In this episode of The Portrait System Podcast, host Nikki Closser speaks with Kaela Speicher, based in Pittsburgh, PA, whose portrait photography business is infused with fashion and couture aesthetics. In this conversation, Speicher shares how she made the transition from fashion photography to running her own portrait studio and how discovering your passion in photography can open doors for you.  

Speicher studied Fine Arts with a concentration in Photography at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and Alfred School of Art and Design in New York. Her first job out of college was as an intern in a senior portrait studio, where she worked her way up to an associate. From there, she moved on to other photography work, including Ecommerce photography for Modcloth and art gallery photography. While working for others, Speicher diligently used her weekends to develop a fashion portfolio. Her efforts resulted in her becoming a preferred photographer for modeling agencies to send actors and models for their headshots. Eventually, Speicher was receiving so many client requests that she was able to cut down on her work as an employee and scale up her work as an entrepreneur until she was running her own studio full-time. Currently, Speicher caters less to models and actors seeking portfolio images, and she primarily focuses on high-end couture portraits infused with a fashion aesthetic.

[Read: The Luxury Mindset That Sells Fine-Art Portraits]

Speicher currently has a sales average of $5,630 for her portrait clients (personal branding, senior portraits, maternity, boudoir, couture, and family) and an average of $2,470 for her headshot clients. She says the key to becoming a success in photography is in knowing that it doesn’t come over night. Speicher says, “if you take it one day at a time, one step at a time, you will grow over time. Trust the process. Put the work in. Constantly experiment and see what fuels and drives your passion because when you’re inspired and passionate, your clients will see that, too. And that’s the one thing that’s going to separate you from other photographers that might work in your genre. So, keep your eye on that fire.”

You can learn more about Kaela Speicher’s photography on her two websites: Kaela Speicher Portraits and Kaela Speicher Fashion and Editorial.

The Portrait System Podcast helps portrait photographers navigate the world of photography, business, money, and much more. Hosted by Nikki Closser, the podcast is powered by The Portrait System, a comprehensive, online educational platform that teaches all aspects of running a successful portrait photography studio.