Meet Kaya
Photographer & Storyteller
I’m a mother to two precious souls, an adventurer at heart, and a photographer with a passion for capturing the moments that make life meaningful. I want every session to feel natural, relaxed, and playful, just show up as you are. Because the real magic always comes out in the moments that happen on their own. That’s why my heart is in the candid, honest moments and the emotions you simply can’t stage.
Before making Savannah my home, I spent years exploring the world - hiking thousands of miles on long distance trails, teaching scuba diving and discovering how much beauty exists being fully in the present. Photography has become my way of documenting that beauty, whether it’s a sweeping celebration of love or the curl of a newborn’s toes.
Now based in the Low Country, I’m drawn to the beautiful marshes and the timeless charm of this area. My goal is to create photos that are genuine, meaningful, and full of life - photos that tell the story of who you are and who you love.
MY STYLE
LIGHT
I’m always chasing beautiful light - that golden glow before sunset, soft mornings, or even a cloudy sky that wraps everything in a calm haze. Light sets the mood, and I love using it to bring out warmth and connection in every photo.
NATURE
I love photographing in natural settings - whether it’s under a canopy of trees, along the shoreline, or in open fields. The outdoors creates a relaxed, organic backdrop that lets your family’s connections shine.
CANDID IMAGERY
Some of the most meaningful photos happen in the in-between moments. I focus on capturing these candid details, so your gallery reflects not just how you looked, but how it truly felt to be there.
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I'm in awe of the photographs she took of our family. They are so soft, genuine and filled with light.
- REBECCA S.
MORE ABOUT ME
Motherhood
Motherhood changes everything, but there's no way to truly grasp it until you're in the thick of it. I have two daughters now and each one has rewritten who I am and how I see the world. They resemble a new, more intentional chapter of my life. One where I'm leaning into a slower pace and holding space for the moments that actually matter. It's what draws me to photography: the chance to pause time and honor those moments - big and small - that fill our souls.
Adventure
I met my husband on the Pacific Crest Trail - a 2,650-mile trek from Mexico to Canada that changed the trajectory of my life. He’s the smartest, kindest, and most effortlessly cool person I know, and I truly adore him. It’s been a story book kind of love. In the years that followed, we filled our lives with adventure - walking different Caminos across Europe, rafting the Grand Canyon, and working as scuba instructors around the world. With over 1,000 dives logged, I still never tire of searching coral reefs for tiny, hidden creatures. In 2019, we set out together on another long trail: the Continental Divide Trail, a 3,000-mile wilderness hike through the Rocky Mountains. When the trail came to an end, we found ourselves looking for a change of pace - a place to plant roots, get married, and begin building a family. Savannah became that place. In my first years here I worked as a kayak guide and Low Country Master Naturalist while completing a Bachelor’s in Adventure Management & Outdoor Sports. Whether on foot, by paddle, or under water, adventure has always been my way of connecting most deeply - with people, places and with the natural world.
Belonging
I consider myself a third-culture kid: someone who grows up between cultures, blending pieces of each into a unique sense of identity. Though I’m a German citizen and always thought of Germany as “home,” my parents’ work in development carried our family across the globe to places like Australia, Wales, China, and Honduras. Along the way, I became fluent in German, English, and Spanish, and learned to feel at home in many different worlds at once. It wasn’t until I met my American husband that my path brought me to the United States, where Savannah has become my newest home, a place that feels both rooted and expansive.
Homemaking
While I'm down for any and all adventures, I'm equally inspired by home-making and the magic of ordinary life. I love cooking, baking sourdough, felting fairy mobiles and crafting with my kids.
