Kaleidoscope of Kodak | A Perry Vaile Styled Shoot

As artists, we all have fellow creatives in the field who inspire us both with their work, but also their drive and mission. For me, that artist is Perry Vaile. I have followed Perry on Instagram for years and to say her work is breathtaking is an understatement. Perry celebrates all things color and vibrant; a sentiment I try to mimic in my own work as a photographer. It is actually because of Perry that I wound up attending The Hybrid Collective in Utah. I saw her post last spring that she would be hosting a workshop called Kaleidoscope of Kodak: a celebration of women of every size and color and of all things aesthetically vibrant. Perry’s charge to photograph and celebrate all types of people is a mission that aligns with my own heart, so it was not long after seeing her post that I booked my ticket.

The day of Perry’s shoot, myself and many others headed to River Bottoms Ranch outside of Park City, Utah. A lady after my own heart, Perry greeted us with typed out agendas and predetermined groups to help the workshop run as smoothly as possible. She explained that there would be five stations in total: three with models and two with either stationary or the table scape. Our groups were kept small so we could manage our time and have the space to be creative without feeling flustered. Before beginning our rotations, Perry walked us through each station with the lead planner, Plume Designs, to introduce the models, show us how she would photograph the set up, and take questions from the group. Perry’s willingness to teach and have meaningful conversations only speaks to her character and her passion for people. She reminded us that the purpose of Kaleidoscope of Kodak was that our portfolios should represent all kinds of people so that everyone can see themselves represented in art. Perry’s dedication to representation and the celebration of others resonates so strongly with my passion for inclusion, and I am forever grateful for this thoughtful and meaningful workshop. A huge thank you to Perry and the vendor team for this phenomenal session in Utah!