Kaila Drayton
Kaila Drayton is a National Geographic Explorer, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, educator, and conservation photographer whose work bridges powerful storytelling and real‑world environmental impact. She grew up roaming the woods and fields of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, where the natural world first sparked her passion for visual storytelling. Today she mentors nonprofits to do the same through photographic work tailored to their missions.
From Nat Geo Bootcamp to Guided Expeditions
Kaila sharpened her storytelling toolkit during an intensive training course at the National Geographic headquarters. There, daily sessions with Nat Geo experts covered everything from interviews and videography to creating compelling photo essays-skills she now shares with nonprofit teams.
In the summer of 2018, she led two Nat Geo student expeditions: the first to Alaska where, alongside big cat tracker Boone Smith, she coached teens on framing wildlife through both technical skill and personal narrative. Later, Kaila led a group to Zimbabwe and Botswana, mentoring students alongside the legendary Brent Stirton. These immersive trips, much like camp experiences, fostered growth, connection, and confidence among teenage participants.
Documenting Conservation in Action
Following Hurricane Harvey, Kaila partnered with the National Wildlife Federation to document whooping crane conservation efforts along the Texas Gulf Coast. One of her photographs graced the cover of Ecological Restoration (September 2020), and her work supported donor events and campaigns for years.
In Florida, she chronicled nonprofit‑led snail kite habitat restoration in the Everglades and innovative natural‑barrier projects in the Panhandle. Through both assignments, she discovered a central truth: the story of conservation is at its intersection with people, scientists, citizens, volunteers, and that’s the story she strives to tell.
Empowering Nonprofits Through Tailored Workshops
By marrying her background in nonprofit management with visual storytelling, Kaila helps nonprofits harness photography not just as art, but as impact. Her workshops go beyond technical “rules of composition”; she teaches teams how to apply those rules to their mission: documenting program outcomes, donor stories, conservation successes and lessons learned, and community engagement. She enjoys working with anyone who shows up with enthusiasm and an open mind, be it field biologists, executive directors, or local advocates.
Kaila can still be found roaming the woods and fields of Berkshire County, often with her dog, Pigeon, in tow. When she’s not photographing for an organization, you can still find her behind the lens creating fine art prints inspired by the local trails and parks she loves.
