We recently had the chance to connect with Kyler Balsley and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Kyler, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Who are you learning from right now?
Recently I’ve been learning a lot from creators on social media. There is a creator I’ve been following on TikTok, seanisinspired, who has been practicing his videography on himself every day for years now. It’s so cool to see someone grind away at their passion and just use themselves as the subject. It’s inspired me to start doing the same with my photography. His work has really kick-started my creativity lately.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Well, my name is Kyler, and I’m a professional photographer. I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was about 9 years old. Growing up, I’d film and take photos of everything. As a third-generation photographer, I have always seen things in a unique way. I grew up with my grandmother and father constantly taking photos, so a lot of my influence came from them, as well as my camera knowledge. Photography for me has always been about showing everyone how I see the world, not to becoming famous or anything.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that saw photography as a formula and not as a creative outlet is something I need to leave behind. In college, I learned a lot about the technical side of photography, and it started to kill my creativity. Instead of using my imagination for my work, I started using formulas on what makes a “good” photo. Learning the technical skills is very important, but if you don’t put your heart and soul into your work, then no one will connect with it. I believe you have to have a healthy balance of technical skill and creativity. My motto has always been “If you don’t feel anything while taking the photo, your audience won’t either”.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I struggle a lot with anxiety and ADHD. I’ve always just masked it, or pushed it down and hoped it would go away. Recently, I’ve learned that if I take photos during my anxious moments, it helps immensely. It turns that intangible feeling into something physical. It helps me understand and work through those feelings. Art isn’t the cure for anxiety; it’s the conversation that makes peace with it. A lot of people have the same issues I have, so being able to show my struggles through my photography makes me feel not so alone in this world. If you struggle with something, my advice is to go create something. It can be anything. It will help you work through it, and you’ll get some cool art by the end of it.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think a lot of photographers will agree with me that the industry tells us that gear matters. To an extent it does, but it’s how you use it. People think that since my camera is expensive, it must take good pictures. A camera is just a tool. Without the photographer, a camera is just an expensive paperweight. If you put any camera into my hands, I promise you I will make something cool with it. To contrast this point, I think to be able to accomplish your vision, you do need the right tool for the job. So buy gear with purpose and intent, not just because of the specs or price tag.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What false labels are you still carrying?
Living with ADHD is tough because people seem to think I’m stupid. I struggle with simple things/tasks that everyone else can do with ease. Ive been told this so much that I’ve grown up to believe this about myself. It’s something I work through daily. My brain is just wired differently. I thrive in chaos and creativity. If you ask me anything about photography, I will know the answer and can go into extensive detail about it. Yet, if you want me to alphabetically organize a book shelf, I will shut down. ADHD is very misunderstood by people that don’t have it. So if you know someone who has ADHD, please read up on it. Give them some grace and understanding because its not easy to live in a world that isn’t built for us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kylerbalsley
