Kayleigh June

Q&A

• When did you first feel like, “This is it. This is the work I want to be known for”?

  I remember the moment clearly. It was after one of the first beauty shoots I ever photographed. At the time, studio portraits were something I hadn’t quite gotten the hang of, and I hadn’t yet produced work I was truly proud of. For this shoot, I decided to plan everything really carefully to try and refine my beauty photography and studio skills. I hired a macro lens, researched a lighting setup I felt confident in, and worked closely with the makeup artist to plan the looks in detail.

  When I finished the shoot and reviewed the images, I remember thinking, “Finally! I’ve achieved exactly what I wanted.” I was so excited to share the work, and I knew instantly that this was the direction I wanted to take my photography.

• What’s been helping you level up lately?

  Experimenting in post-production and refining my color grading. No matter how long you’ve been doing this, there’s always more to learn. Sometimes going back to basics and experimenting is the best way to discover new ways to elevate your work.

• What’s been quietly (or loudly) fueling your creative spark lately?

  Interestingly enough, coaching calls with students have been fueling my creative spark lately. There’s something about talking with aspiring photographers and creatives who are so full of enthusiasm that takes me back to when everything felt new and exciting about photography. Every time I finish a call, I feel an immediate urge to plan a portfolio shoot. It’s incredibly energizing and inspiring.

• What’s something Affinity just gets right?

  The workflow. I love how customizable the interface is and how easily it can be tailored to what works best for you as a creative. The ability to have dedicated Studio tabs⁠(opens in a new tab or window) for retouching and color grading is essential for me.

• Is there an Affinity trick you always end up sharing?

  Using Affinity’s Gradient Map, Selective Color, and Color Balance quick presets is a great starting point for color grading. They give you a strong base to build from, and there are so many interesting color combinations to explore.