We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaylyn Marie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaylyn below.
Kaylyn, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
The biggest risk I’ve taken was actually starting my business! A little back story – I had a very rough pregnancy with my son and was forced to take medical leave from my job early on. After having my son in 2018, I had used up all of my medical leave and vacation, and was left with no maternity leave, ultimately leading to me quitting my job to take care of my son while surviving off my husband’s income. After all the hospital bills were paid and new baby purchases were made, I had $500 left to my name. During Black Friday sales in late 2018, I spent every last bit of that $500 on a camera kit and started photographing my son, family, and our trips, and the rest was history. In spring of 2019, I decided, practically overnight, that I was going to start my own business and made all the appointments to legally form Kaylyn Marie Photography and just took the leap. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to make art and make a difference. Now, 5 years later, I’m so grateful for that last $500, a moment of courage, and that little camera kit that changed my life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started Kaylyn Marie Photography nearly 5 years ago with the intention to be a photographer and create art, little did I know, I’d be doing so much more than just taking photos. I primarily photograph couples, weddings, and elopements, but also take on a vast array of other types of clients as well such as brands, families, and local businesses.
When I entered the wedding industry, I saw a huge hole that needed to be filled – couples were booking photographers for their day and they may have been getting great photos or amazing service, but there was a disconnect. I started seeing the same “Pinterest poses” everywhere, I read comment after comment in Facebook groups from confused couples wondering what photography coverage they needed or second guessing if they made the right choice, and shed a few too many tears over their shared words of frustration and sadness regarding their day and wishing “they had known” or “done different.”
Before even photographing my first wedding, I dove head first into creating a top tier experience for my future clients and became obsessed with making sure they received the utmost care and attention to detail in all areas of working with me, not just on the day I show up with my cameras. I’ve always stood by the saying “I aim to walk in feeling more like a friend than a vendor.” I think a big reason why I’m able to create such emotive and candid imagery and offer a top tier experience is due to the fact that I invest in my clients and get to know them on a more personal level. Each day and each client is so unique and learning about who I’m working with, what their passions and fears are, along with who they care about, what they want to feel on their day and through their photos – that’s what I love. So, I went on to create this client experience like no other, and today, offer multiple package options including custom package building and optional add ons, hundreds of pages of information and tips from years of experience, and personalized assistance and guidance for each of my clients.
For some, the wedding or elopement planning process may not be daunting, but for most, they’ve never planned or experienced a wedding or elopement of their own ever. From day one, I’m on calls and pouring into my couples, sending over my custom wedding and elopement guides and helpful information, and going above and beyond to make sure they stay informed and can relax more and trust that I have their back come the big day. I’m such. big mix of type A and type B personalities which I believe has been a big part of my success as a wedding and elopement photographer. I love to be spontaneous and laid-back, but I really enjoy the planning and research that goes into crafting a client’s big day – especially when they’re dreaming of saying their “I do’s” in a beautiful destination that’s meaningful to them! It’s so fun being able to share information from places I’ve traveled to, recommend activities and restaurants or even a hidden gem or off-grid secret spot I discovered, and help them on their journey to planning a day that feels like them and celebrates their love in all the ways they had hoped.
While all of my clients share the same wish – having photos that truly capture their day and the love they share and make them feel something or take them right back every time they look at them, each and every one of them and their days are so beautifully different. It’s the highest honor to be chosen as their photographer and to celebrate with them. Whether I’m headed to a nearby venue and ending a wedding day with hugs and and a fun send-off or trekking up a mountain during an elopement with a camera in one hand, and a dress train in the other, it truly is the greatest gift being able to offer a more top tier, personalized wedding photography experience as well as stunning, timeless photos for my couples.
As far as working with brands, that’s something I’ve been diving into more and more since 2021 and has brought me so much joy! My process in creating for brands is actually very similar to my process for my wedding and elopement couples in terms of getting to know the client and really getting a feel for what they’re looking for in their photos. I’ve had the pleasure of capturing a wide variety of brand content and products, from overloading vehicles and vast landscapes to events and top names within the lash and beauty industry, and it’s always a great time being able to create for other business owners and brands and help them accomplish their marketing goals.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Yes, SO many! Thankfully, I really dug for answers and help sooner than most, but my first year in business would’ve been much more successful had I known what resources were out there.
When I started my business, I had no idea what being a photographer and business owner truly entailed. Not only do we take photos and meet clients, but we’re usually a one (wo)man show! I had no idea I’d be shooting only about 10% of the time, with the remainder being filled with emails, creating guides, editing, managing social media, setting up meetings and calls, filing taxes, and more. I think most people underestimate what actually goes into being a professional photographer and running your own business, not to mention that most photographers go into it alone, with no idea where or from whom to seek help. I remember being a few months in, running a giveaway for a free session and having no clue what was next. How do I do social media? What do I offer in my wedding packages and how much should I charge? I had so many questions.
The main things that helped me early on were YouTube videos, other photographers’ social media content (so many people share tips and helpful info!), but most importantly hiring a coach/mentor. So many photographers and industry leaders offer mentoring or courses that are so helpful, especially if you’re looking to level up your business or have a bunch of questions. I now offer mentoring and coaching and it’s so amazing being able to pour into other business owners and give them the tips and tools they had no idea they needed to go forward and achieve success within their businesses.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I have so many stories, but one that sticks out to me is way back in my first year of being a wedding photographer. One of my first few clients that booked with me unfortunately had to pivot and change plans pretty close to their day. Their venue AC went out and it wouldn’t be ready in time to have their wedding there and they had both their ceremony and reception planned there, nearby their home where we would drive back to get some photos of them with their dogs on their big day. They ended up finding a church that could accommodate their ceremony and a new venue that squeezed them in for the reception, unfortunately we weren’t able to accommodate the portraits with their pups on their actual wedding day, but they added on a day-after session to make sure they got images with their boys!
I rolled with the punches, changed the address and updated their contract, and come wedding day, everything was going well until the bride’s wedding band was nowhere to be found. I had photographed it earlier that day and placed it back into the ring box and then the ring box back into the basket on the counter. As I walked down the hall and rounded the corner, I heard whispers of the missing ring and that “the photographer had it last.” I was in panic mode. I approached the group of bridesmaids and my poor sweet bride and detailed that I placed the ring back into the box and then into the basket they had and recommended they checked the car to see if it fell out.
Come ceremony time, there was no sign of the ring and I felt like throwing up. I was not only so sad for my client, but I was terrified of what had actually happened and beating myself up about a potential terrible outcome. I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything during that entire 8 hour wedding day.
The ring never showed up on wedding day, I offered to the bride to head back to their house and retrace everyones’ steps to hopefully find her ring, but she declined – and I would see her the following day for portraits with their dogs. I was hoping and praying that it would turn up before then, but it didn’t. We did have the best day-after session with their doggies though and their wedding is still one of my favorite to date!
Lo and behold, I get a text the following day from the bride. The ring had been found! At the airport, in the rental car they all took to the ceremony just days prior – it had, just as I had suspected, fallen out of the box somehow and through the holes in the basket. I was SO relieved for her and for myself because the whole situation was eating me alive. I’m so so grateful for my bride for being so patient and kind to me while she had literally no idea where her wedding ring was and didn’t have it for any of the photos she booked with me. Not only was she an absolute angel of a client, she also left me a glowing review! So much love for them!!
So, to illustrate my resilience, after all of that, I wanted to crawl under a rock and quit right there. But I’m so grateful I didn’t! Though I didn’t make a mistake, I learned a valuable lesson – to always speak up loudly if you have a suggestion and to not feel obnoxious when you double and triple check things with people on wedding day, you may look crazy, but it ensures that you get the attention of multiple people and whatever you’re bringing notice to will stick in their brain.
Now, I’m very comfortable grabbing the attention of the whole room or a few important members of the wedding party when I take any items to photograph them and after I return them so their whereabouts are always documented and I’m much louder with my recommendations for solving problems now that I have years of experience and so much confidence in my gut feelings and intuition.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kaylynmarie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylynmariephoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaylynmariephoto
- Other: Email: [email protected]