Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Lynch.
Anna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I took an interest in photography starting in high school, and I became more serious about it after attending a concert in New York City. It was a Paolo Nutini concert (you might know his song, “New Shoes”), and he was performing in a small venue, so I could get some decent shots of him from the crowd. Later the next day, I uploaded the images to a Flickr account, and within a few hours, I was contacted by one of his managers! He was asking permission to use one of my photos for Nutini’s Facebook profile picture! It was at that moment that I realized I may have a future in photography. I began teaching myself more about the craft, and I started freelancing – photographing friends’ Sweet 16’s, family portraits, weddings – you name it, I did it!
I went on to study photography at Parsons School of Design in New York City, and graduated with a BFA in Photography and a minor in Global Studies. Studying photography in New York allowed me to learn amongst some of the best in the field, and pushed me to my creative and intellectual limits.
After graduation, I knew I needed to explore the world outside of New York, and I started traveling, making images wherever I went. I took a real interest in street photography, and discovered the thrill of serendipity – capturing a moment, in the blink of an eye, that can never be replicated.
In 2017, I embarked on one of my longest trips to date, spending 6 months traveling through Central America, photographing the people I met, and learning about their lives and cultures. This past fall, I spent 32 days on the road from New York to California, camping and Couchsurfing in 16 different cities, photographing my way across the U.S. Now, after moving to San Diego, I have been finding various opportunities to work as a freelance photographer and a teacher of photography, my newfound passion. Last summer before my move, I had the fortunate opportunity to lead two high school photo workshops with National Geographic, one in Italy & Greece, and one in Yosemite & San Francisco. Here in San Diego, I teach at Local Photo Classes and the AjA Project, and I freelance for Pacific San Diego Magazine and various independent clients.
I am very excited to be starting this new chapter of my life & career here in San Diego, and I am looking forward to discovering more opportunities that incorporate my passion for photography.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being a freelance artist, especially a photographer, comes with its own set of challenges. Living and working in New York City for 5 years was one of the hardest challenges of my life, and I had to work 2-3 jobs at a time to make ends meet. That included working as a waitress, sometimes six days a week, with a one-hour commute on the subway. My schedule left little room for freelance photo work. And in New York, the competition is fierce. It’s tough to be recognized with thousands of other photographers in the mix, striving for the same jobs as you. And over the past few years, there has been an immense over-saturation of images and self-proclaimed photographers. As smartphones are becoming more advanced, the technology to take high-quality images is much more accessible. It’s created a shortcut, and now millions of people are calling themselves a “photographer” without learning anything about shutter speed, aperture, composition, or the history of art & photography, which in my opinion, are vital to a photographer’s work. It seems that now, people care less about true talent and more about how cheaply they can pay someone who knows how to work a camera.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Anna Grace Lynch Photography story. Tell us more about it.
I have been managing my own freelance photography business for eight years now. My specialties are portraiture and street photography, but I have experience in a variety of areas, and I am available for editorial, fashion, event, product, or any other types of freelance work. I pride myself on the fun, yet professional experience I provide for my clients. I am dedicated to making sure that they are more than happy with the images we make together, and when it comes to portraiture, allowing them to feel comfortable and confident in their skin. I have been told that my photos have an authenticity about them and that I have a talent in capturing the natural, pure essence of my subjects. I attribute that to my down-to-earth personality, and the enjoyment I get from making real, meaningful connections with people.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I can certainly say I have been lucky in my life, and a majority of the time it is good luck – in the form of people I meet, and being at the right place at the right time. But I have definitely been dealt some bad luck too, and I can only hope that I learn from those moments and avoid it happening again. One of the worst luck I’ve ever had was on my flight back to New York from Mexico City – my laptop was stolen from my suitcase! I had every intention of keeping the suitcase as a carry-on, but last minute they made me check it…and when I arrived to Newark airport and opened my bag, my laptop was gone. The saddest part was that the last two months of images weren’t backed up, so I lost all of those photos… forever. As a photographer, it was devastating. But I know it could have been worse, and I was grateful that I was safe, and that all of my other images from years prior were saved. It taught me to be more careful with my equipment, and now I see it as an invitation to retrace my steps in Mexico to re-photograph what I had lost.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annagracelynch.com
- Email: hello.annalynch@gmail.com
- Instagram: andiamo.anna
Image Credit:
Anna Lynch
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