WHY

It’s a brand’s job to add diversity to the industry. As a lifestyle blogger, influence and commercial photographer I believe it is my responsibility to celebrate diversity.  I try to to use commercial jobs to add diversity to my own brand by using models of all ethnicities and abilities. I think we should all commit to make a more conscious effort to evaluate how to celebrate diversity personally and on social platforms.

A brand’s job to add diversity means focusing on representing minority ethnicities and abilities in photoshoots. Make it important to your brand! Images celebrating diversity are uniquely beautiful. That way, your photoshoots are more interesting, more relatable and more accurate in representation.

HOW

So, how do I find and represent diverse models?

Personally, I do this by asking questions in the questionnaire application I use to attract models. That way I can hire a variety of models for each brand shoot.

Unfortunately, Utah is not known for its ethnic and racial diversity. And so it becomes even more challenging. But also makes it more important to find and value models. I hire models that can represent my brand and compensate them for the value they bring to the photoshoots. I examine unique qualities and characteristics they offer and capture those in my photos. It takes conscious effort and work. So, I make sure to pay them and credit them each time they come.

In the commercialized society we live in, media and the fashion industry overrepresent typical white people. In fact, diversity of any kind is over looked in favor of what sells. Models have a huge impact on how we view modern beauty. And although my commercial brand shots are not high fashion and my models are mostly babies, I believe celebrating diversity is important and necessary whenever possible.

Kylee Maughan

Kylee Ann Maughan is a family and international brand photographer based in small-town Northern Utah. She has been a business owner for 13.5 years, and also runs a successful and award-winning associate team. Kylee hosts semi-annual retreats, speaks at conferences and teaches online courses about running a small business and marketing. Her niche in coaching is helping moms turn their passion into profit, while being the mom they dream of. 

kyleeannphotography.com/kylee