Meet Kaley Gross of Kaley Elaine Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaley Gross.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Kaley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The summer before my freshman year of college, I decided I wanted to be a photography major at my upcoming first semester in at the University of Houston. I can’t even say why — I had no experience and I owned a little canon t2i rebel. I just set my heart to it and decided I was going to do it, despite my whole family of engineers being extremely confused and mad at me for it!

When I got to my first Photography 1 class, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I remember the professor going on about the final projects we would have at the end of the semester and I started to panic. It was a solo exhibition that would be reviewed by art critics and peers. We had to pass to graduate. WHAT?! I looked around completely panicked but noticed everyone around me was fine. They had been involved in Photography their whole lives — many of them picked it up from their photographer parents. I ran back to my dorm overwhelmed.

I immediately googled “Houston Photographers” and clicked around on a few websites. I came across an amazing local wedding photographer, Alyse French, and read through her whole website. I adored everything about her! After reading her bio I felt that we could be best friends. I decided to send her an out-of-the-blue email begging for any advice, mentorship, opportunity, ANYTHING about being a photographer from her with little hope.

The next day, I woke up to an email back from her asking to meet me for coffee! When we met up later that week, she was everything I thought she would be in more. She invited me along to a session with her, and then a wedding, and then another. During weddings, I learned to shoot from her. She taught me how to be a wedding photographer, and she means the world to me. She’s the reason I get to do what I do now!

I then transferred to Texas A&M University (Whoop!!) and graduated in 2015 with a degree in International Business and a minor in French. After second shooting with Alyse for 6 years, I started my own business in 2015! It’s been an absolute whirlwind of a dream, and I’ve loved every second of it!

Has it been a smooth road?
When I decided to start my business, I felt pretty confident in my abilities to do so. I had watched Alyse do it for 6 years, so I felt confident I knew what to do.

My very first wedding knocked me flat on my back. My flash kept malfunctioning, the timeline ran way behind, there was drama behind the scenes, etc. I couldn’t prepare for how different it was to shoot your OWN wedding and not just be a second. It was the reality check I needed, and it taught me you never know everything and that every wedding is going to be completely different.

Also, running a business is HARD! You have to be your own marketing manager, accountant, social media manager, CEO, Editor, communications, etc. You wear so many hats! Learning to juggle them all is a process of trial and error and figuring out what works for you. I truly believe I have the best job in the world, but my first year was a learning curve for sure.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kaley Elaine Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I think there are two ways to respond to this question — what my process is like and what my goals are. My process of photography is first to capture the light. I love beautiful light, whether that’s a soft glow from a morning sunrise or the warm beams from the evening sunset. There’s nothing like looking at portraits and seeing the light is captured perfectly. I think the right light elevates a photo from good to great.

When it comes to my subjects, I go for a candid-unposed look. That doesn’t mean I don’t pose my couples! I’m very specific in my directions when I’m posing. I’ll tell them to put their right hand here and left hand here and so on, but then I’ll step back and let them hang out in that pose. I’ll let them laugh at the closeness, or bask in each other’s kisses. That’s when the I snap the picture — when they’re wrapped up in that quick little moment.

My goal with my photography is to capture each couple’s unique relationship and story. I want to highlight the unique way her eyes crinkle when her partner makes her laugh or the way he wraps his arms around his partner when he’s laughing. I want my photographs to capture each couple’s love for each other the moment they decided on forever, and for not only the couple but for their future family generations to be able to look back on these with smiles forever.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My favorite thing about Houston is the food culture! Houston is extremely diverse and booming with different cultures from around the world, and it’s really easy to see and experience it with our food culture. Anything and everything you could want, we have it here! Nigerian? Thai? German? Whatever you can think of, you can find a really awesome, authentic, tiny little spot making it somewhere in Houston.

I hate Houston traffic! It’s seriously the worst in the world. Well, maybe not. But it’s definitely up there!

Pricing:

• Portrait sessions start at $400
• Weddings start at $3,000

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kaleyelainephotography.com
• Phone: 7138587756
• Email: kaley@kaleyelainephotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kaleyelainephoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kaleyelainegrossphotography

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.