Life Behind the Lens with Kika Mitchell
Can you tell us about your journey from a successful career in television to becoming a renowned photographer?
The whole journey felt very organic. I started as a runner, making tea in the newsroom and worked my way up with a bit of hard graft. I’ve always been a self-starter that way and I knew to transition out of TV and into photography I’d need to be in the best place financially to really take the leap. I started my business on a smaller scale, which meant training in photography, going to college and working whenever the children were napping, but when I did leave TV I already had something solid there.
How do you approach the process of capturing authentic and emotive moments during family photoshoots?
Connection and trust are a massive part of it. I think it comes down to knowing where those intimate spaces are. For new-born and family shoots with toddlers I love to shoot on the mum and dad’s bed; choosing a place of comfort like this brings out beautiful moments of connection. For children singing their favourite nursery rhyme, reading their favourite books, or having them tickled are sure-fire ways of helping them relax.
If people aren’t relaxed, you won’t get the best photos. I’m very hands on and I’ll do whatever it takes to get the shot. I think it’s important to watch people, how they move and what looks the most natural before getting them in front of the camera.
You mentioned that you struggled with infertility before becoming a mother. How has that experience shaped your perspective on life and influenced your work as a photographer?
Because we lived with the uncertainty of not having children, when they did come along, I was obsessed with documenting their entire lives. Time is so fleeting and moves so quickly I want to capture and immortalise everything.
My tagline is beautifully relaxed photography which is something I incorporate into every aspect of my life. The beautifully mundane moments are the ones that when your baby is suddenly eighteen, you’ll look back at when they would only wear red wellies or carried the same toy everywhere. I feel it’s my job to capture those memories for other families so they can remember everything, not just the parts they think they want.
“Feed your soul! Visually I love the arts. I find it hard to imagine how you can be inspired without feeding your creativity.”
As a woman in business, what advice would you give to other women who are aspiring creatives looking to pursue their passions?
My mantra from my TV days is “the quick and the unlucky” and you never know when an opportunity is coming and when to take it. Don’t miss out on the opportunities you’re presented with because you don’t know if they’ll come again.
Price yourself well from the very beginning, don’t ever de-value yourself because it de-values your whole industry. Sometimes unpaid work does get you in front of the people you need to see but it’s all about balance and working out where the line is.
Feed your soul! Visually I love the arts. I find it hard to imagine how you can be inspired without feeding your creativity.
What do you enjoy most about being a photographer, and how do you hope to continue making an impact with your work in the future?
I love all elements of my business; my family work feels very special and knowing that my artwork will live in people’s home, above their mantel pieces and in their albums; shaping the memories of their children for generations to come is such a passion. A good photograph can take you back in a second – to the smell, the season, what you were wearing and how you felt – they’re priceless time machines.
With over a decade of experience in your photography business, what have been some of the most memorable moments or projects for you?
Last year I was lucky enough to cover the M&S Christmas press event – of all the famous people I’ve met my children have only ever been impressed by the photo I took with Colin the Caterpillar and Percy the pig. My kids were over the moon!
Kika offers a comprehensive portfolio derived of family shoots, newborn, personal branding, corporate and branding portfolios. To enquire go to www.kikamitchellphotography.co.uk
