We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsey Franklin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsey below.

Lindsey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

In the world of wedding photography, success looks different for everyone. Some chase social media fame, others focus on destination weddings, and some aim to book high-end $10K+ celebrations. The industry is vast and varied. When I first started, all I knew was that I loved photography and being around people.

Of course I want to create images that help clients FEEL something. I want to capture all the in-between imperfect moments. But what I’ve come to cherish most is the genuine connections formed along the way. Even now, I stay in touch with couples I photographed over eight years ago. Sometimes they’ll message me out of the blue—“Remember when we jumped in the river and got soaked during our shoot?” It’s those moments, the shared experiences, that truly matter. It’s about trust and building meaningful relationships.

Over the last three years, our family has been on an intense adoption journey. Through it all, I’ve been amazed by how clients—both past and future—and even wedding guests, who might have only briefly spoken to me at an event, have shown up in incredible ways.

Knowing that I’ve been able to leave a small, positive mark on people’s lives— that’s what success means to me.

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.

I’ve always been lucky to be around creative people—my whole life, really. I’ve wanted to jump into everything, try it all, and college was no different. In my very first semester, I met a professor who saw something in me—a knack for photography. After hours in the darkroom, I was hooked. I learned black and white film photography and ended up with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Over the years, I’ve grown alongside my art, letting couples and families just be themselves in front of the lens. It’s never about perfect shots—it’s about real moments, real people.

Studio Llotus has been a dream come true. What started as a side hustle has grown into my full-time passion, thanks to an incredible support system. I’m all about crafting timeless images that play with light and movement—photos that truly move you.

It’s so much more than just photography. It’s an experience and I want to help my clients live our their dream day, grand destination or intimate.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Being nice and being true to myself.

A little kindness goes a long way in this industry. Whether it’s helping the parents of the couple clean up a few extra things after the wedding or helping the coordinator when things get a little off track. Doing those small things mean a lot to people in stressful situations and they’ll always remember you for it.

You have to passionate about what you’re doing, especially this job. People will notice if you’re not.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

One of my favorite questions is… “So what is your full-time job?” I used to get asked this at almost every wedding! Or… “Your photos are really good… you must have such a nice camera!”

It’s true that cameras these days are incredible… but have you seen a photographers post processing work flow? Have you seen the amazing timing, gear, and settings they can juggle during a short wedding ceremony when one camera fails?

One of the things I’ve noticed as someone who has been in the industry for 10+ years… there are so many younger photographers that begin and last 3-4 years. They start, thinking it will be easy. Working from home, traveling, etc. They get the nice gear and after about 4 years you’ll see them post that they’re closing their business. Weddings are beautiful and so fun… but it’s exhausting. Sometimes after a wedding day I will sit in the parking lot of 15 minutes just to decompress. It’s a long day of high pressure. Burn out can become real. Overworking in the first few years is common all while under charging. At the start, many photographers underestimate how much time, effort, and emotional energy goes into each wedding—before, during, and after. From client communication and timeline planning to editing hundreds (or thousands) of images, it’s not just “show up and shoot.” The creative work is often underpaid or misunderstood by clients, which can make it feel unsustainable.

Social media creates a constant pressure to “keep up.” It’s draining. Imposter syndrome is a real thing. But you have to remind yourself you aren’t there to impress other photographers. Of course kind words help. You’re there to create for you and your client. If you’re still getting booked, you’re doing the right things.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studiollotus.com
• Instagram: @studiollotus
• Facebook: StudioLLotus

Image Credits

Lindsey Franklin/Studio Llotus