We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laylonna L Hurley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laylonna L below.

Laylonna L, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I’ve been a photographer for 35 years, I’ve captured it all..( senior photos, engagement, maternity, weddings, boudoir, portrait etc liked creating ) however when I started doing fashion, beauty especially concept photography I not only felt relaxed and inspired I actually loved what I was doing… in 2019 after the California fires destroyed so much yet I saw beauty from ashes, I wanted a team, a makeup artist, a traveling model, designer wardrobe and an assistant I put out a feeler on social media wanting a huge Victorian dress, wedding dress sorta length, long flowy fabric that would blow in the wind, my friend and mentor Christina shared a photo that got her started shooting parachutes and models answered one in particularly I’ve worked with for years she said she had a surprise for me, we went to our destination location at the Hollywood sign and she pulled out this huge white dress… a PARACHUTE! I immediately messaged Christina ( because I will not dare cross anyone line!) she said go for it and here we are 2024 working in two books in my Barnes and noble book series The Parachute Goddess Project… gearing up for NYFW 24 but a one hour private show.. through this journey of creating beauty from ashes to the evolution of my parachute project I have captured over 200 beautiful females from 2-80 year old goddesses, I have been moved by their rawness to express themselves so freely, share their trials and tribulations taming the chute as they break the chains that bind … it’s been not only life changing to my clients but in myself, I felt safe, confident and beautiful in my skin! I have also opened up the experience to males and have the honor to photographer one of the top of billboards artist Dre Ben Frank in my 35 ft military parachute that flew in equipment to our troops in the jungle of Vietnam on the Brooklyn Bridge in one of my first showcases in nyfw 2021… this year we go back for a private one hour fashion show to bring awareness to suicide awareness and prevention with two new parachutes that I’ll be dying and making a haute couture … fire and ice… we will be shooting promotional photos at Utah Salt Flat in May where models will be photographed for our billboard in time square.. then Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs before heading to the big apple… we have Retreats happening in San Diego, Hawaii and Iceland 🇮🇸 and we can not wait to see the impact we make all while wearing a haute couture one of a kind parachute that has history and some battle scars!

Laylonna L, 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 was scouted when I was 13 for a modeling gig, I liked it but on long gigs I would be so bored until one day one of the photographers handed me a camera and said here do some BTS and I just fell in love with photography, from the concept to the results it was everything. So I made it my career and have been in the photography industry since I was 17.

I am most proud of the book series I have had the honor to not only capture but create a project that has lifted over 200 girls and woman from age 2-80.. every shape, every size, every culture… beauty is everywhere and I want them to embrace theirs! And not only has this changed some of my clients lives but it changed my narrative.

It’s not just a photograph it’s an experience!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What inspires me is the reaction I get from my clients. It moves me to create and capture more.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish resources for photographers were wide span like models have agencies/managers that help get them gigs… as a photographer we have to be kinda in your face… posting on social networking and on multiple platforms… it can be exhausting but exhilarating…

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laylonnahurleyfotos.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/laylonnahurley
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/laylonnahurley
• Youtube: www.YouTube.com/embracebeautymagazine
• Other: TikTok @laylonnalhurley

Image Credits
All images photographed by: Laylonna L Hurley self portrait in the blue dress and Brinn Thompson in the pink dress shot in Central Park one of me in pink parachute dress is my design and taken by Emmy Elle IG @emmyshotme