Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Czarniecki.
Hi Kayla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m Kayla, cinematographer of Gypsy Lemon. My journey began in the fashion and editorial world in Miami back in 2013, where I learned lighting, composition, and how to capture beauty with an emphasis on fashion. In 2019, after buying my first camera I spent time traveling across North America, South America, and Europe photographing landscapes. I discovered my passion for capturing people in 2021 where I began blending my love of fashion, nature, and love stories into art. What stuck with me is human’s, their relationships, connections, and real-life moments that are monumental.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest challenges was making the leap from more traditional, corporate-leaning paths like social work and accounting to fully trusting my art as a career. That transition required a deep level of faith in myself, especially when the external feedback wasn’t always supportive.
There were moments when my work was misunderstood, on social media and even within my own close community. Some people didn’t understand Super 8 and dismissed it as “old” or impractical. Others questioned my choice to photograph same-sex partners shared images were rejected, and some people simply couldn’t grasp why I didn’t want a conventional 9-to-5 life. At times, it felt like very few people believed in what I was building.
What kept me going were the handful of people who truly saw my work, and the brides who kept knocking on my door, trusting me to document one of the most meaningful days of their lives. Their belief in my art, paired with my commitment to telling honest love stories, gave me the confidence to keep choosing this path, even when it felt uncertain.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At its core, my work is about photographing human connection. I specialize in Super 8 film and analog photography, and I’m known for an earthy, editorial style that feels honest, emotive, and timeless rather than overly posed or trend-driven.
While I’m incredibly proud of my publications (including Vogue), what matters most to me is the people I serve. The greatest reward is creating images that feel deeply meaningful to my clients images that reflect who they truly are and how their love feels. I’m especially proud of the relationships I build with couples and the trust they place in me. The messages and handwritten notes I receive afterward telling me how at ease they felt, how fun the experience was, and how seen they felt.. this has never stop being surreal to me.
What sets my work apart is the experience as much as the final imagery. I approach every session and wedding with sensitivity, presence, and care, allowing people to be themselves rather than perform. The result is work that feels intimate, soulful, and deeply personal, photographs and films that clients don’t just look at, but feel.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My experience with mentors has been very organic. The most impactful mentors in my life weren’t people I cold-emailed asking for guidance they were people whose work I genuinely admired and whose values aligned with mine. I focused on building real relationships first: showing up consistently, being curious, asking thoughtful questions, and offering help whenever I could without expecting anything in return. My mentors included people that had photographed me or experts in super8 that I knew were honest and authentic.
What’s worked best for me is approaching networking as community rather than strategy. I’ve learned that people respond to sincerity. When you respect someone’s time, do your homework, and engage with their work in a meaningful way, mentorship often grows naturally out of that connection. Some mentors came into my life through assisting, others through collaborations, and some simply through honest conversations that turned into long-term relationships.
My biggest advice is to stay humble, stay open, and don’t rush the process. Not every connection needs to lead somewhere immediately. Be patient, be kind, and let people see your work ethic and integrity over time. The right mentors will recognize that and when they do, those relationships can shape not just your career, but the way you move through the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.GypsyLemon.com
- Instagram: Gypsy.Lemon
Image Credits
All photos shot by Kayla Czarniecki @Gypsy.Lemon
