Photographer Spotlight: Kayleigh Morin

Be bold. Be unapologetic. That is the advice she wishes someone had given her earlier.

Kayleigh Morin came to photography sideways, through fine art first. Life drawing left her wanting to capture light in a way the medium could not quite deliver, so she picked up a camera, started with self portraits, and gradually moved toward photographing the people around her. A lifelong love of fashion pulled her specifically toward it as a genre, drawn as much to beautifully made clothing as an art form in its own right as to the human emotion and energy she finds in her subjects.

Her black and white work leans deliberately high contrast, something she connects directly to her own emotional range, and getting there meant learning that technically correct is not always the same thing as artistically right. She shoots street work with a simple Nikon DSLR and a 35mm 1.8 prime specifically because the smaller, less intimidating setup lets people lower their guard in a way a larger body and telephoto never would. We asked her about a gnarled apple tree with a ladder leaning against it in the Berkshires, and why her advice to her younger self is simply to be bold.

Here is our interview.

There's always a moment that pulls someone into photography for good. What was yours?

I got my start as an artist, but always found myself wanting to capture the light in a more realistic way that I couldn't quite do with life-drawing. I started taking self-portraits, and then moved on to photographing the people around me. I always had a strong love of fashion and found myself wanting to become a fashion photographer.

What subjects are the focus of your work and why?

People and fashion for the most part, I love human emotion, moods, energy. I also love beautifully made clothing, it truly is an art form. That being said, I'm also inspired by beautiful places, cityscapes and landscapes.

Your black and white work has a particular feeling to it. How did you arrive at that? Was it deliberate or did it emerge over time?

I like very high-contrast black and white images, and I think that's because it represents my range of emotion. It definitely emerged over time, I had to learn that what's technically correct isn't always the best artistic choice and find a balance between the two.

Tell us the story behind one of your favorite photographs.

https://www.kayleighmorinphotography.com/journal/apple-tree-with-ladder this is actually NOT a portrait or fashion photograph, but it's one of my favorite black and white images that I've made. My family and I were driving through the Berkshires, where I grew up, and I came across this beautiful gnarled tree with a ladder. It reminded me that there's always another milestone to reach, a ladder to climb, that growth is not necessarily linear.

What is one thing that you are working to improve in your photography and how are you going about it?

I'm working on improving my lighting techniques by experimenting with both natural light, difficult lighting situations like low light, and electronic/off camera flash. I want to do some more advanced concepts (in black and white) with light painting, which I've tried briefly before.

How much do you plan vs. shoot spontaneously?

Even when I have a plan, my method is very spontaneous. That being said, I almost always have a camera with me in case I see something or someone interesting to photograph.

What gear do you bring when you go out to shoot?

For my street work I use a very basic Nikon DSLR with a 35mm 1.8 prime lens. It's an extremely simple setup, but I find people are more willing to let their guard down when it's not a massive body with a telephoto. It creates a layer of intimacy in the portraits.

What does your editing process look like? What tools do you use and how do you approach it?

I use Adobe Photoshop to edit and I often times collage images together, combining aspects of art with my photography. I do not do a lot of retouching on people, as I prefer to let their natural beauty shine. I photograph everything in RAW and use Camera Raw first.

Who are some photographers or artists that have influenced your style and why?

I really like Ansel Adams' classic black and white film photographs, they are absolute works of art and I feel that every photographer should know him. Andy Warhol has also really influenced my style, as he was all about not just the art, but concepts like the art of being a celebrity and what exactly art means (ie the quote "art is what you can get away with.)

What would you tell yourself when you started in photography? The thing nobody said to you that would have changed how you photographed?

I would tell myself don't be afraid to take out your camera when everyone's looking to get the shot, to approach someone for a photograph. Be bold. Be unapologetic.

If you would like to see more of Kayleighs work you can find her on foto @kayleighmorinphotography or on her website www.kayleighmorinphotography.com