We recently connected with Lynn Townsend and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lynn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Oh, what a wonderful question! I would love to tell you about an incredibly meaningful project. A bit of background….. as a photographer, I have always felt most fulfilled when connecting with the person in front of my lens and reflecting their true spirit back to them through a photograph. Prior to becoming a photographer, I taught ESL internationally and travelled to many countries teaching and learning. Over the years, my love for other cultures continued to grow. I always wondered how to best combine these loves, and one day, (while playing in the snow with my children!), it finally came to me! I had the thought of creating a one-for-one model which would include my client base and also women from other cultures.

So, in 2019, I began the Sisterhood Photo Project. For each woman who purchases a portrait or branding photography session, I donate another session to a refugee or immigrant sister. These donated photo shoots go to women who have left their own country, been marginalized or suffered trauma, and are in need of being fully ‘seen,’ to help with their healing process. These sessions are filled with honor, respect, and deep listening. They are also a celebration of resilience!

As the project continues to develop, I hope to incorporate even more ways to bridge cultures and show all women the beauty that resides within them.

Lynn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Although my degree is in photojournalism, my husband, Dave, is the one who really brought me to a career in photography. I had worked for newspapers both in the US and abroad, and I eventually felt burned out. I really had a strong desire to be more involved in the artistic process – to communicate more fully with those in front of the lens – rather than just documenting what was happening.

When my husband and I met 18 years ago in a photo gallery, he was already a professional photographer. He encouraged me to explore other genres of photography, and I fell in love with portraiture and weddings. Our combined love of this artistic expression has sustained us for over 15 years and counting! We’ve been so honored to photograph life’s most meaningful moments.

We also love following our individual passions to offer unique experiences. I love women’s portrait and branding sessions, and now with the Sisterhood Photo Project, I get to meet and photography women from all over the world! Dave is also living his passion of teaching single and multi-day workshops. He’s given one in Italy already, and more will be on the books in the future!

Above all, we truly see our clients and are ever-aware of the importance of trust. We don’t try to force people into a certain pose, but instead, we learn about who they are, help them feel comfortable and at ease, and allow our sessions to unfold in a genuine way. Many of our clients have been with us for over 10 years! We’ve photographed their weddings, their children as newborns and helped to document them through the years. Their families become like our family.

It’s rare to find a husband-wife team that works together and also has individual strengths ~ we’re honored to be one of the few!

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

I love this story! My husband, Dave, is also my business partner. We each loved photography, and unbeknownst to each other, we each noticed that a photography gallery in Cherry Creek was holding a competition. I had just returned from traveling abroad, and I had one day to get a photo chosen, printed, framed and turned in to the gallery. Time was so short, that I actually framed it in the back of my car before entering it into the competition at the last minute! The night of the artist’s reception, I was looking at a certain photograph that was so artistic and beautiful. It featured a flower that seemed to be growing out of golden water. As I was trying to understand the piece better, Dave came up behind me and began to explain that it was actually water with the reflection of a golden temple in Thailand. We each felt a spark that night, but it had to be put on hold. I was leaving to travel again for 6 months shortly afterwards. We stayed on each other’s minds, and after returning from traveling, we continued the conversation, and the rest is history ….. we’ve been married and photographing together for 15 years now!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I have to say that my goal has always been to lift others up and create genuine connection. In photographing women’s portraits, there is nothing that makes me happier than seeing my clients come more fully into themselves throughout a session. Generally, most of us tend to feel quite nervous when the camera is pointed towards us. We become more aware of ourselves and can feel more self-conscious, etc. Throughout my photo shoots, I find that truly listening and being fully present are such gifts. These sessions offer an opportunity for my clients to feel their own beauty, to know themselves more deeply, to open up and allow their hearts to shine outwards. It’s an honor, truly, to behold such magic!

I work with a lot of women on branding in the realm of body-mind-spirit wellness. It gives me the greatest joy to lift them up ~ to help them step more fully into themselves, their business and the world. It really is all about amplifying their gifts.

I just love that this is the essence of my work!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davidlynnphoto.com
• Instagram: @davidlynnphoto and @sisterhoodphotoproject
• Facebook: @davidlynnphotography and @sisterhoodphotoproject
• Other: Fine Art Photography: www.davidlynnfineart.com Workshops: www.davidlynnworkshops.com

Image Credits
All photos by Lynn Townsend