Today we’d like to introduce you to Keyla DeCando.
Hi Keyla, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started out as a Medical Assistant wanting to just take some nice photos but the more I continued with photography the more I learned it isn’t just about nice photos. I learned that with my art, I am able to capture true emotions and memories and not just pretty posed photos. I have learned that the type of photography I offer is therapeutic for a lot of families as I am able to not only capture these memories but also capture their individual personalities. As much as I loved working as a medical assistant, however, it was becoming less and less about actual care, and I knew that I truly wanted to be able to help people. So, with my photography, I allow people to be themselves, maybe a dressed-up version if they choose in which I have a guide for my clients. I allow them to be their unique, funny, wild, or serious self. I do not judge I only capture beautiful memories.
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 has not been a smooth road. It is very difficult being able to stand out in the crowd. A lot of the struggles are related to marketing in which it is difficult when you are just starting your business, as there are so many things that must be completed in order to own a legal business. Another struggle is explaining costs as a lot of people don’t realize what owning and running a business can entail, especially taxes. I operate my business to be affordable to clients while also trying to make sure I am priced enough to continue this business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a photographer who specializes in family portraits as well as boudoir. You are probably thinking oh wow, they are both very different. Yes, they are both different types of photography, but as with my boudoir photography, I allow people to truly capture themselves in their absolute own way. It is something I take pride in knowing I am able to allow people to show their emotions, feelings and capture their true self all while making them feel their best self.
Like family portrait photography, I also capture their true raw emotions. Of course, we always do a few of the normal posed images as everyone loves those, but I also make sure to capture true moments of laughter, the children playing, and love that connects the family.
What separates me from others is that I understand it’s not always easy to photograph a family or convince them to have photos done which is why I make it a truly remarkable experience that evokes emotion during the session as well as in the photos when they are being seen again years later. I don’t want them to have just a photo on their wall; I want them to have a memory.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
To be able to find a mentor or networking in general is a little difficult in the photography industry, I feel. It took me a lot of trial and error to find my style as it can be difficult to find someone locally. What has worked for me is finding a photographer’s work I truly enjoyed and reaching out to them to see if they would mentor me. Once I felt like I could learn the basics of what I wanted to achieve, I could continue practicing my style rather than copying.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keylateannphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keylateannphotography/
