EP 59: shooting destination weddings: travel tips and all things film with kayleigh taylor
Hi everyone! Today I sat down with the incredibly talented Kayleigh Taylor. We chatted all about her journey into destination wedding photography, and everything she's learned along the way. Listen in as she shares all about traveling, film, and so many awesome tips for photographers of all kinds. I hope you find this conversation valuable and inspiring :)
Meet Kayleigh:
Kayleigh Taylor is a destination wedding photographer based on the east coast, though her work frequently has her traveling all around the country and throughout Europe. She is most known for her film work and hyper-romantic yet documentary style images. Along with her photography career she is a passionate educator to fellow creatives, specializing in teaching about breaking into the destination market, shooting film, flash photography, editing and more.
A Love for the Unpredictable
What’s interesting about Kayleigh’s story is that she didn’t dive into destination weddings because of a love for travel. In fact, she calls herself and her family total homebodies! But the magic of shooting in new locations and capturing couples in unique, picturesque settings became something she couldn’t resist. From the West Coast of California to charming spots in Europe, she finds endless inspiration in the variety and beauty of each new venue.
Staying Flexible and Inspired
Even though Kayleigh is super organized, she approaches weddings with a flexible mindset. Instead of scouting a venue days in advance, she prefers to show up early on the wedding day and work with the lighting and conditions as they are in the moment. This keeps her work fresh and allows her to capture images that reflect the true energy of the day. It’s a great reminder that sometimes spontaneity leads to the best results!
Overcoming Challenges
Destination weddings come with their fair share of challenges—language barriers, cultural differences, and, of course, lots of travel logistics. But Kayleigh sees those challenges as part of the adventure. She focuses on making the most of every opportunity to work with new environments and clients, always staying true to her couples’ stories and delivering timeless, versatile images.
Kayleigh’s Travel Tips for Photographers
Kayleigh’s years of traveling for work have taught her a thing or two about staying prepared, especially with specific dietary needs. Her advice? Always bring your own meals for flights and pack plenty of snacks to get you through long travel days. If you’re traveling with film, make sure you’re ready to request hand-checking at security and know the policies of the airports you’ll be going through. These small steps make a big difference in keeping your workflow smooth.
Getting Started with Film Photography
If you’ve been thinking about adding film to your photography, Kayleigh recommends starting small. Grab a point-and-shoot and ease into it! She shared how balancing film and digital has elevated her work and added so much depth to her portfolio. Offering both formats gives clients a beautiful variety to remember their day in a unique and personal way.
Final Thoughts
Kayleigh’s approach to film photography is all about storytelling. She’s intentional with the film stocks she chooses and the equipment she uses, making sure every image captures the emotion and intimacy of the moment. It’s such a refreshing perspective and a great reminder to stay true to your vision.
Thanks for hanging out with me today and joining Kayleigh’s journey into destination wedding photography! I hope her story inspires you to try something new in your own work. Whether it’s picking up a film camera, exploring destination weddings, or just staying flexible with your craft, there’s so much to take away from her experience.
Let me know what you thought of this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories, so reach out or leave a comment.
See you next time!
– Summer
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