Life & Work with Kaylee Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylee Brown.

Hi Kaylee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Photography has always been a point of interest to me, going back to when I was about 10. I grew up with photos always being taken in our house, of every moment and milestone, big or small. My dad had a film camera that he always used and I remember loving the sound the shutter made.

When he finally retired his film camera for an all-digital one in 2009, my interest really took off. I loved capturing all things, ranging from scenes I had arranged with decor, to nature, to people and pets- I was hooked! When I got to college, I took my first film + digital photography class which completely reaffirmed my passion for the medium. I started offering smaller sessions to my friends and family, trying to find my style and figure out what kind of photographer I wanted to be. During this time, I also would go out and just shoot the city.

I had my film camera from the photography lab at UMKC, so I would drive around after class, in the West Bottoms and search for cool spots for architecture photography. I fell in love with Kansas City and its history, all the old buildings, and the deep connection to the arts. I loved exploring downtown and composing shots, finding the perfect light settings for the area I was in. The whole art of photography was so exciting to me and the freedom to explore my city and capture it was such an amazing experience.

After a couple of years of doing hobby photography and shooting for friends, I decided to turn it into more than just a hobby. I started really focusing on my brand and building a client base. I wanted something unique and authentic to me, including the name. Eventually, all paths led to Kaylee from KC. I upgraded my camera and equipment and launched into what this side-gig could really be.

I applied for my business license and LLC, I partnered with a friend on building a website, started growing my Instagram, and committed to expanding my business. I got involved with the photography community in KC, which is full of supportive, fellow artists!

I have developed my craft, solidified my editing style and the way I pose and prompt my clients, and have felt so encouraged and enthused for where my business is going!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No road worth taking ever comes without some bumps along the way. I think the biggest struggle is not becoming discouraged when I have a lull in business. I think photography can be such a saturated market, especially in a city full of such incredible artists like Kansas City, that it can be hard to stand out amongst the crowd.

Because of this, I have found that building my client base has been the most challenging, but most rewarding course of action I could have taken for my business. I consider those I have had the privilege to photograph friends and it means the world to me when they refer me to their circle of friends and family. That bond and relationship I get to create with clients have led to so many referrals, which has been such a blessing as I expand my business.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an elementary art teacher by trade, seeing grades Kindergarten through 5th daily. I love working with younger kids, connecting and spending time in their crazy, creative minds. I think this is a really valuable skill I have when it comes to family photography especially! It definitely helps when I can relate and talk to kids between photos, getting to know them and interact with them at the session. I get better engagement and participation in taking the time to be goofy and play little games together, which I think makes them feel a part of the session rather than feeling forced to be there.

Another things that sets me apart in the photography realm, is how I mix prompts and light posing to set up my client. It creates such an authentic, intimate experience for my clients and I love finding ways to help them feel more comfortable in front of the camera. When I ask new clients what drew them to my work, I often get compliments on how natural and relaxed people look in my photos, in a way that isn’t obviously posed. This is something I am very proud of and have taken lots of time to research to achieve this style in my photography.

I also do not use heavy filters when editing, so my style is true-to-color and very natural. I love using lots of sun in my photos and enhancing the golden tones while editing!

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I don’t even know where to start! Kansas City has such a rich culture with so many unique places all over the city. The downtown skyline is probably my favorite part and always such a popular, in-demand request from my clients when choosing a location for their photos! I love that KC has a small-town feeling while being such a large metro area.

There’s just a feeling of pride here which only keeps rising- it’s just such a fun city to be in. I feel so lucky to have attended college here- my formative years were spent wandering the city and taking photos of all the beautiful architecture. I actually have a KC tattoo in honor of the years I spent exploring and learning who I was in this city.

I think my least favorite thing about KC would be the weather! Being in the midwest, you never truly know if a session is going to be rained out, fogged out, snowed out, etc. Our seasons are pretty consistent but it’s right when seasons are about to change that things can get a little sketchy. We have had snow in May, so you just never know! It sure keeps us photographers on our toes!

Pricing:

• Family Mini Session (30 min)- $150
• Family Session (60 min)- $200
• Senior Session (90 min)- $275
• Headshot Session (15/30 min)- $50/$100
• Maternity Session (45 min)- $175

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.kayleefromkcphoto.com/
• Instagram: @_kayleefromkc_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kayleefromkcphotography/