Kaitlin Noel Photography | Cape May Professional Photographer
Last Friday, I announced a new blog series called Fab Friday. To read more about what it is and entails, click here. If you are up to date, I would LOOOOVE it if you could call give a digital standing ovation for my first ever featured photographer, Laura Reynolds of LuRey Photography.
I came across Laura’s work back in October 2012. She had reached out to me on my personal page and I think we hit it off right away. We are both at a point where we were inviting our hubbies into our worlds…our photography worlds. As her husband has become her second shooter, I am in the process of training mine to be as well. Also…we actually both live so close, yet have never connected/met in person. (We so need to change this BTW Laura!) Who knew!
In the networking stages of any business, you come to follow, admire, lean on and trust certain individuals in the industry. Laura quickly became one photographer that I was excited to follow, keep up with, and watch grow. She has an amazing ability to pick you up when you are not having the best day, and the work she produces generally inspires me.
So, yes, we could go on and on about her greatness…but lets introduce her and fill you in on her business.
An Interview with Laura Reynolds
1.Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer.
Laura: My business was something I was terrified to start. Literally, terrified. I started shooting weddings almost 7 years ago now. But I never thought I was good enough to do it full-time. Through the years some of the closest people to me, my husband, family, friends…they all pushed very hard encouraging me to take my photography to the next level. Fast forward a few years past my uncertainty and doubt…towards the end of my pregnancy I decided that I couldn’t leave my new baby at home or in a day care to go back to work as an Esthetician. I needed to work from home in order to be the stay at home mom I felt I was called to be. I knew this was the perfect season to take the jump to “full-time photographer”. Three of the best years of my life later, I never looked back!
2. What equipment do you use?
Laura: I’m a Nikon girl! I shoot with the D700. The 24-70mm 2.8 is my baby, as well as my 70-200mm 2.8! I love my 50mm 1.4 for some good detail shots and lastly, the 105mm Macro. Yum. My big purchase this year? 85mm 1.4 =D
3. Where are you located?
Laura: We are based out of Cherry Hill New Jersey. We shoot the Shore Points, Philly, and Delaware.
4. What type of photography do you like to create?
Laura: I like fun, fresh, and clean styles! I love when my couples have fun! And I love looking for ways to stylize details in new ways. I love creeper shooting…or “photojournalistic” as the more professional people would call it. Capturing moments otherwise unseen is at the core of what I do.
5. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?
Laura: I was very young. Maybe 10? My Dad loved photography and I remember looking through his images and understanding that he created a new way to look at something you have seen a million times. It inspired me in endless ways to look at things differently.
6. Most awkward moment during an event?
Laura: OMG. I am queen of foot-in-mouth. I embarrass myself on the regular. However, the most awkward moment ever for me was not anything that came out of my mouth. It happened at a wedding I shot very very early on, about 6 years ago. Since I was fairly new to the game, I hadn’t asked this particular bride about the details of her ceremony. Okay, so since we are being honest…I didn’t ask a single detail outside of an address. When I showed up to her November wedding, I was told it was an outdoor ceremony. In November. Outside. IN NOVEMBER! To make a long story short, I was frozen solid. My knees were shaking so bad I went to go sit down on the concrete fountain behind me to steady my camera and my big tush knocked over a bunch of votives which all came crashing down. Awesome.
7. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a photo shoot?
Laura: Once upon a time, before GPS was a common thing in every single car & phone…I got lost going from the ceremony to the reception. I’m sorry but Philly can be the most intimidating place on earth if all you have come armed with is a print out of Google Maps. Live and learn!
8. Best advice you have been given in your photography career?
Laura: If you are going to do it, do it right. For a long time I relied on editing to fix my mistakes. I would shoot with the mentality of “I’ll just fix that later”. What a slippery slope. I challenged myself to learn to shoot on manual 100% of the time, take my time, and do it right! Once I finally accomplished that, my confidence soared! I took a new proud ownership in my images. They were an extension of ME. Not a product of Lightroom. Do I still make mistakes? Everyday. And I still make small enhancements in Lightroom. But at the end of the day, I can be proud that the image my client falls in love with is organic.
9. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a photography career?
Laura: Don’t compare yourself to other photographers! We are ALL guilty of it. You will find no growth in doing that. Be inspired, be changed, but be YOU! I often look at other talented photographers, like Kaitlin’s work for example. Absolutely stunning right? It would be really easy to see one of her images and think “Wow….gorgeous. I wish I got to shoot there. I wish I was Kaitlin. What am I doing with my life? I’m not good enough.” That is a dead end that only results in keeping yourself small. Instead, learn from them! And be a photographer that others can learn from. You are talented on your own, you are not someone else…and that’s how it’s supposed to be!
10. Best moment of your photography career?
Laura: Doing my taxes. Just kidding. Every single time I hear from one of my couples that they loved their images. Nothing tops that feeling! It is literally what drives my every move on their wedding day!
Wow—what a fun and informative interview. If I didn’t love ya already…I def love ya now!!! I hope and wish nothing but happiness and success for you and your business this upcoming year. If you all want to follow Laura….here is all her information. Tell her you read her feature on my blog and I can guarantee you will be happy you followed her when you did : )
Laura Reynolds
LuRey Photography
WEBSITE: http://www.lureyphotography.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lureyweddings
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuReyPhoto
add a comment
+ COMMENTS