Today we’d like to introduce you to Kailee Wanek.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My love for photography started in high school, when I took my first film photography classes. I spent as much time as possible with a camera in my hands in and out of school. By my senior year, I had my first DSLR camera, and I took it everywhere with me. I’d capture my friends, my family, my pets – literally anything. Throughout college, I was taking family portraits and senior portraits for friends and family, and at some point I decided I was interested in couples and weddings. That lead me to my full-time business today. Capturing love stories is my favorite! I’ve been doing photography for over 12 years now and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Alright, 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?
It’s definitely not always easy and there will always be some minor struggles. Running a business makes it really hard to find work-life balance. There’s always a gallery to be edited, always an email to be responded to, and always a text that comes in at 10 PM. Even when I’m on vacation, I’m thinking about work! It’s easy to forget to put my mental health first. Over time I’ve learned what works for me and what doesn’t, and how to incorporate self-care into my life!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in the Tampa area. I mainly photograph couples, weddings, families, and senior portraits. I’m known for my beach sessions and my fun, warm, playful style! I really just want to create photos that feel like sunshine. I’m proud of the brand I’ve created because it really reflects my love for life – I believe that life is too short and all the small moments deserve to be captured and cherished before they pass. What sets me apart from others is that I care about the experience, not just the final outcome. Of course I want my clients to have beautiful photos, but I also want them to look back and remember how much fun they had taking them. I’m a pretty positive, go-with-the-flow person, and I think that carries into the way I photograph people.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I truly think my positive, bubbly personality and love for life has been the most important. I’ve always been someone who finds joy in the little things, and I think that naturally carries into my work. I want people to feel comfortable, excited, and fully themselves around me, whether I’m photographing their wedding day or a simple season of life. I think the energy you bring into a space matters, and I try to bring warmth, positivity, and a sense of fun into every experience I create. I also think it’s made me really good at paying attention to every little moment, especially at weddings. I’m an empath, so I’m very in tune with all the emotion happening around me.
Pricing:
- Weddings start at $4,200 for 8 hours + 600 photos + a second shooter
- Engagement or couples sessions start at $600 for 1 hour + 50 images
- Lifestyle sessions start at $425 for 30 minutes + 30 final images
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kaiphotoandfilm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaiphotoandfilm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaiphotoandfilm
