Photo by Angela Richardson
Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Rund.
Hi Lauren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I often describe myself as an old soul and a creative at heart. I was writing poetry and drawing pictures in journals as far back as I remember. I’ve always been drawn to the written word and imagery that pairs with it. I first starting playing with photography when I was in high school but never really took the craft seriously until many years later.
In 2010 I saved up enough money to purchase my first Canon DSLR…which was a big step for me. By that time, I had finished my Bachelor’s degree in English and was working towards my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I ended up teaching middle school and high school English for several years before moving to the Dallas area. Once I moved, my heart and mind needed a break from teaching. So naturally, I turned to photography.
Photography to me has always been a wonderful creative outlet. Behind the camera, I can capture the details I love and notice most–especially minute ones. Recently a friend of mine said I had the gift of “seeing.” And I think this perfectly describes the craft of photography. Photographers are gifted in the seeing–details, colors, textures–how they all play a role in the narrative of an image.
In 2016 I began writing for an online women’s community. I loved being a part of that community and I often offered my images to be used on the platform as well. In 2017 The directors of the community ended up asking me to travel to their spring retreat in Vashon Island, Washington and it was there that I felt truly validated as a photographer. The retreat was nestled on a lavender farm and I spent several days photographing the details of the retreat–the food, the town, the farm, and the women attending. My photos from that trip still make me proud, it was a dream.
After that trip, I had the motivation to begin taking my work as a photographer more seriously. I began offering consistent sessions to circles of friends, family, and creatives around me and my business slowly and organically grew from there. It was also weeks after that trip that I found out I was pregnant and we’d be expecting our first baby. My photography has grown slowly over the past few years right along with our family and it has been a beautiful experience to grow both simultaneously.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I heard a musician once say that “great art is birthed from great tension.” And I have always kept that close to my heart… especially in difficult times. For me, being mostly self-taught, there has always been some form of struggle, whether great or small when it comes to running a business and creating something from nothing. I’m thankful that I have wonderful friends who have had an influence in keeping me going and teaching me behind the scenes. But it hasn’t always been easy. Sometimes I think it’s hard, especially with such a visual final product, to assume that photography just takes a press of a button and a few clicks on the computer to create a great image or story. But there is so much blood, sweat, and tears poured into a small business, to keep the thing going, to continue the juggling act of the many hats you may be wearing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Right now, I shoot mainly lifestyle portraiture. I also occasionally shoot product branding and intimate gatherings. I love candid photos and editorial-style shoots. This next year I hope to offer more sessions that lean towards an organic more natural posing style. I offer different portrait packages, branding packages, and seasonal mini sessions to families.
I would say that I am most known for my attention to detail, my warm easy-going nature, and my client experience. I truly love the people and families I get to work with and I care deeply that they invest in me as their photographer. I want them to walk away with treasured images that they love and continue to look back on for years to come.
There are two things that I am most proud of when it comes to my photography–the first is always seeing my work in print. There is something so satisfying in seeing my work in a printed publication, on paper that I can hold in my hands. The second thing I am most proud of is the relationships I have with my clients. There are several handfuls of clients who return to me year after year, season after season, and ask me to shoot for them. I treasure these relationships so much because I get a front-row seat at capturing and seeing their family grow. It truly is an honor.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
This is such a funny question for me because after two years in the pandemic, this was the first day that we’ve experienced Covid-19 under our roof. My daughter tested positive today. So, I’m sure that I will have many lessons headed my way that will hit home. However, as a business owner, as a mom, as a wife– I think that the best and most important lesson to learn from collectively going through a global pandemic is that grace is never wasted. We all need grace. In every aspect of our lives. You never really know what someone is going through–from the cashier at Costco, to your pediatrician, to your elderly neighbor. Each of us carry a unique burden in our daily lives and erring on the side of grace and compassion will never fail us.
Pricing:
- Seasonal Mini Sessions-$250
- Portrait Packages begin at $400
- Branding Packages begin at $500
Contact Info:
- Email: laurenrundphotography@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.laurenrundphotography.com
- Instagram: @laurenrundphoto
- Other: https://book.usesession.com/i/OC5WWzN4-
