The “Photographer of the Week” series is dedicated to highlighting photographers within the SCAD community that demonstrate unique abilities behind the lens. This week, Kaela English, a SCAD Atlanta alumna who studied photography, shares her recent project and personal insights.
When did you start your photography journey and what does photography mean to you?
I first became interested in photography as a freshman in high school. However, I actually pursued writing and film for a while because there weren’t a lot of opportunities for photography at my school. I have a love for all three of them now because of it. Once I got into college, I questioned which path best suited the life I imagined myself having, and I decided to change my major. Though I’m not completely sure what I want to do, I’m so grateful for everything I learned about photography. I had no idea how much there was to learn when I transferred.
Where do you attain your inspiration for your work?
Mostly movies or music. Sometimes other artists as well, especially poets and filmmakers. I tend to be inspired by words more than other images, which I think many people find odd since I’m a visual artist. But at the end of the day, for me at least, words invoke their own images.
What is your creative process like per shoot?
It can be different for every shoot, but most of the time it starts with A LOT of ideation. I live for making Pinterest boards. I use them for inspiration on posing, set up, mood, etc. Then I share that with my client if I’m shooting for someone else. I also send them to models sometimes, too. I also talk through dates and times at this point. I swear, sometimes that’s the hardest part. After that, it’s just shooting and setting a date for the final images. I think people are always super surprised by the number of edited images I send back. But at the end of the day, I edit all the ones I really like, and if that’s 50 images, then oh well!
What impact do you want to have on the industry?
I feel like this sounds cheesy, but I want to create work that other people love and relate to. I want to make the things I wish I’d seen more of growing up, as well as recreate ideas, images, and themes I saw and almost loved, but wished were done “my way.” It’s not so much about having an impact on the industry, but more like I want to have an impact on people like me, including my past self.
What project(s) are you currently working on?
Well, I just graduated so not a lot. But I do have a few product photography shoots coming up for two local businesses, which I’m super excited about. I’m also doing a few portrait sessions as well. I am working on my second poetry book right now, and I’m putting most of my focus on that. I’m in the process of rebranding and I’m traveling A TON this summer, so my hope is to start a travel blog and vlog as well to further explore my love for video and writing. I’m not doing a ton of photography at the moment because, at the end of the day, I do have other passions as well, and I really want to explore those like I was able to with my photography. In the meantime, I’m mostly freelancing, waitressing, traveling, and doing my passions.
Is there any advice you’d like to leave to other aspiring photographers or SCAD students?
Do everything that interests you. Give yourself grace. Don’t worry about trying to have it all together because things change. But the great thing is that if you’re open to change and exploration, so many opportunities will open up to you. It took me WAY too long to learn to be as flexible as I am now in terms of loosening the reigns on what my “plan” should be. But I’m so much better at it. Life is so long. You have more than just four years to figure it out.
Self-Love Series Photography: @creativelykaestudiosModels in order:
To see more of English’s work, visit her Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
