Karyle Soto | Photographer and Entrepreneur | Kaua'i (Hawai'i)
Being a creative from a young age guided Karyle with ease to a life in photography. Her Hawaiian upbringing taught her the value of nature, and her curiosity gave her ample opportunity to experience the world for herself.
Combining her two passions, entrepreneur Karyle now offers travel photography tips to sharpen up your photography skills, and part-time volunteers with various local organisations for conservation efforts.
What is a typical day like for you?
Changes daily, especially with the current state of the world. Usually planning shoots, hiking or diving, pitching to businesses/brands, expanding my business, fulfilling print orders, editing, creating content, engaging on social media, setting up future travel plans & volunteering with various local organizations for conservation efforts.
When did you first pick up a camera and start shooting underwater?
When I was young, I would play with my grandpa's point & shoots (disposable film cameras). I got my first DSLR in 2015, and started shooting UW with my gopro Hero 5 & KNEKT dive gear in 2017. I began with my current DSLR/Ikelite set-up in 2019.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
Being curious, creative & adventurous. Being born & raised on Kaua'i (Hawai'i) lends itself to being outdoorsy & adventurous, as well as mindful of the environment & caring for it. I was always artsy, drawing/painting, which easily led to photography.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
The unconventional (& unstable) one, if you asked family members, LOL! All I knew for sure was that I wanted to be an Entrepreneur & that I wanted to be creative. In many ways, this is still evolving, which is exciting for me.
What do you value most in life?
Authenticity & how that allows one to live life fully.
What brings you the most joy?
Nature/wildlife, Travel, New experiences, meeting new people & making memories with family & friends.
Who/what currently inspires you?
Sounds corny, but the past me & the future me. Im a very competitive person & I learned early on that the best use of that energy is to direct it towards myself. I’m inspired by how far I’ve come & inspired by where I want to go in the future.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
For the world, less politics & for brutally honest communication/conversations to be possible again. We've lost the ability to have open, constructive dialogue when it comes to difficult/divisive issues. No one wants to genuinely hear the "other side", everyone thinks their opinion/stance is the "right/better/superior" one...& then everyone wonders why changes can't/won't be made. It's a toxic circle.
For the environment, there's alot to tackle, but more Green-Spaces. Planting more (endemic) trees/plants in yards, parks, urban properties & in the forests. Encourage people to have home or indoor & community gardens.
Specifically for the ocean, more community beach clean-ups & public awareness of the ecosystem of that area… plus less red-tape around Coral restoration by non-government/grass-root efforts.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?
"WISHCRAFT: How to get what you really want" by Barbara Sher. A super old book I came across after high school, which helped me be more confident in choosing the self-employed path. "GREENLIGHTS" by Matthew McConaughey. "14 Peaks" & "The Alpinist" on Netflix. These 3 tie into the previous, ‘what do you value most in life question’ & my answer of ‘Authenticity’. These capture & express that sentiment perfectly. There's mind-blowing, soul-refreshing & incredible life GEMS in them.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
In Hawai'i (Polynesia), there's a massive emphasis on being a good "steward of the land/sea" & everything that occupies it. The Land/Ocean is "chief" & humans are the servant of it. I hope that I did my best to care for it, live aligned with that cultural lifestyle & leave this place better than before.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an ocean Storyteller?
Do it. Go all in. Bring your passion, a unique point-of-view, your unique experiences & voice to this space. Every one of us are living our own stories & that makes us all equally necessary "storytellers" in life.
