Conversations with Kira Goff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kira Goff.

Hi Kira, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
When I was a freshman in college, my dad bought me my first DSLR (cough, “big girl” camera) for Christmas. You see, I’d been carrying around my little snap-and-shoot camera with me everywhere since middle school… (well, whenever I could find it anyway. I had a knack for leaving it places ). But when I unwrapped that DSLR, I knew photography was what I wanted my life to be all about.

I started taking photos for friends and family, then I got hired for a wedding (and more weddings)… And pretty soon I realized: Wow, this photography business can actually work. But in reality? Turning this into a sustainable business took 9 long years. We hear a lot about the freedom and flexibility of being an entrepreneur and it all sounds so luxe, but believe me, it’s not all butterflies and rainbows.

Not only have I had to learn how to support people through intimate moments, but I’ve also had to navigate long hours and figure out how to set boundaries. Plus, growing my expertise and confidence took LOTS of time and financial investment. But, it’s truly been worth it. Not only do I have an incredibly entrepreneurial spirit, but I’ve also discovered that I have the grit to stay the course.

Every challenge that I faced fueled my determination to make this dream a reality! I figured that if so many others could do it, why not me too? I’ve come a long way since that first year… photographing over 100 weddings, capturing thousands of family sessions and memories, and making a sustainable living that helps support my family.

And today, I focus mostly on my bread and butter: Brand Photography. I love helping small business owners define their visual brands and connect on a deeper level with their audiences (and end up with more $$$ in their bank accounts because of it). I’ve also opened a second business called KINDLE Photo Studio & Event Space which I use for my own clients *and* rent out to other photographers to use!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was a mostly smooth (albeit slow) road starting out. Since it took me 9 long years to make the leap to full-time, I feel like I had a super strong foundation by the time I transitioned from a side hustle to a lifelong career.

There are definitely challenges any time you are working so inter-personally with other humans, especially for something as intimate and special as photography. Stellar communication, planning, and providing an amazing client experience was all a learning process, not to mention how to actually make a sustainable living in a creative field!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I offer brand and family photography and own a studio + small event space called KINDLE that I also rent out to others. I am most known for my brand photography and that’s mostly what I promote myself for, but I adore families and kids too, and can’t see myself giving up that part of my business any time soon. How is Kira Whitney Photography different from any Jo Schmo with a camera? Well, I’ll tell ya.

My Unique Approach: When you choose to work with me rather than a photographer who specializes in another type like weddings, you can rest easy, knowing that I live and breathe branding, which comes with a specific way of thinking of things that is unique from other types of photography.

-I use prompts to capture different emotions that you can then connect to your copy for a more impactful and thought-out post.

-I use posing and angles and suggest props to capture an incredible amount of variety, no matter how much time your session is for. I also include unlimited outfit changes on 2+ hour sessions and help suggest locations that will give a diverse array of imagery. Variety is key for me because I know that the more variety, the more longevity you’ll have with your library of images, and how crucial that is as a small business owner!

-Based on what we talked about on our initial Discovery Call, I shoot for the end result that I know will be most helpful for you with different orientations and blank space for text/design (i.e. Instagram, website, sales pages, podcast cover, etc.). We’ll also prioritize some images that aren’t of your face but have your personality still infused whether through creative motion, posing/framing, props, etc.

-Consistency is what you’ll find with me! Something you may not know to ask photographers about is if they use an external flash (surprise, I do as needed!). In indoor settings especially, this is often crucial to maintain a consistent style in different lighting scenarios. And if you like my bright, modern, true-to-color style, then this is a necessity for the quality and consistency of images you’ll receive from your session!

Above & Beyond: All full session fees include every single good image we get during our time together. While I promise roughly 50 images per hour for your final gallery, I often send galleries with 2-3 times that many images, all fully edited and ready to implement. You’ll always receive full session galleries within two weeks and mini session galleries within one week of the session, because we live in a fast-paced, digital world and I know you need these photos like… last month.

I’ve been at this photography thing for 15 years now so rest assured you’ll receive a seamless experience from start to finish and that the end product won’t disappoint. So, if you’re nervous about booking a session because you’re scared the investment won’t pay off in the way you hope, just reach out and I’ll send you some full brand sessions so you can see the level of consistency and professionalism throughout!

Lastly… don’t wait until you feel like everything is perfect to book a brand session.  Here’s a secret: it’s never going to be perfect and you’re never going to feel like you have the time to make it happen, but once you have a date on the calendar, it’s much easier to have the motivation to plan it as well as you can, knowing that I’ll be right there with you along the way to take the pressure off and help you craft a visual brand you’re proud of!

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
To work with me, just reach out at hello@kirawhitney.com and I will send over my brand brochure or family pricing guide! From there (for brand sessions), we can jump on a Discovery Call to see what your needs are, see if we’re a good fit for each other, and start planning some initial details like date and location. After that is complete and you submit your proposal, we can start planning specific shots and poses that will align with your business goals and the end use of the images!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kirawhitney.com and www.kindlecos.com
• Instagram: @kirawhitneyphotography and @kindlecos

Image Credits
Kira Whitney Photography