Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikayla Hall.
Hi Mikayla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a child, I grew up in Tennessee out in the country on 5 acres. We spent our time picking blackberries, running around barefoot catching fireflies, and playing the piano for hours singing “This is my Father’s World.”
My two little sisters and I would put on little skits for our parents and were always building forts around the home and outside in the grass. After 9 years living in the hills of TN, we moved to Nevada to be closer to family and we adopted 5 children through foster care. (I am the oldest of 8)
12 years later, I moved back to Tennessee by myself on a one-way ticket and have now lived here for 7 years. I met my now husband through my childhood best friend who married his older brother. Crazy, I know. It’s such a gift! I was always the friend taking pictures and videos of everyone at the table enjoying meals and documenting our time together.
I developed a desire for photography when smartphones started coming out. I took pictures on my Mom’s phone of basically anything. And since then I have enjoyed capturing all the moments. (Just ask my husband how many photos I have on my camera roll right now).
From capturing the pictures to editing, I love the entire process! It’s such a blessing getting to capture God’s creation and let Him lead every shoot and every picture that is taken. Every picture tells a story that is so beautiful! A testimony of God’s faithfulness! I am currently booking shoots with people and I am about to photograph my first wedding!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve learned along the way that people value having good pictures and I can’t always do everything for free, even though that’s what my heart would want.
Learning that it’s okay to charge for my services and be thankful for the opportunity to make an income doing something I enjoy doing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Nashville-based photographer. I specialize in portraits and lifestyle photography. I have friends who know that I can edit pictures so they’ll send me their pictures to edit saying, “Can you make this black and white the way you do yours?” it’s so fun.
I love being silly and keeping things lighthearted during shoots. It can feel awkward on the other side of the camera sometimes, so I like to have fun and be silly with whoever I’m taking pictures of. A lot of times people think they were awkward looking in the photos, but once I show them the results, they are pleasantly surprised and excited which is a blessing to me.
I’d say my editing style is a little different from your standard tones and colors commonly used in the photography industry. I love making a photo look a bit like it was taken on a film camera. (Someday I’d like to have an actual film camera) but for now, editing them as one will work.
I like for my photos to have a homemade feel that’s candid and less filtered and fixed up. More raw and genuine.
Feels like a home kind of feeling.
Pricing:
- Mini session- $95
- Family portraits- $225-$500+
- Engagement session- $225-$575+
- Elopement/Weddings- $1,200+
- For other inquiries- contact us via email
Contact Info:
