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Meet Kayla Armstrong of Kayla Raine Photography in North Denver

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

Kayla, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been somewhat of a documentarian. I always loved my Polaroid 600. By middle school, I had my own digital camera, which meant no more waiting and begging mom and dad for more, very expensive, Polaroid film. I soon became pretty obsessed with documenting things in my life through photos. But it wasn’t until high school that I was exposed to 35 mm film.

My first semester of Film Photography and I had three pieces that were on display in different local shows. After high school, I wanted to continue shooting film, but it was starting to become a pretty expensive hobby. The solution? Buy darkroom supplies and set up my own darkroom, and enlarger, in my bathroom. At some point, I thought “since I’m doing this so much, why don’t I try to make some money with it?” So, after a little research on google, I found that there was actually a market for film photographers, but they were all family photographers. Although I was much more fond of the idea of photographing more abstract concepts and emotion, I knew it would get me started. However, shooting families with film didn’t last very long. It quickly became an expensive and extensive investment, with a not so great turn around time or turn out; so, I invested in my first DSLR. A Nikon D3200. With this, I was able to dive into the digital world of photography and really begin my career. I realized that shooting digital was much more efficient with running a business and also helped me learn at a much quicker pace. This also allowed me to focus on the business aspect of being a photographer.

I quickly learned that when it came to this type of freelance work, it was all you. You are the boss, and so it’s up to you to run the kind of business you want to. Before long, I had branded my photography business with a colorful logo, and a great website. This is key when marketing your business.

While my branding has been the same for some time now, my style of shooting has changed dramatically.

When I first began photographing portraits, I often used a flash, and I, of course, would pose my clients. I would spend hours looking up different poses and how to perfect them. I did this because my market was for families, even though I didn’t want it to be. I wanted to be photographing models, boudoir, newborns, documenting births, but more than anything, I wanted to be documenting. So, that’s what I did. I started to tell my clients about this new perspective I had and they all loved it. Instead of finding an open field to photograph everyone in, I started photographing them inside their homes. The place where they’re the most relaxed and feel the most loved. If they did want to shoot outside fine, but I wanted to capture their emotions. not just their faces. I stopped using my flash because window light was and is always better. I started to try different things with models as well. Shooting in direct sunlight is kind of a big no-no in the photography world; until you finally learn how to. You learn to adapt to create the images that you want to create. So, that’s what I did. I stopped worrying about every little tiny detail and started focusing on the only thing that really matters the most important task.

What are they going to feel when they look at these images?

I started like anyone else. In school, little or to no knowledge of photography. Over the last seven years, I have grown into a natural light portrait photographer with photos punished in various magazines, websites, brochures, and in homes. I have documented mothers give birth to their babies and all the milestones along the way. I have photographed events and models, but nothing satisfied me until I learned that unless you are doing what you truly love, you will always be unhappy. Once I learned that I didn’t have to be photographing a certain way, then all of my photo shoots became near and dear to my heart. I was more fulfilled than I had ever been to.

Great, 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?
Life will never be a smooth road. But I didn’t really ever stop to think “what if this doesn’t work?”. There was no choice, in my mind. Lately, my life has been a little crazy, and at some point in the last year, photography kind of took the back seat because it is not always consistent. I have since put it back in the front seat, but no matter what happens in my life, I could not be photographing. I came to this realization just the other day. Even though I have been at this for quite some time, and I may not be as successful as I had hoped to be in 7 years time, that’s okay. What matters is that photographing is something I love to do and I could never give it up because it is a part of who I am.

Does that mean that it has been an easy road? Absolutely not. But you can either sink or you can swim, and I chose to swim.

I have been threatened to be sued over a miscommunication over a turnaround time frame. I have had plenty of people, especially the ones closest to me, tell me that what I want to photograph is not “normal” or “pretty” enough, or even “acceptable.” I have lost friends over my policies and how I choose to conduct my business. I didn’t listen to those people or let them control what I believe. In every situation, I made it my goal to be as professional as I can possibly be, and hold true to my beliefs. I realized at a very young age that if you let people take advantage of you, they will do just that.

Having to set boundaries and operate my business as a small, but professional business wasn’t always easy to do. However, I knew that it was what I needed to do. I could not expect people to take me seriously if I did not take myself seriously.

This also played a part in my branding and in my style of photography. This meant weeks and months of staying up late after just having a baby so I could sit at the computer with no interruptions. Taking the time to learn about editing, about branding, about contracts and legalities. Being more disciplined about deadlines and even just being on time. I can go on with many examples of this, but the point is that with anything you do in life there will be obstacles. You cannot change that. What you can change is how you overcome those obstacles. But almost more importantly, do not give up. You will learn more from failing over and over again than you ever will from being successful from the get-go. The difference between successful people and people who are not successful is that successful people have failed, over and over again. All you have to do is just keep on, keeping on.

You might not arrive where you want to as quickly as you’d like to be there, but you certainly will never get there if you give up.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I specialize in natural light, lifestyle portrait photography. I also specialize in assisting models with their career path.

Besides being a fly on the wall and taking photos of people how they naturally are, I focus my business on giving models all the necessary information to make their own decisions about where they want to go in the industry.

This means I give models information about local agencies and discuss with them the benefits and disadvantages of both the freelance work and being signed with an agency. In addition, I coach them on posing, walking, and even offer advice on things like wardrobe, hair, and makeup. Models can come to me with no portfolio or a vast one. In addition to getting headshots and images they want for their portfolio, they’ll also leave with a better understanding as to how the industry works and what their options are.

I have wanted to help models in this way for a long period of time, but it was not until recently that I had the means to do so. I myself, have gone down the long and dark road of trade (free) shoots, scams, losing money, and being straight up lost. Always wondering “where do I go, and what should I do”?

What sets me apart from other photographers who offer headshots to models, is that I am also a model. I am actively working with and for photographers, hairstylists, and makeup artists. I have years worth of experience on both sides of the camera. I go out of my way to help fellow models to become successful because I was once lost with no one to help me. I have fought to get to where I am, with no plan on stopping.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
One of my proudest moments as a business did not come in the form of a publication or an award. It came when I finally found my calling, my niche, my purpose. I found there was a hole in the market, so I filled it.

For many years, I tried to nail myself to one type of photography, and I simply couldn’t. I love them all too much to see any of them go. I am an artist and creative. Getting rid of varieties of photographing styles and opportunities was not in my cards. I couldn’t find my niche.

Until my first fashion show. It was there that I met so many other models like myself. Runway was my passion, but photo shoots are necessary if you want to stay relevant and working. There simply isn’t a big enough market here in Denver to support anyone who only does runway.

I realized that most of the men and women whom I had spoken with, were all pretty lost in how to go about all this craziness some of us try to call a job. They too have to model in other forms, not just runways show that do not offer pay, hoping to get recognized. Of course, unless you are naturally an amazing model with killer looks, you have to fight for your chance to be seen. You have to dedicate yourself to modeling and work at it nonstop. You have to be willing to put in more time, money, and energy than you will see come back to you for a long time.
That is unless you have someone who knows the ropes to help you.

Though my attempt to make an announcement at the next casting of Denver Fashion Week was a bust, I didn’t give up. Determined, I was selling any and everyone who was willing to listen to me, why they should invest in their career. Offering a very minimal, affordable investment with an experienced photographer and model who will not only get you professional images but also help get you started on the right path. By my second night walking in Denver Fashion Weeks, I had a few models ready, and willing.

I distinctly remember having a conversation with my then husband, about how I had finally found a way to bridge the gap between the two things I love doing the most. This to me, felt like my greatest achievement in my business, and where I would finally find the most success. I found my niche, without having to give up photographing art. Just like that, I created the opportunity to combine my love for modeling, art, fashion, and photography, all in one.

Pricing:

  • Collection 1: $99.00 30 minute session One Location 1-3 Person(s) 10 Digital Photographs *$25.00 booking fee*
  • Collection 2: $195.00 60 minute session One Location 1-8 Person(s) 15 Digital Photographs *$25.00 booking fee*
  • Collection 3: $250.00 90 minute session Two Locations 1-10 Person(s) 25 Digital Photographs *$25.00 booking fee*
  • Birth Coverage: $500.00 Credit for Fresh 48 session ($150.00) On call from 37 to 42 weeks gestation, Documentary of active labor until birth, One (1) hour postpartum coverage, *50% Due at time of booking, remainder due at 37 weeks gestation*
  • Fresh 48: $250.00 On call from 37 to 42 weeks gestation, Up to two (2) hours of postpartum coverage at place of birth, 25 digital images *50% Due at time of booking, remainder due at 37 weeks gestation*

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Mia Griggs Fine Art Photography, Shaustin Gullickson, Racquel Parsons, Tyler Mickey, Travis Brown

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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