Today we’d like to introduce you to Bailey Toksoz.
Hi Bailey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got into photography when I traveled the world for 2 years. I had no intentions of becoming a photographer, but through seeing life as a traveler, I quickly began documenting my surroundings & the cultures that inspired me. I walked around with my camera every day in Indian alleyways & Balinese beaches & I started to realize how powerful it can be to see life through the lens of a camera. I spent those 2 years teaching myself everything about photography. I got curious. I explored angles, positioning, people, color, composition, all of it until I knew my camera was in & out. I got to know people from Vietnam & Singapore & Sri Lanka & everywhere in between without speaking the same language. It was magical. I was invited into homes to photograph families & receive spiritual blessings from the masters. It opened me up to a whole new way of seeing life. After moving to Austin, TX, I became a professional photographer. I applied for a job well beyond my experience & I went for it!
In a documentary-style cowboy photography campaign for Cavender’s boots, I got to travel to rodeos near & far to capture the cowboy culture. It opened me up to professional photography. Months later, I learned that I received a Gold Addy award for these campaign captures. After that, I dove in through the company Nine Banded Whiskey. They hired me as their in-house creator — photography, writing, website development & beyond. I went to events all across Austin & got to establish myself in the music & events scene. I was now a photographer. I gained confidence through my experience & always strived to stretch myself beyond what I knew I could. I studied under other photographers & expanded my range of offerings into engagements, weddings, campaign shots, birth photography & lifestyle campaigns. 9 years later & here we are, thousands upon thousands of photos later. I am still driven by the very thing that got me into photography in the first place — people. Now I make a living capturing people in their highest light, guiding them to see what I see – their magic.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Choosing a niche has always been challenging because I enjoy it all. I enjoy the intimacy of engagement photography. I live for telling the story of a brand & helping craft the narrative for who they want to be in the market. I am blown away by the powers of birth photography & could do it every day of my life. And now, retreats are capturing my heart. One thing that supported me along the way was releasing the feeling that I needed to figure it all out. It allowed me to explore, enjoy the ride & capture what comes along, trusts that the people who need my eye will always appear & giving myself the grace of range & exploration. I have chosen this as my niche storytelling photography that captures the human experience.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in storytelling photography that captures the human experience — raw emotion, bold expression & genuinely tuning into uncover & convey the unique expression in front of me. The main thing about photography is having the person in front of me feel free to be themselves. When they feel free just to be, magic happens. Their light comes through & I capture it.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
There is a difference between capturing what’s happening at the moment & guiding someone to pose & feel comfortable in front of the camera. There’s active photography & passive photography. One includes direction, guidance, & reassurance, and the other requires entire presence, observation & a quick finger to capture the moment as it’s happening. Learn the difference & step up when someone needs your guidance on the other side of the camera. It’s your responsibility as the photographer for how the other person experiences the camera & ultimately, themselves.
Pricing:
- 1600 half day
- 2600 full day
Contact Info:
- Website: Baileytoksozphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileytoksozphotography/
Image Credits
Bailey Toksoz Photography
