We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lucia Bucklin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lucia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always enjoying creative arts as a child. I decided to pursue an artistic path with my Infrared Photography in my mid-40s when I had more time to spend on it, as my children got older.

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 fell in love with Fine-Art Photography when I was studying the subject in college (Alternative Processes was the class). I particularly liked Infrared Photography which captures hidden light the naked eye cannot see. It has a dream-like ethereal quality. Images are black-and-white. After college, I worked for a newspaper as a photographer. It was a great experience but after a few years I decided to take a break and pursue Infrared Photography as a career. I was lucky enough to be exhibited in numerous exhibitions and galleries across the U.S. and won a number of IPA awards. That said, Fine-Art Photographer is hard. You constantly have to promote and market your work (along with keep your work fresh). Kodak no longer produces Infrared Film, so the challenge is now shooting it digitally. I love what I do and hope to keep doing it for many years.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a photographer, it’s wonderful to see your artwork/images bring a smile to people’s faces. It’s a creative vision inside yourself that you share with other people and it’s gratifying to see them enjoy your vision as well.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

If you choose to pursue Fine-Art Photography, do it because it’s your passion. If you want to make money in photography, become a Wedding Photographer. Fine-Art Photography is hard, but rewarding. There are ups and downs in income. I do it because I love it, not because it’s going to make me a lot of money.

Contact Info:

• Website: bucklinphotography.com