We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lindsay Reed a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsay, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Believe it or not, I picked up my first camera shortly after getting married as a way to bond with my mother-in-law (she was a hobbyist photographer). It wasn’t long after that, I really became passionate about it and began diving into online classes and practicing as much as possible. At the time, I was working as a Registered Nurse as a local hospital and some of my pregnant coworkers asked me to photograph their new babies. It was so rewarding getting to see my co-workers become parents and capturing their first few moments as a family.

Once I had my own baby girl, it really resonated with me just how important documenting this season of life is. It assured me instantly that my place in the photography world was to capture newborns and motherhood.

Lindsay, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been a professional photographer for 5 years now and have experienced many changes and growth in that time. Lately, I have truly discovered just what inspires me and what I know for certain my passion is in this industry.

I have always been a homebody, especially once I started having children. I left my career as an RN so I could spend more time watching my girls run around the house and jump on the couch together, singing the latest Disney song. It melted my heart and freezing those silly moments in time were my favorite. I often look back on those photos and see how much they have grown on that couch. Their jumps got higher, laughs louder, and now they sit down whenever they want to snuggle the newest baby in the family.

It’s that kind of storytelling that I desire for the families I interact with. I want to create a tangible way to look back and see the growth. The sleepless nights, the loose tooth, the crazy haircut, all of it. To capture life as it is in a raw and effortless way, unrehearsed and absolutely beautiful.

I am also a huge advocate for the empowerment of moms. Mothers are superheroes who deserve to see just how strong their bodies are and how incredible their bond is with their babies. With all of my session, no matter how crazy kids are or what chaos ensues, I aim to make moms feel their best. In my Franklin, TN studio, I even offer a client wardrobe to help ease the burden moms feel when planning for their newborn session.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

This is something that comes from a very personal place in my heart. I struggled post-partum. There were days when I didn’t feel like myself and didn’t feel confident in my new body. That lack of confidence effected my surroundings. BUT what always brought me back were the photographs that hung around the house of my growing family. The smiles displayed on my husband’s face looking at our girls and seeing images of my body before and after creating a human empowered me amidst the noise. That’s my goal and what drives me.

To create images that strengthen the connection between parent and child. For moms to see just how beautiful and POWERFUL they are. For dads to remember the moment they held their child for the first time. To create images that spark confidence and showcase unconditional love. This is one of the hardest seasons of life and those babies aren’t the same size the next day.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Changing my career from RN to photographer may seem like a pivot, but it felt so seamless to me because at the end of the day I was still caring for babies and their mothers.

The pivot that really has changed my career is my desire to really pursue a more lived-in look. The industry really pushes for those classic posed images and while those are beautiful, I discovered last year that I really needed to pursue what inspired me and that was the beauty in everyday moments.
Even in my Franklin studio, I strive to create a relaxed, playful environment where kids and families can be themselves and moms can feel like the best version of themselves. So often, people hear the word “studio” and think it will be a very traditional type of photography. But I’m here to show that studio work can blend seamlessly with lifestyle sessions and create the same cozy, connected imagery.

I also transitioned to shooting film and incorporating it into my work, and it’s a medium that continues to surprise me. My favorite part about it has been that the moment I press the shutter, whatever is happening, is it. You can’t switch faces, adjust the scene, change the focus. It’s raw and true. I wanted to cultivate that into every session both in and outside of the studio walls; to leave behind the posed and just simply focus on the moment. This has been enriching to not only my experience as the photographer, but the families I encounter. The printed images don’t feel like a regular photograph, they feel like a true moment in time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lindsayreedphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindsayreedphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindsayreedphoto

Image Credits
Lindsay Reed Photography