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

Lauren, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

When it comes to my career, I am what you’d call a late bloomer. In 2023 I was asked to be the head of the Costume Department for a documentary on the founding of America. This entailed renting a 16 ft. box truck and driving filled with rented period-piece costumes from Fort Worth, Texas to Richmond, Virginia, and subsequently all over the Northeast. I accepted the job, procrastinated getting started, and quickly realized just how in over my head I was. This was my first time as Costume Designer and head of the department, and I naively believed I could approach it like an assistant. Soberly, I took one day at a time, even telling myself I could back out and would eat the shame of it like any other failure. Nevertheless, I worked all day every day for weeks doing prep, meeting with the historian and production team via Zoom. All the while, especially when panic would set in, I would tell myself I could back out. But my feet kept moving forward. Finally, the day came when I had to take action outside of prepping remotely (think extensive historical research, script breakdown, etc.) and rent the box truck and pick up costumes. The night before I was due to set off on this adventure, I cried myself to sleep. Nevertheless, I got up bright and early, drove to Virginia, and thus began my career as a Costume Designer! Moral of the story: say yes, keep following your feet when scared, and always ask for help. The results might surprise you and completely change the way you see yourself. I know it did for me. I now believe I am capable of hard things. I do have something to offer this industry.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! I’m Lauren Levi. I’m based out of Dallas, Texas, and work as a Costume Designer and Photographer. The majority of the time, I do not film movies in Texas, though I rarely shoot stills anywhere else. Both disciplines I have been doing full-time since 2023. Working in the contractor creative world is both a blessing and a stressor. I really enjoy the freedom, spontaneity, and adventure it offers. However, it often is “feast or famine.” There are months of back-to-back film sets and then months of radio silence. Though I primarily shoot ‘corporate’ photography (think headshots for corporations and events/conferences), what makes my heart flutter are creative environmental shoots. I love capturing artists’ brands or even couples who aren’t afraid to bring all their quirks and chaos to the engagement shoot. Whether I am working on a big budget union set, an indie film, or shooting a wedding, I genuinely believe what sets me apart is the person I bring to people. Though anything but perfect, I do try and see people, really see them, for who they are and the value God has given them. I enjoy meeting new people and being a safe space, a comedic relief, and a momentary blessing by being authentically myself and allowing them the same opportunity.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

We all consume art, whether it be via movies, books, museums, music, or going for a walk after school, because our parents are fighting again. True beauty is art, and true art is beauty, even when uncomfortable. Yet I believe beauty has her origins in the Creator God. For some of us, the longing to manifest and create beauty runs deeper than for others. For some of us, the insatiable desire to behold art and beauty feels like hunger pains, and each time we eat our fill, we remember that there is more to this world than is advertised in the day-to-day grind. I get to participate in both creating and ingesting beauty as an artist, and I don’t know if I would have it any other way, if I knew any other way.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Being the leader of a team will eventually require you to take a good, hard look at yourself. I’m human and I tend to get pretty stressed out on a film set or a photoshoot and when I do I tend to be short with those assisting me or assert more control than necessary and not let others take the creative reins. I’ve had to apologize on multiple occasions to those who are only trying to do their job. No amount of stress can justify poor treatment of others. I tend to have to remember again and again that the person before me is of much more value than the final product of a film or shoot. If I claim to believe in the God-man Jesus then I have a never-ceasing flow of patience, kindness, and goodness waiting for me when I call. Will I allow what I can see to dictate my attitude and will I allow that attitude to spill out onto others? Will I ask for help from the Spirit within or call a friend to process hard emotions? The choice is always mine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurenleviphoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levilaurenphoto/

Image Credits

All photos taken by me (sans the first three uploads where I am in the photos)