only between each other, but also between their family and friends.
Sure, I’m absolutely taking all of the “must-have” wedding photos, but I’m not only photographing the pretty things. I’m there to capture the handshake each groomsmen gives the groom after they walk up the aisle. The tear your dad is shedding as he’s watching you marry the love-of-your-life. That big hug your god-father gives you right after your ceremony. Your aunt breaking it down on the dance floor, but also your uncle dancing from his table because he’s a little too shy to get in front of the party. I try to make sure every single guest is photographed at some point. All of these “in-between” moments are really what sets my work and brand apart. I want my clients to look through their wedding gallery and see moments they didn’t even know existed because they were enjoying their wedding day. That’s my goal!
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?
Of course! My name is Kayla and I am a wife to an amazing man, mom of 3 awesome kids and a wedding photographer serving the East Coast. I’ve been photographing memories for families and couples for about 5 years now!
I never grew up with an interest in photography, but I always had a passion for capturing the moment. I was the annoying friend in elementary school with my digital camera on every field trip, and then it was my iPhone phone in high school! I didn’t realize these small moments were actually creating a huge path for my life.
When I had my first daughter, I captured every single milestone through photos. The following year I spent all of my savings on a Canon Rebel T6! I had absolutely no experience in photography equipment – so to say I was overwhelmed was an understatement. As soon as I figured out how to take my first photo (it took awhile!) I was hooked.
At the time, I had a full-time job in corporate Marketing, but I put every spare moment I had into learning more about working my camera and editing. I literally took photos of anyone that would let me. I brought my camera everywhere that first year.
Eventually, I started offering mini sessions for families and gained more experience chasing little ones around! During year 2, a close family member was getting married and she asked me to photograph her wedding. Having only been to one wedding prior, and no experience with lighting equipment, I happily did it for free! That day, with my rebel in hand, I fell in love with wedding photography.
I was actually married one year later and connected with my own wedding photographer! She was amazing and let me second shoot for her so I gained experience and eventually started offering my own wedding packages.
5 years later, here I am! I quit my full-time corporate job in 2020, grew my business to 20+ weddings a year and raised 2 more babies along the way. It’s a path I never saw coming, but looking at how I got here, it all makes sense.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
A lot of my business comes through referrals from my past couples. Trust and communication with your clients is one of the most important aspects of wedding photography!
From the moment a couple books me (usually years in advance), I am here the entire time. I answer emails within hours because I want my couples to know that they’re a priority. It doesn’t matter when their date is, I am giving them my all because their day is just as important as the wedding I have tomorrow. From booking, to engagement session planning, timeline creation, day-of services, the editing period and album creation, trust and communication are there the entire time.
This also doesn’t end when their gallery is delivered. I love to keep up with clients on social media – I’ve even gotten to capture maternity sessions and family sessions with the families they create after their wedding day. Every friendship starts with trust and communication!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It means everything to me that I get to freeze moments in time. This season you are in is passing right before your eyes. We’re never getting these moments back and I am SO aware of this.
Unfortunately I’ve had many of my client’s experience family loss, and time and time again they reach out to me to thank me for capturing some of the last moments of their loved one. It’s always a bittersweet conversation – my heart breaks for them, but I also feel extremely blessed that the universe put me in this position of capturing memories that generations will look back on. I’m fully aware of how important this job is, which also makes it the most rewarding part!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kaylaaspen.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ kaylaaspenphotography/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ kaylaaspenphotography - Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-aspen-1a208984
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaylaAspen