We were lucky to catch up with KELLIE TAYLOR recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi KELLIE, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?
I launched my photography business in 2017 as a side hustle, but by 2020, I knew it was time to leap. Career-wise, I was ready for more; life-wise, the world was about to change. Going full-time in 2020—the most “impossible” year for the wedding industry—was the best thing I ever did for myself.
If I had started sooner, I might have lacked the business maturity I gained during those three years of grinding on weekends. If I had started later, I would have missed the unique chance to slow down, refine my brand, and deeply serve my couples when they needed a calm professional most.
I started at the exact right time. While 2020 was a “baptism by fire” for many, it forced me to be scrappy and adaptable. It proved that I wasn’t just a photographer—I was a business owner built to last. I wouldn’t trade that growth for a “safer” start date in a million years.
KELLIE, 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?
I provide documentary, moody wedding photography that captures how a day felt, not just how it looked. From engagement sessions to heirloom albums, I focus on the raw, unscripted moments that happen between the poses.
Weddings are beautiful, but they can be stressful. I act as a grounding presence for my couples. Whether I’m navigating a shifting timeline or a last-minute rain plan, I handle the logistics so my clients can actually stay present and enjoy their celebration.
My business was forged in the “baptism by fire” of 2020. That year taught me an adaptability and grit that defines my work today. I don’t chase fleeting social media trends; I chase timelessness and authenticity.
I am most proud of the long-term trust my clients place in me. Since 2017, I’ve watched my couples grow into families, and being invited back to document their next chapters is the ultimate compliment.
I want you to know that I’m more than a vendor; I’m a witness to your history. When you look at your photos years from now, I don’t just want you to see a pretty picture, I want you to remember exactly how it felt to be loved that day.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
In 2017, the game was much simpler and centered almost entirely on the early social media “Gold Rush.”
First of all, everyone wanted a “perfectly curated” grid. If your 9-square look was cohesive, you were seen as a pro. You could use 30 hashtags and actually reach thousands of strangers. It was the primary way couples found photographers.
Then you had the Facebook Groups and being active in “Wedding Community” groups was huge. Brides post “Looking for a photographer,” and the first five to comment usually got the job. Now there are hundreds on a post.
How? Styled Shoots were the peak of gaining exposure and being able to learn from those around you. Photographers would organize fake weddings with other vendors to create high-end content, which helped them break into luxury markets quickly.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
To turn a one-time wedding client into a lifelong fan, focus on meaningful follow-ups and becoming their family historian. The easiest thing to do is set a calendar alert for their wedding date. Send a text or email with a link to their gallery and a message: “Thinking of you both! Hard to believe it’s been [X] years.” with a link to the gallery if it is still up and a discount code to print! It is so easy to send a surprise gift or print credit a year later. Tag them, follow up, make sure they don’t have any issues in downloading or printing photos. SO EASY!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://knhtphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knhtphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knhtphotographyllc
- Other: TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@knhtphotography
Image Credits
Kellie Taylor, KNHT Photography