Candid interviews and actionable advice from industry-leading experts and entrepreneurs.
Kaysha Weiner
Owner & Photographer
Mission: To capture vibrant brand and lifestyle photography for people who are passionate about life, and each other.
Founded: 2010
Orange County, CA
As a business owner herself, Kaysha knows exactly what brands need to start, run, and grow a business.
Over the last decade, she’s photographed some of the most high-end and innovative brands. With an incredible design eye and distinct style, she captures stunning images that help her clients instantaneously elevate their brand message.
[AT]: How did you get your start in photography?
[KW]: Photography was always what I wanted to do, but I didn’t think I could actually make a living out of it. After moving to Orange County from Northern California, I went to Orange Coast Community College, where I enrolled in their photography program, and started working for other photographers. I quickly learned photography was a viable business option. I transferred to Cal State Fullerton, graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in photocommunications, and worked at a local photography studio. Within a year after college, I was running my own business and working for myself. It’s been over 10 years and I’m still doing it!
[AT]: Over time, how have you adapted your approach to gaining new clients?
[KW]: I don’t think the core processes have really changed. But the technology and the ways of maintaining relationships have definitely changed. It comes down to marketing and building a client base. The fundamentals are still the fundamentals. It used to be common to do mass mailings of postcards. That’s not as effective now. It’s shifted to social media, an email list - things that were really in infancy when I started.
[AT]: Walk me through that a little bit. When did you start developing your website and brand presence?
[KW]: That was pretty early on. You do what you can with the resources you have in the beginning - I had no resources and I had no money. I paid a designer to develop a logo for me. It was a lot of money at the time. I used that logo for years and years and pieced my brand together. But I wasted so much time doing things myself and could never get everything to look cohesive.
So I went back to the same designer and hired them to do full branding and a custom website several years later. It was definitely a full-circle moment.
[AT]: What are your top tools that help you run your business more efficiently?
[KW]: 1.) A virtual assistant. I’ve had an assistant for the last 5 years. I will never let her go, she saves me so much time.
2.) Táve: I’ve been using Táve software to manage my clients’ billing and contracts since the beginning. Even before I had a ton of clients coming in, I already had a system in place, which set me up for long-term success. This platform is specifically for photographers.
3.) Planoly: I love Planoly for scheduling Instagram posts and planning out my social media feed.
4.) Calendly: My favorite for scheduling meetings, and not having to go back and forth through email.
5.) Canva: I really like Canva. I use it to design graphics and for social media. They also have a lot of PDF templates that are great for email opt-ins.
[AT]: Why should businesses invest in brand photography?
[KW]: Given our current world, most businesses aren't using storefronts. Your storefronts are your website, your social media, your newsletter. The bar has been raised online. One of the quickest and most effective ways to build rapport is through photography. Make it real in people's minds. Having professional brand photos makes you real. It will instantly increase your perceived value.
I’d encourage every business owner to invest in brand photography. Photos can be utilized across so many mediums and the return is fantastic.
[AT]: How has managing uncertainty over the past year made you a better business owner?
[KW]: Both personally and professionally, it became very clear what was important. It allowed me to hyper-focus on things that I enjoy doing and are most important to me and my business. It gave me permission to let go of the other things. It was a big blessing for the year.
Everyone has pivoted in one way or another. When everything started to get serious in mid-March, I looked at every expense and asked: what can I keep, and what can I get rid of? I was able to cut out a lot of excess.
[AT]: Finally, what advice would you share with emerging business owners?
[KW]: For someone just starting out, focus on one thing at a time. You’re not going to be able to create everything all at once. Focus on one area that’s going to push your business in the direction you want it to go. Get good at that, and then move on to another area!
To learn more about how Kaysha can support your brand photography needs, visit her website.
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