We recently connected with Lori Coremin and have shared our conversation below.
Lori, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
About 14 years ago, I took a risk that still feels a little unreal when I look back on it. I started my own concert photography company, War Child Photo. It honestly all started with a camera I received, a small point-and-shoot camera, as a Christmas gift while I was in high school. Our senior class put on concerts to raise money for our senior trip, year book expenses, and other class-related projects. Myself and another girl from my class always took the pics at these shows.
For years after high school, I’d been taking photos as a hobby under War Child Photo —shooting local bands in dimly lit bars and clubs with no photo pit or barricade, or shooting from the crowd, never paid, never official. I loved those nights though and all the amazing people I met at those places! It was always a rush – the lights, the energy, the challenge of capturing a split-second moment that felt electric. But I kept photography neatly boxed up as “something I do on weekends,” telling myself it wasn’t practical or stable enough to pursue seriously.
Then one night, a friend of mine said I should reach out to a publication, so I did. I reached out to a local music newspaper (sorry for aging myself here) and submitted an album review with some photos I took of a local band from OH that I worked with while they were touring in Jersey. They loved my submission and actually printed it; I was floored! It was the first time I was published or recognized for me work – outside of the bands themselves.
Then, I decided to try my luck with bigger shows, actually getting approved through a tour manager or PR agent, instead of going to my local spot that had national touring acts roll through. I wanted something more; something bigger with better stage lighting. And I’ll never forget the first national touring act I was approved for was Killswitch Engage. From there on out it’s been a rollercoaster. I have covered more shows and worked with more artists than I ever could have imagined. I’ve worked bands that I would only ever dream of working with, such as Megadeth, In Flames, Jinjer, and Gojira to name a few. During my time, I’ve worked for a few publications as well; one unfortunately shut down shortly after Covid, and the other I’m still working for; Hunny Pot Unlimited, based out of Los Angeles. They have opened so many doors for me to work with amazing bands for both photography, show reviews, and album reviews. I truly have to thank my friend Matt Martinez for introducing me to the head editor and helping me get in the door.
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.
It started with concert photography, but has since branched out into boudoir photography. To me it made sense since music and half naked women just go hand-in-hand. amazing models as well as every day women who just want to feel good about themselves and give the gift of art to their significant other. My goal with boudoir is to make every single woman I work with feel stunning, because they are!
During a boudoir session, my priority is to make a woman feel safe, confident, celebrated, and in control from the moment she walks in. Boudoir is about empowerment, so I build the entire experience around comfort and trust. First, I focus on creating a calm, welcoming atmosphere. In my intake questionnaire I ask what kind of music they like, so I can have a playlist set up just for them to help them feel more comfortable and at ease. I make sure my client and I talk, laugh, and get to know each other a bit before any shooting begins. I walk her through the plan, the poses, and what to expect so there are no surprises. I make sure she knows she can speak up at any moment—change a pose, take a break, adjust a boundary, to me, her comfort sets the pace.
While yes a lot of my clients are models, I still know that they come in nervous or self-conscious. I guide every client (model or not) with step by step—how to angle the chin, where to place the hands, how to breathe—and I celebrate the little wins as we go. I never rush or push. I want each and every woman to feel like she’s collaborating with me, not performing for me – let her know that she is in control of her own image. This transparency builds trust and helps her relax into the experience. Most women leave the session feeling more self-assured and proud than when they arrived. It’s not just about the photos; it’s about helping someone reconnect with their own strength and beauty. When a client walks out feeling lighter, bolder, and excited to see the images, I know I’ve done my job correctly.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
For my concert photography, it’s based on submitting inquiries to management or press contacts. Having a strong publication like Hunny Pot behind me has been the best. As for my boudoir clients, just word of mouth. If one woman had a great experience, she tells a friend and then her friend comes to me.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
What helped me build my reputation within my market was a combination of consistency, professionalism, and—most importantly—a solid portfolio that clearly represented my style and the experience I offer.
From there, I backed it up with reliability. I communicated clearly, delivered galleries on time, treated every session with care, and made sure clients felt valued and comfortable. That combination—good work and good experiences—turned clients into advocates. Word-of-mouth referrals became one of my biggest growth drivers.
Consistency on social media helped too. Sharing behind-the-scenes moments, client stories (with permission), and regular updates kept my work visible and allowed people to feel connected to me as both an artist and a professional.
In short, building my reputation came from showing strong work, doing right by my clients, and showing up consistently. But it all started with a portfolio solid enough that people felt confident choosing me in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @warchildphoto
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/warchildphoto
- Twitter: @warchildphoto
