Meet Kaila Coleman | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaila Coleman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaila, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk is a part of our every day as artists. What we choose to create, where we choose to be represented and how we choose to express ourselves in the art world are all risks we take.

I was always ready to take a risk with my art and push boundaries with what I was creating, but I had a hard time taking chances when it came to publishing or galleries. The first time I started pushing the limits with my art was actually in high school. I decided to make a series of images that represented the trauma of body image in women at a young age.

They were body-painted nudes of myself, 18 years old at the time, and my mother painted my body. I had covered all of my bases as far as permissions. I was excited, and when I submitted them for grading, that was as far as I thought they would go.

My teacher submitted one of the photos to an art show, which was accepted. I had no idea that was possible and then was very nervous about my art being publicly shown. Not because I was ashamed of it but because I never thought it was good enough to be in the public sphere.

When I thought about risk, it was two different things for me; risk in my art was daring and creative, and a chance to show it was scary and hard. When I finally decided to look into gallery representation, I spent months researching how you chose a gallery, where you should start, and how you approach a curator. Even after months of research, I still didn’t have anything printed to take to a gallery because “Who would want to buy my art?”

What was riskier than presenting your work to a person who judged art regularly? That was a risk, and when I approached the gallery I was in, I was overjoyed to be a different voice in the gallery.

Risk has played an enormous role in being creative and continues to play a role in how I represent myself as an artist. It pushes us to make hard decisions and grow in our art form and as artists. I would not change anything I did, but I hope to continue to find places to take chances and push the limits of art and representation.

I also wish I could have told the younger me that selling your art and choosing to put yourself out there as an artist is not as hard as people make it. I think the art world can feel intimidating to break into, but most artists want to help new artists learn and grow and make money as artists.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I specialize in black-and-white photography! I learned the art of photography in black and white film before I learned anything digitally, making digital a big learning curve for me. I am most proud of my work in my societal commentary pieces. Those pictures challenge the status quo and ask viewers to look beyond, which is something I take great pride in.

I started in fine art photography and then moved to promotional and professional photos, such as headshots. I love working with people who want to do exciting shoots pushing physical and photography boundaries. When the pandemic hit, I had a lot of time on my hands and started going through old sets of photos and realized I really wanted to do something with them. I started submitting work all over the country and have been featured in galleries from coast to coast.

Imposter syndrome was the hardest thing to get over. Truly allowing myself to consider my work worthy of the public eye was the hardest part of getting to where I am today. That took work way outside of my photography, and I had to dig deep and work on myself before I could even think of setting up Charlie K, Photography Ltd.

I also learned that you do not have to take every opportunity. If the gallery doesn’t fit you, leave. If you are not compensated for your talent, vision, or work, say no. I think, as entrepreneurs, that is a hard concept because it is scary not to know where the next check is coming from.

Boundaries are not just for 9-5 jobs or family; we need them everywhere and learning where yours are is very important.

My brand is black-and-white photography that tries to find beauty in everything, break stereotypes, and remind people that even the simplest things are full of beauty.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite spots in Boulder are the Dushanbe Tea House. It can be super busy, but it is a beautiful spot, and it is right next to Pearl Street, which is always a fun time. In Longmont, there is Lake McIntosh, where you can paddle board or picnic. The Java Spot is also one of my favorite coffee shops in downtown Longmont which is near The Walnut Gallery.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have helped me get to this place! My photographer teacher Dave Blessing, and my parents for encouraging me to dive into what I love. I also want to thank my BDT (Boulder’s Dinner Theatre) family for their support. I want to thank Andrea and Eric Lobato for being at my first show and supporting me at the first gallery I was ever in.

I also have to thank my brother, who goes by C. Red, for joining me on this journey!

Website: www.charliekphotos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliekphotos/