Image Credit: Raphael Umphres
Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Marie.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lauren. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Throughout middle school, I almost always had a disposable camera in my hand. I got my first DSLR in high school, but most photographed objects and animals. As my love for it grew, I decided to go to college to study and grow in the field. College showed me that portraiture and fashion were what I’m most passionate about. After college, I decided to move to California to have better opportunities and better weather.
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?
I would say it’s still not a smooth road. Social media has helped with finding subjects, but a lot of paid work is word of mouth. Being someone who has moved from one side of the country, North Carolina, to the other, California, word of mouth isn’t as easy to come by. I work a full-time job and book shoots as often as I can. It’s hard, but it’s worth the time and effort to do what you love.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in portraiture and fashion photography. I style, edit and usually pick the locations for all the shoots. I try to incorporate interesting backdrops; shapes, color and/or light as often as I can, which I think separates me from other portrait artists. I would love to have a creative team, but for now, having so much creative freedom is nice. I photograph mostly women and try to show them how beautiful they are, even when they don’t always see it. I focus a lot on eye contact in my images. I feel it’s more powerful and engaging.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up in the south was interesting, to say the least. I wasn’t always like the other kids or adults, mindset wise. In school I didn’t have a specific group of friends or a specific clothing style, I dressed and acted however I wanted. As I said before, I always had a disposable camera with me, even if the photos I took weren’t artistic. I tried to be in as many art classes as my school offered, even if I wasn’t very good in the course. I’ve always tried to have art in my life to break away from the ordinary.
Contact Info:
- Website: elleembe.com
- Email: elleembephoto@gmail.com
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