Hi there!

With the new year, I decided I should probably give you an introductory blog post about me and how I became a photographer! So here we go!

 

Let’s start from the top…

 

I was born many, many moons ago on an army base in Germany. This is something I’ve always loved about myself because it’s different. Not many people can say they were born in a foreign country! My favorite foods include pasta, sushi, and ALL THE CARBS. Dr. Pepper is basically lifeblood if you ask me. Just stick an IV in me, and I’ll be good. Recently, I have discovered the joy of rompers. Sometimes inconvenient, yes, but also very cozy. If there’s one thing I’m all about, it’s being comfortable. Rompers forever!

 

I am a wife of 8 years to my wonderful husband, who deals with me and my sass on the daily. He is patient and kind, and I’m not really sure how I ended up so lucky. We have “grown up” together in a sense since we got married so young, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Pretty much all of our adult experiences have been together, and that’s kind of weird to think about. Eight years has never felt so short!

 

Now, you know how the saying goes, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes babies.

Multiple babies. I have 3 children that test me in every way possible. They are my little loves, and each one has a unique personality that completes me. I have a tiny genius, a sassy one, and the one that broke me. Man. They are SO cute, but SO much trouble 😉

Beyond this, we have a dog that may or may not be (definitely was) the worst gift Josh has ever given me. Ever. She is dumb, annoying, and we all love her anyway.

So that’s a little back story on me and my cute little fam…let’s dig a little deeper. Let’s see how I became a photographer!

 

I began my photography journey back in high school, like basically every other girl with a point and shoot camera. High school Lauren loved photos. Photos of me, photos of my friends, photos of just stuff laying around that looked cool. I took SO. MANY. PHOTOS.

 

Eventually, I wanted to go to school for photography. I researched and found an art school in Virginia that I wanted to go to, so I applied, got a scholarship, and started enrolling before I decided I needed to stay in Oklahoma. That’s a whole other story for another time, though 😅

 

I ended up at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where there was no program for photography and I put my dream aside like so many other people do. It just didn’t seem like it would ever happen and I knew I needed to focus on my current education. My college experience began as a 2D Art Major, but I just didn’t love it. It wasn’t what I really wanted and I had a hard time finding something I wanted to do. I switched around, knowing photography wasn’t an option and ended my college career as a Historian, which I truly have loved.

In 2012, my husband saved his pennies and bought me my very first “big girl” camera that Christmas. Oh, I was so surprised and amazed that he would remember how much I loved photography. It was a dream come true! I jumped right in and took like 10,000 photos of our son, my cousins, and friends. This was when I decided I wanted to do this for real. I wanted to take pictures for other people, and I wanted to become a REAL photographer.

 

Guys, this is where things get sketchy.

Kind of, but not really…but kind of. I posted in one of those “buy, sell, trade” groups on Facebook, asking if anyone would be interested in me taking their photos for $30. THIRTY. DOLLARS. That is where I started. The moment the comments started rolling in, the sessions scheduled, I became a photographer.

I remember I was SO proud when I posted my very first session on Facebook. I had clients! They loved their photos! They were sending their friends! For an introvert with very few friends, this was amazing to me. I had a job, I was helping provide families with images they treasured, I was a PHOTOGRAPHER.

Even today, I can’t believe how lucky I am to be a photographer. To love my job so much it hurts, to be WANTED at your biggest life events. Let’s be clear, though. My journey hasn’t always been easy. There have been many times I didn’t think I could go on. Times that I had so little support I wanted to give up. Times I was so stretched thin I cried, and I cried a lot.

Here’s the thing, though…I wouldn’t trade a single one of those bad days.

Not a single one. On the hard days, I remind myself that not everyone is as blessed as I am to love their career so fully they look forward to each job they are given. There have been tears, but even more importantly, there has been GROWTH. Every evening, I pray to grow and to be able to serve my clients to the best of my ability. I pray that I can provide each and every single client with photos and an experience they will love and cherish. I don’t want to just take your photos and walk away, my goal is much more than that. My goal is to provide an experience that captures the little moments in your life that are worth remembering, the ones important to YOU. Moments where you can look at your photos and feel all the things you felt when they were taken. I want them to bring a smile to your face and love to your heart.

Every session, wedding, and event brings new friends, love, and new experiences. I’m so grateful for each family and couple that has trusted me to capture these moments, their history, for them and I hope to continue capturing many more. You are my reason. Thank you.

Anyway, it’s about time for me to head on to the next thing on my to-do list for the day!

 

Until next time! See you soon, friends!

-Lauren B.