We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyra Eybelman and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kyra, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risks play a huge part in every entrepreneur’s journey, and as a self-taught photographer, I can confidently say I’ve taken many during my career. One of my riskier moves led to one of my favorite stories: I ended up receiving a press pass and becoming the photographer for my favorite musician! During a break between sets, I even had the chance to chat with the lead guitarist and shoot from the stage. You never know where taking risks and reaching out to new people might lead you!
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I knew from an early age that I wanted to be an artist, but I always envisioned myself with a paintbrush rather than a camera in hand. My mom was a photographer and an artist herself, and I wish I could say I immediately fell in love with photography the moment she handed me a camera at the age of 12, but I didn’t. She was a newborn photographer, and I already had a newborn brother who cried enough at home. I had no idea at that point where her handing me that camera would lead me in a decade.
There is, and often still is, a common misconception that photo shoots have to be an all-day ordeal. People stress over getting ready, rush to the same empty field for pictures, end up with sore cheeks from holding stiff smiles for an hour, and then go home. Who wants to be in charge of that? Not me. As I grew up, I still insisted that I wanted to be an artist, but I still saw myself in front of a canvas.
As I slowly picked up my camera more often over the years, I realized that photography didn’t have to be stressful. I saw that not every wrinkle and line has to disappear, that not everything has to be perfect, and that photography is a great excuse to explore new places outdoors and genuinely create memories with one another. For me, photography is about documenting the moment and telling a love story.
Because of this, I’ve sought to change people’s perception of photography in the same way my ideas about the art have changed. I’ve centered my entire business around removing the stress from photography and making photo sessions look and feel more natural. My photo sessions focus on telling a story that’s fit for the big screen and looks the part too! My work is inspired by modern love stories like The Notebook and La La Land because everyone’s love story is unique, and there’s no better way to capture that uniqueness than by making every photo session feel like a cute date.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has amazing food and parks that are definitely worth the traffic! My favorite hike in the area is East Palisades, and if you’re coming from up north, Waffle House is a must for filling up after your hike.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My best friend and associate shooter has been my biggest inspiration throughout this journey. From the day I picked up my camera and took her pictures for fun, to her encouraging me to start my business, and constantly pushing me to step outside my comfort zone every day since, she has been there for me every step of the way. I couldn’t be more grateful to have such a supportive friend to work alongside, and someone who pushes me to try harder every day..
Website: https://crimsonconure.com
Instagram: @crimsonconurephoto
Image Credits
Crimson Conure Photography