Conversations with Kara Laferty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Laferty.

Hi Kara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My love for photography started with a simple Canon point-and-shoot camera back in middle school. I was always the one behind the camera—documenting family vacations, everyday life, and the fleeting, beautiful moments that often go unnoticed. Even then, something about freezing time and preserving connection felt deeply important to me. But growing up in a small town, photography wasn’t exactly considered a “real” career. It was just a hobby, something you did for fun, not to actually make a living.

Life moved on, as it so often does. and I pursued a path in psychology and social work, eventually earning my Master’s degree from the University of Michigan and with it, headed into the realm of mental health in Michigan. I thought that chapter of creativity was behind me…until I met my husband, Andrew. He brought more than love into my life—he also brought his DSLR camera. Andrew loved photographing landscapes, animals, and stillness. I, on the other hand, was drawn to people—their stories, emotions, and unbridled joy. So I “borrowed” (let’s be honest—permanently adopted) his camera and started shooting again in 2016.

That year, I photographed a friend’s wedding and something inside of me just clicked. From there, I leaned in. I practiced with friends and family, learning everything I could, building both my skills around the camera as well as my own confidence to approach any session with a new perspective looking to capture the connections and emotion around me. Those early sessions grew into Melian Photography. What started as a curious return to creativity became a full-fledged side business and passion for me.

Now, I capture love stories, milestone moments, and the subtle in-betweens that make life truly magical. And that little Canon point and shoot camera? It might be long gone and replaced by a Canon mirrorless R6 camera, but the heart, creative eye, and energy that I have behind the lens has never changed.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think if you ask any photographer if their journey has been smooth, the answer is likely a resounding “nope!”. Photography is a wild mix of art, emotion, tech, business, and serendipitous timing. Navigating all of that while also working a full-time job and raising a tiny human? Let’s just say it has been beautiful chaos for me.

I work full-time as a Quality Manager in the public mental health realm within the State of Michigan (which is every bit as intense as it sounds) and I’m also the mom of a hilarious, rambunctious, high-energy four-year-old. Photography started as my passion project, something that lit me up inside, and slowly turned into a thriving side business. It’s my creative lifeline, my weekend magic, and work that truly comes from my heart.

Balancing it all has been anything but easy. Social media is constantly evolving, client inquiries come in through email, DMs, texts, smoke signals—you name it—and there’s always something that needs updating or responding to. At some point, I had to learn to treat my time like a currency. It meant asking myself: what’s worth my energy, and what can I outsource to keep the joy alive in what I love? Scheduling every minute of my day is a necessity to ensure that I can keep all of the balls in the air at all times.

At the end of the day, the journey has been messy, magical, and completely worth it. Every challenge has taught me how to protect what I love and build a business with heart and boundaries.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in two seemingly different, but really, complementary styles of photography: documentary-style wedding photography and avant-garde creative fashion work. At the heart of both is one core mission that I try to always embody- authentic storytelling.

For weddings, my focus is on capturing honest, emotional, and unscripted moments. These are those glances, the gut-laughs, the quiet in-betweens. I’m not about stiff posing or forced smiles, but I will absolutely do a prom pose if the situation warrants it so that I can get a laugh out of my couple. My job is to guide my couples through playful, natural prompts that help their real personalities shine through so that it can truly come across on camera. My favorite compliment? When couples tell me they forgot they were even being photographed (I love being a fly on the wall capturing the moments as they happen using my artistic eye).

What sets me apart isn’t just my creative eye though, it’s my ability to ground a space and create trust. With a Master’s in Social Work and years spent in high-stakes, emotionally nuanced environments, I bring a calm, steady presence to a day that can often be really chaotic. It takes a lot to shake me, and I’ve been told more than once that I’m the reason the couple stayed sane on their wedding day. Whether I’m fluffing a dress, wrangling Uncle Bob to from cocktail hour for family formals, or capturing a fleeting moment you didn’t even realize was happening, I’m in your corner—from first look to the last dance, I’m the one that’s there to help a couple capture every single moment.

Photography isn’t just about beautiful images. It’s about creating a safe, inspired experience that allows people to be their truest selves. That’s where the magic lives—and that’s where I do my best work.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
For people interested in photography= don’t wait for permission to start. You don’t need the “perfect” gear, the “perfect” niche, or a massive following to pursue what you love. You just need the guts to pick up a camera and create. Some of my favorite photos were taken long before I considered myself a professional, and trust me, growth happens through doing, not overthinking. It’s easy to compare yourself to others in this industry, but at the end of the day, you have to remember that people hire you for YOUR creative vision and the art that you create.

The world doesn’t need another copy-and-paste photographer who copies everything they see on social media. It needs you, your perspective, your way of seeing, your energy.

Also, boundaries are your best friend. There will always be someone (especially that second cousin) asking for free work from you. Know your worth early on, even if you’re still building your portfolio. Value your time, your energy, and your art because when you treat your work like it matters, I promise others will too.

Finally no matter what industry you’re in, stay curious. ALWAYS stay curious. Let your creativity evolve. Let your passion for creating lead you. You can be a wedding photographer and shoot high-fashion editorial. You can be a parent and a successful business owner. Don’t listen to others that say you have to fit into a single box.

Life is a long game-stay inspired, stay curious, stay kind to yourself, and most of all, just keep creating!

Pricing:

• Wedding packages start at $3,200
• Lifestyle sessions start at $400
• Fashion sessions start at $400

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.melianphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melian.photo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melianphotography/