So...my first official blog. What to write? I suppose I should have thought about this ahead of time, but here I am! I have been wanting to do this for quite some time, but out of fear of not being able to keep a daily blog, I refrained from even starting. Silly me! Though, the fear is still a very real thing. I am a stay at home mom of a rambunctious 2 year old and besides being a mother, a girlfriend, a maid, an errand runner, a chef, an expert at finding every thing lost and fixing all toys that get broken...I am a photographer. Sometimes I feel I have too much on my plate, but don't we all?
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| My son Vincent & I...the love of my life...the reason for everything I do <3 |
I just want to follow my dream. It took me years to finally take the plunge and quit my "day job" and go "blindly" into the unknown. I do not regret the decision, but it does worry me. I did it to make me happier, to put my passion and creativity to use, to provide for my family and make a difference not just in the lives of those I photograph, but maybe someday the world! I'm a typical woman under all of the stereotypical roles I play on a day to day basis. Yes, I worry about everything and I worry about them all the time. I get nervous before every shoot. I worry my clients won't love my work. I worry about being late, about equipment failure, about missing a perfect shot. And then something magical happens...everything works out!
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| A sports themed family session I created last week |
I just think I, like most women or people in general, don't trust in who we are and what we can truly accomplish. We don't believe in ourselves enough. Over the past year I have grown more and more aware of my capabilities, my drive to be something better. I set a goal to master my camera, to master Photoshop, to perfect my passion, to learn all the rules of photography and then break them. I wanted to stand out from the rest. I aimed to make others see what I can do and to get them to believe in me as well. I began to develop a style in my photography and to make sure that what I wanted to portray is what people actually saw. To make others feel.
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| I was extremely honored to photograph this handsome man and his little brother |
I believe I have accomplished what I set out to do. It was a lengthy list to tackle, but it's amazing what you can accomplish when you not only set your mind to it, but your heart. There was so much I wanted my clients to feel, and judging by the responses on my Facebook posts, the emails I receive on a daily basis and the random calls I receive with clients in tears over their beautiful photos, I'd say I'm doing a wonderful job! All I want is simple...I want each and every client to feel beautiful, to have a memorable and amazing session, to have photos that they can cherish forever, to feel important. I wanted to capture in each session: their love, passion, playfulness, magic, and above all...capture who you truly are!
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| Real love, real happiness, real emotion |
The other task I set out to do is set me apart from all of the other photographers. I didn't want to be a cookie cutter photographer. I wanted people to see my work and say..."WOW! I have to book with her! I want that!" Why? No, not because of money. In fact, I've been told by many clients that I don't charge enough for my time and talent. But that's not why I do it. I don't do it for the money. I do it, because I want to. Because in my heart I feel a calling to do it. To give everyone the beautiful gift of photos. Real, beautiful photos. A moment in time that will last forever. I wanted my style to reflect who I am as a person. I wanted people to see my work and say "That's Laura's work! Isn't it beautiful?"
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| I strive to stand out...to constantly create new poses so every session is unique |
Let's face it, department store studios are a dime a dozen. Every session is the same. Every pose looks alike. The backgrounds are all fake. The flashing lights are a bother. You're being stared at by everyone in the waiting room. Your kids are throwing a fit. You're not comfortable in the awkward poses they put you in. HELLO, it should be that way. Why? Because it's not natural. It doesn't express who you are as an individual or as a family. There's nothing natural about it. You are a number to them. Another person wanting the $7.99 special in which they turn around and try to pressure you into packages you cannot afford. It makes me cringe just thinking about it! You must know what I'm talking about. I don't know many people that haven't experienced this at some point. I'm told the same horror story over and over again by clients. It's time to break that dreaded cycle!
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| Childhood is magical and therefore, children are. Capture it while you still can! |
Hmmmm...I guess I had more to say than I thought I did! With that, I want to end on "breaking the cycle". It's something we must do! I no longer what deserving families, couples and individuals to have bad photos, to overpay for poor service, to be treated like a dollar sign and to not get the photos they truly desire. Life is too short to be treated of these moments. Maybe it's that you don't know there is a wonderful alternative to boring, impersonal portrait studios. Maybe your afraid to jump into the unknown. Don't be afraid. Look at my work, listen to what my clients are saying, let my work speak for itself. I worked hard to get to this point. I will make sure that the jump you take is the best decision you ever made! I am willing to bet you never step foot in a department store studio ever again! Why? Because I care. because I love what I do with my whole heart. Because everyone should have this opportunity, this amazing experience. To have the real you captured in your natural, comfortable, beautiful environment.
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| These are the photos that melt your heart, make you feel and truly matter. |
For more information on my work or to begin the booking process with me, please feel free to contact me!
Phone: (207) 314-9177
lauraleephotographymaine@gmail.com