Hi Lauren, tell us a little about yourself. Are you a native New Yorker?
Thank you! I grew up in Westchester County, went to college in Ithaca and lived in Manhattan for eleven years. I moved to Jersey City last year after having lived in Battery Park for six of my years. I truly loved BPC and it was definitely my favorite place when I lived in the city. It felt like you had a little slice of paradise outside of the chaos of NYC.
When did you first realize you were interested in photography? Do you have any formal training in photography?
For as long as I could remember, I was always interested in photography. I chose my college (Ithaca college) because it had six schools and I wanted to dabble in a little of this and a little of that, but definitely photography as part of that. The irony is, I could never take it at college! Every semester, when it was time to register for classes, the first thing I did was try and get into photography and was turned down for all four years! I ended up taking film photography classes at a local community college during the summers. I was determined to take it no matter what. In 2015, when I decided to pursue photography full time, I took many hours of digital photography classes since my training was in film. I would have a job, then go and take a private class to try and hone my editing skills.
How long have you been a photographer? What is your favorite thing about being a photographer?
I’ve been doing it full time since 2015. My favorite thing about being a photographer is the clients I get to meet, and often become friends with, and also just the fact that I was lucky enough to turn my lifelong hobby into a career.
How do you make your clients feel relaxed?
If by "clients" you mean children… I have a process! If we are talking 3 - 5 year olds, my go-to get comfortable move is for them to do jumping photos. I have kids jump as high as they can and then show them what it looks like on the back of my camera. For kids two and under, I ask the parents what their favorite song is and then I will play it on my phone and hold it above my camera while I shoot. I make parents feel comfortable by letting them know, no your children were NOT the most misbehaved children I’ve photographed. Every parent thinks their kids are the worst. I also let parents know how many photos I’ve shot (which is usually between 500 - 1,000) and that even if the kids made faces in hundreds of photos, I got it. I also always ask the parents where they stand on the bribe front. 2 - 3 can be a really hard age to photograph, but if motivated by a toy, ice cream or something of the sort, sometimes it helps!
What type of photography sessions do you offer? What style(s) do you specialize in?
I offer lifestyle shoots (one-hour sessions) and newborn sessions (which are two to three hours). I would normally offer event shoots (mostly consisting of indoor birthday parties) but obviously, I am not doing that at the moment! I specialize in family photography (children and newborns).
Do you advise your clients on what to wear for the photoshoot?
Whenever clients ask me what to wear, I always say to look at my website. I think my past clients have all done a great job of color coordination. I also always advise them to stay away from any loud patterns.
What is your favorite photo location in New York City?
My favorite place to shoot is the cobblestone streets of Tribeca.
For outdoor shoots, which is your favorite season? Why?
My favorite season to shoot is Spring because the vibe and colors always seem light and airy and minty.
How do you like to spend your free time?
In my free time, I am running after my 15-month-old son, trying to take pictures of him! He is going to kill me later in life
What tips or advice do you have for aspiring photographers?
The best tip I can give an aspiring photographer is to offer your services to friends and family and barter when you can! (I love to barter, I do it all the time with other business-owning friends). You need to build a portfolio and who better than to photograph friends and family.
What is the best way to reach you?
The best way to reach me is through email. You could also reach me on my website or on Instagram.
Thank you!
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