The inspiration behind this shoot was to have a wood elf be in the forest with a hint of Xena. I wanted to show the makeup that we had done on her, and create a very powerful profile shot. Using the light behind her to frame her hair and face, it allowed an all-over highlight to engulf her profile.
For this photo, I wanted to display the wonder of being a child. Children have such an amazing imagination, which was my intention to show. I gave the child the lollipop to pose for a few photos, and I noticed she became very distracted by a few bugs that were flying by. In my mind, the perfect moment would have been if a butterfly had been passing by, so I decided to add it into the photo in post. I asked her to look up and exclaimed, “Look it’s a butterfly!” She turned and I took the photo. She told me there was no butterfly, but I told her she could keep the lollipop, so it all worked out.
This photo is one of my self portraits. This was shot at the Floridian Resort in Disney, during broad daylight. The inspiration behind this photo was to show a person that has been waiting for their lover for a midnight rendezvous, but he does not show. The title for this piece is “I waited for you, but you never came.” There were flies buzzing everywhere, but I did it for the photo. I used blue based tones to show a feeling of loneliness and abandonment.
This photo is one that means a lot to me, and it was the image that made me realize I wanted to be able to photograph for the rest of my life. A friend of mine set me up with this couple, because they were having just the reception of their wedding, and wanted just a few photos of themselves. The sunset was so brilliant, and I wanted to show the emotion of how much he loved his new bride. The kiss on the forehead shot is such a classic, and each one can show how much a couple truly means to each other.
This photo is special to me because this couple were my first international clients! They live in Switzerland, but vacation in Cocoa Beach partially during the summer. I wanted to be able to bring in the beach for their backdrop, as well as use cool tones for their home! Classic, yet elegant. I always carry an assortment of props in the trunk of my car, and the parasol was one of them. For photos that are intensely emotional, I like the center the subjects, to show the world fading around them, as they have each other. I told him to, “kiss her like it’s the last time you’ll see her.”
This is also another self portrait of mine. Moving into a new place by myself, I was unfamiliar with my surroundings. A sense of loneliness entrapped me, and I decided to do a portrait series on different kind of emotions. This one was based on the subject of “bipolar.” The different hands representing how many people feel as if they’re pulled in many different directions, feeling as if they can do nothing but stand there in agony, unable to speak. Getting a grip is something that is difficult to do, especially for someone who’s mind is working in numerous ways, which is what I wanted to represent.
With this photo, I wanted to demonstrate the aspect of femininity. Having her hold the flowers against her delicate face was a way to show it. The golden hour is the best time to shoot because of the way you can manipulate the light, so this was shot around 730. Using the grass surrounding her to blend her slightly into the background, I was able to frame her in a way that showed her as delicate, like a flower.
This is a self portrait of my boyfriend and I. I don’t believe in just taking a photo, and I love to add a little creative twist to my work. I wanted to tell a little story, of him being able to fly me away with him. This photo was inspired by Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me.”He and I absolutely love the color red and burgundy, which was an influence in the surrounding colors around us. Hence the personal touch.
I’m a huge sucker for sparkler exits. They’re my favorite part of the wedding, because the photos can be so romantic! For the exits, I always make sure that I am positioned at the end of the line, that way the majority of the light is on them as well as behind, which creates a great composition. It’s the shot that is usually last in a wedding photo delivery, so it has to be the most special. This is the way your wedding ended, look at how special it was!
This is my absolute favorite photo of myself. It’s everything I want to represent about my work. It’s fresh, it’s new, it’s magic.
With my work, the way I edit each photograph is different. A lot of photographers try to use the same editing technique in order to create their own “style,” but my style is created by making everything not the same. Each wedding I shoot is not similar to any of the ones before it.
The key to making the way a photograph truly great is by getting to know your subject. Are they very bright and bubbly? Are they deep romantics? Do they prefer rainy days to sunny ones? All of these factors influence the way a photograph will look. My style is all about being as personal as possible.
I like to become friends with my clients, whether they’re a portrait client or wedding client. It’s very helpful to speak to your client and get to know them. Once you know a bit more about them, the way you can edit just flows. The mood is set, as well as the colors you will be using.
Try to imagine that you are the client. What kind of photos would you want taken of you? Put yourself in their shoes, and pretend that you are photographing yourself. I do this for each wedding I shoot as well. I want to tell their story, but I can’t properly do it without trying to understand their story.
Shift perspectives, change your mindset, everything follows after. You won’t believe how different your photos will be.
I also never edit photos if I am in a bad mood. Surprisingly, this DOES affect the way your photos will look. In my work, you can almost always see if I was happy or not. It’s alright to do for self portraits, because it’s a way to express your mind, so negative emotions are okay, but it is NEVER okay to do when working on client work. In my work, I invest everything; my mood, my emotions, my energy. Take a break, go outside, find some inspiration, then come back and work.
Lauren Laveria is a 21 year old fine art and wedding photographer located in Central Florida. Influenced by nature and life’s happiest moments, I create visual memories that last a lifetime to each client. Natural light, a touch of whimsy, and details are my main focus when photographing, making each photograph unique and special. I’m a lover of making you feel as beautiful as you are, and capturing the true essence of the moment. I aim to make fairy tale’s come true.
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