Kira Goff shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Kira, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Something I’m super proud of building that no one sees is my email list (2631 strong!) and my behind-the-scenes systems that help me book out an insane amount of mini sessions and then keep them all organized/taken care of on the back end.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kira Goff, Brand and Family Photographer serving the Colorado Springs and Denver metro areas. There are VERY few photographers who specialize in branding and that has really been where I thrive the most! I adore working with other small business owners to create strategic content that helps them grow their businesses. I’ve also been known as the “mini session queen” because of the crazy amount of mini sessions I do for both brands and families throughout the year. Those serve as the baseline for my business and give me the most control over my schedule. Plus, they help me maximize my time during busy seasons and make the most out of each day/golden hour!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
While there will always be strands that remain (because I’m only human), the inner threads that wove a story of self-doubt and deep care of what others think of me served their purpose and must now be released. I have been in business long enough that I know immediately when I’m being taken advantage of and I have no patience for it anymore as my confidence in both myself and business have grown over time and with experience. There is no capacity left to stress over what others think – so long as I’m doing everything in my power to provide an excellent client experience and care for my people well.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be: “Stay the course—you are stronger and more capable than you realize. Even when the journey feels slower than you want it to, you’re learning resilience that will serve you well. You’ve got this.”
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think one of the lies the photography industry leaders can often fall into is the idea that there is one path that leads to “success” and it’s the one that the person sharing took to get where they are today. Examples: weddings are the only way to make money, mini sessions are a waste of time, mini sessions are the way to make money, you have to become an educator to gain time freedom and happiness, etc.
When in reality, all of our stories and paths are different, What each of us provides simply because of who we are and how we work is going to be unique. And going even further – each of our definitions of success are different too! I know plenty of photographers who feel successful because they still love their dayjob and are loving photography on the side but DON’T actually want to go full-time with photography… where as ALL I could think about was wanting to go full time when my career was still in the side-hustle stage.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my clients would miss my super consistent colors, quick edits, and the comfortable experience I provide. Plus my attention to detail with things like stray hairs, hairties on wrists, phones in pockets, etc. that many photographers miss.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kirawhitney.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirawhitneyphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirawhitneyphotography
Image Credits
Kira Whitney Photography
