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Reframing the Family Portrait: Putting the Focus on Mothers

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Refocusing the Family Portrait: Putting the Spotlight on Mothers

Kylie Bodiya created Moving Lives Photography to empower women through luxury portraits. She was led to use women as a focal point of her photos when she started to realize how many mothers would rather remain out of the frame and just have pictures taken of their children. Kylie decided enough was enough and that it was time for mothers to get in front of the camera and FEEL beautiful about themselves.

 

Her story actually starts with the birth of her daughter. Kylie has a 4-year design degree, but when her daughter was born she started expressing her creativity through the lens of a camera. It started out just for fun, but suddenly, she was doing it more and more and found a love for the “before and after” of a portrait. She worked with children doing family photography for a bit to build her portfolio, but started enjoying the post-editing process more.

 

Kylie was inspired by the famous photographer, Sue Bryce, and began searching out women who needed a chance to feel good about themselves. She now creates timeless portraits to empower women everywhere!

 

When did you first learn about your field of work? What called you to it?

I began to get into photography after my daughter was born three years ago. I was on maternity leave from a very creative career and my mind was restless. I found a creative outlet in taking photos of my beautiful baby girl. I was TERRIBLE at first!

 

Luckily my husband had a great camera that I could learn from. I began to simply watch online videos, tutorials, reading more and more. I have a degree in design already, so the composition, ideas came naturally. I simply needed the technical expertise to back up my ideas!

 

As I began to grow as a photographer, I was photographing everything: children, families, newborn, maternity, etc. I thought I wanted to do it all, but I quickly realized that I needed a focus before I could find my style. I found Sue Bryce, whom I’ve come to look up to, aspire to be like, and just simply adore her work. Her fearless mentality and mantra of empowering women inspired me. So I started painting my backdrops, gathering clients and found a niche in the glamour portrait arena. I love how I can tell a story through the eyes. I also love that I can make women who think they are completely un-photogenic and make them LOVE their portraits.

 

When women want family portraits done, they always say “just take photos of the kids, I don’t want to be in them!” and I am so sad by that statement. Those children are going to want portraits of their mother someday. I want every woman to LOVE their portraits and have a timeless keepsake.

 

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What was the best piece of business advice you were ever given? 

The motto “it takes money to make money” is completely untrue. Someone very close to me taught me that you CAN learn and be creative on a dime. 

 

 

What is the biggest overall lesson you learned in launching your photography business? 

That finding your style is imperative, but also one of the most difficult things to do. I have restarted my Instagram page THREE times because I didn’t like the look/feel, flow, consistency. I think it came down to not having a true niche, but once I found the niche and honed myself into a specific portrait category, I found my style came slowly, but much more easily. 

 

What is your personal or professional motto? 

Always have a goal. Whether you have daily goals, weekly, monthly. Just work towards each tiny little goal and look at them as accomplishments in every way.

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What is your favorite aspect of your workspace?

That I have it decorated with portraits that I’ve taken as well as quirky details like a canvas of llamas wearing ugly sweaters. I have girly stuff that’s gold and edgy stuff that’s white. It just works.

 

Name a woman, past or present, whom you admire? 

[Photographer] Sue Bryce, everything about her.


What characteristic do you most admire in other women? 

I think I am drawn specifically to other mothers because they do it all. They find time for themselves, their families, and can balance it all. 

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See more of Kylie’s gorgeous portfolio shots at www.movinglivesphoto.com.

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