Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lexi Haslem. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lexi, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Over the past few years, I have been diving deeper into boudoir and intimate photography. It seems to have this natural energy and magnetism behind it that feels undeniable. I like to think that it is in alignment with my bigger ‘purpose’ in life and my service to others. I am from a rural town in Utah that is predominantly conservative. In my early teen years, I began shooting portraits of friends that developed into conceptual photoshoots based around edgy outfits and interesting locations around my little town. I had so much fun taking the photos and posting them on Myspace, Picasa and Tumblr (if you know you know). Every photoshoot I would surprise and impress myself! Many people supported me and the positive feedback I received was encouraging but because of the religious culture in my hometown people would also frequently cast judgment and negative comments on my work, what my models wore, and even remarks about my personal style and my “slutty photos”. The photos were innocent and my models wore outfits by any normal standard; just clothing that did not abide by the firm modesty standards set by the church. I loved fashion and art and had a desire to combine the two, but I had hardly any connection to my body. Because I was raised in a patriarchal society, I often felt unimportant, yet ironically my every move felt as if it were under a microscope, I was constantly anticipating criticism for anything I did. Reflecting back on my early work and formative years as an artist I feel gratitude towards my younger self, a strong girl who pushed past adversity and kept creating despite it all, eventually rising out of the shadow of the judgment I endured.
I have always appreciated the beauty, expression, and vessels of pure creation that women are. Constantly in awe and Inspired by the female essence. Since I’ve started shooting boudoirs it has helped me connect with women on a deeper level than I could have ever expected. It truly feels like I am helping them see the most beautiful and embodied version of themselves in a safe environment while marking a life milestone through art that they can look back on with admiration and reverence for themselves in that period of their lives. Through that process, it has helped heal these old layers of my childhood and upbringing that felt so misunderstood and unaccepted.
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.
A “small-town runaway” photographer based in San Diego and Los Angeles, California. I have been taking photos since middle school and I shot my first wedding at 16. Between my own personal conceptual photoshoots, I would do local family and graduation sessions throughout high school with my little canon rebel, edit on Picnik, and deliver via CD. I followed my intuitive pull and moved to California at age 19, after over a decade of growth and exploration I specialize in Fashion, Commercial, Boudoir, and Portrait Photography. My images reflect my love for film and have a vintage, moody, and editorial feel while maintaining a level of personality and humanity. On photoshoot days my main goal is comfort, connection, and play. The process of creating elevated images does not need to be intense or intimidating. More joy = better outcome!
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
For years in my early twenties, I was doing photography on the side. Taking whatever amount of money people were willing to pay me. I picked up restaurant jobs as a server on the side and before I knew it I had three jobs waiting tables, working the front desk at a gym, and photography. I was stressed and unhappy, I didn’t have a work-life balance and I hardly had any energy left over to put into growing my photography business. After years of juggling working part-time for other people, I quit and went all-in to become a full-time photographer. The moment I truly started nurturing my business everything else just fell into place. The saying “You get what you give” really fell true and the universe reciprocated my energy and efforts.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Let me just preface that being an artist usually comes with being a highly sensitive person in the world. I often hit lows I have to work hard to dig myself out of. But it’s also given me this opportunity to have a deeper, more spiritual relationship with every aspect of life. Through routine, work, play, relationships, travel… all of it. Because it’s all interconnected. My work and art is my life. Every day I get to recommit to nurturing that. One of my most helpful tools has been meditation to keep me present. Being aware of my surroundings and noticing those “glimmers” of inspiration everywhere. The way the light hits the water, the warm glow and the wax drip of a candle, how a certain song feels like a road trip during sunset, the dancing smoke of incense in the morning light… Having this enriched relationship with life and this human experience inspires me to celebrate being alive and document/create as much as I can while I have the chance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lexihaslem.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexihaslem/
Image Credits
All photos shot by Lexi Haslem