Meet Kayla E. Willis | Love Photographer & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla E. Willis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla E., what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I laugh to talk about it now but six months before I graduated college I had what I called “my quarter-life crisis” that led me to begin working in a creative career. I went to college for sports broadcasting and after a lifetime of athletic pursuits and sports being a huge part of me I was convinced that I would want to work in sports my entire life. At first, I loved it. I loved the atmosphere, the stories that unfolded, and the captivity that working in a high-risk/high-reward industry can hold. But after two years of long hours and weekends spent in stadiums, I came to the brutal realization that I did not want to spend my life telling the stories of others and not living my own. I had dreams that I wanted to chase and a wide world that felt like it was mine for the taking. Amid my crisis, a camera had found its way into my hands. I found my saving grace and the life I had always desired behind its lens. I dove headfirst into photography and managed to land a job in the middle of nowhere Wyoming. Lost in the woods, a camera in my hand, writing and capturing the memories of other people brought a fire to my veins that has yet to falter. I chose a creative career because I demand freedom and refuse to lose the creativity I value more than anything to a job. I think that creativity, as artists, is our most prized possession. I was not willing to part with something so dear to me, so I adjusted my life to fit the desires of my heart.

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 feel as though I am not one to give career advice nor do I have the knowledge to speak in absolutes. But, I do think I can speak to the artist reading this. The hardest and most rewarding lesson I have learned is this:

Your sensitivity to the world is what makes you profound. Your empathy is what makes you an artist.

I became a photographer and an author because I cannot remember things. Unless I have a photo or have written something down, it will not exist in my memory. It was because of this (at times difficult to cope with) aspect of myself that I became a photographer. I work in memories, my artistry is legacy. I am honored to stand before people on the most important parts of their lives and witness their story unfolding. I love love and being able to witness it daily in my work is the delight of my life. I find peace in knowing that with my camera I am helping to solidify memories that outlast lifetimes. The connection I feel while creating for others truly feels like giving them a little piece of myself. Yet, I am so thankful for it. Being a photographer has allowed me to foster so many different points of human connection that have added to richly to my existence. I am far too young to be as nostalgic as I am. But I truly feel like it is the unique way I see the world that sets me apart and speaks to others through my art. Every person sees the world differently and that is what makes the human experience so delightful. I have not had an easy path to get to where I am today but I would trade none of it for the knowledge I have gained. I think photography is such a phenomenal art form and the impact it has on this world is so necessary. There is an empathy in imagery that transcends all of the issues of the world and stops the viewer for a moment. Whether the image is a story of passion, love, hate, destruction, etc. images speak. As a photographer, it is my job to help people listen. It is my life’s work to catalog the existence of people as they live their own lives and to meet them, even for just a moment, in their story. It is an honor to serve others in this way. I also thing that being an author and writing poetry for the couples, elopements, destination and micro weddings I get to work with allows me to tell their story to an even deeper level. Every interaction becomes my own love letter to them and I think that sets me apart in the industry.

There is a weight, I believe, that is associated with artistry. A desperation that comes from creating and giving yourself fully to a craft. But there is so much joy to be found in being an artist. I think one of the most radical things that transformed my artistry was allowing myself to feel deeply and being okay with the emotions within me. I think it makes me a better artist, a better person, and a much better photographer.

I say all that to say, for people who perhaps feel a little misunderstood or lost, there is space for you in art. There is a home for you in creativity. The world needs the way you see the world.

Oh! And things I am excited about: I am currently writing a novel.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have some dear friends who live there and have shown me lots of hospitality and shown me around Denver. It has been a big hub for me for business and connecting flights to destination weddings.

I LOVE Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a little bit of a drive but it is worth EVERY minute. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes I have seen and I try to and encourage people to spend as much time there as possible. There are so many incredible hikes, picnic spots, and landscapes to lose yourself in.

I also love the Denver Art Museums and think the collections there are phenomenal. They are so carefully curated and tell a one-of-a-kind story.

You can NEVER go wrong with an Avs, Nuggets, Broncos, or Rockies game. The spirit of Denver is so rich and the sports teams awaken it! I love going to as many sporting events as I can. They’re ALWAYS a blast, even if the team isn’t great.

For restaurants, I love ‘Call Your Mom Deli’ for bagels, breakfast, and coffee. They have delicious gluten-free breakfast sandwiches! I also love the atmosphere of Postino Broadway for dinner and a glass of wine.

Denver also has an INCREDIBLE concert scene. I have been lucky enough to attend concerts at both Red Rocks and The Mission Ball Room and loved every minute of both. Go to as many as possible, as often as you can.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Although I have a heart filled with names and bursting with gratitude, my faith is what has sustained me. I owe the entirety of my existence to my creator and truly believe I am just a vessel for his divine plan. There is nothing I capture that was not created by God. There are no words I pour forth that are not an act of worship. It is by God’s will that I am where I am today. In all I do I seek to praise him. I seek to carry his light into the world and gather people closer to it. Creativity is an expression of worship and as an artist, I desire only to praise.

Website: https://kaylawillisphotoandfilm.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayla.willis.photoandfilm/

Other: PRINT SHOP-
https://kaylawillisphotofilm.pic-time.com/art
WANDERING WEDDINGS – https://wanderingweddings.com/vendor/kayla-willis-photo-film/
Google Business: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kayla+Willis+Photo+%26+Film/@40.2427658,-112.9939512,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m16!1m7!3m6!1s0x428a3024b1be4769:0xd72be46e77108812!2sKayla+Willis+Photo+%26+Film!8m2!3d40.3548529!4d-107.7068844!16s%2Fg%2F11vyhm30dq!3m7!1s0x428a3024b1be4769:0xd72be46e77108812!8m2!3d40.3548529!4d-107.7068844!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11vyhm30dq?hl=en-US&entry=ttu

Image Credits
IMAGE CREDIT:
Kayla Willis Photo & Film