Lucy And The Lens

Blog

  • Fairytales Ep Cover

    Excited to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my recent work. I’ve been working with Sophie Adamson music on creating striking single covers for her first EP.

    Each image tells a unique story, reflecting the music’s mood and energy. It’s a wonderful journey translating sound into visuals. Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the visual identity of this musical endeavor.

    Here is some of the images from one of the singles Fairytales. You can listen to her first 3 singles on Apple Music and Spotify and the next single will be released in Summer 2024.

  • International Womens Day

    A couple of weeks ago it was International Women’s day so here’s a selection of women I’ve photographed in the last year:

  • Aligning Your Brand Strategy

    Back In November, I attended a captivating talk by Carly-Soulful Strategy on aligning brand strategy, with moms in business.

    Selecting clients who resonate with your brand is pivotal.

    It’s crucial to heed your inner voice and silence those who doubt your capabilities.

    Crafting and sharing your brand story not only imparts insight but also fosters intrigue around your business.

    During the session, Carly encouraged us to pinpoint values aligning with our brand and narrow them down to a core five.

    My selections:

    • Creativity: Constantly generating fresh ideas for capturing people and concepts.
    • Connection: Actively engaging in numerous networking events to build meaningful connections.
    • Equality: Providing services fairly and ensuring accessibility to everyone.
    • Motivation: Thriving on high motivation, allowing for exceptional productivity when focused.
    • Uniqueness: Embracing individuality, as I believe authenticity is a cornerstone in business.

    Creativity emerged as my top value, given its central role in my work as a photographer.

    I’m curious to learn about your brand values. If you’re eager to delve deeper into aligning your brand, Carly is an excellent resource. You can find some of her resources at www.carlycowell.com.

  • Weekly Affirmations

    Ever since October’s networking event with Mrs. Mindset at mums in business I’ve had the affirmation card on my desk that reads, “I have the power to choose…” (how I live my life).

    I’m wondering if anyone uses weekly affirmations, and if so, whether they find them helpful. For me, affirmations are a way to focus my mindset on what I want to achieve. It felt good to have this on my desk for a week and I tried to keep this weeks affirmation in mind as I went about my business. I found that it helped me to stay positive and motivated, even when things were challenging.

    Do you have any good affirmations that you use regularly? I’d love to hear them!

    “I have the power to choose…” What positive affirmations do you use to keep your mindset focused on what you want to achieve? Share them with us in the comments!

  • The Subconscious Mind With Mrs Mindset at Mums In Business

    Back in October 2023 I went to a networking event with mums in business, having realised you don’t have to be a mum but a woman in business.

    The talk was with Mrs. Mindset talking about how your subconscious mind affects business without you knowing.

    It was all about how our subconscious minds prevent us from doing the things we need to do to improve our business strategy.
    For example, if we’re worried about failing, our subconscious mind will tell us to give up before we even start.
    Or, if we’re worried about not being good enough, we’ll procrastinate and never get around to taking the necessary steps to improve.
    It’s fascinating stuff, and it really makes you think about how your own subconscious mind might be holding you back in business.
    If you’re not aware of it, it can be a real barrier to success.

    One of the things Gemma did with us is an exercise where we had to use non verbal communication to give yes or no answers to questions another person in the group asked us. It felt very strange as you just want to speak but it makes you more aware of how your subconscious mind reacts.

    The key takeaways from Mrs. Mindset talk are:

    Your subconscious mind is always seeking to protect you from harm and will often set barriers to prevent you taking risks.

    However, you can overcome these barriers by using your willpower to force yourself to take action.

    For example, if you have a fear of dogs like me, you can use your willpower to force yourself to stroke a dog next time you see one and get into a more calm zone. Which I did this morning in a coffee shop that has a resident cocker spaniel.

    Similarly, if you are afraid of public speaking, you can use your willpower to force yourself to give a presentation.

    By using your willpower to overcome your fears, you will slowly but surely break down the barriers your subconscious mind has set.

    So, if you want to achieve your goals, don’t let your subconscious mind hold you back. Use your willpower to take action and overcome your fears!

    Thanks for reading! Your insights on how your subconscious mind might be holding you back in business would be greatly appreciated. So please go give Mrs. Mindset a follow on linkedin or facebook if you want to learn more about how you can break down the barriers and strive for success.

  • How Have You Developed Your Skills As A Photographer?

    How have you developed your skills as a photographer?

    I have developed my skills as a photographer through experimentation, my photography society, masters, workshops, YouTube videos and books.

    Firstly I started off by teaching myself photography through experimentation and trial and error by planning my own shoots before I’d even picked up a book or learnt any techniques and learning how to use all the tools on photoshop.

    Then in 2015 I joined Preston Photographic society where my learning was enhanced through lectures and learning new lighting techniques at portrait evenings.

    My masters taught me how to find my own style as a photographer and it gave me an insight into some shoots in a variety of settings. I’ve attended workshops on how to use different lighting techniques, and I’ve watched YouTube videos on everything from camera gear to post-processing workflow. I’ve also read a number of books on photography, both technical manuals and works by great artists.

    All of this has helped me to develop as a photographer. For example, I learned how to improve my portrait photography after taking workshops with photography session days testing out different types of light and improving my confidence in interacting with models. I was also able to refine my editing skills by following along with tutorials on Photoshop.

    As a result of all of this, I’ve been able to develop my own style as a photographer. I’m now able to take great photos in a variety of settings, and I have a strong understanding of the technical side of photography.

    Ripple effect: Mastering the basic skills of photography makes you a better photographer overall.

    Thanks for following my journey! If you’ve enjoyed seeing my photos and watching my progress, please give this post a like or leave me a comment. I’d love to hear from you!

  • Capturing Emotion In Photography

    Today I’m going to talk about the concept of capturing emotion in photography.

    Emotion is a difficult concept to capture in any art form, but particularly in photography. Images are two-dimensional and can often seem flat and lifeless. Yet, a good photographer knows how to use light, composition and timing to create images that evoke feelings in the viewer.

    One way to capture emotion in photography is through the use of light. Bright, natural light can create a feeling of happiness and vitality, while shadow and darkness can convey a sense of mystery or foreboding. The way light falls on a subject can also create a sense of drama or enhance the feeling of a particular moment.

    Composition is another important tool for evoke emotion in photography. A well-composed image can create a sense of balance and calm, while a more chaotic image can convey a feeling of energy and excitement. Framing a subject in a particular way can also help to emphasize certain emotions – for example, isolating a subject can create a feeling of loneliness or desperation, while including a lot of negative space can convey a sense of peace and solitude.

    Timing is also crucial when trying to capture emotion in photography. Capturing a moment just before or just after a key event can help to convey the feeling of that event, for example, a photograph of a child just before they blow out their birthday candles can convey anticipation and excitement, while a photograph of a couple just after they kiss can convey love and tenderness.

    Help us capture emotion in photography! Like and comment if you think light, composition and timing are key!

  • Creating A Strong Personal Brand as A Photographer

    Here are my thoughts on why it’s important to create a strong personal brand as a photographer.

    A personal brand is the way you present yourself to the world. It is the sum of what people say about you when you’re not in the room. Your personal brand is what sets you apart from everyone else. As a photographer, your personal brand is especially important. In a saturated market, it can be difficult to stand out. Your personal brand is what will make you stand out from the crowd. It is what will make people remember you. Creating a strong personal brand will help you to succeed in your photography career. It will make you more marketable and ultimately, it will help you to make more money.

    In order to do this start creating a strong social media presence. This means regularly posting high-quality content and engaging with your followers. It’s a great way to showcase your work and I find that more clients find me this way than any other way. You should also have a website where you showcase your work and make it easy to navigate.

    Secondly, you need to be active in the photography community. Attend industry events, meetups, and workshops. Get to know other photographers and build relationships. These connections will not only help you grow professionally, but they can also lead to referral business.

    Third, always be marketing yourself. Make sure potential clients know who you are and what you do. Attend networking events, hand out business cards, and connect with people on social media. The more people you reach, the better chance you have of growing your business.

    Creating a strong personal brand is essential for any photographer who wants to be successful. Comment below if you’re working on building your personal brand!

  • You Are Your Own Worst Critic

    Most of us can relate to the feeling of staring at a photo for too long, second-guessing our every move.

    For me, this happened just last night.

    I was trying to pick a photo for a competition, and two hours and 30 images later, I finally made a decision.

    Even then, I found myself acting as my own worst critic.

    In the moment, it can be tough to silence that little voice in your head that’s constantly critiquing your every move. But it’s important to remember that you’re the only one who knows what’s best for you.

    Also with social media, it’s become so easy to compare ourselves to others and to constantly strive for unattainable goals. It’s no wonder that so many of us are our own worst critics.

    But what if we could learn to love ourselves, flaws and all? What if we could be our own biggest fans? It turns out that there are plenty of benefits to being your own worst critic.

    Being your own worst critic can be healthy as it helps you to focus on areas which you need to improve. If you’re constantly putting yourself down, it’s likely that you’ll start to believe it. But if you’re constantly striving to be better, you’re more likely to achieve your goals.

    It can also help to keep you humble. It’s easy to get a big head when you’re constantly being praised by others. But if you’re your own toughest critic, you’re less likely to get caught up in your own ego.

    So trust your gut, and go with your gut instinct. Chances are, it won’t steer you wrong.

    If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, like or comment below!

  • Take Time To Relax

    It’s always good to take the time to relax and have a holiday.

    I do this a few times a year and here are a few reasons why you should too:

    Taking a break from work can help you to relax and recharge, which can in turn lead to increased productivity and motivation when you return to your job.

    Physical health is another reason to consider a vacation. Getting away from your regular routine and spending time outdoors can help to reduce stress levels, improve sleep quality and boost your overall fitness.

    And of course, it’s always nice to have a change of scenery! So, whether you’re looking to boost your career, your physical health or your mental wellbeing, taking a holiday could be a great idea.

    So, what are you waiting for? A little break might be just what you need!

    Here’s just a little snippet of how I spent my last trip away: