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

Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

I’m sure there are many things I could have done differently if I was to closely dissected the past 11 years but I feel confident in saying that I would not have changed a thing. For me, photography is my career, livelihood and business but also equally my passion, art practice and a vehicle for me to communicated with others. I believes that the moments that you experience, that lead you to the present are all part of the story. The failures, life lessons, business struggles, bad decisions are just as important and the successes and triumphs and those big jobs you land. They have all played an integral role in shaping me as an artist and human. I’ve always been someone who likes to learn by doing things hands on. So learning from my own unique experiences has fuelled my practice today and how I view the world through the lens.

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 first memory of being really interested in photography was my obsession with documenting my friends and our adventures during university. I was completing a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology on Vancouver Island, Canada (just off of the west coast). I shot on a small digital point and shoot and brought it everywhere. I didn’t realize it at the time but it was part of my way of communication with others and bringing out certain sides of people when I was interacting with them through my lens. I still feel this stands true to this day in my portrait photography. For me, photographing someone is really just having a conversation with that person – but there happens to be a camera there too. The camera is secondary to my process. I often do a lot of getting to know the person, hanging out with them, listening to them and directing the shot without even holding the camera until the moment I need to press the shutter. I always want to make my subjects feel comfortable and the most themselves in front of my lens. I want them to feel seen in how they feel is their best light.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My favourite part of my job is the people. The people I have the opportunity to work with behind the lens and the ones that I have the privilege of photographing. Being a portrait and fashion photographer I’m constantly meeting and working with new people from many different industries. I’m eager to learn from others and hear their stories. The nature of my work is quite intimate whether it’s just myself, the subject and my assistant or a crew of 25 people. Everyone on set is physically working so close to each other and constantly collaborating to create the image. There’s a camaraderie in making images that makes people who have never met feel close to one another very quickly.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I think first and foremost finding the right clients for you and your business is important. Aligning yourself and working with people who are on the same page and are have similar business goals, work ethic and values is integral to creating long-term meaningful relationships with clients. Making sure you have a really true understanding of what they want and how you can help them achieve that is imperative. If you can do that, then you will find loyal clients who can relay on you to deliver fire with every project.

Contact Info:

• Website: laurendzbarsky.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ldzbar/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-d-zbarsky-589b2137/

Image Credits
Photo of Lauren D Zbarsky by Marty Katzoff