When did you first realize you wanted to be a photographer?
I have to admit, I was never one of those people who had a life long dream of becoming a photographer. I never had a parent who handed me a camera at 4 and I never put it down. Nor am I one of those, “the birth of my child changed my life…I had to capture every moment…’ type of stories. Never in my life did I think I would be a photographer. I worked in the corporate world for many years. In May of 2002, I was laid off from my job, and started a Graphic Design company. One thing I did to save money was to purchase a nice camera so that I could take any pictures needed for my clients instead of hiring a photographer. That’s the first moment I realized that I was going to be a photographer. It was never a desire…but a need for my business.
When and how did you start out in photography?
I taught myself by practicing on family members and friends. I had a lot of people telling me that they loved my images…and asking if I would take pictures of their children for them. I started learning everything I could about photography. There wasn’t anywhere near the amount of information out there that there is today. People have it easy now! Everything you need to learn and know is easily found on the internet. I learned the old fashion way. Through trial and error. Hours and hours of it. In thebeginning, I was all over the board – weddings, corporate events, children, families, whatever came my way.
After a year of this, one of my son’s therapists got pregnant (I have a son with Autism). I ask her if I could photograph her, and she said yes. When I looked at those pictures, I fell in love. They were beautiful! She had her baby the next day, and I built my newborn portfolio on her baby. That was the event that changed my life, and set my course of specializing in Maternity and Newborn photography. I fell in love with it. Demi Moore had recently done her famous maternity shot for the cover of Vanity Fair, and Maternity and Newborn photography was in it’s infancy. I made the right decision at the right time. My business skyrocketed. That was in 2002 and thankfully, I have done very well.
How would you describe your style?
For maternity, ethereal and sensual. Dreamy and pure art. For newborn..I prefer an organic style, and I love skin to skin. I have always loved using my parents as props. It wasn’t until just a few years ago that I started putting my babies in props and such…and only because it was the trend, and clients were asking for it. I ended up with a studio full of props. But, a few months ago, I cleared out the studio, repainted it, and sold off about ¾ of my props. I truly prefer just the baby with minimal props, if any.
What’s in your gear bag? (If you don’t want to list everything just tell us what brand.)
I now mentor and teach photography, and when people learn that I use a Fuji S5Pro camera, they are really surprised. Because it is basically a Nikon body, it uses Nikon lenses. My backup camera is a Nikon D700, but nothing captures perfect skin tones in the studio like the Fuji S5 Pro does. I use all Nikor lenses, and have a 50mm 1.4, the 85mm 1.4, the 28-70 2.8 and the 17-35 2.8 for a wide angle. I used to have the 70-200 when I still lived in Newport Beach, because I shot outside so much. But when I moved to the Pacific Northwest, where I now shoot all studio, I traded the 70-200 in for my current 28-70 2.8, which rarely comes off my camera.
One lens you can’t live without?
My Nikon 28-70 1:2.8 D. It’s on my camera 80% of the time. I used to change to my 50mm for my baby on beanbag or in bucket shots, but didn’t find that it made enough of a difference in my final shots…so I stopped using it. I rely a LOT on my 28-70. I can’t live without it.
How did know when the right time to start charging was?
I actually had to take business counseling on this one. It was really hard for me to ask for money for my services. I had worked in the Corporate world for 15 years…and my paycheck had always been a direct deposit. Having to actually ask people, face-to-face for payment for my services was REALLY hard for me. I turned to SCORE (which I can’t say enough about…the BEST thing I ever did), and had a mentor I worked with named Joe DiStanislao. I’m telling you, his mentoring changed my life. And SCORE is a totally FREE service. He gave me advice that I use to this day…and I am so Thankful.
How much did you charge for your first session and how much are you charging for the same type of session now?
I charged $75 for a session when I first started in 2002. By 2005, I was charging $400 per weekday session, and $500 on weekends – and I had no problem getting that. In about 2012, the newborn market was getting really saturated. As more and more photographers popped up, and were charging lower prices, I found myself getting less clients because what I charged was so much more than what the newer photographers were charing. Therefore, I was forced to lower my session fee to stay more in line with the market and to continue getting new clients. Today, I charge $295.
How did you market yourself when you started out?
Print ads, which were totally expensive and I don’t do anymore and getting my work in OBGYN offices, which was very hard to do. But, I think the thing that worked best for me, was offering free sessions, and just getting my work out there. That created a demand for my work. You need to create a demand for your work. If there is no demand, you’re really going to struggle.
We are going to play a game… name the first person that comes to mind when you think of… Write down the first person, no cheating!!
Newborn photographer: Carrie Sandaval
Wedding photographer: Mike Colon’
Lifestyle photographer: Lisa Holloway
Most inspiration person: This is hard. I’d have to say that in the beginning, it was Carrie Sandaval. We both started around the same time, and both lived in So Cal. We were both on ILP, and I saw a lot of her stuff. I still love her style, but haven’t even been to her website in years. I don’t tend to look to other photographers for inspiration in my photography like I used to. I’ve been doing it for almost 14 years now and really just draw inspiration from my own mind!
Did you go to school for photography or were you self- taught? If self-taught, what helped you the most?
I am a self-taught photographer. When I first started in 2002, there wasn’t the massive amount of information easily available (i.e., the internet), that there is today. Nor were there the massive amount of photographers that there are today! At first, I was all over Photoflex’s on-line training site. I had the same camera they used in their on-line classes, so it was so easy to follow. Then, I found ilp a.k.a. I Love Photography. This is where I really grew, and to this day when people just starting out ask me for advice, I send them there. I haven’t been part of their community for several years now, but when I was new, I was on that site every single day.
What has been some of the hardest things to overcome in your business?
Learning to manage work and life. It’s still a struggle to this day. I live and breath my business, whether or not I feel like it that day and I know I should be giving more time to my family. This to me, is the greatest struggle and the hardest to overcome.
Do you have any tips for photographers just starting out?
Join ilp a.k.a. I Love Photography. Seriously, this is a massive place of sharing from people just starting out to advanced photographers whom all are totally into sharing their knowledge. The other thing would be to watch Creative Live. It’s free, and an incredible learning experience!
Learn Photoshop, and learn it well! I can’t stress enough that taking the picture is only half the work. The other half happens in Post Processing. That’s where the beautiful images are truly created. Not straight out of the camera like so many people think. The truly beautiful images you see are from those who know Photoshop really well. If you saw their images before post production…it looks completely different than the final image. Photoshop is where the magic happens.
Get Mentoring or take a Workshop from a seasoned photographer in the type of photography you are interested in. You can take months to learn the skills and then start making money. Othereise, you can invest in learning the skills in a weekend with a seasoned photographer, and start seeing the money come in a lot sooner.
This goes for editing images as well. Take a class from a photographer who’s images you love. Become really good at it!
If for some reason you couldn’t be a photographer what do you think you would be?
Actually, I’m doing it now! Designing clothing for Woman’s Fashion inspired photography.
What’s the best lesson in photography (business or shooting) that you’ve learned so far?
I’ve heard other photographers say this, and I can’t agree more. Stay true to your own style and identity. Don’t try to be someone else…it will only lead to you never feeling good enough about yourself. Create a style of your own…and build on it…make it yours! Be yourself!
Laurie Ludes Photographer & Mentor LaurieL Photography
lauriel@laurielphotography.com
15824 NE 26th StreetVancouver, WA 98684
360.253.4142 (O)
714.743.5507 (M)
360.883.1742 (F)
Servicing the Greater Portland Oregon Metropolitan Area and Orange County, California
I was working full time in the corporate world as a graphic designer for Verizon Wireless. Got laid off in 2002 w about 1000 other people during a merger & acquisitions. I received a large severance and had the $ to start my own graphic design company, which I did. I wanted to take pictures of the items I put in my design materials instead of hiring a photographer, so I bought a nice camera that I knew nothing about. I taught myself everything the old fashion way. There simply wasn’t the massive amount of information available that there is today. I started practicing on people. Suddenly, everyone wanted me to take their pictures.
I was all over the board for 2 years until I photographed one of my sons therapists. She was pregnant. I loved the images! She had her baby the next day and I did her newborn pictures as well. I fell in love with maternity and newborns.
I began teaching maternity & newbborn photography in 2010. I have had clients come to me for training from 21 different countries! I was the first international speaker at the Newborn Photography Conference in Brazil in 2014. I opened the Maternity and Newborn Photography Prop Shop in 2010 & it was a huge success. I teach on-line Photoshop Classes tailored to maternity & newbborn photography.
I’ve had the pleasure of photographing a few celebrities and am the photographer for Earth Mama Angel Baby products, whom sell international an all natural, organic line of products for moms & babies.
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