Squarespace Template Customer Showcase: Photographer Kayla Simon
Shop the Belladonna Squarespace Template
Name: Kayla Simon
Website: www.kaylasimonphotos.com
What do you do/what is your business?:
I am a portrait photographer based in New England who specializes in fashion, creative portraits, seniors, and graduation. I take pride in helping my clients both look good and feel good during the photoshoot process. I received my first little Kodak camera when I was eight years old and haven’t put down the camera since, and it’s been such a joy to pursue something I am so deeply passionate about.
What or who inspires you the most?:
It’s hard to pick something that inspires me the most; I find inspiration in so many places!
I’ve always been really inspired by song lyrics, and listening to music never fails to spark my creativity. But I am also really inspired by the other amazing photographers that I follow on Instagram. Seeing the ways other people get creative always motivates me to try new things or put my own spin on trending topics.
Some of my favorite Instagram accounts to scroll through to help me think outside the box are @samddykstra, @marinawphoto, and @jessicakobeissi.
Lastly, the natural world is a huge source of inspiration for me; I plan a lot of my shoots based solely on the location we’ll be shooting at, and the beauty in nature has a strong influence on my work.
What template did you purchase?:
Belladonna; it’s gorgeous!
Why did you choose that particular template?:
I was really drawn to the layout of the Belladonna template; when I viewed it as a template, I could immediately envision so many ways to display my photographic work and guide the reader to my galleries and blog. It felt fun, creative, and feminine, all qualities which mesh well with my business.
Why did you want a new website?:
I liked my old website, but I had designed it myself in Squarespace and didn’t feel that it fully reflected the improved quality of my photography work. It felt too basic for the caliber of work I wanted to portray; I wanted to incorporate more color and a fun layout, but I wasn’t quite sure how to do so and didn’t know where to start. I wanted a website that felt fully like me and my business while highlighting my work and client experience in a cohesive and intentional way. I didn’t feel that my old website was accomplishing those goals.
Why did you choose to purchase one of our templates, rather than a competitor?:
None of the other Squarespace templates stood out to me like the ones at Big Cat Creative. I loved so many of them that I initially had a hard time narrowing down which one to purchase! I also loved that I could see the different websites that people had built using the Big Cat Creative templates since they were featured on the website. Seeing these really showed me what was possible with these templates and had me envisioning what my own revamped site would look like. In addition, I liked that the process taught me so much about Squarespace, because I definitely didn’t know much before. I never knew it had some of the capabilities that I learned about while designing the site! I also definitely appreciated the price point, and felt like I got my money’s worth for sure.
How did you feel before you created your new website?:
Before I created my new site, I didn’t feel at all confident that my website was showcasing who I am as a photographer and business owner. I felt overwhelmed at the idea of starting a new site from scratch, but wasn’t quite sure how to get my website to the point where I felt like it was sending the exact message I wanted to convey about my brand and personality to my ideal client.
How do you feel now that you have launched your new site?:
I feel so proud of myself for taking the steps to create my dream website with the help of the incredible Big Cat Creative team and Belladonna template. I finally feel that my site is truly reflective of what I want my business to look like and it makes me feel even more confident in my skills and offerings. I feel excited knowing that new potential clients will be introduced to Kayla Simon Photos with such a gorgeous site!
How do you think your business is going to benefit from your new website?:
I think and hope that because of my new website, my business will truly demonstrate to current and potential clients that Kayla Simon Photos is the photographer for them! Having a website that finally aligns with the way I envision showing my business to the world builds trust in my business for my clients and confidence for myself as a business owner, and also helps me feel confident in my pricing knowing that my website reflects the value of my work. Infusing my brand colors and messaging into the Belladonna template allows my brand to shine through, creating a cohesive business message. Additionally, Belladonna offers so many beautiful ways to display my photography work, which is exactly what I want prospective clients to see when they browse my site.
How did you find the whole Squarespace Template process from purchase to launch?:
So much easier than I expected! The tutorials were so easy to follow and it made the entire process so enticing. I wasn’t intimated by the design, and once I finished it I felt so confident to make additional changes and customize my site more with my increased knowledge of Squarespace.
What's your fav series on Netflix right now?:
The Sinner; I love a good mystery!
