Today we’d like to introduce you to Pauline Cornu.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a young little nugget, I was always drawn to all sorts of art; painting, makeup, crafts, fashion, and anything else that was aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. My parents had a huge influence on my creativity. My mother especially, she is an interior designer with an impeccable eye for aesthetics. I saved up my money and bought my first DSLR camera when I was 15. I immediately fell in love with capturing moments that caught my attention.
Throughout high school, I took senior portraits and pictures of my friends for fun. I never put pressure on myself to make a profit from my art, It was fulfilling enough to create visually pleasing images. I always viewed photography as my hobby, so I didn’t have any expectations as to where it would take me. I took a year off before returning to study after high school graduation and traveled to many places; Panama Colombia, Argentina, Indonesia and Spain. Of course, I took my camera with me and captured the essence of all my adventures. They are now moments frozen in time. After grounding from my travels, I decided to specify my education towards alternative medicine; Herbs, Ayurveda and Yoga (I am still studying and I am in love with it).
As my photography skills developed over time (thanks to YouTube University and SkillShare) this hobby of mine began to enhance my attention to detail, emotion, lines, and colors in my daily life. Everything around me turned into my muse. Noticing these subtleties has shaped my current viewpoint on life. I feel as though I view the world through my own personal lens. My photos are a reflection of my perspective in life. I love the idea of being able to tell a story without words. I love capturing images that make you want to know more about the subject. I love creating and capturing scenarios that make you want to look at the image longer. When I moved to San Diego in 2017, I still considered my photography as nothing more than a hobby with no intention to profit off of it.
My undeniable thirst for creation kept me loyal and consistent with creating content. My pull to capture enticing images began to attract creative collaborations through word of mouth and Instagram. With higher demand for my work, people began to ask about my pricing, website, etc. The fact that people wanted to pay for my art was a surreal feeling! That boosted my confidence enough to take my photography to the next level. I created my website where I share my portfolio, information for booking and pricing, yoga flows, blogs, and much more. Thanks to dedicating more time to expanding my business, my website and Instagram has helped my work reach more and more people.
Reflecting on my journey, so far everything has been incredibly enjoyable. I’ve learned countless lessons about myself and my work. I still intend on learning more and more every time I pick up my camera and start a new project. I can sense that this is merely the beginning.
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?
Struggles are inevitable in life, especially while learning a new skill. Some of the newbie technical issues I went through are; not properly ejecting my SD cards and losing all my footage, forgetting my damn camera battery for a photoshoot, figuring out how to use all the software, and many other tedious obstacles I had to overcome. As I mentioned before, these challenges are inevitable. I am grateful for them because they taught me how to be more efficient with my work.
I am learning to build a strong sense of confidence with my art. As a photographer, the opinion of your client plays a huge role in your success. It can be difficult at times to not dwell on how others will perceive your work. Although, as I’ve learned, that does not mean you have to change your style for the approval of your viewers. Sometimes it is easy to second guess myself with how people will react to my work. The key is being able to adapt to what my clients want with a dash of my personal style. On the other hand, when I’m taking photos for my own amusement, I am much more free with my artistic expression, which attracts many people as well. As I perceive it, a great photographer captures images to creat a reaction out of the viewer. That is something I strive for in my work.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My photography business is LittleMissPollen. My name Pauline means “small” or “little” and Polin is a nickname of mine. It is also fitting because I have a great passion for flowers and herbs. I specialize in creative portraits, couples, lifestyle, and fashion photography. Clients book me to help them create social media content to market their brand. I love using my skills to help promote my friends and their businesses. Something that sets me apart is my ability to create a genuine yet professional relationship with my clients. When my models feel comfortable with me, it is a much smoother and enjoyable overall experience. Establishing an easy-going work environment during photoshoots is crucial for successful final images. It is much easier to capture someone’s true essence when they feel like they can be themselves. Keeping things light-hearted reminds people that being in front of the camera does not have to be scary, it is quite the opposite!
On my own time, I truly enjoy storytelling with imagery. I also amuse myself with landscape and food photography. All of those pictures and more are on my website. I take pride in my adaptability and wide range of skills with photography. I’ve shot events, weddings, couples, fashion, business headshots, surfing, food dishes, and much more. I have heaps of fun with the different moods I can create with the location, colors, placement of props, angles, etc. I enjoy a challenge, so I adapt and branch out of my comfort zone so I can help bring my clients vision to life.
What were you like growing up?
According to my mother, I was quite audacious, fearless, and histrionic. I enjoyed getting involved in many different activities, from theater to soccer to dress up to climbing trees. I have always been interested in art and the outdoors. My two older brothers had a strong influence on me, so I inevitably had a bit of a tomboy vibe. Dressing up as Cinderella and playing in the dirt was a satisfying way to spend my time. I spent a lot of my time with my brothers, they are still my best friends to this date.
My family moved multiple times growing up, which taught me to embrace change and value travel. I lived a decent chunk of my life in Argentina, where both of my parents are from. I am very grateful to have been exposed to different cultures at a young age because it helped me become more openminded to different ways of living.
Pricing:
- Prices vary depending on the project at hand. Equal value trades available upon inquiry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littlemisspollen.com
- Email: paulinecornulabat@gmail.com
Image Credit:
All images were taken and edited by Pauline Cornu-Labat. The picture of me – hair, makeup, and photo by Danelle Yost.
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