We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lucy Ketchum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lucy below.

Lucy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

It was my love of flowers and photography that sparked my curiosity and desire to create flower images like no one else. I immersed myself in learning everything I could, through in-person classes, online workshops, mentorships, and books. I spent countless hours experimenting with different techniques and lenses, learning through trial and error and studying light, composition and editing. Studying the masters of photography, such as Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Gary Winogrand, and Vivian Maier, was essential in helping me understand the concept of storytelling and develop my own artistic voice.

It took me a while to discover that flower photography was truly what I wanted to do. I spent a long time trying to emulate others, thinking that was the right path but failing in the way. Looking back I would have trusted myself more instead of trying to fit into someone else’s style. But at the end, everything is part of a learning experience.

The skills that were most crucial and made a huge difference in my work were, understanding everything about natural light, how it changes through the day and across seasons, and how to find the light that would have the most impact in my images. Equally important skills that help me to create the images that I envision are both composition and storytelling, because a great photo is not about capturing a subject; it’s about evoking emotion and telling a story through framing, angles and depth. And finally, learning about post processing has helped me bring my vision to life.

The biggest challenge was balancing creativity with technical skills. It wasn’t until I felt fully comfortable with my camera, lenses and settings that I could truly focus on developing my vision, something that required patience, dedication, and time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Lucy Ketchum, and I am a flower photography coach, educator, and creator of editing resources for Photoshop and Lightroom, designed to help photographers bring their creative vision to life. My journey into this craft started with a deep love for flowers and a desire to capture their beauty in a way that felt truly unique. What began as a personal passion and hobby evolved into a career as I refined my skills in photography, composition, and editing, constantly seeking new ways to create images that express the delicate details, colors, and emotions found in nature.

Through my work, I offer a range of services designed to help photographers at all levels refine their skills and develop their own artistic voice. This includes one-on-one coaching sessions where I provide personalized guidance, feedback, and strategies to help photographers overcome creative blocks and elevate their work. I also offer a collection of meticulously crafted Lightroom presets and Photoshop overlays that simplify the editing process, making it easy to enhance images with beautiful tones and professional-grade adjustments. Additionally, I host workshops, including my Flower Photography Mini-Workshop, where I teach hands-on techniques to capture stunning floral images.

The biggest challenge many photographers face is finding their unique style and mastering the technical aspects of photography while maintaining creativity. My goal is to bridge that gap, helping my clients gain confidence in both their shooting and editing processes. I take pride in creating an environment where photographers feel inspired, supported, and empowered to explore their artistic potential.

What sets me apart is my ability to blend technical expertise with a deep appreciation for the artistry of flower photography. I don’t just teach how to take a technically correct photo of a pretty flower, I help photographers tell a story, evoke emotion, and create images that feel personal and meaningful. I am most proud of the community I have built and the impact I’ve had on other photographers, seeing their growth and transformation as they develop their craft.

For anyone who follows my work, I want them to know that photography is more than just taking pictures—it’s about capturing moments, emotions, and beauty in a way that is uniquely yours. Whether you’re looking to refine your skills, develop a signature editing style, or simply find new inspiration, I’m here to help guide you on that journey.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Starting out in my photography journey, I was listening to many voices—some helpful, but others I eventually had to tune out. One, in particular, was a photographer who wrote that ‘in order to be a better photographer, you should stop shooting flowers.’ It was a harsh statement, especially because I had just started to focus on flower photography. For a while, it threw me off track, making me question whether what I was doing had any value.

But the most challenging voice to overcome was my own. I kept asking myself: What do I have to offer that hasn’t already been done? There are millions of flower images out there—what makes me think I can create something different? That self-doubt held me back more than any outside opinion ever could.

Eventually, I learned one of the most important lessons of my journey—there is only one me. My perspective, my creativity, and my way of seeing the world are uniquely mine. Once I stopped trying to prove myself and started trusting my own vision, I was able to create images that truly reflected who I am as an artist.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My audience has grown organically over the years. It has been a journey of staying true to my voice, being consistent, and remaining authentic, even when outside voices tried to steer me in a different direction. Time has shown me that the more I leaned into my unique style, the more people resonated with my work.

Building a community has also been key to my social media growth. The mutual support, inspiration, and friendships I’ve found with fellow photographers, flower lovers, and followers keep me energized and motivated to continue creating and sharing my work.

My advice for those looking to grow their social media presence is to be consistent, stay true to your purpose, and trust your instincts. Keep exploring new ideas, engage and build genuine relationships, offer value to your audience, and, most importantly, be patient, growth doesn’t happen overnight.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lucyketchum.com
• Instagram: @lucy.ketchum
• Twitter: (Threads) @lucy.ketchum

Image Credits

Lucy Ketchum