Young visionary churning
out ‘Sweet Butter success’
LexiKaye Photography fuses
creativity and passion
MILLENNIALS
STAFF REPORT
Sometimes a person’s talent shows up when
they’re least expecting it. Such is the case with
local photographer, Alexandra Kaye Harris,
CEO of LexiKaye Photography. The statuesque
beauty, a graduate of Michael L. Krop senior
high and the University of South Florida,
picked up a camera a few years ago, and
the rest, well you know the saying.
Since then she has photographed
some of the biggest names in the
music industry (Toni Braxton, Max-
well, Erykah Badu, Sheila E., and
others) and had her work pub-
lished in the South Florida Times.
She is quickly becoming the “go-
to” photographer for creative fam-
ily portraits, classy maternity shoots
and creative shots for couples.
The Sisterhood caught up with
Harris to find out her plans for her
company and her thoughts on sis-
terhood and dealing with fear.
When did you begin your photography
biz?
Photogra phy began a few years ago
when I purchased my first camera
and instantly fell in love with taking
pictures. I had already done a few
events and a maternity shoot, before
I started taking photos for a local
newspaper. With the newspaper, I
was able to attend and experience
things I wouldn’t have gotten the op-
portunity to on my own.
My love for photography led me to
start my own business, Lexi Kaye
Photography. The Lexi is a play on
my first name (Alexandra) and Kaye
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IN MOTION
By MICHELLE HOLLINGER
is my middle name. I wanted to cap-
ture special moments. I have a creative
eye and I express that in my photos.
If ever a millennial is
in motion, it is Ernisha
Randolph. Known for
pushing others to stand
in their truth and pursue
their dreams, the upbeat
wife and mother is now taking
her own sage advice.
What are some of your favorite photos?
Some of my favorite photos are from a secret
marriage proposal shoot. The man had con-
jured up an elaborate way to pop the question,
and I was there hiding behind a tree to capture
the special moments. She had no clue I was
there and I was able to capture all of the emo-
tions involved during the moment.
Randolph, 32, is steadily build-
ing a culinary empire in South
Florida that will ultimately have
a national presence. She is CEO
of Juanita’s Kitchen, a popular ca-
tering company that is virtually a
household name in South Florida.
And she recently launched a bril-
liant marketing strategy for what
will become her first restaurant,
Sweet Butter.
Where do you see yourself and your biz five years
from now? 10 years from now?
Five years from now I see myself with some continu-
ous contracted jobs, more published work and wedding
shoots under my belt. In ten years I expect to be the num-
ber 1 photography option in South Florida. I will continue
to grow and hone my craft, so much so I will arrive at a
place where I don’t go looking for customers, they come
looking for me.
To introduce the dining concept,
which fuses a multicourse meal
with an electrifying stage show, Ran-
dolph has created the Sweet Butter
Pop-up Experience. The event includes
her company’s delectable food, which
patrons enjoy while taking in a live per-
formance. Currently held at the Overtown
Performing Arts Center, Randolph plans to
open a bricks and mortar restaurant by
the same name in 2018.
What three words best describe you?
Creative, intelligent and a perfectionist
How do you deal with fear?
Take it one step at a time. Fear of the unknown is some-
thing I deal with on a regular basis. Optimism is a won-
derful thing. I speak positivity into my life. How can I
make any progress if I’m constantly being negative and
doubting myself? Yes, things don’t always go as planned,
but I learn from those things and grow. Don’t make the
same mistake twice.
How do you define sisterhood?
When I think of sisterhood, I think of a society of women lifting
each other up. Supporting one another. Promoting positivity.
Helping each other grow. Pushing each other to be the best they
can be.
THE SISTER HOOD | A PR IL 2017
Her entry into the food and hospitality in-
dustry unfolded amid profound grief and
is born from familial love.
PHOTOS BY THIERRY DEJEAN
MAKE-UP BY RORY LEE AND FAITH
ELIBERT
“When I started, it was really because
of my grandmother. My mom and my
great-grandmother were sick at the same
time,” she shared, “and my grandmother
was taking care of both of them.” Sad-
ly, the women died within two months of
each other. Randolph, who was 21 when
her mother passed away, thought start-
ing a catering company would “help her
(grandmother) find a purpose,” after the
matriarch lost her daughter and her moth-
er.
Randolph said her grandmother’s re-
sponse to her suggestion was, “I’m retir-
ing. You can start a catering business and
I’ll help you for as long as you need me
to.”
hospitality industry, and she’ll like-
ly have “some type of mega food
corporation” as well as ownership
of the Sweet Butter brand, her ten-
year plan will have her vacationing
on somebody’s island,” in a decade.
“I definitely see myself being re-
tired,” she added.
They did, and “Three years later, we got
our first contract with the government. We
had multiple clients, had outgrown our
home…and had to move into a facility,”
she explained. Since then, the company
has catered events for the Miami-Dade
Chamber of Commerce; Bill Diggs, presi-
dent of the Mourning Family Foundation;
the City of Miami Gardens; the Miami
Beach Women’s Exhibit and Miami Beach
Mayor Matti Herrera; Wingspan; Circle of
One Marketing and many others.
Despite knowing that she’s living her
passion, Randolph said, “fear does peek
its little ugly head up…when it’s anoth-
er level that I prayed for; (a goal) that I
wanted to get to.” She navigates the po-
tential obstacle with self-talk, self-moti-
vation and writing down “confessions.”
Her ability to quash fear is important be-
cause she has big plans. In the next five
years, Randolph expects Sweet Butter to
be a national franchise that allows oth-
er to purchase into the brand. She’s so
serious about it that she’s already begun
“learning about the franchise business
and how to structure now, in the begin-
ning stages.”
Although Randolph loves the food and
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: SWEET BUTTER POP UP EXPERIENCE
WHEN: Two show times available over 2
days: April 7th & 8th - 5:30pm & 9pm
WHERE: Overtown Performing Arts Center,
1074 NW 3 rd Ave., Overtown
COST:
From $55 to $125;
Advance reservations required
CONTACT: RSVP to SweetButterMiami.
EventBrite.com
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THE SISTER HOOD | A PR IL 2017
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