We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kayla Hall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kayla below.
Kayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry
In the photography industry, one of the biggest trends I am seeing are unposed sessions. This means that during your session, the photographer is doing less stiff posing, smiling at the camera, etc. and focusing on capturing more organic connection. This is huge when it comes to providing memories to families and couples. Gone are the days of threatening your family or significant other if they don’t smile and stand up straight. We are now welcoming an abundance of playfulness, laughter and genuine love over excellent posture. This means you may not get that perfect Christmas card photo. Going into your session with me and many other photographers, that is something you need to be prepared for. We have to start letting that go because what you will walk away with is an entire gallery of laughter, silliness, cuddles, moments that are real and that capture you and your family for who you are. That also means you walk away from a session that everyone truly enjoyed and that is my goal for each of my clients.
Kayla, 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?
I am Kayla… I am a wife of almost 7 years to an incredibly supportive husband, and a mother to a very sweet, very wild 2 year old boy, as well as a baby girl who is our angel watching over us. I started this business when I had my son. I wanted to be home with him and make the most of these years while he was little. I knew that I also wanted to give back to myself and to invest in some thing that I love. I had no experience in photography whatsoever. I had received a camera as a gift and I started using it just as a mother capturing her baby, but I fell in love immediately. I knew I wanted to give memories like this to other Mothers and families. When I say, this has been a learning curve, that is such a wild understatement. The knowledge and experience that I have gained since starting in 2020 has been incredible. I wish I could show myself back then how successful and special this business was going to turn out to be.
My goal is to give you something you will truly cherish forever. Your babies grow so quickly and this time in your life will be gone before you know it. It brings tears to my eyes as I write this knowing that I am also in these early years growing my family. When our babies are grown, we need to have something to look back on and remember. I want to be the person that captures everything from beginning to end and for the rest of your life. I want to capture your engagement photos, your maternity, newborn, family, anniversary, mommy and me, and everything in between photos. If anyone knows how important your sessions are, it’s me and I will be with you every step of the way. From planning your outfits, locations, guidance with posing and anything else you need to make sure you walk away with the sweetest gallery you could’ve ever imagined.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In the past, I have contemplated going in the direction of wedding photography and recently I have decided against that. Over Christmas my husband and I lost our second baby halfway through my pregnancy. It has been a really difficult time, but it has also given me the clarity for my life and the purpose that I have in this business. I know that I want to be a motherhood photographer. Becoming a mother is such a special experience, and I really would like to give all mothers photos that they love themselves in, and also memories of them loving on their babies. You just never know what life will throw at you. Each Mom has their own story they deserve to be given back to.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
The best way that I keep in touch with clients is over Instagram! Social media can be difficult to manage, but I love the interaction that I get to have on a daily basis with clients who have booked with me in the past. It allows me to see their families grow and little life moments that I can keep up with and connect with them on. In turn, it allows for each of my clients to see me and my daily interactions, and a lot of it is me just being a Mom! I have so many repeat clients, and it truly fills my heart with love every single time they book with me again. I get to see Mama’s again, with their spouses, play and joke with their kiddos, meet new babies and I usually talk to my family’s for a little bit after each session because it feels like we are friends. It is the best feeling and I get excited to see them time and time again!
Contact Info:
- Website: Kmarie_azphotography@yahoo.com
- Instagram: kmarie_azphotography
- Facebook: Kayla Marie AZ Photography
Image Credits
All taken by me, @kmarie_azphotography