We were lucky to catch up with Lauren K McLeod recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren K, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning my craft started when I was young and continues to this day.

Initially, I learned by watching my dad. He always had a camera in hand, and new camera equipment was one of the only things I remember him splurging on. I’d often beg to take a few photos with his camera. In high school, I took my first photography class and instantly fell in love with the craft–this was back in the late 90s, before digital photography was mainstream. I continued my education in Rome when I studied abroad during college. I took many art classes, but photography was my favorite and felt the most natural to me (aside from the fumbling around in the darkroom). As I graduated college and pursued a masters in education, art and photography took a back seat, temporarily. After over a decade in the field of education, I longed to get back to my creative roots. During breaks from teaching, I’d take any chance I got to get outside and create with my camera.

Most of my digital expertise is self taught. I’ve learned from my own mistakes, friends, and plenty of YouTube videos. There’s a lot of trial and error, and more failure than success–and this is true of every aspect of the craft. From knowing what equipment to bring along, to capturing the image, to editing–there are endless options and with that, comes a seemingly infinite amount of information that can be learned. It’s one of the things I loved about teaching young children–it’s never boring, and there is always something new and unexpected around the corner.

I wouldn’t change anything about my process or the path that brought me where I am today.

Taking time to deeply learn and understand how to fully utilize my equipment was essential in terms of taking photography from a passion to a profession. Manipulating the camera or the scene in front of me, then editing the image until it is just so, makes my artwork uniquely mine.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a fine art photographer of the natural world who creates artwork to inspire peace, curiosity, and wonder. My work features a variety of flora and fauna, local gems, and far-away places.

I love to take things to extremes when it comes to the cameras and lenses I use. Some images are extreme close ups (macro photography), some are taken from hundreds of feet in the air (drone photography), and some are long exposure (capturing a few seconds of a scene, rather than a quick snapshot). Showing the viewer the world in a way they’ve never seen it before is exciting to me.

For example, I’ve taken photos from the basket of a hot air balloon, the base of a waterfall, and the edge of a cliff. I enjoy capturing the mystery and weathered effects of abandoned places, the magic of the night sky, and the intricate details of various plants and animals.

On my website, you’ll see that I offer products and pieces for every budget and provide free consultations to help customers make selections that fit their lifestyle and meet their design goals. Whether you are looking for a small gift or a statement piece for your home, I have something for you.

At the end of the day, I’m proud to create artwork that adds something positive to our world. My photographs beckon the viewer to invite the outdoors, in. I believe that the more we do that, the better life is.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

If I had to pick one thing that drives my creative journey, I’d say it’s a longing for peace.

People are so stressed, so much of the time. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, how old you are, how much money you have…everyone is stressed. Creating artwork is a therapeutic process for me–exploring the Earth with a camera is my happy place. When I’m out there experiencing moments of awe, it feels too special to keep to myself.

Helping others bring this magic into their lives through my artwork is deeply satisfying. Getting “lost” in nature, or in images of nature, has been scientifically proven to reduce stress. I highly recommend getting out there yourself, but for the moments when that’s not possible, I hope to provide people with a fantastic alternative.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I launched my current website through Art Storefronts (ASF), everything changed. I had previously launched a site, but didn’t fully understand how to properly market my work. The truth that many artists don’t want to face is that art doesn’t sell itself, no matter how good it is. With ASF, I not only have access to tons of information about art marketing, but I also have access to a robust community of artists who generously support one another every step of the way. For more info about Art Storefronts: shorturl.at/acoBQ

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurenkmcleod.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkmcleod/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenkmcleod
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-mcleod-15b852181/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenkmcleod
• Other: Art Storefronts: shorturl.at/acoBQ

Image Credits
All photographs were taken by me, Lauren K McLeod.