We were lucky to catch up with Kyra Beatty recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kyra, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I have always lived my life with a little delusion. Digging deep to find where this comes from is a little strange, because I did have a very rough adolescence. Despite that though, I was able to graduate from the University of Georgia, step into a great career, find the man of my dreams, and start building a life that I love.
Part of me believes that I am optimistic because things have just always worked out for me, but another part of me believes it is because I invest myself whole-heartedly in everything that I do, which is how I became successful as a photographer.
When I decided to step into this venture, I had no idea what the future held for me. I was optimistic though because I knew that I wanted to invest myself fully into learning everything I could about photography. I never saw failure or quitting as an option, and before I could even find time to think any negative thoughts, I was already booked and busy.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m Kyra, the face behind Risky Exposure. I am based in Las Vegas and specialize in photographing weddings and elopements. I am heavily inspired by glitz and glamour, flashing lights, vintage Hollywood, and paparazzi photographers.
One thing you should know about me is that I’m a total empath. I will probably cry during your vows (it happens more often than not). But I’m also a good time if I do say so myself. I just love love and will invest myself fully into capturing your story in the most elevated and fun way possible. When you hire me, I care about your day almost as much as you do, which makes me the perfect gal for the job.
I am always expanding my business and passions – whether that be through offering film, vintage-style video, and most recently The Risky Ride, which is a classic car add-on for any of my photography packages.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The top 3 factors that have gotten me to where I am today have been ambition, confidence, and my knowledge in marketing.
I truly hit the ground running when I became a photographer. I knew I wanted to be successful and I devoted so much time, energy, and money into being the best that I can be. That ambition is important when starting a new venture because when you aren’t all-in, it shows.
My confidence has also carried me through the ups and downs because I knew I could overcome any obstacle. Whether that be burnout, a backed-up editing log, or not fully knowing what I was doing in the beginning.
Lastly, my knowledge in marketing has helped me tremendously. Before I became a photographer, I wanted to open a social media management agency. I binge watched marketing videos and invested in courses, but ultimately decided that path wasn’t for me. Yet, my investments paid off because this knowledge has helped to launch Risky Exposure to where it is today.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest area of growth in the past year has been my rebrand! I became a photographer in June of 2023… I had no distinct style, a basic template website, and a lackluster way of showing up online. Once I invested in a custom website, high quality websites, and a good client management system, the game changed.
It honestly was like a switch flipped overnight. I definitely invested a lot of time and money into this rebrand, but I was able to more than double my prices and book even more than before. People can now see my images and know exactly who shot them. My clients are excited to work with me because of how cool my brand is. It truly is amazing seeing all of the countless hours I invested into my rebrand and client experience pay off.
Contact Info:
- Website: kyra@riskyexposurephotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/riskyexposurephotography
Image Credits
Risky Exposure Photography | Kyra Beatty
