Join us in congratulating Leyla Kuhn on becoming one of our newest Unraveled Expert Artists!

Leyla is a fire-cracker in our community! In a crowd of people who just want so desperately to fit in and be accepted, Leyla stands out– on her own, dancing to the beat of her own drum! Her energy and spirit draw you in, but her heart is what keeps you coming back for me! Leyla, while on the surface may come across as tough, is a gentle soul with a sensitive heart and it’s the ooey-gooey parts of her that we love the most! Leyla is a staple in this community and it wouldn’t feel like home without her!

Leyla Kuhn is a Lifestyle Documentary, Family, and Women photographer who simply wants to have a good time and show everyone how beautiful life can be! Find her shooting at the beach in Santa Cruz, California, or skateboarding on a dirt-filled parking lot! Why not? Fun is the ultimate goal and the name of her game. Love stories filled with laughter are what she hopes to convey! Ice cream dripping down your face and bandaid-covered knees are her jam! Leyla is infatuated with the beautiful little details that seem mundane in everyday life. She is always down to celebrate how wild, free, and incredible you as a human being can be. Because at the skip of a beat, it can simply no longer be. She is here to celebrate all types of love, ethnicities, identities, and personalities to bring good vibes and equality to all humankind! She chooses to live in the moment and believes some of the best memories fall outside of the rules of technicality. Leyla hopes for her stories to always be honest, vibrant, and carefree!

Welcome Leyla! We are so thrilled to have you in our community and NOW a UEA!

For more inspiration from Leyla check out her social links below:

Here is Leyla, Unraveled…

What inspires your art?

I am inspired by movement and chaos! I thrive when things aren't perfect. I am honestly always ready to celebrate anyone and, I am inspired by laughter and any opportunity to have a good time. I find inspiration in the connections between people and love being a weirdo and just observing the little in-between moments that naturally occur within families and people. I find more inspiration within my Latina roots and sometimes allow vibrant colors to create the story within an image. I lean towards blurry and darker moments to somehow honor and celebrate chaos and imperfections.

What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens?

The weirdo inside me chose Nikon and Sony. I use both bodies simultaneously within every session and usually always have a 35 1.4 stuck to my Nikon 850 body and a 24-70 lens on the Sony A7III Body. I also really love my Lensbaby Sol 45 which allows me to easily capture those imperfect moments.

What other ways do you express your creativity?

When I don't have my camera with me, I am probably awkwardly dancing somewhere or in a hot yoga studio. Being a mother these days, take up the majority of my creativity. I am learning to find peace in creating a better place and planet for my two boys. I find creative ways to encourage them to be kind humans in this world.

How do you de-stress at the end of the day?

I seriously love turning my brain off and watching some dumb shit on TV. I'd love to say I read books to improve myself, but those moments are few and far between! On wild nights, I love gathering with my girlfriends and simply chatting about nothing, and celebrating our company. I have found that moving my body is an essential part of de-stressing so I try to make time to ride my peloton or go to my Yoga studio, I am pretty much just a basic B and I love it! I also scream loudly in the privacy of my own car and find it therapeutic to throw in Fbombs whenever possible!

What kind of music do you listen to while editing?

I don't have a specific genre and my playlists usually have a mixture of Bad Bunny, Shakira, Stevie Nicks, Cumbias, Madonna, Rage, Blink, Beyonce, Lizzo, and all the 90's rap. It's a plethora of madness!

What is your favorite book?

I wish I made more time to read and the current book I have been attempting to finish is "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Before that, it was a little "light" read, "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria" by Beverly Danie Tatum. No, it was not a light read but so insightful in my goal to navigate life for my kiddos.

Name one movie that inspires you.

Almost Famous is seriously my favorite Flick of all time. "Your Aura, It's Purple!" I try to live in that vintage vibe sometimes and often edit in such a way!

How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps?

I don't! HAHA! Insert emoji! I am the worst at this, but try to just push through and keep doing things that make me happy. "If it's not a Fuck Yea, it's a hard no for me!" When I am in a slump I usually go into nature and try to not focus on work or photography at all. Taking a few weeks away from creating is essential for me. I usually come back to creating in the form of Self Portraits. Getting in front of the camera allows me to do whatever I want and edit however I want without fear of failing, cause it is simply just for me. Self-portraits also allow me to look at myself differently and honor where my body is today.

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?

Accepting my path and my vision. Owning my style and not comparing myself to others is really challenging. Trying to find a balance between mothering and running a business is also difficult. Knowing when to walk away from something and coming back to what brings me joy. Honestly respecting the "fuck yea or hard pass" way of life. But mainly the comparison game kills my drive and soul and learning how to shift modes has been challenging.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

There is this local shop, Bookies in Santa Cruz that has the most bomb pizza with porcini white sauce, maitake, tree oyster, and preserved lemon. More than one topping cause single toppings are boring!

What is your most favorite kind of light and why?

I love the light that trickles through a home and creates natural dusty rays or hard shadows depending on where you stand. It helps me to either find that golden vintage vibe or also use it to create bold, dark, and moody imperfect moments!

Who is one of your favorite photographers?

I really can't just name one. I am inspired by a freaking plethora of creative geniuses and naming one would feel wrong! But Jayme Ford is up there and I hope to one day be in the same room with her!

What is your favorite course or lesson at Unraveled?

Capturing Connections and overcoming anxiety by Jayme Ford was one of the first courses I took. The Soulshine, Finding Inspiration Workshop with the amazing Sue Sonnenberg gave me so much for my self-portrait work. Engravings of a Portraiture with Sarah Driscoll because everything Sarah does I eat up!
All of the Creative Practices and Challenges have my heart... and I am really looking forward to taking Leah Evans's new course on Leveling Up!