I know there are a lot of new followers to my social media and my work in general as of late, so I thought now would be a good time to pen another introduction post. If you follow my Instagram regularly, you know that I recently did some introduction posts, introducing myself and the members of my pack. If you'd like to learn more about my pack, head on over to my IG and check them out - I'll be focusing a little more on the business in this post.
who am i?
My name is Kylee Doyle, and I am the owner of Kylee Doyle Photography. Like all of you, I am a complicated human, and trying to distill me down into a few sentences is always a challenge. One of the most important things to understand about me, though, is my passion for animals and for my community.
I have owned pets almost my entire life, and can't imagine being without them. My husband and I currently have what has lovingly become deemed our little suburban farm, which includes dogs, a cat, chickens, and ducks. We'd love to move up the hill a bit in the near future so that we can own a few acres with cows, sheep, and alpacas. I am 100% a crazy dog/cat mom - we don't have (human) children, nor do we plan to in the future, so I dote on our pets as if they were our children. They want for nothing, are fed a customized and balanced raw diet, and are allowed in our bed.
Community has also always been a huge part of my life. I was in 4-H throughout my middle and high school years, which helped to instill the desire to give back to my community. This has carried over into my business, where I spend countless hours donating my time and experience as a photographer to local rescues.
how did kylee doyle photography come about?
I've loved photography for as long as I can remember. For a long time, though, I was terrified of switching to manual, and truly learning how to operate this piece of machinery in front of me. It wasn't until about five years ago, when I saw an ad for local photography classes, that I decided to make the leap. I bought myself a Panasonic mirrorless and vowed to learn how to use it. Once I started my classes, I was hooked. I quickly switched over to a Canon DSLR (ironic, now, since technology is moving toward mirrorless) and was on my way.
I started off mostly photographing landscapes, flowers in my and my family's yards, and animals. I took a weekend-long portrait photography workshop, and realized that while photographing seniors and families was a fun break from my normal subjects, what I really loved photographing most was dogs! From that point, it took me another couple years to feel comfortable putting my work out there for the public and starting to charge for it.
When I first decided I wanted to consider starting a part-time photography business, I was sure I wouldn't be able to focus solely on pets. But lo and behold, I found that pet photography had really begun to blossom as a legitimate and profitable niche in the photography industry across the globe, so I decided to dive head-first. Although running a business while holding down a full-time job has been demanding, it has been rewarding at the same time. And at the end of the day, I get to do something that I absolutely love doing!
what makes kylee doyle photography unique?
First off, how many photographers get to say they specialize in pets? But what makes that special - couldn't your family photographer add your pup into your photo session? Sure, but chances are the focus will be less on your furry family member, and many of them don't know pet photographers' tricks to getting your dog to stand still and give that adorable head tilt everyone is looking for. Specializing in a single genre has really allowed me to hone my craft and to better understand my subjects.
Second, I emphasize the importance of printing your images. Who wants a bunch of photos of their dog hidden away on a USB in a drawer? Don't you want your friends and family to come to your house and be able to admire the gorgeous canvas on your wall? Or be able to flip through a custom album that showcases the myriad sides of your pooch? Granted, if you're just looking for digital images, then I'm probably not the photographer for you. But if you want to create beautiful art and display in your home, you've definitely come to the right place!.
Lastly, as I mentioned before, giving back to the community is a cornerstone of my business. I regularly partner with rescues and shelters in the area, including Sierra Nevada German Shepherd Rescue, Resilient Dog Rescue, and One by One Rescue Project. I photograph adoptable dogs in the hopes of getting them seen and adopted more quickly, donate sessions to fundraising silent auctions, and most recently have been working on a fundraising book project.
is it just dogs?
I know I talk a lot about dogs here and on my social media, but I photograph pets of all kinds! The majority of my clients own dogs, but I have also photographed horses, cats, poultry, and waterfowl. Have another type of animal? No problem! Smaller animals may need to be photographed in the comfort of your home, but that is completely doable.
