We recently connected with Kayla Sullers and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kayla, thanks for joining 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?
Earning a full-time living from my creative work didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a journey marked by passion, persistence, and learning to adapt. When I launched Beauty Beyond The Lens, it was October 2020. The world was still recovering from the impact of COVID-19, and I was halfway through my junior year of college. I knew I’d go hungry quicker if I waited around for others to provide me with work 24/7.
I also knew that building a sustainable career in production wouldn’t be easy, but I believed in the power of storytelling and the impact I could have through visual art.
In the beginning, I took on smaller projects—music videos, short films, and event videography—balancing them with other jobs to make ends meet. Over time, I invested in improving my craft by learning new techniques, connecting with mentors, and building relationships within the industry.
Working with talented artists helped me gain exposure, while partnerships with nonprofits and organizations allowed me to expand into educational initiatives like workshops.
The turning point came when I stopped viewing my work as just creative passion and began treating it like a business.
Developing a clear brand, understanding my value, and confidently charging for my time and expertise were key milestones. It wasn’t just about saying yes to every opportunity but strategically aligning my projects with my long-term goals.
Every day is a learning experience.
Looking back, there are things I could have done to accelerate the process, like embracing the business side of production earlier and investing in marketing to attract the right clients sooner. However, every step taught me something valuable.
Now, I can say with pride that I’ve built a career that reflects my values: empowering diverse voices, telling liberating stories, and creating opportunities for others to shine in front of and behind the lens.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Kayla, and I’m the founder of Beauty Beyond The Lens, a video production company where I channel my passion for storytelling into liberating visual art. I’m a producer, director, and director of photography, focusing on creating impactful projects that amplify underrepresented voices. My journey into this industry started with a love for cinema and music, which grew into a desire to connect with audiences through powerful visuals and meaningful narratives.
At Beauty Beyond The Lens, we specialize in producing and directing documentaries, music videos, short films, and branded content. We also partner with nonprofits and community organizations to lead filmmaking workshops, such as the upcoming Visionaries in Motion series in collaboration with Sisters In Cinema. Our goal is not only to create stunning visuals but also to inspire and empower others to share their stories.
What sets us apart is our focus on inclusivity and intention. Every project I take on is deeply rooted in collaboration. I work closely with artists and clients to understand their vision, ensuring the final product feels authentic and impactful. For example, when I direct music videos, I strive to transform an artist’s music into a visual experience that connects with their audience emotionally.
For those who connect with my work, I want you to know that everything I create comes from a place of authenticity and dedication. Whether it’s producing a visually striking music video or mentoring the next generation of filmmakers, my mission is to create art that inspires, uplifts, and celebrates our shared humanity.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A lot of folks aren’t aware I was homeless during my first “big break.”
Imagine everything you could’ve hoped and prayed for presented to you during one of the most challenging moments of your life. My family was experiencing some difficulties, and things weren’t improving at home. I had just wrapped up my freshman year at Grambling State University, and I knew I had to take a semester off once I got the news I was hired as a Camera Intern on Season 6 of FOX’s Empire starring Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard.
My university was my safe space, but being so far away from Louisiana, I didn’t have that solid community around me. This internship was such a massive deal for me; no, it wasn’t an option at this point in my career.
Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, I lost my housing a few weeks before my start date. Many of my peers, mentors, and colleagues didn’t know what I’d been through. I remember that summer of 2019, traveling with a backpack and key belongings, trying to figure things out. It was just me and my ambition. I couch-hopped, sofa-surfed, and slept outside sometimes.
That didn’t stop me from moving forward. I had no car or driver’s license then, but I still always found a way to show up to work on time daily. However, I was exhausted.
The long hours on set and the physical demands began to catch up to me, but I always refused to allow myself to fail. Once I found temporary housing, I was placed outside of Chicago. By then, I began traveling four hours daily by public transportation to and from work: Uber to the Metra station, then a CTA bus to another CTA bus. I barely made any money since I spent it on travel and rent for my temporary housing.
I could have quit long ago, but my hustle, dedication, and passion for this business prevented that.
The stress and anxiety of my personal suffering began catching up to me halfway through the internship. The crew on set started raising concerns, but I wasn’t ever transparent about my situation. Without overstepping, the camera department showed me as much support as possible. They got me a hammock to sleep in during my lunch break, and everyone pitched in and bought me a Lyft gift card to use for travel so I could sleep again and start saving some money. Grambling State University highlighted my internship opportunity, which ended up going viral. It landed me an interview on the local NBC news station. This momentum allowed my GramFam to create a space for the love and motivation I needed to keep going during this challenging time.
Unfortunately, my temporary housing ended, which caused me to end my internship a month sooner than expected. The cast and crew appreciated my hard work and dedication on set so much that they threw me a surprise going away before wrapping up my very last day.
I remember folks being confused about my bursting into emotional tears once I saw a cake that said, “Kayla, We’ll Miss You!” followed by Taraji P. saying, “Ooooh, an Oreo cake? You must be really special.” LOL
At that moment, I knew my resilience had paid off, and nothing could stop me from doing what I loved.
I’m so proud of myself for not giving up and just seeing it through. That challenging time changed my life forever.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Managing a team and maintaining high morale starts with fostering an environment of respect, collaboration, and clear communication. Over the years, I’ve learned that people work best when they feel valued, heard, and part of something meaningful. I believe in leading by example. If I expect my team to be creative, adaptable, and invested in the work, I must show up with the same energy and commitment. It’s also essential to set clear expectations while giving team members the liberation to bring their strengths to the table.
Transparency is another key. I try to be open about project goals, timelines, and challenges so that everyone feels informed and aligned. If adjustments need to be made, I involve the team in those conversations, which helps to build trust and a sense of shared responsibility. Acknowledging and celebrating achievements, big or small, goes a long way in boosting morale. I enjoy walking around set high-fiving folks as a quick moral boost to let them know I’m still alert and aware of their needs. Whether it’s a shoutout during a meeting, a personal thank-you note, or a team celebration, recognizing hard work shows your team that their contributions matter. I prioritize creating a safe space where feedback is welcomed, and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities. I encourage open dialogue, whether someone has an idea to share, a concern to voice, or even constructive criticism for me.
The most rewarding teams I’ve worked with have been those where everyone feels like their voice matters, and their role has a purpose. Morale naturally follows when people feel connected to the vision and empowered in their roles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beautybeyondtl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylacymonee/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-sullers-b41465179
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@beautybeyondtl
