Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Lehr.
Bonnie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a love for people, nature, art, beautiful photographs and the stories behind them. As a teenager, I picked up my family’s vintage Canon film camera to play around with and I have had a camera in my hand ever since. I experimented, studied images in print, took photography courses, sought out mentorships with talented photographers and practiced the technical side of how to produce an image. In the process, I realized I was in love with the human soul and its experiences.
That’s what drove me to document it in pictures. I wanted to not just photograph people but capture their emotions, their secrets, their split-second moments in time frozen forever in an image. Photographs are like tangible memories you can physically hold in your hand. It’s such a humbling and sacred experience to be invited into those intimate spaces to document them for people. The fact that I have created a sustainable business out of my passion blows my mind. I do what I love and I love what I do!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For me, the biggest challenge at the beginning of this journey was to be true to myself and my artistic vision. I had to realize it was ok to say no to a client or job that didn’t suit my style. There were many times I took jobs just to get a paycheck and that is the fastest way to burn out and lose your joy. It was ok to be patient when building my name and client base and wait for those that sought me out because they valued what I had to offer. work smarter not harder as they say. I like to produce images that can’t be recreated in a studio but rather capture life as it happens.
There are some amazing photographers that will take pictures of your beautiful, sleeping, perfectly posed, baby down in a basket, wearing a bonnet. If that is what you are looking for then I have the perfect photographer friend to send you to! Another challenge for me is that by nature of choosing to document life and moments, many of those moments are emotional and even incredibly painful. The process of going back through and editing the images can even be more emotional than when I was behind the lens.
At this point of my career (20 years after beginning to build my business) the biggest challenge is office work! I don’t want to do bookkeeping, I don’t enjoy preparing contracts. I hate doing my taxes. I just want to make pretty pictures!
Bonnie Bee Photography & Events – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business provides photography, floral design and event coordination. That pretty much makes us a one-stop shop for weddings. I provide documentary style photography coverage of life events, birthday parties, weddings, lifestyle family sessions and even births! I also offer portrait sessions, professional headshots, boudoir sessions and short films.
I specialize in documenting all types of births. I have been invited to home water births, birth centers, hospitals and into the OR for C-section births. There is nothing more thrilling than witnessing a new soul come earthside and to see the transformation of a powerful woman do something so incredibly amazing and become a mother or give the gift of being a parent to another.
There is nothing wrong with a good, solid, “look at the camera and say cheese”, perfectly behaved and posed, family portrait. However, what sets me apart is that you will find very little of that but a whole lot of joy, fun, mess and real life.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have been published in a few magazines and online publications all over the world but I am most proud that I have built a business based on the beauty of human connection. In many cases, I become like a member of the family.
How could you not when you watch a couple get married, give birth to their first child, help them through a loss and find solace in the images you created of them, document children growing up and being present for the most significant days of their lives. It is such an incredible thing to see the laughter, smiles and emotional tears when you present a slideshow of images to a client and the memories of those moments come flooding back to them.
Pricing:
- Birth sessions $1000-$2500
- Boudoir, lifestyle and portrait sessions $350+
- Weddings $1500-$3500+
- hourly event coverage $250 per hour, 2-hour minimum
- albums and fine art prints $50+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bonnielehr.com
- Phone: 682-551-7048
- Email: bonniebeephotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonniebeephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonniebeephotographyandevents/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
