“The Camera Is An Instrument That Teaches People How To See Without A Camera.” Dorothea Lange

with my freckles and messy hair, bruised knee and chapped lips – this morning I am splendidly imperfect and alive

Sabrina Ward Harrison

Denver Documentary Photographer specializing in moments of connection

Denver, CO // Beyond

My journey as a Denver documentary photographer stems from my childhood love of looking through our photo albums. I find myself seeking connection with my family in ways I don’t know that I understood until adulthood. I have a deep desire to give families the ability to connect in the same way. We have so many stories to share & I believe that photography is an incredible way to do just that.

I welcome all identities, cultures & abilities. I believe love is love and that all genders are beloved. I believe in integrity & respect. I believe that all bodies are beautiful. I believe that humans are beautiful, messy creatures and we are all worthy of being documented.

Read more about my sessions here

I firmly believe that what I do is collaborative creation. I cannot document how I do without the trust & openness my clients extend to me. My clients extend that to me with the understanding that I can create within it.

As a documentary photographer my focus is on the details of connection. I specialize in documenting clients in their homes, their creative spaces, in places that are special to them and tell their history. I want your session to spark a memory or a feeling. My sessions are often unscripted, unposed & full of connection and joy. I have found over the years that lifestyle & documentary sessions allow that energy to flow more naturally and those are the sessions I gravitate toward.

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Documenting within your love

About Kyla

Hi there! Thank you so very much for stopping by! I picked up photography back in 2010 and have had a love affair ever since. I was gifted a crappy little $50 point and shoot camera that I took on walks and then I started taking photos of my nieces and nephews and realized just how much I loved this way of seeing the world. I’ve been documenting families and life events ever since. I specialize in creating photographs of connection and I’m so grateful to get to work with people to tell the stories of their seasons of life.

I believe connection is one of the most important parts of the human experience and I love that my work allows me to document how those connections unfold. A few years ago I started documenting end of life moments for families whether it be with their animals, their loved ones or themselves & this work while being some of the most emotionally heavy work I’ve done is also such a gift in so many ways. Death and life go so hand in hand and our world often ignores how tied we all are to that, and how much connection exists in that journey.

Lately I’ve been having a love affair with my garden because it lets me be more in tune with how seasons shift and the little changes that lead into the big. What quiet comfort it is to be able to walk outside and enjoy a morning coffee and watch the bees wake up and listen to the birds give us all their chatter. Dahlias and ranunculus are my current obsession alongside the salvia and bee balm that bring the hummingbirds. Aster and it’s tiny blooms popping up in the most unlikely of cracks. Sunflowers! Oh, sunflowers. Providing so much for so many creatures.

I’m an avid listener of podcasts. Ologies is my favorite deep dive right now! I love reading and often find myself lost in a cozy fantasy fiction but really enjoy anything that will make my heart swell or have me weeping like crazy. Recent top reads include anything written by Kristin Hannah, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (forgiveness & friendship are such gifts) & Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed (when in need this book of advice often helps me find clarity).

My husband is my best friend, best support & I am so happy I get to do life with him. We are best friends, best partners & I feel so lucky. We have two dogs that we adopted into our family a few years back. Morning walks especially in spring and fall are my happy place.

Follow me on Instagram for current adventures.

CONTACT ME


Client Testimonials

  • Take it from two camera shy people, Kyla is THE ONE for gorgeous documentary-style wedding photography. She has an incredible eye and not only captured so many amazing moments of our wedding day, but also got us out of our shells and helped us feel comfortable enough to be ourselves- which really came through in the photos. She went above and beyond in so many ways: finding the best moments to pull us away and take advantage of golden hour lighting so we could make our own memories in the hustle and bustle of a big wedding, color correcting florals in our ceremony background to a color we liked 😭, and sharing sneak peaks and film prints so we could share photography with our friends and family while excitement was still high. Her talent and personality are both spectacular and we couldn’t recommend her more.
    Keelin & Kelsey
  • We’ve done three sessions with Kyla since June 2020 (maternity and first birthday sessions for our daughter and a newborn/family in-home session for our son), most recently in April 2023. She has been amazing to work with, and her photos are gorgeous. She captures stunning photos of our very energetic daughter who is always on the move and makes us so comfortable during the sessions so the photos are natural and not forced poses. She also handled the challenges of the COVID pandemic so professionally and has gone above and beyond to ensure we were all healthy for our sessions. I know this will not be the last time we have Kyla photograph our family!
    Kaleigh
  • Kyla is so talented and all around incredible! We did a family shoot at the botanic gardens and had such a wonderful experience, and are blown away with our final photos. Her ability to compose beautiful shots while simultaneously making us feel like we were just hanging out and having fun as a family is amazing. She is the best and her work speaks for itself – you will not regret working with her for a second!
    Amanda
  • “Kyla is simply amazing. I have had the privilege of knowing her for some time now and I can not sing her praises enough. Not only is she incredibly talented and skilled in the art of photography, but her soul is just as beautiful. Her photos are so incredibly breathtaking. They have made me smile, laugh, and cry.

    I am someone who HATES to have their picture taken. For me, it is an incredibly personal and vulnerable thing to do. Kyla is the only one who I have been comfortable enough to let this happen with. She is great with kids (and my kids can be a handful!) and with people like me who are stepping out of their comfort zone. I’m constantly in awe of this beautiful woman and her equally stunning photography.”
    Rachel
  • I first met Kyla at my mother’s wedding in June of 24’. She was doing their photo shoot and immediately i bonded with her for our love of photography and all things art in general. She honestly has like the most charisma in a person that i have ever met!
    Anyways after my mom got her photos back I was drawn to the style and just general vibe of the photos. I knew I needed her to do my senior photos( like. a need not a want). So I asked her pretty much all year and then we agreed on a time and place. She is extremely professional yet familiar in her work, I would recommend her to literally anyone because of her uniqueness. Kyla is so talented and finding an inner joy in a person. Many times I wouldn’t smile and then she would somehow get me to show teeth and really express myself. I am beyond lucky to have had the privilege to work with such a talented and an extremely kind person. The photos came out literally breathtaking and I cannot choose my favorite because they all are! Once again thank you Kyla for doing my photos and just sharing your time with me!
    Joey
  • It’s difficult to put into words the amazingness that Kyla creates – but I don’t have to! Her photos speak for themselves, and they emote for themselves. I often look back at my wedding and engagement photos and I’m transported back in an instant. Not only are *they* great, but Kyla has such a positive vibration in her soul that she brings with her to each session and that is so obvious in all of her work. 20000/10 recommend.
    KJ & Mark
  • I’ve used Kyla for Family Photos, Engagement Photos and my Wedding Photos. Her skill, dedication and talent are absolutely outstanding. I’ve never been so blown away or moved by photos, and yet somehow, every time we use her, she continues to out do herself. Its obvious she has spent years cultivating her craft and it shows – she’s professional, empathetic and knows how to be direct even in chaotic situations with lots of celebrating family members and friends. I’ve never been happier and I feel so blessed to have gotten to work with her on some of the most important days of my life. I cannot recommend enough.
    Bobbi & Phil
  • Kyla’s exceptional talent and unwavering dedication played a pivotal role in capturing the most precious moments of our special day along with our engagement photos, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.

    From the moment we met Kyla, her passion for photography and commitment to her craft were abundantly clear. She took the time to understand our vision, preferences, and the unique essence of our relationship. Her ability to connect with us on a personal level made the entire experience comfortable and enjoyable. She even came prepared with umbrellas for some unexpected rain during our engagement photos which turned out to be some of our favorites from the shoot!

    Kyla’s professionalism and attention to detail were truly impressive. She meticulously planned each shot, scouted the perfect locations, and considered every angle to ensure that our wedding photographs would be nothing short of extraordinary. Her expertise in composition, lighting, and timing resulted in a collection of images that are simply breathtaking.

    On our wedding day, Kyla’s calm and reassuring presence was a source of comfort. She effortlessly managed the entire photography process, seamlessly blending into the background during candid moments while also skillfully directing us and our wedding party for organic shots. Her ability to capture genuine emotions and candid moments was remarkable, and we are forever grateful for the candid shots that reflect the true essence of our day.

    The final photographs delivered by Kyla surpassed all our expectations. Each image tells a story, evoking the same emotions and joy we felt on our wedding day. Kyla has a remarkable talent for capturing not only the moments but also the emotions and atmosphere of the day, making each photograph a treasure to cherish for a lifetime.

    Kyla’s dedication to her craft extends beyond the wedding day itself. Her post-production work was meticulous, resulting in photographs that are not just pictures but true works of art. The quality and attention to detail were evident in every image, from the vibrant colors to the subtle nuances of each moment.

    Kyla is not just a photographer; she is a true artist with an extraordinary ability to freeze moments in time. We are endlessly thankful for her talent, professionalism, warm heart and the stunning visual story she created for us on our wedding day. If you are seeking a photographer who will capture the heart and soul of your special day, Kyla is the absolute best choice.
    Lauren & Chris
  • Kyla is so so great!! We needed a photographer for our reception, and Kyla came up in our search when looking for a photographer who focused on candid/natural photography. I’m so glad we found her! She was so easy to work with and comfortable to be around for our special day.

    She was great to communicate with, professional, and on-time… and most importantly the photos came out amazing! She got so many great candid shots, as well as nice photos of friends and family together. All of the photos were great, but the ones she got on the dance floor are UNREAL. Looking at them takes me right back to that night. Would definitely recommend Kyla to anyone!
    Sarah