Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Cooper.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lindsey. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have loved taking photos for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I’d dress up my two little sisters for impromptu photoshoots and in high school, I dropped off multiple rolls of film a week to get developed. Even though I work in mostly digital format now, I still get that same feeling of excited anticipation when I open a new gallery to edit as I did when I’d pick up a thick envelope of freshly developed film. I’m nostalgic as a person, so being able to capture a moment or a feeling forever in a photograph brings me comfort.
However, I pursued a more traditional route initially, going to college and subsequently a career in IT Audit and Enterprise Risk Management. I honestly enjoyed the job and while there is some inherent creativity in finding strategic solutions, it wasn’t satisfying my whole being. In 2009, after a year of tragedy and major life changes, I picked up photography as a hobby to reclaim some of that childhood nostalgia. Then, in 2011 my son was born and I felt compelled to document every little moment of him – the sweet little details as his face constantly grew and changed the big milestones and everything in between. And I wanted to be able to share that with him and someday his children. I connected with a mentor who helped me pick out my first DSLR camera, signed up for classes, read books, watched tutorials, and tried to immerse myself in the world of photography. The first two years were filled with lots of practice on my adorable model and many friends, working to find my niche and style, then after I had my daughter, I decided to take the leap and launched my business – Londyn Layne Photography – at the beginning of 2014.
Now, six years later, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I am still constantly learning, growing and evolving as a business owner and a photographer, but my love and passion for this work have never wavered. I have met countless incredible people, heard stories that inspired me and others that broke my heart, I have been blessed with the opportunity to capture memories for so many. Sometimes we have to trust God, and ourselves, and take the leap.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’m not sure that anything in life that’s worth doing comes easily, but it has most certainly always been worth it. There have been many challenges along the way but they have each presented an opportunity for growth and improvement. I look back at how far I have come with the quality of my work and the structure of my business and I can recall the reason for each of the changes along the way. The easy part has been how natural this felt once I decided to pursue photography full time. The thing I love to do is the thing I am talented at doing, and that’s not always the case.
The challenging part has been learning to juggle a very inconsistent schedule that is dependent upon things that are out of my control like the weather, illness, and family emergencies, but meeting these with flexibility and understanding has been key. Running a business as a single mom with two small children at home has been really challenging but also a blessing. I can spend time with my kids every day, take time off with them and truly be there for them anytime they need me. Over the years, I have had to work to find a balance between my business and home life. I get it right most of the time these days but try to give myself grace when I get it wrong.
Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in maternity, newborn, children and family photography. I understand how important it is to document milestones and memories, but I want the details and the emotions that come along with those moments. I work hard to capture the feeling of a moment, the personality of a child, the light as it filters through a tree and perfectly illuminates the curls around a little one’s face, the look that you give each other in a shared sacred moment, pure joy on a child’s face. I see the authentic moments through my lens. I want each shoot to be a comfortable, enjoyable experience that leaves the client looking forward to the next milestone session together. Many of my clients have been with me for years now and it’s more than a business to me. It is a relationship with them and their children. I genuinely care for and am so grateful for each person that has entrusted me with their precious memories. I work hard to provide them with high quality and beautiful images they can cherish for a lifetime.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
One of the beauties of photography is that it’s an art and therefore, it is forever changing and evolving. The technology is always progressing as well, which provides an even greater ability to capture and create than ever before. I am a part of countless photography groups from around the globe filled with creatives who are constantly sharing, inspiring, motivating, learning and growing together. There is no limit to this industry and artform. In the next five to ten years, I do believe that photography will go through trending cycles like it tends to (light and bright, dark and moody, posed vs. candid, etc.) but the core of it all will remain and that is doing our best to take what we feel and envision and capture it frame by frame for people to cherish for generations to come.
Pricing:
- Family sessions: $250-350
- Newborns $400-600
Contact Info:
- Website: www.londynlaynephotography.com
- Phone: 713-854-7678
- Email: londynlaynephotography@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/londynlaynephotography
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