Conversations with Kayla Paige

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

Hi Kayla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kayla Paige I’m a 24 year old photographer/film videographer. I’ve always been fascinated with cameras from a child but didn’t take it. serious until high school. Even in high school I didn’t take it as serious as I should’ve; I thought it was more a hobby from freshman to junior year. Then senior year I wanted to take it more serious so I did, went to college and was making it known that I’m a photographer. I eventually left college after my first semester sophomore year because I really started to question my reason for being there. I knew many people who do the same thing I do and were already in the game and didn’t even go to school, so I knew I could do it too. I had the talent just needed to be around people and needed more time to focus on photography to make it in the game. Even though I left things didn’t take off immediately it was almost like starting from scratch. It took time but I made sure I put the work in to run into the right people so I could make connections. Things honestly just started to take off back in the end of 2021. I did concert photography for the first time and it just felt different like I knew those pictures were the ones to really put me in the game and they did honestly. I changed my name to kptheshooter going into 2022 as a rebrand and after that everything started changing.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been smooth though I definitely came across some struggles getting to where I’m at and still do come across some till this day. I would say my main struggle when I first started photography was gaining clients. People always wanted pictures but never wanted to pay, and I still come across people like that till this day. My main struggle as of now is trying to find an artist or influencer who would need a personal photographer. I do a lot of freelance as of now and don’t get me wrong I really do enjoy it, meeting new people and making connections and being in rooms with people I never thought I could be in. But at some point it makes me feel like I’m not doing enough cause its all free and for exposure so it can bring me in more clients which it does but I’m waiting to get to a point where labels are hitting me up to work for artist or magazines and get paid for it. I know my time is coming for sure I just have to stay down and continue to make good art.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and a film videographer. My main genre of photography is music industry such as concerts and music video shoots and events such as parties, dinners, baby showers, club hosting etc. but I also do studio shoots for portraits. I also recently just got into videography, I’ve been doing behind the scene recaps but on film so it gives it that old vintage but not blurry look. I feel like my edits set me apart from everyone else because not every photographers work looks the same. Once people start to see your work enough it starts to get noticeable. For instance say you do a shoot for someone but they don’t tag you and people would come to you asking if you shot this. That’s happened to me multiple times so I feel like it makes me stand out a little. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come from doing mini shoots in my basement studio to getting out and meeting people in the field and actually making connections with them because they like my work and want to help open doors for me.

What matters most to you? Why?
Leaving my mark in the photography/film industry is what matters most right now. I want people to remember me for my talent and want them to always want to work with me cause of the outcome and because we have fun with the shoot. It should never feel forced I want every smile to be a real true smile.

Pricing:

• 30 minute photoshoot is $75 comes with 5 edits and ALL RAW photos
• 1 Hour photoshoot is $120 comes with 10 edits & ALL RAW Photos
• 1 Hour 30 minutes is $160 comes with 15 edits & ALL RAW photos
• 2 Hours is $200 comes with 20 edits & ALL RAW photos

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vsco.co/kptheshooter/gallery
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kptheshooter_/

Image Credits
Chris Brown Lil Baby Loyal DDG Deemoney J.I.D