We recently connected with Paisley Lee and have shared our conversation below.

Paisley, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I’ve been shooting with film since high school. I really ramped things up around 2016, a year after moving to Portland Oregon from Bend Oregon. I never attended school for photography or had any formal training, so most of what I’ve learned is self-taught. If I could go back and give myself advice, it would be to read the manual! It may seem obvious, but if you’re like me you start using your tools before you even know what they really can do. This has led me to discover new things my camera can do much later than I should have. Most manuals especially for older things, are pretty thorough and spell it out very clearly.

When it comes to photography I know its a simple answer, but good exposure is essential. I’ve underexposed more frames than I should honestly. Get a good light meter and use it. Meter as many times as you need to feel comfortable and confident.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a photographer who has been honing my craft for ten years. I’ve always liked old things. Tactile and permanent things. When given the chance, I always would ask my parents to buy me a CD rather than relying on streaming. My business slogan is “Take home a memory.” I remember that one of the earliest old things I had was a film camera. You know, I couldn’t get a film for it, it was just really old, but with a fresh imagination it may as well have been brand new. Eventually, I got a Minolta SRT 201 when I was in high school, maybe during my freshman year. I felt fortunate because all my friends were photogenic and willing to let me take their pictures so I got a lot of practice. Something about capturing the essence and beauty of those around me really excited me.

I would say that not having a ‘traditional’ education has made me stand out. Honestly, I think mostly that I stumbled into photography as a career. I never had much formal training or education. Being able to approach art, and photography from an “uneducated” perspective is a blessing to me. I don’t feel subconsciously refrained by rules or processes often deemed necessary to create art. I also started my own Polaroid pop-up photobooth, which is not something many photographers can say. The Polaroid photo booth is a unique concept that you don’t see around. Being the creator of that has helped me stand out as an artist and photographer.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I offer a unique service with my Polaroid pop-up photo booth. It is the only Polaroid pop-up photo booth in Portland and potentially beyond. That really sets me apart from other creatives in the industry because I am attempting to include others in the art-making process. The Polaroid photo booth is not just a service, but it is an experience. People have the opportunity to work with an actual artist and walk away with a truly one-of-a-kind portrait.

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

It’s not really related to photography but it always feels good to connect people. I recently hosted an open house/mixer event where I invited artists and creatives from different facets of my life to come together. Seeing so many artists, creatives, and friendly people together keeps me motivated and brings me so much joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: paisleyjpeg.com, pdxpolaroidsbypaiz.com
• Instagram: paisley.jpeg

Image Credits

All Photos By Paisley Lee except two candid shots by @symcty_