We recently connected with Lydia Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lydia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My mission as both a yoga instructor and a photographer is to be a safe and accesssible space for folks to express themselves and reaffirm their own power and beauty. When I started photographing boudoir, I loved seeing folks grow within a session. See them dive into their own vulnerability and then come out loving themselves more fully. That further expanded when I decided to do yoga teacher training. Learning about body and breath, how to move safely and love ourselves deeply and how easily intertwined these two passions could become.

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 and yoga teacher! I went to MCTC for photography and digital imaging and started working right out of school, and years later did yoga teacher training at Radiant Life Yoga and started implementing that into my work as a photographer as well. What sets me apart is my ability to hold space for people. Folks always say that they are surprised how comfortable they feel being photographed by me. We have a wonderful experience getting to know and learn from each other. We take things at the pace we need to, taking breaks, and never rushing. My ability to create a safe environment in boudoir settings directly translates to my other clients where it is equally as important. These clients include lifestyle photographs of people cooking, baking, dancing, skating, practicing yoga, concerts, restaurant menu photos, the list goes on. In a world where we are constantly rushing to get to the next thing, I am happy to give folks my time and energy to get what they need. With both photography and yoga.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Community! The people I work with are so uplifting and talented. The little texts they send when we haven’t seen each other in a while, the intimacy at which other creatives understand bumps and self doubt and how we come out stronger than before. The way we all light up when we hear our peers talking about their passions and dreams. It’s an incredible honor to be a part of such a group.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There are so many lessons to learn and unlearn in being a creative. One that resonates deeply is rejection is not the end. At the beginning it was very easy to start to spiral into self doubt. When there could be a time when you have few followers and can’t get more, no one wants to book for a period of time, when no one shows up to a yoga class you were very excited about teaching. Allowing rejection to happen, but also knowing that it will not always be like this and to use the time you have to remind yourself of everything else around you. We can get so wrapped up in our self worth with our craft that it starts to get too much. Rejection is not the end, it’s an opportunity for rest, reflection and redirection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lydiasmithphoto.com
• Instagram: @lydiasmith.photo

Image Credits

All Photographs by Lydia Smith Photography :)