We were lucky to catch up with McKayla Seiber recently and have shared our conversation below.
McKayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I knew I wanted to focus on boudoir photography after a specific photoshoot I had in 2019. I was taking photos of a friend for fun as a creative outlet outside of the 9-5, and after she saw the photos she said “is that really me”? The disbelief in her voice shocked me. We never see ourselves the way others do, and I knew I wanted to use my creative eye to show women that they’re art.
Another source of inspiration came from the lack of real women bodies we see online. We see these cool, artistic film photos on Pinterest or Instagram – but typically with the same body type. I love being able to create art with real women of all shapes and sizes.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi! My name is Mckayla and I am a Photographer based here in Los Angles with a focus on Boudoir. I use my lens to show women that they are the art themselves. My style is warm, sultry, artistic and vintage. I shoot with a Canon Mark IV but like to edit with a film aesthetic.
My art is a reflection of what I want to see more of in the world. I wished to see real women online who were relatable and not overly sexualized. I want to reflect to women what I see through my lens, because we can never see ourselves the way others do. It’s rewarding each and every time to be a part of someones healing journey by capturing their body in a way that inspires confidence and embraces sexuality.
While the thought of a boudoir session can be intimidating, I like to inform clients that I will be pose directing them the entire time! We always discuss goals and ensure we will get exactly the vision that they have in mind. It’s something I hope every woman can experience at least once in their life!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
My biggest piece of advice for starting to build a social presence? Just post the damn video.
I was so scared to post my first “how to pose” video on TikTok. I thought I was embarrassing myself and that everyone would think I looked cringey re-creating the boudoir poses in a T-shirt and jeans. Once I finally defied my inner critic and posted the video anyway, it received over 8M views!
That single video changed my life. Even though I did have a few people telling me I looked “cringe”, I also had 50+ inquiries for boudoir sessions. TikTok is my largest lead generator!
So feel the fear… and do it anyway. When you feel called to share your art or market yourself online, know that your courage to share will set you apart from competitors in your space. Go for it!
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
I want to comment on this noting that I do not do photography 100% full-time yet. I also work as a freelancer recruiting for clean beauty brands at Cultivated Talent.
I think that it’s important to be transparent as a creative about the process. While I am driven and passionate about photography, I haven’t “made it” as a full-time photographer after 3 years. The reality is that in order to live in a place like LA and not feel like I *have* to book clients to survive, I need to find another source of income so that I can maintain my creativity and excitement over my art. I do it because I love it, not because I feel pressured for a paycheck. For me, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday than working with 5 – 10 girls back-to-back in boudoir sessions. It fills my cup.
While you have to be willing to take risks and get out of your comfort zone, I think that you also have to enjoy your life day to day. We are only guaranteed the present moment, so following your “dream job” isn’t worth it if you’re killing yourself in the process. Enjoy the grind and find a way to do it that doesn’t kill the magic!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mckaylaerinedits.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckaylaerinedits/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mckaylaerinedits
Image Credits
the photo of me is by Jessica Wood Photos