Kayla Flora
Photographer | Conservation, Nature, Wildlife, Documentary
Kayla Flora is a dedicated conservation photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty and urgency of the natural world. Specializing in wildlife, nature, and environmental storytelling, her work aims to inspire awareness and action for the protection of fragile ecosystems.
Beyond the lens, Kayla is an avid environmentalist who devotes significant time to volunteering with local non-profit organizations focused on habitat restoration, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental education. Her hands-on work in the field deepens her understanding of the issues she photographs and strengthens the authenticity of her visual storytelling.
Kayla is currently completing her degree in Wildlife Biology and is set to graduate in 2025. Her long-term goal is to pursue a career as a full-time conservation photographer while continuing to volunteer as a wildlife biologist. Through both science and storytelling, she hopes to bridge the gap between data and emotion — helping people connect to the natural world and understand the importance of protecting it
Conservation Projects
Kayla Flora is deeply engaged in a series of powerful conservation photography projects. Her “Spirit of the Whales” collaboration with the Beluga Whale Alliance highlights the plight of endangered whales such as Cook Inlet belugas. Through her partnership with the Alaska Zoo, she raises awareness and funds to support arctic animals like polar bears Kova and Cranberry. With “Wild in the City,” Kayla documents urban wildlife across major U.S. cities—beginning in Anchorage—to spark support for coexistence between humans and nature. She also champions the work of the Alaska SeaLife Center, spotlighting its efforts in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation with evocative imagery
Poetry & Photography
The Trees Were There is a spare and powerful poetry collection from wildlife conservation photographer Kayla Flora, written in the voice of someone who has walked deep into Alaska’s ancient old-growth forests—and truly listened.
Rooted in the towering stillness of the Tongass National Forest, this book is a meditation on wildness, silence, memory, and the traces we leave behind. Written in a minimalist style reminiscent of Hemingway, the poems invite readers to slow down and witness the forest not merely as scenery, but as something sacred and alive.
With 20 short poems and a closing long-form piece, The Trees Were There carries the reader through moments of solitude, encounters with bears and ravens, and reflections on the timeless trees that stood long before us. Each word is intentional. Each line is quiet. Yet together, they speak with urgency about the natural world we are called to protect.
This collection is perfect for lovers of nature, photography, and conservation—as well as fans of Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, and Gary Snyder. It will resonate with outdoor enthusiasts, environmental poetry readers, and anyone who cherishes the rare experience of standing among untouched forests.
A portion of all proceeds supports efforts to protect Alaska’s old-growth forests.