Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lory Lyon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lory, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I’ve always been one to take my own path. What sets my photography business apart from the industry standards is that I approach every shoot as a creative project. I show up inspired, present, and with authenticity, warmth, and vulnerability. I collaborate with my clients to create images that are meaningful and emotionally compelling. I’m also a movement director and bring a choreographer’s eye to my shoots, which has inspired my work more than anything else. Being able to communicate my visual goals with my clients is the foundation of my photography practice. I aim to connect soulfully with the people I photograph, and my goal is to cultivate a connection that lasts beyond our brief time together.

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 am a photographer, choreographer, and creative director. I like to think of myself as a visual guide. I work with 35mm film and digital mediums. Capturing the magic in any moment is what I do best.

Creating profound nuance and narrative within my work is my passion. Encapsulating the essence of authentic energy and finding a creative alignment is what I strive for.

I am kind, love what I do, and commit to making my clients’ vision come to life. The energy, the people, the details. It all plays a part in the work. My intention is for my subjects to freedom, joy, and confidence when we are creating together.

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Lory has exhibited photography at galleries in Japan, Paris, Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles, and Austin. Her work is currently being displayed on 5th Avenue in NYC. She has shot for national and international brands including Land Rover, Bulova, Nike, Adidas, The Wrap Life, Bloch, Soul Cycle, Parra, and more.

Lory has shot / choreographed music videos for artists signed with Universal Music Group, Warner Bros. Records, Joyful Noise Records, Nine Mile Records, and Armada Music Group. She is the photographer and artistic director for Lesbians are Miracles Magazine and Dancegeist Magazine. She has directed and produced short films, television shows, and events, most recently producing the premiere for an HBO series.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I grew up dancing and became a professional dancer in my twenties. I was the director of a dance company in Texas and for ten years, directed and choreographed around the world. But I started struggling with burnout and ultimately decided that my creative journey in Texas had come to an end.

I moved to NYC in 2017 with a small camera my dad bought me for my birthday. I knew no one in the city, so I tried to connect with dancers who inspired me. After photographing dozens of professional dancers during the first few months of living in New York, I realized that photography was a way for me to stay connected and relevant in dance without having to constantly choreograph or continue to put a toll on my body.

I honored this shift by enrolling in the New York Film Academy and buying myself a new DSLR camera. It took a while for me to accept this new way of showing up in the world as a creative, but over time, I’ve realized that incorporating my choreographic gifts has only made me a stronger photographer. It doesn’t have to feel compartmentalized. When you honor and integrate all of your gifts, you become elevated as an artist. This expansion has allowed me to find true alignment.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As an artist for most of my life, I have attracted like-minded people and communities that have become my family. Being an artist has also given me the safe space to live authentically as a queer person. For me, the two are inextricably linked. I cannot express myself freely and honestly if I don’t also embrace who I am.

It has taken me years to feel absolute freedom and aliveness when I create, and it has been a gift to witness my own growth and self awareness as a creator. It’s rewarding when people feel something from my work, or when my work can speak to or heal some part of them. My photography sessions are more than just pushing the shutter. Rather, they are an emotional experience for both me as a creator and my subject(s). My goal is for us to leave the studio feeling inspired and revitalized. I come fully alive when I am creating, especially when it’s an aligned collaboration, and I aim for my subjects to do the same.

As an artist, you’re required to open yourself up to vulnerability and share your perspective for others to consider. My work has created a chance to expand minds and hearts, and has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of my emotions, as well as deeper friendships, connections, and opportunities to collaborate.

Contact Info:

• Website: loryleelyon.com
• Instagram: @lorylyon

Image Credits
Cirsty Burton Zach Wright Mali Rezai Teddy Tedholm