Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Erwin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lauren, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
To be totally honest, I’m not sure I have entirely overcome imposter syndrome. That being said, I have learned a lot of ways to stop being so hard on myself when I start to feel like I don’t belong in the photography industry. The first and most important thing I have learned is to stop comparing myself to other people in the same field. No one is going to be exactly the same, no one is perfect, and everyone is always learning and growing. There’s new ideas and information and new equipment all the time. There is always going to be someone better than you, and that’s totally okay! Instead of comparing myself to those people, I have learned to just admire their work and take inspiration from it. To be motivated by it instead of looking at it negatively, like I’m never going to be as good. When I first started doing photography professionally, I had such a hard time pricing my work and taking money from people. It felt wrong to charge people for my time because I wasn’t as proud as I should have been in myself and my work. I have learned to value my time and take pride in the photos that I produce, because even though I may not always love everything that I put out, I know that I am actually working hard and good at what I do. There is not a single photographer in the world that doesn’t take a bad photo every now and then. Even the most world renowned photographers make mistakes sometimes. I am just always striving to be the best photographer I can be for me, and I make sure I do my best to give my clients the best photos I can deliver.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a photographer specializing in creative portraiture and concerts. It is always so fun to be able to get creative and bring new ideas to life. I’ve worked in the restaurant industry my whole adult life, and it’s such a nice change of pace to be able to work for myself and make my own hours. The creativity and freedom are absolutely the most exciting parts of being a photographer. It’s a difficult business to get into, but I would highly recommend anyone who is interested give it a shot.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the most important quality I posses is my ability to work with what I have. When I started photography I didn’t have any money for equipment or anyone to practice with. I used to set up my camera on top of my trash can with my straightener under the lens to prop it up, then I would set a timer and I hope I could strike a pose before it went off. I had no lighting, other than the overhead light in my micro studio apartment. Most other skills and knowledge I had to learn along the way. The most important being to stop comparing myself to others. There is always going to be someone more talented or more knowledgable. When you find yourself comparing yourself to other creatives, try to take inspiration and motivation from it instead of giving up or doing any negative self talk. Keep in mind that someone is probably looking at your work and thinking the same things!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for new people to create with! I love meeting new creatives and getting the opportunity to diversify my portfolio. Also, getting to talk about and see other people’s creative visions come to life is always inspiring and fun. For anyone looking to create with me, the best ways to contact me are via DM on Instagram and through my website.
www.instagram.com/lemphotog
www.lemphotog.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lemphotog.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/lemphotog
- Other: Email: photoglem@gmail.com
Image Credits
Logan Simmons Lilith Jenovax Critter Bunny Jade Cass Bridges
Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
