Tea Time

If it involves dessert I am sold! While enjoying the most yummy coconut cake & chai tea, I shot a couple pics of my surroundings! Tea rooms are so great!

PASSION

I am becoming more and more aware of the fact that I am predominantly moved by love! I am addicted to romance of any kind & I love to surround my self with it...be it a book, a movie, a song, or people who are just completely intoxicated with each other! There is no greater feeling! Being what you would call a "newbie" in the overall world of photography I have been trying to focus in on where I am going to fit. I have spent hours upon hours looking at fellow photographer's from my part of the country and beyond to see what moves me. I am really partial to anything southern, so naturally I have been looking at many talented artists from places like Louisiana, Georgia & South Carolina. I stumbled upon two very special photographer's that have inspired me and  given me new direction on what I want to be doing...I had to share! The photographer's are Wildflowers Photography & Three Nails Photography. Both of these two photographer's work is so unbelievably stunning I just sat in awe while soaking up both of there entire blogs! The way they capture people, the sets & the light...everything has a dreamy, romantic cast over it that I just absolutely love! Another thing that struck a cord with me is their way of turning an inspired idea that they got from a story or a movie & then turning it into a work of art with props, wardrobe and brilliant locations. I am a huge movie buff and reader of fiction and there have been many times where ideas fly around in my head after seeing a movie or wishing I could see something from a book come to life. Having the art & design background that I do I can't wait to create and to try out some of these new ideas in my head. I stumbled across both of these photographer's for a reason...completely & utterly inspired!!!

The Hopper's

I had the privilege of taking photos for my old friend Robin & her beautiful family this last April. Robin & I went to middle school together...she was one of my first friends when I moved to Oklahoma. It was so much fun to re-connect with her & see her beautiful, spirited daughter bouncing around lake Hefner! We walked through the woods & played on the beach. Miss Caylin is such a little doll! Perfect day <3

The Potters

What better way to learn & gain experience than to take pictures for a friend. The Potter's are like my family. Just this last year the Potter's brought a beautiful little angel into this world...her name is Addie. Addie is spunky & happy & can make you melt with just a smile. For Addie's 6 month Easter portraits Tammy asked me to be the lucky one to capture her. Not only was this my first photo shoot, it was also my first time to work with a little one...not to mention Tammy had the wonderful idea of adding little chicks to the mix! The funny thing is by the time the shoot rolled around the chicks turned into tween chicks...not babies but not adults! They were hilarious! The whole thing was an adventure that I will never forget!

A little bit of background...

I was born & raised in Georgia. Climbing trees, exploring creeks, drinking sweet tea, & taking trips to historical plantations are just some of the many things that make up my childhood. It was not until after my parents moved us here to Oklahoma in the 4th grade that I realized I was from a completely different world. Today I find myself inspired & drawn to all things southern. Even though my southern accent is completely gone after living so long in Oklahoma, I will always be a true Georgia girl!

Growing up I would spend hours & hours alone in my bedroom writing, drawing, watching movies, listening to music...completely absorbed in my own creative world. I knew early on that I was destined for the arts. When faced with the task of picking a path to pursue as a college degree I was torn between art & interior design. I ultimately chose the interior design degree thinking that would be the best fit for me career wise...I did not even look into the photography field due to an earlier run in with film photography my freshman year in high school. Freshman year I took a basic photography class wanting to know what it was all about (I always loved taking pictures with disposable cameras and I was constantly looking through old family photos even though I had seen them a hundred times). At that point, the world of photography was all film, digital did not exist. I have a very sensitive nose & having to develop the film myself really ruined the whole experience for me. I was not mature enough to see past the nasty egg smell of the developing process. I got through the class & told myself there is no way I could do that again. So Interior design it was. Right out of high school my parents moved out of state. I had began a relationship with a guy that I was not ready to give up so I moved out on my own & had to start a full time job to support myself. Working full time I could not handle a full load in college, so I went part time working towards that Interior design degree. My job was in the design industry and I was fortunate enough to work side by side with professional Interior designers everyday. Five years (going part time) into the degree I hit a wall. The classes started to become more & more creatively constricting and the designers I worked with everyday showed me with their experiences that this was not what I wanted to do. I needed to be completely free creatively and having to stay within the box with rules & codes was driving me absolutely crazy. I had two choices, keep on the path I was on (which included quiting my job because the rest of the classes in the interior design degree were day classes & also be completely miserable for the next 2-3 years) or switch degrees. After thinking & double thinking everything I ultimately switched my degree over to general studies. It was the only degree that would keep all my existing credits & allow me to pick and chose the classes to finish out my college career. This is the point where I stumbled back into photography. My love of photography never went away, I just never focused in on it since high school. My how the world of photography has changed! I decided to take a college photography course to see if it would spark something in me and I was completely captured. I am the type of person who believes everything happens for a reason. I now know why I went through all those art & design classes...so that I could create my own world like I did growing up. With photography I can design the sets & backgrounds for my photo shoots & I can experiment with different perspectives and techniques...whatever my little creative heart desires! This is where I was made to be!

First little subject

Since I don't have children yet I chose to photograph Miss Bella as my first little subject. These are my first works with my professional grade SLR camera. I quickly realized behind the camera is where I have always wanted to be. All my life I have always been the type of person that surveys & explores the world around me, committing to memory all the details. Like a light coming on in a dark room, it all came together the first time I looked through the viewfinder to compose my first work of art. Bella Grace is not your regular family dog. She has so much personality, very sassy  & very funny! We raised her to pretty much be around us and involved in almost everything, so she is as humanized as they come. I have taken many pictures of her with a regular point & shoot camera. She is a seasoned 5 year old doggy model. :)

{Lover of the Arts}

My name is Lauren. I decided to start this blog for the sole purpose of documenting my journey as a new and inspired photographer. I love the arts in all forms...If I am not creating something I am thinking of something new to create. I have always danced to the beat of my own drum and have been completely unpredictable... in a fun & goofy sort of way. I am currently working out of Oklahoma & as of right now I am open to all types of photography while I am still sharpening my craft. I can tell you the formal, just smile at the camera type of thing is not what I am about. I want to capture real moments and real emotions with movement and light. I am a very eccentric person & I do not fit into just one mold, so I have a feeling my work will take on that same quality. The most exciting thing about this new journey is the fact that I will always be learning and growing as an artist...there are no limits!