Lucy And The Lens

Blog

  • Before and after I launched

    Before I launched, I didn’t know what I’d do if I failed.
    I had no plan for the what if it doesn’t work moments. Just fear and doubt.

    After I launched I still don’t have all the answers.

    But now I know where to turn when things feel rubbish.
    I know who’s in my corner, not just when business is booming, but when it’s not.
    When I’m celebrating a win and when I’m wondering if I should just give up on my dream.

    That kind of support? It’s everything.
    It doesn’t make the hard days disappear, but it reminds me I don’t have to face them alone.

    Success isn’t just about having a strategy.
    It’s about having a community.
    People who stick around when you keep failing.
    Who applaud the progress no one else sees.
    Who believe in your vision, even when you temporarily forget it.

    That’s where everything starts to shift.

    mibmarathonday21

  • Repost and repurpose

    Today it’s a repost and repurpose day so I’m taking my top three posts from the last 3 months. The first one is my pov of shooting crowded events. For this one I didn’t use a trending Audio I just found one I liked called noise cancelling headphones which is about that overwhelm some people can feel when experiencing things like crowds and other things that give sensory overload. For the second and third post I used trending audio for both. The second one is showing propaganda I’m not falling for as a photographer. The third one is using Audio from the x-factor of Simon cowell saying what do you think I’m going to say to you then no and goodbye. The top left post shows me that if you like an Audio and you think of an idea it doesn’t matter if it’s trending or not. The other two posts show me that it’s okay to use trends to reflect your own business but also not to use trends that use audio you don’t like so you stay true to yourself.

    So let me know if you think you need to use trending audios and adapt them, original audios or a bit of both?

    mibmarathonday20

  • Let’s talk about failure

    I’ve had this post in my drafts for over a month so I’m sharing it today. Let’s start today’s post with a quote “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen” – Winston Churchill

    It’s as important to be able to talk about failure and get through it as it is to talk about success. The 2024/2025 tax year was the year I failed massively as a small business owner and I also tried to find other ways of making income but also failed at those. If you looked on my Instagram or TikTok you’re not going to see that cause I still have lots of content to share because I’m planning ahead and thinking of ideas. This tax year so far I’ve taken on some unrelated work and I’ve photographed a non crowded event. So this year let’s get celebrating the small wins as well as the big ones. Booked for some work that’s a win, got a 10km or a 5km PB that’s a win, upped the weights in the gym that’s a win, Finished a new book that’s a win, Learnt a new skill that’s a win. What are your wins that aren’t usually celebrated?

    mibmarathonday19

  • What I’ve learned so far?

    Here’s what I’ve learned so far by taking part in the MiB Marathon:

    1. Consistency really is the key to engagement and making connections. I’ve noticed this since I started posting a reel each week and I’ve noticed it even more since the 30 day challenge.
    2. Talking directly about your audience’s pain points and desires helps them self-identify and think, “That’s me!”
    3. A clear, warm Call to action encourages action, without being pushy.
    4. Sharing the why behind what you do and not just what you offer helps people connect with your values.
    5. Showing your face on socials as well as your work is really important because people buy into your brand and you are the brand.
    6. You don’t have to show up with perfection all the time you can show the messy parts and people still comment.
    7. It’s okay to show vulnerability and insecurity as well as the good parts of business.
      This is what the MIB Marathon has shown me so far.
      And I’m just getting started.

    mibmarathonday18

  • Do you know anyone who needs to revamp their personal branding?

    Do you know anyone who needs to revamp their personal branding?

    If your current photos feel a bit flat, outdated, or just don’t represent who you are anymore, I’d love to connect. Maybe you’ve been putting off booking a shoot because you’re not confident enough. That’s where I come in.

    I specialize in helping women and creatives become more confident through empowering photography experiences. Together, we’ll create images that reflect not just how you look, but who you are and what you stand for.

    If this sounds like you, or someone you know, I’d love an introduction. Let’s bring that personal brand to life with confidence and clarity.

    mibmarathonday17

  • If you had a magic wand what would your perfect photo session look like?

    Today I’m asking if you had a magic wand what would your perfect photo session look like? Answer in the comments. #mibmarathonday16

  • Magazine published

    I’m not normally one to brag. If you’ve followed me for a while you probably already know that I have a masters in photography but if you don’t I’m gonna shout about it. But here’s something you might not know as we were all sat bored during lockdown figuring out what to do, I did lots of creative challenges but I also got magazine published for the first time in 2020. So I’m going to shout about that loudly and proudly. #mibmarathonday15

  • Overcoming challenges

    Throughout my life, so far, I’ve had my share of challenges. Growing up, I struggled to make friends and dealt with bullying through high school and even parts of university. But by my mid-20s, I had worked through a lot of that pain and found myself surrounded by genuine, supportive friendships—people I can truly count on.

    Work hasn’t always been easy either. I faced ongoing struggles in that area for a long time, but I’ve been actively working to change that. I’m not exactly where I want to be just yet, but I’ve made real progress. Creating a second stream of self-employed income has given me more flexibility and stability—especially during quieter months—and that’s already made a noticeable difference this tax year.

    If there’s one thing I know for sure about myself, it’s this: no matter what obstacles come my way, I don’t give up. I keep showing up and finding ways forward.

    Tip: Wherever you are in your journey, give yourself credit for how far you’ve come—and remember, pivoting isn’t a setback. It’s a strategy. #mibmarathonday14

  • Unpopular opinions

    Here are some unpopular opinions I have as a photographer.

    1. Black and white doesn’t automatically make a photo more artistic
      If the photograph is bad in the first place it’s not gonna make it better it’s just gonna make it moody and bland. There are occasions where it does work but that’s usually an architectural marvel or a portrait that needs some mood.
    2. Free shoots “for exposure” are rarely worth it
      I did a lot of free shoots when I first started and not a single one of them resulted in a paid client later on. The only ones that have, were shoots I did as part of my masters that I wasn’t allowed to charge for.
    3. Editing isn’t lying
      Retouching an image is part of the art form it doesn’t change the truth of it.
    4. Street photography isn’t automatically ethical or deep
      Candid shots of strangers don’t always mean something and they often raise consent issues. There are times when you shouldn’t take that image for ethical reasons but there are other times when the results are fabulous.
    5. Over-posing kills authenticity
      Posing too much can make the image look fake and robotic and not like a human.
    6. Not everyone should shoot weddings
      Just because it’s pays well doesn’t mean your personality type or style fits in with the pressure and emotional stakes.
    7. The “rule of thirds” is optional
      Following compositional rules too strictly leads to predictable and boring work, it’s far more interesting to know the rules and how to break them.

    What are some unpopular opinions you have share in the comments?

    mibmarathonday13

  • The person behind the images

    You see the photos but you don’t always see the person who takes them. So here’s some bts footage of how the photo happens. I don’t really have many bloopers saved but I have had some shoots where it went wrong at the start. I’ve worked with clients that have no idea what they look like before they do a shoot but my job is to make them feel more confident in themselves. I also hired a studio once where the lights weren’t clamped properly so I had to adjust them to ensure they couldn’t hit the model during the shoot. #mibmarathonday12