Today, we’d like to introduce you to Kayl Bitson.
Hi Kayl, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I began doing photography in high school after taking a Photoshop course and quickly began doing weddings and seniors. After growing bored with my work, I decided to take a step back from photography and attend cosmetology school. There, I really found my passion and have now been doing hair and makeup professionally for a year.
In the midst of doing hair, I picked my camera back up and switched directions, no longer doing weddings and seniors. I entered the world of music and concert photography, and within just a year of starting that journey, I have photographed artists such as Bastille, Ross Lynch, Noah Cyrus, AWOLNATION, and more. My photography skills have come in handy when taking photos of my work doing hair, and I love that I have found a way to merge my two loves.
I also started documenting my cosmetology school journey on TikTok and continue to post even now as I work in the salon full time. Through that I have had a few videos amass over 100k views and have had clients find me through the app, even driving over an hour just to come get their hair done by me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think anything is a smooth road. There has been a lot of trial and error, and it continues to be. That’s just the game of the business. I have had some people not enjoy my work or style, but I am learning new tips and tricks to make my clients happy with their hair.
I have also left a concert with only a handful of photos but as I am learning the venues, the artists movements and more things about photoshop I can produce more photos and content than I was before. I think now I am more confident in my work than ever and give myself the grace to grow as everyone has started from zero at one point.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Grand Rapids-based hairstylist whose focus lies in color. I specialize in vivid and alternative colors, with a passion for everything rainbow and bright. But I also do low-maintenance color and textured cuts to help a variety of clients and make everyone who sits in my chair feel great.
I am enthusiastic about creating a safe space in my chair for the LGBTQ community and anyone who has ever had anxiety stepping into a salon. As far as photography goes, I mainly now focus on live music but am always open to other opportunities.
I have experience in weddings, events, and portrait work. I would say my style is very similar to my work in hair, alternative, and bright. I love a challenge in whatever field I am working in.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share?
Absolutely. It was during the pandemic that I realized I wasn’t passionate about the work I was doing at the time and that I needed to find a way to become passionate again. As things began to open back up, I enrolled in cosmetology school, and I feel like that opened me back up and lit a fire in me. During the time of quarantine, self care became important in taking time for myself and listening to my body when it was telling me to slow down.
As someone who was always on the go, that became difficult, especially through school, but if you don’t take the time to care for yourself and your mental health, your body will make sure of it for you. That definitely happened with me and made a way for me to take a step back, understand my needs and how to work with them rather than against them.
Thankfully, that lesson brought me to where I am now, as I learned that I had no enthusiasm in me or felt so run down because I wasn’t doing work I was excited about. And now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything other than hair and photography and making a difference in others’ lives through those things.
Pricing:
- Highlights starting at $113
- Haircuts starting at $47
- Creative colors may vary
- Photo packages starting at $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/k.marieartistry?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABprmpG1LTGRi6U5ip1D9mWYFKybOTAYrcT6Gc-iXiobMPr_zQsHLnx5rKhg_aem_AWfe9Pq1cUirEF2c5RhKtA2u07wRGWwSHQumjRZP3XnrFPG3OG4LwZk7yCphFvTERkY
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.marieartistry/ https://www.instagram.com/k.mariephotograph/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/k.mariehairartistry/
