Meet Kayla Miller of Four Butterflies Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Miller.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
My love for photography started in high school, and it wasn’t until three years ago that I decided to turn something I loved doing as a hobby for my family into a profession! Photography is important for many reasons, but my favorite would be preserving the most special moments in someone’s life forever. Time is funny; it can fly by and cause you to forget, but photography can capture emotion, happiness, joy, peace, or even sadness and turn it into an art that can be reflected upon years from now. It can remind us of loved ones that have been lost, the essence of new life being brought into the world, two individuals being made one, and so many other memories that can mean everything to one person. It copies the exact image you saw in your eyes and transfers that into an everlasting thought. It’s truly beautiful. At the time I started Four Butterflies Photography, I was a single mother to my three children and looking for anything I could do to support my family. I thought to myself, why not do something I love while also capturing beautiful moments that my clients will love! It’s truly magical to see new life come into the world and then being able to follow that little one to its first birthday. Or watching two people become one, start their life, and then expand their own family, it’s truly amazing to be a part of that! I opened Four Butterflies Photography in 2019 and have grown so much, not only as a business but as a person! I have had the amazing opportunity to connect with many wonderful people and families, and I love watching them grow in their journeys! Looking at my first images vs. now, I can see the tremendous growth in my art, and I am so excited to continue to grow and make those memories last forever for my clients. I have also had the opportunity to be published in multiple magazines in the social media community, which has been a huge accomplishment! Since the start of Four Butterflies Photography, I met and married the love of my life, am now a mother to four beautiful children, and we run the studio out of our home in Lee’s Summit, MO. I specialize in Maternity, Newborn, Milestone, and Cake Smash Photography. I hold Fall and Christmas Mini Sessions annually and sometimes dabble in the occasional Boudoir session every now and again!

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Opening and running my own business was not a smooth process- Back then, I was a struggling single mother. I had just lost everything and was trying to survive. It’s hard to start something with little capital to fund the necessities required. I sold things to save enough money for my first camera, saved for my first lighting kit, and counted every penny to make it happen. Once I had those things in place, I started advertising free sessions- I had to start a professional portfolio. I think getting your name out there was one of the most challenging things. I gave away countless sessions and images, which also allowed me to grow and learn what looked good and didn’t. It took the pressure off and allowed me to relax, knowing that my clients knew upfront that I was new and learning the art professionally. Once I had enough experience, I held my first mini-session. I only got one booking, but it was a huge win for me! It wasn’t easy, but it made me appreciate what I have now and every booking I receive.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Four Butterflies Photography is family-owned and runs a business specializing in Maternity, Newborn, Milestone, and Cake Smash Photography. We are located in Lee’s Summit, MO. Four Butterflies Photography is an all-inclusive photography service- we offer hair and make-up services before the session, wardrobes if requested, custom set designs, and fine art display products and packages. What’s special about Four Butterflies Photography is the experience that my clients receive- from their first conversation with me to the delivery of their gallery. I walk with clients every step of the way, ensuring that I fully understand their vision and bring it to life. I want to ensure that clients are comfortable and fully trust that I can capture their loved ones as they imagine. I think this sets Four Butterflies Photography apart from other businesses. My goal is that all clients are satisfied with their finished products and comfortable with the process at each stage. I love getting to know my clients; this builds a relationship with them and allows me to capture all of their special moments for many years. I want readers to know that I built the Four Butterflies Photography brand with love and the expectation that all clients will receive our top service at all times, We treat our clients like family, and I want them to leave with the best experience possible. I like to reverse the roles and ensure we hold ourselves to the highest expectation. I ask myself, “If I was the client, what experience would I want?” and that’s what we provide.

What characteristic of yours would you give the most credit if you had to?
The most important key to success in this business is communication and the relationship you can build with your clients. This starts the foundation for a long relationship for years to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: fourbutterfliesphotography.com
• Instagram: @fourbutterfliesphotography
• Facebook: @fourbutterfliesphotography
• Other: TIKTOK- @fourbutterfliesphotog

Image Credits
Four Butterflies Photography Headshots and Personal Photo: Chelsea Littleton Photography