This week we are welcoming the lovely Kailey Rae Photo to our blog! Kailey has hit the ground running with her photography skills, and we hope you gain some knowledge from her Q&A this week. Kailey is an expert when it comes to wedding, engagement, and family photography and we have so much we can learn from her!
How did you get started in photography?
"I was given a little DSLR as a graduation gift my senior year of High School. I didn't know anything about photography but just started shooting with it. I would take it everywhere I went! I would take pictures of my roommates, family, friends, anything! I then took a class in college to learn more of the technical side of things and thats when I figured out how to use manual and I loved being able to create an image exactly how I envisioned it. I slowly began to take family pictures for people who would ask. Eventually I started to charge for those sessions and everything sort of fell into place."
What is your go-to gear setup for most situations?
"I shoot with two cameras! I have a black rapid strap and put a Canon Mark iii with a Sigma 85mm 1.4 ART on one side and a Mark iii with a Sigma 35mm 1.4 ART on the other. I like having the variety in my images without having to constantly change lenses. And I am a prime lover, they are just so crisp! This is my set up 95% of the time in any situation."
Photography equipment can be quite heavy. Do you have a favorite bag that you lug all of your gear around in?
"Yes photography equipment is beyond heavy haha! I currently carry around a Black PRKVE Wandrd Backpack! It is amazing! My husband and brother in law have one to. My whole family loves them. They are a local Utah company and I love their product, it is high quality and a great price. It fits all my equipment with ease and there is still room for others things if I needed to add to it! It is the perfect backpack to carry lots of stuff."
What is a piece of advice you've been given that stuck with you?
"I would say the best piece of advice I have been given is to create what you want to create, not what you think others want you to do. It is easy to get caught up in trends and to compare to other successful photographers, but being yourself is what makes your work unique. It is important to find your own voice and to know there is no right or wrong way to go about things. Do what makes you happy!"
What is one photo or photography moment you are most proud of?
"One thing that still boggles my mind is that this is my full time job. I would have never thought that that little DSLR I got as a gift in High School would result to this. It is an amazing feeling to do something you love everyday! Being able to provide for my family with this has been a dream. I am proud for pushing myself to make my dreams a reality!"
How do you manage your stress and workload throughout wedding season?
"Umm... I don't haha! Wedding season can be a little crazy and I do try my best to stay organized and on top of things. I do outsource some work which has helped me focus on the important things in my photography. I also have softwares that keep all the important stuff in one place. Really what manages my stress is taking one project at a time. If I try to do too many things at once, I have a brain overload and it gets hard. I have to remember to just slow down and focus on the task at hand!"